To not be happy with new teacher so far because of this

You were right to message about his book, if they expect kids to read at home & message asking that they do then they should have given him his book so making her aware he didn't have his was right.
When she shouted at your child you should have stepped forward & said 'Excuse me he didn't shout at you & I'd appreciate it if you don't shout at him like that again' Sometimes we have to be our Childs voice because if the kids speak up they're accused of back chat or being rude. If you witness something speak up there & then then it won't be dragged out or leave you feeling as you do now.

I was surprised too at the lack of professionalism from the Head. Another reason tho move my DS.

And children are not scapegoats....

It's always helpful as some people don't know the other perspective of the reality faced. Soon there will be no teachers in front of a class to even criticise. If this teacher screamed at the child then I think O.P would have gone straight to the head instead of coming on here. Raising your voice or yes even shouting at times is sometimes necessary to keep children safe. Perhaps the teacher was checking another child and who they were walking to, perhaps there was a safeguarding incident involving another child and in that moment the teacher felt distracted by the little child happily declaring their mum was there. Teachers are not robots and are human and in a very stressful demanding all encompassing job.

There must be a misunderstanding- Year 4 kids aren't taught phonics.

Does she not mean 4 year olds?

I'm not a teacher so again, I can only go by what the school is telling us. Which is that because the phonics is changing, they need to be retested.

That's what we've been told by my daughters school, so I can only go by experience.

What decade was this? Be very surprised to hear about a HT sharing details of a teacher's performance management with parents....

Thanks for the explanation on how to teach, from someone who was last in the classroom when they were at school.
Most teachers shout from time to time- it's not ideal, but it happens. We're not robots, or saints, and yes, some would probably rather be doing other jobs. Unlike you never making a mistake once in a whole career, most teachers have good days and bad days.
I agree that those who can't control their temper and/or routinely shout probably shouldn't be teaching, but in this case, it's the start of the year. Let's cut the lady some slack- I went from being a rubbish teacher (my own opinion) to an inspiring one (I've been told this by many parents and now older pupils when I see them about) and it took time....only the very best teachers can do it well straight away.

Good for you! Most people have however. My post isn't full of excuses, just about 15 years give or take of teaching experience.

Wow. Really??

In my opinion (ex primary teacher) this is completely unacceptable - all of it!
It is their JOB and they are not fulfilling it.

I would agree that OP should cut the teacher some slack, if it was just one thing, but all three is just incompetence.

Why should people stop complaining about schools?! It is a service - though tbh more of a childcare service now than an education - that is paid for with 'our' money, and it is not the only option to educate your child.

Unfortunately I have come across more than a few teachers who don't actually like children 🙁This tends to be what happens when people go into teaching as a job rather than a vocation.

I had an issue with my DS ‘s first infant teacher, she really appeared to be picking on my pleasant, shy little boy. Another parent told me that this teacher didn’t like boys. I saw the head and he sympathised and said unfortunately he couldn’t get rid of her. I decided to move schools for my son. It was the best move I ever made, it was a much better school. The move empowered my son.

god forbid OP message the teacher

Yes, even though the teacher has asked to be messaged.....

Also @SuperFishy year 4s aren't routinely taught phonics unless they need to catch up.

That's not true. Different schools follow different phonics schemes. There's no one scheme. There has been no word from the new government yet about changes to teaching phonics.

The most fascinating comments here are always the posters who rush, practically trampling each other in their haste, to remind OP that its very important that a five year old realize how very unimportant he is to his teacher. He is only 1/30, he is .000 something of significance, how important is it to learn never to get out of line or draw attention to himself. And god forbid OP message the teacher or check on the status of materials! How impudent snd selfish and demanding!

Its so obvious that this simple incident, for many posters, serves as an important cultural act or training tool: putting parents and children in their place. Low on the totem pole. Not drawing attention to themselves. Accepting shit treatment if its doled out by whatever temporary authority is nearest.

May not apply as you say your child is the only one without a book sent home but all of my daughters class- year 4- are still waiting as the previous government decided to change the phonics teaching method and all children have to be re-assessed to see current level before receiving a book for home. Teachers haven't had much time to learn the system themselves yet.

My kids are at uni now. They said the best teachers, the ones the kids really loved and respected never had to shout angrily or lose control.

@Rinoachicken I worked with a horrible teacher a couple of years ago. It was just awful to see how she spoke to the children. My last straw came when she tried to stop a child from partying in a Christmas activity because his behaviour was 'vile'. I marched to the head's office and said I would quit unless she found a way to get her to leave. It could have turned really nasty but our head came in one afternoon to observe. She then told the teacher the dcs had no respect for her. The woman started crying and then handed in her resignation. Other staff members then felt sorry for her but I just couldn't forgive her for the shit experience she had given those children.
I don't think teachers are infallible in the least. However I have been in situations where we have had parent volunteers around and a staff member has had to tell a child off for being unsafe or inappropriate and those parents being very upset about it. Some parents really are very sensitive and over protective.

*that last paragraph should say ‘so are some TEACHERS’ (too late to edit)

As for the people saying "she's only human, she's allowed to make a couple of mistakes" - do you know what would happen if @SorryThroat or I made a couple of mistakes? We'd be sued and potentially struck off. Why are the expectations from a teacher so much lower?

My kids have had many teachers over the years, mostly very good, but a couple of crap ones and one who was so bad that the head actually removed her after so many parents complained that she decided to decreetly observe the class herself and was able
to overhear for her self the teacher telling the class they were all stupid and that she hates boys (among other things).

But what really fucks me off is, I get that we are all human, we make mistakes, we forget things. But when that is bought to your attention in an polite and appropriate way, like the OP has done with her child’s missing book - the shitty teachers I’ve encountered can never find it in themselves to acknowledge they messed up.

They get defensive and arsey and take offence that you have DARED to bring to their attention even the slightest suggestion that they may have forgotten something, or made a mistake.

The good teachers I’ve encountered, have owned it - ‘oh do you not have a book Johnny, I’m sorry you were missed out, let’s go and get it now’. No drama, no issues, no ‘complaints’ made or required.

The bad ones, like I suspect the OP has the misfortune of having, will instead next week be saying in an increasingly pissed off tone and a frown on their face ‘why haven’t you read the book? (I didn’t get one miss) Well why didn’t you tell me you didn’t have it, (already anxious kid now goes silent and possibly tearful because they tried to tell the teacher but were ignored or told to not interrupt or told to come back later and they can see and hear the teacher is annoyed) your mummy should have messaged me’ SHE DID. It will all be made to be the kids own fault, or the parents fault. Gaslighting at its finest.

Some parents are shits without a doubt. But so are some parents, and in one breath we are admonished for not engaging enough with school and with our child’s learning and then in the next we are told in no uncertain terms to never ever bother the teacher, they are busy don’t you know, never speak to the teacher, message them, and don’t, whatever you do, say or draw attention to anything that exposes where a teacher has fucked up.

I know! I have worked in many schools and have seen quite a lot of shit teachers!!

Surely this isn't a serious post?