Child's teacher going on maternity leave

[tvhearts]

My child is currently in Nursery in a mixed Nursery/Reception class. Found out yesterday the teacher will be leaving to go on maternity leave, probably sounds mean as obviously I'm happy for her but I’m also really gutted she won’t be having him in Reception. Can anyone put my mind at rest?

[NataliaOsipova]

Kids are hugely adaptable. Same happened to my DD last year after one term and I worried, as she had adored the teacher who was leaving. She's now just as happy with the new teacher though!

[MaisyPops]

Kids are really adaptable.

Sometimes that's one of the hardest things for new staff to realise (not saying teacher in this situation is) because they think build great relationships and some sometimes think that means the kids will be devestated if they aren't there etc. Sure kids get upset when staff leave or go on maternity leave, but after a few weeks of being gone life is back to normal with a new face

[BossWitch]

Shit happens!

Teaching is an increasingly unstable profession in terms of retention. Over his school life he will have teachers leave, go off on sick leave, go on maternity, etc. He'll be fine.

[NaughtToThreeSadOnions]

The thing is, it would be petfectly normal for him not to have her for reception if it wasn't a mixed class. Indeed Many schools don't have mixed nursery/reception classes even if they are mixed further up. (It makes more sence to mix nursary and reception as their both foundation stage than reception and year 1 which is what most schools with mixed classes do around here)

But my point is that its extremely likely that he won't be havinb the same teacher two years running pretty much the rest of his promary life. This has been the case at least since i was at school if not way before that. Children have adapted, been excited about moving up getting a new teacher its part of the start of a new year.

I do understand why your gutted because when you think youve got a good teacher you want to hang on to them. But really your son will be fine

[tvhearts]

Thanks, OBVIOUSLY we didn't choose his school based on the reception teacher as that would be ridiculous but it was clearly a big factor as I'm really gutted. She's so lovely xx

[Tidypidy]

Ds1's teacher was on maternity for most of last year. The cover teacher was a million times better and got him enthused about reading, joining his writing and he was keen to go to school again. Every cloud has a silver lining!

[tomhazard]

Teachers chop and change a lot- maternity leave, sickness, changing jobs. It will probably be a good thing for your DC to learn to be adaptable to change. Don't worry!

[Witchend]

Unfortunately it happens. Due to a number of factors, ds had 7 different teachers over his infant life ( 3 in year R due to maternity leave and job share, 2 in year 1 (I retired due to ill health) 2 in year 2 (1 got a promotion) so different reasons)
The girls both had one different teacher per year.

I will also note that in his class there were 3 children of governors-I have seen on here posts saying that if there were governor's children in a class they wouldn't have left the teacher leave

[MidniteScribbler]

Even if she wasn't going on maternity leave, there is no guarantee she would have her anyway. Teachers often shuffle grades (our principal likes to move us every two years).

[tvhearts]

Thanks. It's just the feeling on the 'unknown' that's worrying me I think 🙁

[PathOfLeastResitance]

This brings to mind when I was pregnant (as a reception teacher) and a parent emailed my Head to call a meeting to discuss my irresponsibility at getting pregnant and to address how we were going to explain conception to her son. Apparently as a reception teacher I should’ve been thinking of the children in my class and how they were too young to have sex explained to them. The Head declined and the Mum didn’t speak to me for the next 4 months. As an aside, her son seemed as unperturbed by my pregnancy and how it occurred as the other 29 children.

[NataliaOsipova]

a parent emailed my Head to call a meeting to discuss my irresponsibility at getting pregnant and to address how we were going to explain conception to her son.

[tvhearts]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Omg that's utterly ridiculous!!

Well safe to say I won't be doing that, but when do you think I should expect to know more? / when do you think I can enquirer about it all. I don't want to be pushy but The unknown aspect of all this is really bothering me.......

[PandaPieForTea]

At least with maternity leave it can be planned - unlike absence for illness which no one knows is coming and has an uncertain time period.

The last maternity leave in my DD’s school had a fantastic cover teacher (I think she may have had a a few years of with her own children). She has ended up as a permanent member of staff and is a real asset to the school.

