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Some of our friends kids have finished for summer (state school) yet ours still have a full week to go. They are utterly exhausted and need a break (had more tears and tantrums in the last two weeks than the rest of the year pu together). Yet they aren't actually doing anything in school anymore - since they did the SATS (Key Stage 1) back in April the teachers (by their own admission) have taken their feet off the gas.
Today it is a 'school walk' (don't forget your £1 if you want your child/ren to have an ice cream), extended 'PE" sessions, then they are having a film day at the end of the week.
Why on earth do they insist on having parents drag their kids to school when they aren't actually teaching them anything?
[i]'school walk' (don't forget your £1 if you want your child/ren to have an ice cream), extended 'PE" sessions, then they are having a film day at the end of the week.[/i]
sounds pretty much what my kids did during the holidays - what are you objecting to?
As for the tantrums - the teachers are the same 🙁
You have friends with children at state schools?
How awful!
Can you not see how much damage this is causing to your childrens development already? You need to nip this in the bud before they get arrested for shoplifting, or something equally beastly 😉
School year here (Spain) finished June 17th; being a teacher I quite like that.
They are utterly exhausted and need a break
They should stay at home and learn amateur dramatics from you...
You have friends with children at state schools?How awful!
Sorry I should have said my kids are also in state school - I was making the distinction because I know that private schools have already finished too (they always finish earlier than state in my experience).
My kids have been on holiday since the end of June. 😀
our kids are into their 4th week of school hols now. West of Scotland.
If your kids are exhausted, then they need to KTFU!!!
Its hardly being sent darn'pit is it? 😀
Mine have their last day today, they're no more tired than any other time. 😕
It's state funded child care for the last few weeks. Saves the headache of how on earth you cover 6 weeks of holidays with 25 days holiday to spread around.
It's state funded child care for the last few weeks. Saves the headache of how on earth you cover 6 weeks of holidays with 25 days holiday to spread around.
Aye, we could look at it like I guess 😀
You should think yourself bloody lucky. Binnerette number one decided to wait until two days before they break up for the holidays, then break her foot at gymnastics.
To say that this has put a spanner in the works of the planned holiday activities is putting it mildly. I don't know who on earth she gets her clumsiness and appalling sense of timing off 😥
My lad finished on Friday. 7 weeks and 2 days I think. Here in Barnsley the council have had to back track on a plan to only have 4 weeks off in the summer and extra weeks/days at other breaks but it was shot down by the headmasters of a lot of the schools so they have cancelled the idea.
Our two only get 5.3 weeks this year. It'll be over before we know it.
2/10 ParentTFU
My eldest has 8 weeks of this year.
I think it's quite refreshing to hear a parent arguing for more holidays for teachers and pupils...
As an aside and to link in the the hot weather thread.
Had a wonderful evening last night .... Firstly going through the mountain of school work the lad brought home last night from school .... He's only in reception (not yet 6) but there must have been a dozen or more thick A3 books/folders full of the things he's done, with picture of him doing it and in every single one he got the biggest smile 😀 ( Dont know how the teachers/assistance have the time to collate all the work )
Then after he talked me through his work, telling me he was "a clever cogs" .... we had a summer's evening kick about in the back garden ... he won 9-6, but with 6 away goals I fancy my chances for tonight's return leg
I'm glad of the additional state funded childcare but find it frustrating that the kids are literally doing nothing.
My 15 year old is basically watching films most days....
Have decided to take them out a day early so we can go on hols. Both the wife and I have a short week so we may as well make use of it. Sure the school won't be happy but they both have 96% plus attendance so I don't see it as an issue....
Dont know how the teachers/assistance have the time to collate all the work )
They don't. That's what evenings and weekends are for.
I'm glad of the additional state funded childcare but find it frustrating that the kids are literally doing nothing.
Why? I can't get my head round this approach at all. What on earth's the problem? They're just letting them do what kids do. Good luck to 'em. Kids today have too much pressure on them as it is to constantly pass exams and measure up in our tick box society
They should stay at home and learn amateur dramatics from you...
😆
My 15 year old is basically watching films most days....
Really? I remember the teachers at my school just rolling into next years syllabus once the mocks/sats/yearly exams were over, lucky git!
As I understand it, all state schoolchildren do the same number of days at school, so if your kids are still at school now, they'll have longer hols at other times, it all evens out.
