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To expect the school to tell me??

9 replies

MrsWhirling · 23/02/2016 08:42

My DD is in yr3. Her teacher left at the end of the first term. Her new teacher works Mon-Thurs, and we were told by letter that her class would be taught by the dep head of year on Fridays. Yesterday she told me that they now have a THIRD teacher who will teach them on Monday's. Aside from my concerns about the quality of education she is currently receiving under this set-up, am I being unreasonable to expect the school to inform me as a parent and tell me why? Thank you.

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SuburbanRhonda · 23/02/2016 08:48

I think it's reasonable to expect to be told, but not necessarily why, as there could be personal issues involved.

And maybe the third teacher on Mondays is a temporary measure, so they didn't announce it to parents.

Why not pop in after school today and ask the teacher, in a non- confrontational way, about the teaching arrangements?

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MrsLeighHalfpenny · 23/02/2016 08:55

Having more than one teacher can be an advantage if a child doesn't like one of the other teachers. And different teaching styles suit different kids, so there's more scope for at least one of the teachers to suit your DC.
Why do you automatically think more than one teacher is a bad thing?

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noramum · 23/02/2016 09:40

Yes, I would expected a notification. DD had this mid-Autumn term, she suddenly talked about Ms X, Mrs. Y etc.

We raised it and became a clear answer, but the bad taste lingered.

Looking back, it can work very well and it did for DD. She had a 2 teachers in Y3, this was properly announced, and she managed more in one term than in 2 with her original teacher.

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PerspicaciaTick · 23/02/2016 09:48

I've never had a problem with teachers sharing classes until this year. My DS is very happy, but I find it disconcerting that I don't know the names or roles of the assorted different women who greet my child each day. I know that there are at least two teachers, possibly a student teacher, plus the class TA (I think this might be a job share too) and a couple of TAs who work one to one (but also seem to do the start/end of day sometimes too). I get confused about which TA is which.

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BertPuttocks · 23/02/2016 09:55

At our school I think most (if not all) classes have one day a week where they're taught by someone else. The usual teacher will be elsewhere doing their PPA (I think it's called?), attending meetings, or on courses.

When dd's class had a job-share, they couldn't always co-ordinate those days, so there would be a 3rd staff member teaching for that period.

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user789653241 · 23/02/2016 10:04

Same here, ds tells me on whatever day of the week, they are taught by Mrs X, not Mrs Y, but I can't even put a face to the name. Very confusing. But I have no problem with having more than one teacher, as long as they enjoy learning.

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moanwhingemoan · 23/02/2016 10:30

My sons teacher went on adoption leave end Aug, we were told the day before, had 2 job shares, one job share left after half term, so now a different job share. Teachers do not agree on classroom set up so the desks are moved twice a week. It's a joke, how to tell the children the teachers are not on the same page. Ds being assessed for high functioning autism so doesn't cope with change. Having said that new job share teacher is great and already addressed issues he was having (she sat in on a second meeting last term) so I am reluctant to moan.
I would expect to be told too, ours has been a mismatch but we have been informed, albeit last minute

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Bogburglar99 · 23/02/2016 13:27

I think it's a fine line. DD is in Y2 and I don't know who teaches her PPA time - as pp said, this is time the teacher is entitled to for planning and preparation. I wouldn't be told if they had supply in. On the other hand I would expect to know if the person with main responsibility for the class changed, and this term they 'stream' the three KS1 classes for numeracy and literacy which means she's going to a different teacher, and I know who that is.

For DD I'm happy with that balance. DS has special needs and doesn't do change, and for him I would like more detailed info but rarely, to my frustration, get it.

With the uncertainty the OP describes I think it would be reasonable to ask what's going on with the Monday arrangement and who the new bod is. I don't think having three teachers is in itself a problem as long as the arrangement is stable and they work well together. Even my non change loving DS had his best year in a job share class.

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MrsWhirling · 23/02/2016 18:00

Thanks All.
I don't mind the two teachers job sharing, but after the first teacher left my DD was very unsettled as she loved her teacher and was sad he left. Three sharing seems a bit much to me. As a working parent I feel very excluded my the school, their comms are not very good IMO and I am always having to approach them to find things out. They often make last minute important announcements by sticking something on the door of the classroom. So basically if you don't collect your child at home time you won't know.

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