190 days teaching provision - but home learning!!??

[PrimaryTeachingQs]

My children's primary school has recently introduced a 2 week October half term. It's a nightmare as in our London borough there is only holiday club provision for 1 week so it means a week of TV and tablets for my 2 kids as I don't have enough annual leave, after the summer, to take more time off. I am just lucky I can work mainly from home. Not sure what NHS/carers/ postal workers etc. are meant to do??

However, now the school sends round their weekly email announcing that there are going to be 2 additional inset days next year. However, these days bring the yearly teaching provision below 190 days so they will just send the kids home with home learning!!

Ermm, I (and my children) just spent the last year recovering from the last 2 years of home learning.

Can anyone give any advice on whether this is even legal? The school is a free school, part of a trust. When I check on the DfE there doesn't seem to be any guidance on whether home learning can be counted as part of the 190 days so any advice greatly appreciated.

I previously tried to complain about the 2 week half term and was pretty much told to b#gger off so the trust are not exactly open to criticism.

I believe it’s up to 190 days directed time. Free schools have greater leeway. I agree with you. After COVID it’s reprehensible. If it’s just for one year, I’d probably suck it up, but would they fine you for going on holiday 2 days early? I would be very tempted to go out on home teaching days!

My DDs went to an independent school with a 2 week half term. It’s unusual in a state school because most areas try and coordinate holidays for obvious reasons. Are the days made up elsewhere? I would be tempted to leave. At DDs school, lots of school trips were organised for this holiday so in effect, quite a few teachers worked!

Two week October half terms, taking a week off the summer holidays, are becoming increasingly common.

This local document explains the 190 days but says they're not compulsory for free schools and academies:

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/education-and-learning/schools/school-holidays/school-term-and-holiday-dates-faq.pdf

Thank God my area co ordinates holidays. Even free schools!

Also they should give notice of a change to parents well in advance. Seems high handed to me.,

That’s appalling. Actually, for a change I’m lost for words. I would be absolutely furious.

I actually think a 2 week autumn half term can work really well and splits up a very long term. But: all the schools in a LA or even larger area need to do it. Otherwise parents are very much on the back foot with childcare. These free schools rarely want to cooperate with the LA though. They want their freedoms at all costs.

You can take up to 4 weeks unpaid parental leave a year - if that helps.

I don't know if enforcing 2 working from home days is legal, but it shouldn't be! I would fight that.

As a parent and a teacher, I like a 2 week October half term. My children's school changed to 2 weeks about 3 years ago and it benefitted both children and teachers. No school days were lost (the Christmas holiday was reduced by a week) and children were less likely to be ill by the end of term. I'm hoping that all schools adopt a 2 week October half term asap, and then there will be holiday childcare provision offered. Agree that it's frustrating for parents at the moment who need to find a week of childcare (I work in a school with a one week half term!).

Academies are allowed to add extra INSET days even if it takes pupils below 190. They don't have to provide home learning.

Appreciate the points made about academies technically not having to stick to the 190 days. I think the way the school has communicated their plans has really not helped

Following the announcement last week the school have actually rowed back on the 2 additional inset days next year. Their email wasn't exactly conciliatory but said that based on the number of emails and general feedback from parents they have decided to remove them. Clearly ALOT of parents got in touch.

So good news for parent power. Hopefully when they do make changes next time they'll consider how their announcement might land.

@PrimaryTeachingQs
So a small victory! I’m not surprised people complained. These changes should be agreed when the holiday dates are. Well in advance!