How common is it...

User923081 · 2023-10-22T20:10:29+00:00

For Y1 children to be kept in at break if they haven't finished their class work? My child is reporting that this is what's happening at his school and he's being too specific to be lying. Luckily he assures me he's never been made to

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whiteroseredrose · 22/10/2023 21:18

I'm not sure now, but a few years ago, if a child had been constantly messing about and hadn't done any work, they would be kept behind for 5 mins to do a little bit of work before going out.

SamPoodle123 · 22/10/2023 21:24

Yes, this has happened to my dc before when younger...but they had an issue with dily dalying sometimes.

Original poster

User923081 · 22/10/2023 21:26

It just doesn't sit right with me. They're 5. It's so vital that they get time to wind down and to play with other kids. I like the school a lot but it made me pretty sad tbh

OP posts:

SamPoodle123 · 22/10/2023 21:32

Ah yea, I don't agree with it at such a young age...but I can see how if a kid is disrupting the class or not doing their work as they should be then they need to be kept in to complete it. My dc who was kept in a few times is very capable (got GD in everything), but she was also easily distracted or bored so she would not always focus.... If she just focused she would have been done the work quickly. She eventually learned that...so would just speed through the work so she can then have more free time.

Original poster

User923081 · 22/10/2023 21:37

Yes mine is also very able but not the most focussed by a long shot. It looks as though he's figured out that just getting on with it is the best approach thank goodness.

I know that they have to lay down the law at some point but 5 just seems so young. I don't personally think their executive functioning is developed enough to deal with this rationally until they're more junior school age

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TheBigTVonWheels · 22/10/2023 21:39

The primary school curriculum is pretty packed, so there isn't really time for kids to mess about in class. I wouldn't want to die on this particular hill.

MonkeyPuddle · 22/10/2023 21:39

It doesn’t happen at our school. I would expect the teachers to be working on the reasons (multiple and wide ranging possibilities) for the incomplete work during class time.
I also wouldn’t expect a Y1 to be finishing all work.

Original poster

User923081 · 22/10/2023 21:44

TheBigTVonWheels · 22/10/2023 21:39

The primary school curriculum is pretty packed, so there isn't really time for kids to mess about in class. I wouldn't want to die on this particular hill.

I'm sure you're right but is this really the right approach to be taking with such young kids? I work in healthcare and IME poor mental health and poor self esteem are far more detrimental to somebody's prospects than poor literacy/numeracy. School shapes our sense of self and probably mental health just as much/more than the rest of our environment

OP posts:

BoleynMemories13 · 24/10/2023 20:02

Depends on the circumstances. Child kept in because they haven't completed a task despite trying their best, definitely not ok in Year 1 (or any age really). Child kept in because they've messed around and ignored warnings that this would be the consequence, an important life lesson.

I agree that young children need to run around but that can still be achieved after being kept in for 5 or 10 minutes as a consequence for misbehaviour. If it was happening regularly I'd question the purpose as they're clearly not learning from it (and would further investigate the root causes of their behavioural choices) but as an occupational sanction for misbehaviour I have no problem with it.

MollyMarples · 24/10/2023 20:11

User923081 · 22/10/2023 21:44

I'm sure you're right but is this really the right approach to be taking with such young kids? I work in healthcare and IME poor mental health and poor self esteem are far more detrimental to somebody's prospects than poor literacy/numeracy. School shapes our sense of self and probably mental health just as much/more than the rest of our environment

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It’s not about poor literacy and numeracy, it’s behaviour management. A teacher cannot achieve anything, including keeping 30 children safe, if there is chaos all day. The children have to learn to do as they’re told in lesson time. I don’t think this teacher has an unreasonable approach.

BoleynMemories13 · 24/10/2023 20:13

*occasional not occupational, silly autocorrect!

Basically missing part of their playtime is ok as a deterrent for undesirable misbehaviour, but it shouldn't become a regular punishment as that defeats the purpose.

Tulipvase · 24/10/2023 20:14

I’ve not known it happen in Ks1 at my school. Tbh, we don’t have the staff to watch a child at lunch unless it’s an emergency.

