Gemma Markham

BCAFC ⚽️ Leeds Knights ⛸️🏒

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@mp_1825 Great effort from every player. Thanks for taking the time to speak to my lad after the game, he was buzzing ❤️💛

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

Sounded brilliant last night, Newcastle fans near us were saying it was one of the best away followings they've heard in years ❤️💛 #bcafc

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@BrazenJules I've been a support worker and have had some amazing colleagues who go above and beyond and some who would be like this all the time - on their phones, not engaging etc. Unfortunately it's underpaid and long hours so hard to recruit/retain the best people

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@naomicfisher The rest of the time is dedicated to other activities like PHSE, exercise, educational trips, arts and crafts and various life skills including first aid. A lot less pressure when it comes to exams and much more valuable learning.

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@naomicfisher My son is starting at a 14+ college in September. They do things totally different to a traditional secondary school, only 5 core GCSEs (Maths, English, Science, ICT and business studies). Students then choose a vocational course that they spend a full day a week on.

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@deathofbuckley If it's 3-5 year olds it's not really school anyway, it's early years settings and a lot of them already do this. I worked in nurseries years ago and we used to get the kids to brush their teeth after lunch. No big deal, don't get why people are so stressed about it

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@clhubes Also, with 3 kids very close in age, I've learnt to pick my battles 😂 If he wants a Pit Noodle for his Christmas dinner, it's fine.

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@clhubes I agree. My children have been raised exactly the same way, with the same food options. Middle one will eat anything, youngest will eat most things but the oldest is one of the pickiest kids ever. It is definitely a sensory issue because certain textures make him physically gag.

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@Sarah_Katilyn My son was there for his friend at his baby sister's funeral. Equally his friend was there for my son at his dad's funeral. They were both very young to be dealing with such grief and each other's presence was invaluable.

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@W6345789 @naomicfisher It can have the opposite effect though. My son's school was always good until recently. New headteacher, draconian behaviour policies = unhappy students and staff, and inadequate on all areas in their recent Ofsted

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@EmmaSzewczak There is a disused patch of grass in the middle of the housing estate I live on. Some of the residents clubbed together to put up goalposts and mark out a football pitch so the kids can play there rather than on the busy roads. It's caused uproar!

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@nomdeplume000 @naomicfisher I do appreciate that but they had no grounds to search him other than his eyes being red. He explained but they didn't believe him. These kids are starting to feel like teachers don't trust them and that they'll get in trouble regardless so why bother behaving?

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@Ifty_ameer20 @stedavies @LeoMars75 Not necessarily lazy, a lot of families have parents who work longer hours or further from home, and the traffic is worse so they just don't have the time and it's more convenient. I'm out of the house from 8-6 and I have 3 kids, it's better for me to shop online.

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@harrotcarrot @naomicfisher Completely agree, I think it should be a sweatshirt, plain white polo shirt and grey or black trousers/ shorts/skirt like they have in a lot of primary schools. Much cheaper for parents too. Anything else should be student choice, like hair colour.

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@RunSirRun @naomicfisher @jenhawk6248 Have you been to every school that exists? My son's school sent a girl home the first week of term for her trousers being too tight (supermarket school trousers). My step son got a detention because his clip on tie fell off and he didn't notice

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@veckansglitter @naomicfisher Again, that's not what I said. I have no issue with the concept of a uniform but they are generally excessively strict in high school. Primary schools are usually much more relaxed so how does wearing blue socks instead of black ones suddenly affect their learning at age 11?

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@veckansglitter @naomicfisher I didn't say it was, I just don't get why they need to be clones at school. Why can't my son have blue hair or my daughter wear nail varnish? It doesn't affect their learning.

[Gemma Markham @gemmavward]

@ttroughton @naomicfisher It's madness, I'm fortunate that we are relatively comfortable in terms of salary but I spend far more on uniform than I do on normal clothes. It must be a nightmare for a lot of parents. £8 for branded PE socks that they wear for an hour a week!