Hi, please also excuse the non-descriptive thread title :)
I wanted to get some opinions from those working in education if possible, and thought posting this in here might aid that.
I've always wanted to work with children; my school work experience was in a nursery which I enjoyed, but after leaving school early not taking my GCSE's (due to a house move; my potential new school wanted me to retake the entire final year, despite my only being 'between schools' for 7 days) and then going straight into work, I kind of gave up on the idea until my eldest boy started school in 2011.
He is currently being assessed for autism, and after seeing the way a good teacher/school and the right support has totally transformed him, it's made me realise that I would love to become a Teaching Assistant.
Trouble is, I got into some difficulties a few years ago; I became involved with a violent man (also the father of my three children) and to cut to the chase, after he dragged me out of bed at 3am and threw me outside in my underwear whilst 6 months pregnant with our eldest child, I stupidly kicked at the door repeatedly to get his attention, ended up damaging the cat flap and part of the door around it and ended up with a suspended sentence (18 months) for criminal damage :( I also have a caution for the same, which was from a week prior when I threw his phone (as he tried to grab my throat...long story).
This conviction was May 2007 and I hoped it wouldn't affect me as I haven't had any trouble with the police since then...however a couple of months ago my child's school was asking for parents to help out within the attached nursery, also a couple of weeks later a lunchtime supervisor post was advertised - I applied for both of these, took my CRB certificate into school but hadn't disclosed the conviction - simply because I just handed the form into the office to be photocopied, and didn't think - and a couple of weeks later got a letter from the Governers, saying that due to the disclosure on my CRB, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to work in school (but I can carry on going into school as part of the PTFA).
I've since emailed the Headteacher twice - once just after I got this letter (about 6 weeks ago now) and again yesterday - just explaining the possibly mitigating circumstances surrounding the conviction, and asking that the decision be reconsidered.
I haven't received a reply, and as the Headteacher is usually outside the school gates most mornings and hasn't spoken to me about this issue, I'm guessing the Head is favouring the 'head in the sand' approach, which makes me very sad as it is such a lovely school with a great ethos, and I'd have loved to have had the opportunity to work there, I feel I'd get so much out of it and hopefully add to it as well.
Sorry this is very long...what I'm asking, is what do I do now?
Should I just leave it and accept I have no chance of ever working or volunteering in this school (I have applied to others and no one has any volunteer ops at the moment), speak to the Headteacher in person (book a meeting possibly? But I'm wary of doing this as this issue isn't related to my children's education), write a letter to the Governers explaining things...or something else?
Any advice would be very much appreciated, thanks.
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Excuse me posting in here but wantning a teacher/Headteacher/TA opinion...
10 replies
dylansmummy2013 · 16/05/2013 11:46
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