[PathOfLeastResitance]

She was and still is fairly ridiculous. Her son is lovely and I now have her equally lovely daughter. She is very much over the not talking to me. Mores the pity!

[Callamia]

What do you want to know? There will be a replacement at the appropriate point. There’s no need to push for any more info I don’t think.

Happily, most nursery/reception teachers are lovely - because they don’t mind working with small children (it’s hard work dealing with vagaries of being four). Being a bit miffed about it is fine, but it’s really unlikely to be a big deal for your child. If you’re cool about it, they will be.

[ChaosAndPiss]

I know how you feel. My sons preschool teacher was maternity cover and he absolutely adored her. She was the first person we'd ever left him in the care of (pfb 🙄 ) and she was amazing and got him.

We were dreading her leaving and the teacher coming back from maternity leave but it was all fine. Our son wasn't bothered at all.
The teacher on maternity leave had done quite a few keep in touch days though and had a staggered start so the kids knew her and it wasn't such a big change.

The new teacher doesn't get him as much imo but she's still a great teacher 👍

[eggofmantumbi]

OP in terms of timescale, it'll probably be settled a couple of months before the teacher goes on leave.they might not inform parents though especially as you aren't likely to know the cover anyway. They may also move a current teacher to that year group.

I teach secondary and was told by a parent that my mat leave was'very unfortunate timing' for her DD. I did struggle not to laugh!

[Julraj]

My youngest son had a consistent string of teachers throughout school. The other class (two form entry) however had a succession of job-shares, maternity covers and even a gross-misconduct dismissal. Didn't do any of them any harm as they all achieved at a similar level and there weren't any more leavers in either class.

I think it's far more important that they're in a consistent group with their peers than their teachers.

[SadieHH]

@PathOfLeastResitance I’ve been on this god forsaken forum for 12 years 😉 and that’s the most batshit thing I’ve ever read on here!

[BluthsFrozenBananas]

My DD is in year 5. In the time she's been at primary she's had her reception teacher go on maternity leave, her year 2 teacher go on maternity leave, one of her job share year 3 teachers go on maternity leave and the other leave for health reasons, her year 4 teacher walked out of the school ten weeks into the year, then his replacement went on maternity leave in the summer term. If nothing else her and her classmates have learned to be an adaptable bunch of children.

[WhoAmIReally99]

DC will be fine. You will be fine. I'm sure the cover teacher will be lovely.

my ds had a lovely teacher (T1) in nursery (again mixed nursery/reception class), I was gutted when she said she was leaving. Replacement teacher (T2) in reception was lovely too... she really was and I kicked myself for worrying.
Then it came to dd starting, and was so excited for her to start with T2 ...dd knew her, T2 had known her since birth.... then it was announced she was leaving ... Again i was worried no-one could be as lovely as she was.
dd started nursery with a new teacher (T3).... who was just so so so lovely and friendly. They left after 2 years and now T4 is just as lovely....Turnover seems to be quite high lol

anyway....what my waffling is meant to mean is.... whoever they get to cover will be lovely, and will teach your child well so try not to worry.

[Appuskidu]

Well safe to say I won't be doing that, but when do you think I should expect to know more? / when do you think I can enquirer about it all. I don't want to be pushy but The unknown aspect of all this is really bothering me.......

What exactly are you hoping for?!

The head will probably advertise, shortlist and then interview for the post. You will not be told any of this.

Once they have found someone to appoint, at some point they will let let the parents know-probably by letter-in a ‘Mrs Smith will be joining us after Easter’ kind of sentence.

Will this make you happy-being given a name? You won’t be told where they have come from, what experience they have etc etc. I’m just wondering what enquiries you are intending on making?

[tvhearts]

Hi thanks for all your replies most of them are really helpful and lovely and it really means a lot thank you.

It's a tiny school there's only three classes and one of them is taught by the headteacher and a ppa teacher.

to Answer the poster that said will it make you feel happy to have a name well yes I suppose it would make me feel happier when I can get in my mind around what will be happening sorry I probably sound like OTT mother but him starting school is a really big deal to me.

She's just such a lovely teacher and I'm sad that my little boy won't have her now 😞 but I think tthat's a really valid point about people that teach nursery and reception all have to be pretty lovely or at the very least have the patience of a saint 😂 xx