Hihosilver123 · 24/10/2023 20:33

User923081 · 22/10/2023 21:44

I'm sure you're right but is this really the right approach to be taking with such young kids? I work in healthcare and IME poor mental health and poor self esteem are far more detrimental to somebody's prospects than poor literacy/numeracy. School shapes our sense of self and probably mental health just as much/more than the rest of our environment

Show quote history

I really don’t think that a child missing 5 minutes of playtime from time to time, for a reason deemed necessary by the teacher, is really going to do them long term psychological damage 🙄

WaitingfortheTardis · 24/10/2023 20:42

I agree with @Hihosilver123 , if a child has been messing around then really 5 mins spent finishing off is not going to do them much harm.

I don't think detail is evidence of truth telling for a 5 year old though. A child last week described a trip they'd been on with their family, down to the lunch they had, what they had to do when it started raining, the souvenir they chose in the shop and the way their uncle moaned about the queues. All very very detailed, all very fictional. I'm not saying your child is lying in this case at all, but I would say that generally details don't necessarily indicate truth.

BoleynMemories13 · 24/10/2023 20:50

Hihosilver123 · 24/10/2023 20:33

I really don’t think that a child missing 5 minutes of playtime from time to time, for a reason deemed necessary by the teacher, is really going to do them long term psychological damage 🙄

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I totally agree. IF being kept in is considered detrimental to their mental health, I'd say it's something they're completely in control of and therefore entirely their own fault. Don't want to be kept in? Don't misbehave!

Yes poor mental health is a huge issue for today's youngsters but so is a lack of discipline. If you forego consequences for poor behaviour for fear of upsetting the little darlings you're creating even bigger problems for the future. Discipline at school never did our generation any harm (and before anyone asks, no I was not old enough to receive the cane and no I am definitely not referring to that level of 'discipline'!)

CowboyJoanna · 01/11/2023 19:35

It's called detention. Normal part of discipline.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 01/11/2023 19:44

Depends on the circumstances. Child kept in because they haven't completed a task despite trying their best, definitely not ok in Year 1 (or any age really). Child kept in because they've messed around and ignored warnings that this would be the consequence, an important life lesson.

I agree with this. The cause of the work not being finished makes a big difference.

Alexiao · 01/11/2023 19:52

Used to happen to my child in yr 1. He got really upset as his table were getting threatened with no play and he said he wasn’t the one messing around, so had no control over the situation . I spoke to the teacher and she said it was ‘an empty threat’ so basically used to try and control the kids. I wasn’t happy but let it go.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 01/11/2023 19:56

Alexiao · 01/11/2023 19:52

Used to happen to my child in yr 1. He got really upset as his table were getting threatened with no play and he said he wasn’t the one messing around, so had no control over the situation . I spoke to the teacher and she said it was ‘an empty threat’ so basically used to try and control the kids. I wasn’t happy but let it go.

The children will soon learn it’s an empty threat.

Snowonthebeachx · 01/11/2023 20:27

Most teachers don't want to miss their chance for a cup of tea or to go to the loo!

It could be that it's to explain something to your child that they haven't got- teachers have 30 kids to get round to. Or it could be "finish that sentence before you go" (so two minute job). Or it could be 5 minutes because they've been messing around and the teacher will have their books scrutinised so they need some work in the book. And it your child or other children? And for how long of break? 5 year olds don't have much concept of time. Is this specifically upsetting your child or have they just mentioned it?

howshouldibehave · 01/11/2023 20:36

I have no problem with this and used well, it will only ever be carried out sparingly.

A child who spends a literacy lesson messing about and writing nothing despite understanding the (developmentally appropriate) task, being given support, warnings, being moved to a distraction-free area etc should have a consequence. Giving them 5 minutes to complete it at play is usually enough. This is usually time for them to write three sentences quite quickly and then go out to play.

Reminders of having to do this if they were to mess around again are usually sufficient for them to complete the work in the lesson next time.

What would you prefer the teacher did instead? Send the unfinished work home for them to finish with you?