How many hours constitutes a 'school day?'

[Whichcatthatcat]

Hello,
Ds is in an AP. It starts at 9.15 and finishes at 2pm every day.
It used to be 3pm but changed during the first lockdown and never went back.
Apparently the reason is the transport that most the DC use is unable to collect them at any other time.

So I would like to know, does this count as a full day? Is there a minimum number of hours they are entitled to education? I know there is a minimum number of days, but can't find any info on how long those days should be.

If you can help, thanks.

Full time education is not defined in law. Although, this document suggests for KS4 full time should be the equivalent of 25 hours per week in school. Younger pupils would be less, and the LA only have to provide the equivalent of full time hours. They are likely to argue a shorter day in an AP still offers this due to the smaller class sizes.

What type of AP is it? Does it have a governing body? If so, has the governing body agreed the permanent change of hours?

It has recently converted to an academy. They kept it very quiet, I only found out when the class teacher was explaining why there had been cuts in staff and resources. I thought they had to have something g like 195 days a year? I just wondered if those days had to be of a certain length.

Finishing at 2 is so difficult, makes holding down a job almost impossible

Academy schools don't have minimum number of days, they can offer less and again number of hours.

I know the whole 'school is not childcare ' argument, but when you build a life around school hours, then they change it and finish at practically lunchtime, it's so difficult.
Especially for SEN children, because after years of searching there is literally no one who can look after him after school.

The governing body must agree to the change of hours, so I would check that has happened.

Have you had social care assessments? An assessment by the disabled children's team for DS and a carer's assessment for you. They don't have a duty to provide childcare but you may get some direct payments which you could use to cover the times after school that you happen to need childcare for.

Hi, thanks
Yes we have had assessment after assessment. We were allocated funding, but there is literally no one who will do the care.
There was a befriending project, but they won't do the hours we needed, just offered us 5 hours a fortnight in 1 block.
Then that offer was recinded at the start of the 1st lockdown and we were signed off the support, so I've no idea what happened to our funding.

I have a temporary agreement with the school that he can wait in the ict suit for 1 hour till he can be picked up, but I feel its on a knife edge and they could say at any time that they want to stop that arrangement. And everyone else leaves at 2pm so he is on his own. I have no idea how the other parents manage.

Sadly, most pupils will have a SAHP as too many parents of disabled children have to give up their career.

Did you try specialist care agencies? Or pushing for 2:1 care. Parents sometimes ask their DC's school whether any TAs want a few extra hours.

At the start of lockdown you were allowed to spend DPs flexibly, so shouldn't have had them stop then. I would ask for another assessment.

Thanks. I'm not sure I could face another assessment. But I'll bare it in mind that I can ask for one.