For refusing to talk to the school

I think that yabu a) not answering b) not trying to make the situation work given that plenty of lone parents are having to work and home educate simultaneously.

Will you be expecting your children to have additional support to make up for your choices and lack of parenting/guiding your children - education shouldn't be optional like you're allowing them to interpret it as.

They will see it as a problem as the curriculum hasn't been suspended this lockdown so all work the kids are being set WON'T be repeated.

They may be ringing to offer places in school for your kids - many are doing if the kids are not working at home.

They could be offering a laptop to help with your dc sharing an old one but you wont know if you dont answer
If a family wasnt in school with no discussion you would normally get a call.

We haven't received any calls.

You’re being really childish. School have a safeguarding responsibility to ensure all children are safe. You’ll end up with police/EWO/social care on your back soon, grow up and speak with them.

I get where you’re coming from OP. You’ve already told them the situation, so feel you shouldn’t have to have the same conversation every week when you’re just going to be saying the same thing. Just arrange with them to check in once a week, when it’s convenient for you. Maybe they’re calling as they’ve sourced extra help, like a lap top. It’s as much for them to see if they can help you too. Guess this could change from week to week.

Op, yes yabu. Do speak to the school, so they can stop calling to check on your children's welfare, and ask for a vulnerable child place as advised above. Ignoring the school, and your children, won't make the problem go away.

to you though. Very hard situation

I think you need to flip your thinking

I appreciate that it feels like an intrusion and a criticism and another ton of stress. Instead, this is your opportunity to get some support and to ensure that anything school can help with is facilitated. They might even be able to offer one or either of them a school place.

Be very clear with the school. You are single parent working full time with 3 children. It is very difficult indeed. The kids are fine (physically/mentally).

You can managed to do X amount of support of schooling per day. Self directed isn't working for your children. (this is the case for tons of kids, btw, what is sent home is based on classwork, and doesn't translate well to home learning). They can recommend what for each child or you will do X (reading, maths, BBC bitesize). If they can provide any tech support it would make a material difference.

Also tell them that you are at work yourself during the school working day. You cannot take phone calls during this time and would prefer to communicate via email, or you can book a telephone conversation at X.

I also agree about sending the teacher and the head of year an email just saying you are a single parent, with three children, and one old laptop for the two youngest, working from home. See if they can suggest anything like a day or two in school a week, a laptop or iPad device lent to you, or any other suggestions. That way you have engaged, shown willing, but it won't take up all your time to deal with them.

Not answering the phone or responding is the worst thing you can do, they have to check the children are ok and you not reassuring them or engaging at all about education will be setting off alarm bells. Just send an email today!

MacDuffsMuff The OP says they: "have openly admitted that there is nothing they can do, and there is no support they can offer us."

You can't find time to speak about your child's learning but you can find time to post about it on Mumsnet during a school day?

"Oh, you don't have the facilities or time to homeschool? That's a shame. Call you again in a few days."

Is that's what's been offered @ZoeTurtle? I can't see where the OP has said what exactly the school have said other than they can't help - I find that really hard to believe that school would openly say that they are not prepared to help two primary aged children.

If they are indeed saying something along these lines, then there are routes she can take to rectify this. My cousin was in a difficult situation and actually took it up with her MP.

ineedaholidaynow

I know what they want.

I’d be inclined to let it escalate, maybe they’d get a school place then!

In all seriousness just answer so they can check the children are fine but let repeat homeschooling isn’t possible.

@AStudyinPink they will want to see the children are well

They are checking that your children AND YOU are alright.

Tell them that you are struggling. Explain what the problems are and I am sure they will do what they can to help.

At the school where I work we have lent laptops to a number of families. We have also allowed children from struggling families a day in school to give the parents a break.

We understand and want to help!

And if you don't talk to them they will have to keep ringing. It's their job to check the children are OK.

If you ignore all calls, it is likely you will eventually get to the point of someone doing a home visit due to safeguarding concerns. If you're not bothered by that, then crack on!

OP why won't you engage with a weekly call with the school? It seems odd that they are refusing to offer help, what exactly did they say? Our school will offer a place to key children and vulnerable children - even those without an EHCP. Is this not something that they can do?

If not, who are you speaking to to get some help from school? The governors? Local authority?

Rather than using your time to post on here you could have at least emailed the school. There is no reason before, after work or during lunchtime you couldn't do something to support your childrens education.

They are checking on the welfare of the children, which is a good thing, but I can appreciate that the phone calls are adding to the stress and work load. Can you email the teacher and arrange a time that is mutually convenient for them to call? So you can block out 10 minutes in your diary so work colleagues will see you are unavailable/taking your lunch break?

Can you work out a timetable for homeschooling so you can evidence that you are doing all you can? Half an hour once you have finished work with one child one day, half an hour with the other the next. 10 minutes reading with each at bedtime. Setting yourself small, achievable goals will help you, and reassure school.

Probably best to engage in some form of communication just to keep in touch with school - send a quick email and explain that the homeschooling is not working well and perhaps ask if there is any way that your children could attend after half term if you are all struggling. You could then arrange a mutually convenient time for a phone call to have a chat, perhaps with the class teacher or Senco. Wishing you all the best.

The have admitted they can't offer me any help

What did they say exactly? Was it a specific type of help you asked for?