To ask how to get hold of school on a Friday evening.

[DreamALittleDreamofMe]

Hi guys, just a bit of an AIBU if you don’t mind 💗

I’ve had a poorly girl since October, I posted here a few months ago - anyway, we are awaiting results of the genetic testing this week.

It’s been really stressful, months of tests, hospital visits and U.K. hospital visits, MRIs under sedation etc etc, despite all of this I have really tried my best and made up my time at work or used annual leave.

When Covid hit our town, I wasn’t taking any chances - I work in the hospital so my boss told me I could still send the little ones into school as I am an essential worker, I said I’m sorry but I will either take unpaid leave or work from home as we had no idea how Covid would escalate and I didn’t want to put DD at risk.

Anyway, last week our town was declared Covid free. Our government have been fantastic in controlling the spread with social distancing, allowing us 2 hours per day exercise etc.

Our schools are opening to all students on the 8th of June under the public health guidelines which I am more than happy to do. However I had an email from my work today saying we need to plan to get you back, I said yes definitely etc explained the schools were taking them back from the 8th and I would see them then.

But I got a response at 5pm tonight saying ‘I was thinking that your children should go back on the first as you are an essential worker’. Unfortunately school won’t answer the phone as it’s half term but I’m expected back to work on Monday. I messaged to tell my work this and they said sort it on Monday for a Tuesday start at work.

I had also arranged childcare for little DD from the 8th as her nursery won’t take her at the moment due to her current situation. Now I’m stuck and I don’t know what to do 😭

So please tell me if it's unreasonable to track down the teacher on Facebook and ask permission. I feel sick with stress.

[BarbedBloom]

This sounds really hard and I think is something a lot of people will be facing given a lot of schools are only part time or full. I doubt the teacher could make a decision and may not even reply, sorry

[NuffSaidSam]

Can you not just call them on Monday morning?

Do you have a DP?

[lyralalala]

It would be unreasonable to track down the teacher on their Facebook and ask, primarily because it won't be the teacher's decision.

Is it a LA school or Academy? Your council may have details over who to speak to over school admissions at the moment, but you'll likely not get anyone until Monday

[sd249]

Honestly - yes it would! Would you be comfortable with someone "tracking you down" at 9:30pm on a Friday night on a week that you do not get paid for (though likely will have been working throughout)

You could try e-mailing. I'm a teacher and will be working over the weekend however if someone contacted me on facebook for something that is not an emergency (you not organising your work is not an emergency) then I would probably just ignore it. This is likely not the teacher's decision or place to organise, it is likely done whole school.

I would be telling work that I cannot go back on Monday and then sort it on Monday for Tuesday onwards. School will have to plan for your child to go in and will not be able to do this over the weekend.

[iolaus]

It won't be the teachers decision so yes unreasonable (and even if it was their decision it would be unreasonable to track on facebook - you could email though some teachers check on weekends etc - I remember my daughter in the middle of her A levels being surprised she got a reply from her teacher on christmas eve)

Also most key workers have been applying each week a week in advance to get those spaces so I wouldn't be sure of your success at this late notice

[DreamALittleDreamofMe]

I do have a partner but he is back to work so childcare kind of lands on me to deal with as he is full time, I'm part time.

[DreamALittleDreamofMe]

Okay thank you, I see I am being unreasonable :£
If I had known earlier it would have been helpful, if anything I feel my work have been unreasonable here.

[fascinated]

You sound like you are not in the UK?

[shitthissucks]

Oh god, no don’t track the teacher down on fb! That’s mental and as if it’s even up to them.

Just work it out on Monday. You’ve been given a days grace for this reason.

[Healthyandhappy]

I've messaged on dojo I have a place for both my kids on Monday as both key workers so I sent in the forms and said need childcare and she said Monday- head teacher.

[freddiethegreat]

YABU. Your work has said sort it Monday. Leave the teacher alone, it’s definitely not appropriate to contact them via Facebook at any time!

[Mayra1367]

Do not track the teacher on FB . It will not be up to them anyway.

[nowaitaminute]

Normally...I would say hell no to trying to contact a teacher at this point! HOWEVER, given that we are still technically in unprecedented circumstances then I'm sure the teacher will understand your panic and need to contact...I know I would.

[shitthissucks]

I can’t believe there are people out there who would consider tracking a teacher on fb to ask something like this. It’s unbelievable.

[DreamALittleDreamofMe]

I'm going to leave the teacher be. It can wait till Monday. To be honest, given the current situation with schools I will be lucky to even get a place for 3 children.

What will be will be, worst case scenario I won't have to worry about work anymore 😂

[Jjttmm]

Absolutely should not contact them on Facebook. Also keep in mind they may only accept a child with two key worker parents if they have high numbers.

[Watsername]

Email the school office if you feel it is urgent.

[scottishlass123]

Your work are unreasonable as they have not given you sufficient time to arrange childcare. Furthermore, most teachers under a professional code of conduct from their employers are not to communicate with parents or pupils on social media. Unless it is a communications platform organised by the school, and if so communication would most likely only be within school hours.

[thatsallineed]

Wherever you are in the world, your employer is being completely unreasonable to email you on a Friday to tell you that you are expected back in work on the following Monday. They haven't given you any time to arrange childcare or return to school.

[DreamALittleDreamofMe]

Thank you for the responses. I think this is the nail in the coffin for me, I've really struggled with the juggle. I think it's time for me to step back and focus on my little ones x

[Porcupineinwaiting]

Surely your partner could take a day or two of unpaid leave if necessary?

[DreamALittleDreamofMe]

He is going to try, but it's not that easy at the moment with people off isolating etc. It's a nightmare really.

[ArtieFufkinPolymerRecords]

Totally unreasonable to try to contact a teacher through facebook, especially as it is Friday evening of a school holiday. Email the head or the office, though they will be busy trying to sort everything out at the moment, so may not get back to you straight away.

[Rockbird]

Email the office or if you have the email of one of the leadership team. It's reasonably likely they'll pick up the emails anyway. I'm office and often checking emails outside hours at the moment.

[Dieu]

I didn't really follow your post, but that's probably just me being tired! I work in a school and definitely wouldn't engage with a parent over FB; it would be unprofessional. I can guarantee you though, that staff will be picking up their emails. So that is the way to go. If you don't have an email address for the teacher, just send an email to either the Headteacher or to school admin, and they can pass it on. Best wishes to your daughter and hope the situation works out ok