As I understand it, all state schoolchildren do the same number of days at school, so if your kids are still at school now, they'll have longer hols at other times, it all evens out.
I had always assumed that but I don't recall them having any longer holidays at other times this year.
Ours are out for a hike today, followed by a campfire in the woods. I think these wind-down days are great. They've done the academic stuff now and also put on a really good summer performance of Wind in the Willows. (20 years for this terrible crime, 20 years is a very long time.....earworm!) Huge amount of work and practice went into that. Now days out hiking, sports day and a swimming gala seem a good plan to me.
My Eldest finsihes thursday - he's got sportsday today, 3rd attempt due to poor weather. They went to the park yesterday.
If they've done what they need to do for this year I'm more than happy they let them kick-back a bit, frankly if they're happy to let them play on the grass, as well that's what he's going to be doing next week anyway, only I'll be paying £20 a day for it.
Why on earth do they insist on having parents drag their kids to school when they aren't actually teaching them anything?
Because they have to do 190 days a year.
Mrs Dubleyou's school finish on Wednesday and have 6 weeks this time.
Paying for it at xmas though as they only have a week & a half of hols. Kids get an extra 2 days of inset though.
Ours break-up Friday, was Monday until we of the Governing Board decided that was daft. I'm fine with them doing other activities, lets the kids wind down a bit before we get them next week for hols and they get to be kids together too.
Last day of Year 1 today for my daughter in the North East.
She's knackered. Her cousins and Scottish friends have been off for weeks already, which has caused some Facebook jealousy, but we'll be sure to post lots of pictures when we are enjoying the late-August sunshine 😀
Movie watching and pissing about at the end of term is a big NO from me. Although I am at a fee paying school, and dealing with the headaches of parents moaning at me about staff doing this is why I don't allow it.
My kids don't finish until Friday, their cousin finished last Friday but he goes back a week earlier than my kids.
My nieces in France finished ages ago, but they always seem to have shed loads of holidays anyway.
My kids are still doing work but just winding down a bit for the week.
Movie watching and pissing about
Well I wouldn't be happy about that much either. But hiking and playing in the woods, doing a bit of backwoods craft etc. That's a fun wind-down with some skills thrown in too. (state school here). Seems bob-on to me.
^ constructive stuff I'm all for - we had bush craft and other activities that worked really well.
I prefer schools keep them in for longer instead of the summer daily migration to LEGOLAND which f'ks up my commute 😛
£1 ice cream cost to keep them occupied for a day sounds like a bargain.
...hiking and playing in the woods, doing a bit of backwoods craft etc. That's a fun wind-down with some skills thrown in too...
Agreed - that sounds brilliant.
Apparently my daughter is just getting films, which seems a bit of a waste on this glorious day.
Nothing new about slacking off at the end of term though - I seem to remember that when I was in school (30 odd years ago) the last day was Games Day where everyone brought in their favourite board games from home.
Am I the only one concerned about these 'utterly exhausted' and 'knackered' children?
Exactly what are they doing to be in such a dreadful state? I walked/ran 2 miles to school then home again and was only in the house for 5 minutes to grab a butty and a jumper for a goalpost, rinse and repeat every day.
Stop them festering in front of tiny screens and they might be able to cope with the rigours of the school day a little more efficiently.
And at the time your parents would probably have commented that you were knackered too crikey.
At the time we all did it, rain or shine. Although I'm protesting partly for comic effect, the idea that children are exhausted from going to school is either untrue or very worrying for their future health.
If the kids have finished all their work, i've got no problem with the school letting them ease down to holidays providing it's constructive rather than just sat in front of the TV. I'd be happier if they just let them play out all day.
It frustrates me when they spend the last day of every term watching films etc and then get sent home with homework/projects to do in the holidays.
Last year, because of the effort put into the Xmas performance, the syllabus didn't get finished and the kids got 2 days of homework during the Xmas holidays. Most of the parents ended up complaining.
They should stay at home and learn amateur dramatics from you...
crikey's tongue has lost none of its sharpness! Has he sorted out the roadies yet with his tales of the good ol' days? 😉
When I was a kid I used to love the week or 2 before the summer holidays started, less school work and more activities. I can't remember anyone having tantrums or needing a rest 🙄
Why on earth do they insist on having parents drag their kids to school when they aren't actually teaching them anything?
