Should I let the head know of my concern, or just leave it?

[LynetteScavo]

DS1 was quite cross aoubt going to school today, as they won't be allowed out side at breaks due to the weather.

He then explained that during lunchtime yesterday the class (y6) weren't given anything to do. The lunchtime supervisor told them they could go on the computers if they wanted (there are 4 in the class, but come to think of it these are probably shared with the other Y6 class)And the other children made their own amusment.

DS showed his freinds how to make different typeds of paper aeroplanes (he's a had a book for Cristmas, and he's also taken some he's made at home in).

One boy took it apon himself to dance on the desks, and I leave the rest to your imagination.

DS said the lunchtime supervisor sat quietly, except when someone was naughty (like dancing on the desks) and then she told them to behave.

DS said the teacher who covered the class in the afternoon, really told them off for their lunchtime behaviour, and aparently the head was going to have every one(I'm not sure who "everyone" is; the whole class, or Y^, or the whole school) in the hall during morning break to give them a telling off.

DS think this is very unfair as he wasn't naughty...which has put him in a huge grump.

Anyway, when I dropped DS off late, the Head was holding an asembly, and really enforcing to the whole school how they wouldn't be allowed out today or tommorow because of the wearther and how they must behave, et, etc. (She was being very firm, and wnet on about it for qutie some time. )I mentioned to the secretary,who DS wasn't too pleased to be comming in today, and was worried about being told off again when he hadnt' been naughty (I personally don't know if he was naughty, but I can imagine a child encouraging everyone else to throw paper planes could be mighty annoying and disruptive). The secretary explained to me his class were so dreadful the supervisor was "absoultey in pieces" yesterday, which explanes why the staff are so cross with the children.

BUT surely the children should be given something constructive to do during breaks, rather than it being left to their imagination?

I did sugest to DS that I could come and entertain the class during lunchtime, but that didn't go down too well.

So, should I voice my concern to the head, who is obviously totally aware of the situation, or just leave it?

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

No, I don't think a year 6 class should be given something constructive to do during breaks - I think they should be capable of amusing themselves with the resources that are available in the classroom. And I do think they should, at 10 and 11, but responsible enough to do so without undue rioting. And if they do riot unduly I would expect a lecture from the head on appropriate behaviour.
So no, I don't think you should voice your concerns to the head - sorry.
I actually feel quite perturbed that a bunch of children this age need to be entertained rather than being able to entertain themselves.

[LynetteScavo]

That's a good point that they should be able to entertain themselves.

So I guess that's the question...should 10/11year olds be expecte to entertain them selves quietly for 1hr.

I sugested to DS they could have a talent show, which is what they did in Y4 during bad weather.

[LIZS]

but is it really a full hour , do they not eat during that time too? I'd agree that they should be able to behave with minimal supervision at that age . Do they have any board games in the classroom or perhaps could take cards in ? I'm not sure what your concern is or what you expect head to do about it.

[LynetteScavo]

Lunch is 1 hour 15 mins, I think.

They don't ahve any board games...which is what I would be sugesting to the head; that there are sufient activities for the chidlren to entertain themselves, or the could be given a quiz, or example. would it be too much to hope the supervisor could be trained to use the white board for such an occasion?

This is a very mixed class, in every way, and ifthey are not behaving apropriately, jsut lecturing them isn't the whole answer. Especailly when chldren who have behved perfectly well are being told off with the reast of the class.

[AMumInScotland]

If the staff don't normally provide activities for the children to do in their breaks, then I don't think they suddenly have a responsibility to do it just because they are indoors instead of outside. If your DS is bored, he should take in a book, or puzzles, or a board game, or some other activity for himself to do.

I agree with others here that 11yo should be able to entertain themselves for an hour or so without causing havoc.

[LynetteScavo]

DS is perfectly capable of entertaining himself, as i said he spent the time making paper aroplanes (usually he would draw, cartoons)...but there ae obviously some children who are causing mayhem. So my 2 issues are;

Well behaved children are being told off, and certain chidlren are running riot in the 1st place, for what ever reason.

[LynetteScavo]

Well, I saw the head about something else and brought it up.

She says she's aware of the problem, and they are not the only school to have had problems with behaviour at linchitimes recently.

She has also, she tells me, put in place measures to make sure lunchtimes run smoothly and children are occupied at all time. They will also be going out on Friday to build snowmen as a treat!

She a new head, it's the first time I've emt her, but was impressed.

[MrsWeasley]

Our school has a selection for games for "indoor play" which the children can use and some teachers allow games/toys from home too. We sometimes put a DVD on (tbh more in year 3 and 4 than 6) Our PTA gave each class £50 to spend on games 2 year ago and often things come in from second hand sales or charity shops.

If we have children behaving as described in the OP the children are sent out of the class or the teacher or HT asked to come to the class.

[Littlefish]

Our PTA paid for and provided a large box of "wet play" activities, appropriate for each age group. This was things like board games, felt pens, lego, blank paper, sellotape etc. They also made a set of A5 laminated cards with suggestions of things that the children could do e.g. play charades, use paper and sellotape to make something to wear, design an underwater world etc.

This worked really well. The teachers really appreciated the support from the PTA as it was something that directly benefitted the children, but took some pressure away from the teachers.

[LynetteScavo]

That sounds great, Littlefish, I think that is something I'll raise with the PTA.

[earlyriser]

tbh if i was supervising a class and a child was making and flying paper aeroplanes and teaching others to do so, i'd class this as a nuisance. But that maybe says more about me just wondering why they couldn't all sit quietly and just READ

[pantomimecow]

We have games and toys such as lego and comics/magazines for the older cildren.
But when they get to secondary school next year they will be xpected to amuse themselves on wet lunchtimes