My kids are sick and my observation is going to be shit

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

So basically that's it. Observation tomorrow, but I have been home nursing my sick kids since Wednesday. My classes books will no doubt have been lost by the sub (again).

Ive been told that as I've only been back from maternity leave for 3 weeks, I can't show progress, so I can't receive a good judgement anyway.

I'm starting to wonder what I have got myself in for, two small kids and this impossible job!

[Rainbowcolours1]

Really feel for you and you shouldn't be made to feel like this. You can show progress in books over three weeks, in fact that should be clear to see. Also you should not be given a judgement for the lesson, even Ofsted don't do this anymore. You should told the strengths for the lesson, things that need improving and actions that you should take...and how the school will support you. This should be the same for very teacher and should be part of the way the school helps teachers to develop. Just go for it, believe in yourself...and don't be afraid to challenge feedback!

[Clarella]

Hugs and hand holding.

My obs was shit as I'm back from long term sickness in ppa cover. Very autistic children, preverbal - I've not taught that level before let alone geography!

I think the judgy pants ness of it is soul destroying.

I ve been giving myself pats on the back for a million tiny things. Specifically that none of them drowned in the pond and this time last year I could barely stand

[Clarella]

Rainbow, I think I've missed all this. The changes to grading? Or non grading? I find it hard to then work out if my lesson was any good!

Some of the points for improvement were what I was going to do in the next lesson :/

[Rainbowcolours1]

Ofsted no longer grade individual lessons, they give an overall judgement for the school. Ofsted aside Senior leaders should be ensuring that they know the quality of teaching in their school and should be supporting all teachers to develop and improve. Feedback should, ideally, give the strengths of the lesson followed by areas for improvement, from this can be drawn actions with details of any support, such as the opportunity to do peer observations etc, this isn't about weak teaching, it is about supporting everyone. You can use a grading system but the quality of teaching should be a triangulation of teaching, data and books. You can have an observation go pear shaped but if the work in books shows progress then that should be fine.

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

Thanks all. I had to argue my case but I was told I was 'good' overall, I get a few weeks now to do my actual job before observations start up again.

I'm pretty sure this job is not compatible with small children, now my youngest has what the eldest had and I'm missing work again.