Because state schools are legally obliged to have kids in school for 190 days in a year. Speaking as a teacher, we are tired and grumpy and more prone to tantrums as the term carries on, kids are hot and bothered, but not bovvered, hence walks, activity days, etc!
Just be thankful you're not having to keep them busy and amused at home.
We finish tomorrow, yippppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS. I am typing this in my Year 10 lesson whilst they are busy watching Cool Runnings. It's an inspirational film teaching the children important values of team building, perserverance, nothing is impossible, it develops my students in a holistic way. And it's quite funny.
PPS. I've not set any holiday homework, in my book that's cruel on both kids and parents!
I walked/ran 2 miles to school then home again and was only in the house for 5 minutes to grab a butty and a jumper for a goalpost, rinse and repeat every day
Ah, the good old days hey. I bet your run to school was uphill in both directions and it was snowing all year round...
the idea that children are exhausted from going to school is either untrue or very worrying for their future health.
Personally speaking my daughter is only six, so I'm not entirely surprised she is a bit tired. There is a lot of new stuff to take in at that age.
As well as school and homework she has the constant rotation of ballet, beavers, swimming, gymnastics, karate and birthday parties.
She is not (just) sat staring at a screen.
Stop them festering in front of tiny screens and they might be able to cope with the rigours of the school day a little more efficiently.
You know my family life so well. 🙄
It was a general 'state of the nation' comment rather being directed at you.
I can't ever remember anyone saying their children were tired out because of school, and I always treated it as a rest from playing out.
It ties in with the documented fall in physical exercise and the consequent health effects; if kids are tired from school, how will they learn not to be tired from further study, from work, from life in general?
It was a general 'state of the nation' comment rather being directed at you.
Which is utter bollocks, stop believing the media.
FWIW, my two 7 yr olds have just represented their school in QuadAthletics at County level and came back with a 1st, two 2nds and a 3rd in the running events.
So 😛 you
😉
No wonder they are tired.
Have you tried just sitting them in front of CBeebies for a week?
😉
Here in leeds my 8 year doesnt finish till next week! I have never known the summer holidays to start this close to August. By the sounds of it they are not doing much in the way of work and every other day is a PE kit day
No wonder they are tired.
Have you tried just sitting them in front of CBeebies for a week?
😆
FWIW, my two 7 yr olds have just represented their school in QuadAthletics at County level and came back with a 1st, two 2nds and a 3rd in the running events.
quite impressive that your 2 kids managed to make up the 3 podium places 😉
in the running event[b]s[/b]
(A first and third in the sprint, both second in the distance event).
#[s]competitive[/s]prouddad
Mine (yr5) had a school wide water fight yesterday afternoon - seemed like a brilliant plan given it was 30deg.
Ours officially finish next Tuesday.
Youngest (9) having an easy week and enjoying more outdoor activities.
Eldest (13) has effectively finished already. Inset day yesterday, 3 day residential music course from today, in school Friday, Monday off to a theme park for a school reward trip, finishes lunch time Tuesday.
I work term time. Finish on Friday. I may have mentioned this to my colleagues in passing. More than once!
crikey - MemberAm I the only one concerned about these 'utterly exhausted' and 'knackered' children?
I don't know any, my 10 year old is more concerned about falling out with his GF than why his SATS test said is nurmercy skills were a bit weak, despite his maths tutor (former School head and current schools inspector) says he's finding year 7 maths pretty easy.
If he's tired he hides it well, he'll be knackered tonight, but then he's got his sports day today, followed by a climbing comp tonight and he's riding FOD with my Sat and BPW the weekend after.
MOst of the kids in his class are the same, they play in the street of an evening and they all seem to be members of 2 or more clubs, drama, swimming, climbing, running, fenching (no way I'm giving him a sword, even one of those wispy fencing ones) - they're as superhuman as they've always been.
These activities can be really useful for kids forming new/different relationships with peers and staff. Also it may give some kids the opportunity to excel when this would be less likely in the classroom.
I used to take groups to the Pitt-Rivers etc in Oxford during the degree awarding ceremonies. Many of the kids had never been to Oxford and most were fascinated by all the dressing up in gowns and cut glass accents (in addition to the shrunken heads and totem poles). Very worthwhile indeed.
So I asked one of my girls what they did yesterday....
[i]We did PE in the morning then just coloured all day 'whilst the teachers got on with things'.[/i]
Yet we'd get a fine if we'd taken them out to go on holiday 👿