Academy conversion: 8.30am - 4pm aged 4?

bylromarha

Just wanted to gauge opinion on this from people who've been through it.

The school I teach at is looking to convert to an ARK academy. All ARK academies have 8.30am - 4pm days.

The reason for the change is purely financial protection against likely changes in the budget coming from the LA - the school is Ofsted Outstanding.

I was wondering what effect this has on the Reception + Key Stage 1 children? As a parent, what changes, if any, have you seen in your child after the longer day?

Thanks

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow

How many of the ARK primary schools have extended opening hours?

I thought it was just the secondary schools.

bylromarha

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow wrote: »

How many of the ARK primary schools have extended opening hours?

I thought it was just the secondary schools.

I picked a couple of primary schools to look at - all have the longer hours and I have been told every ARK school has these hours.

http://www.arkconwayprimary.org/overview

http://www.arkatwoodprimary.org/Mainfolder/201306ReceptionIndiaClassTimetableSummerTerm2.pdf (Reception class timetable)

fluffnutter

Let's face it - this is simply a sop to employed parents. We all have to earn a crust and most parents work, but now we're all slave to The Man schools are increasingly being seen as not places of education but simply free childcare.

lowlitmemory

I went to a private school and those were the standard days. It was fine. Never really felt like "an extended day".

peachyprice

What breaks to they get during the day?

Lara44

Gosh that's over an hour longer than I was doing at grammar school :eek: (8:45 - 3:10).

liney

An Independent Secondary school near me does those hours. They get a breakfast break mid morning for 20 mins, lunch, and also an afternoon break.

My son had been at breakfast club and afterschool club since he started school without issue. I'd rather he was in class until 4pm than fiddling with a Wii, but then by the same token if I was able to collect him at 3.15pm I would.

peachyprice

liney wrote: »

An Independent Secondary school near me does those hours. They get a breakfast break mid morning for 20 mins, lunch, and also an afternoon break.

I just got a newsletter from my daughters school to say they are shortening the school day, but they're only going to get 20mins break in the morning, half hour lunch and no afternoon break, so will be finishing at 15.10 from September. Her primary school only had two breaks as well, morning and lunch.

As OP's school are having four breaks equalling 2 hours during the day, 08.30 - 16.00 will still be more or less the same amount of schooling, so not too bad at all and it's probably more beneficial to have four shorter breaks than just two.

mummyroysof3

My first thoughts are that it's a very long day for a 4 year old.

liney

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

My first thoughts are that it's a very long day for a 4 year old.

But equally many have already been in nursery or childminders for full days prior to school.

It does appear that those dropped off at 8.45 and collected at 3.15 are now a minority anyway...