Primary school finishes nearly three hours earlier on Fridays
PARENTS FRUSTRATED AT ‘TEMPORARY’ CHANGES TO TIMETABLE DUE TO COVID
Ultimately children are missing hours of school time after months at home.
Lisa Krausebuckley
A PRIMARY school has responded to criticism over how it has altered hours for pupils as a result of Covid-19.
Since September, Dovecote Primary School in Clifton has been operating on a different timetable, meaning pupils are in school for 30 minutes less from Monday to Thursday.
And on Friday, pupils finish nearly three hours earlier than normal.
The council has said the changes have not impacted learning time, which has been condensed and are a way to minimise the mixing of class bubbles to keep children and staff safe.
But one parent fears the changes could be having a negative impact on children who have already missed months of school contact.
Lisa Krause-buckley, of Clifton, said both she and her husband are “frustrated” with being told the changes are temporary and will be looked at every half term.
Lisa, 34, added: “Every other school in this area is doing full-time hours between 31 and 35.5 hours compared to around 27 at Dovecote.
“But I keep getting told the same thing when I ask. The school has said they haven’t got the cover, or they don’t want to mix the bubbles.
“But ultimately children are missing hours of school time after months at home.”
Lisa explained the original timetable was 8.50am to 3.20pm, Monday to Friday for pupils which is six-and-a-half hours in school.
A staggered start was brought in with Lisa’s two children, aged six and 10, starting at the different times of 8.45am and 9am.
But their school day is now six hours, ending at 2.45pm and 3pm respectively - a difference of 30 minutes per day.
On Fridays, the last children finish at 12.15pm - a difference of two hours and 45 minutes.
“We are meant to be moving towards recovery but we’re not getting anywhere,” Lisa added.
“Fridays are the worst because it affects people who have to work or have other arrangements.
“I don’t expect normality overnight but its not changed since September how are other schools doing it?”
Nick Lee, Director of Education at Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s important to be clear that learning time for pupils at Dovecote currently meets the requirement for full-time education. Proactive steps have been taken to ensure that face-to-face lessons start as soon as pupils walk though the doors in the morning and no learning opportunities are wasted.
“The head teacher has explained this to parents and they understand the reasons for the current changes to the working day for children, and how this is only intended to be temporary.
“Schools right across the country have had to make similar alterations in order to keep pupils and staff safe – which is the overriding priority for all headteachers at the moment. “Dovecote has looked very closely at key points in the day which have the potential for class bubbles to mix. This means staggering start times, reducing lunchtime and finishing earlier on Friday so teachers can complete their planning work. The alternative would be having cover staff taking classes which only increases the number of people in bubbles.
“It’s a really hard time for teachers and especially head teachers – we remain immensely proud of the job they’re doing in the toughest of circumstances across Nottingham. They’re trying to strike the right balance between maximising learning, keeping everyone in the school community safe and hopefully avoiding the need for self-isolation and pupils being back at home.”