I'm a primary teacher AMA

[MoleMummy]

Primary places have recently been allocated for September. As an Early Years teacher, happy to answer any questions about children starting school. Or any other primary related questions to see if I can help!

@MoleMummy
...and yet if they don’t how can they teach that child? I’m deeply sympathetic to the difficulties teachers face in this area, and I totally understand that the role may not have been described to them accurately and it may not be what they expected to have to do. It’s the same with child abuse surely? Nobody goes into teaching thinking they will have to be the watchful eyes and yet if they don’t the “unrecognised” remain unsupported.

I think it’s time to move forward from “I can’t know everything” and start thinking about what would actually support teachers who have a duty to teach every child in their class and who may be the only regular contact a family has. Parents don’t get a manual either. They need to understand what school can offer and what it can’t and what is available outside of “education”. They also need to understand the systems that are in place. Very few have more than a daily mail understanding of DLA, or EHCP, or what settings there are locally and how to access them. This information is NOT readily available. Many parents are already isolated by friends and family, exhausted by providing levels of care well beyond the norm, financially stumbling as work falls by the wayside and deeply distressed and terrified by the situation they find themselves in.

So what would help? What is impossible now? How big a problem is this for your students?

(And as an aside my experience is that some teachers/schools can be so extraordinary loving and caring that they change lives. Those few small moments and words of acceptance and understanding can move the unbearable to workable and change everything.)

@MoleMummy

"if the teacher in the class before you has inflated progress, you have to inflate further- a child can not be seen to be making less progress."

I'm shocked by this, do you actually do this? So that child's results each year will be lies because the first teacher inflated progress and everyone else just followed suit?
How can that be okay?

How much training are you given to deal with medical conditions like diabetes, asthma and epilepsy?

@Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis

Hi, sorry to jump on your question but I just wanted to put my thoughts in too.
In my experience, teachers have a pretty good idea of when something isn't quite right with a child, be that academically, behaviourally, socially etc.

They don't always have the in-depth knowledge to pinpoint an exact condition but are able to flag up a concern early on to allow support to be put in place.

They would then liaise with the SENDCo and do their own research to effectively support the child as well as take on any advise from external agencies.

You're correct in saying that they can't possibly teach the child if they aren't aware of their needs and so it is the responsibility of the teacher to seek advice and research where they can.

I have teachers who regularly ask to go on training to further their knowledge, particularly if they have a child with specific needs.

I'm sure this isn't the case everywhere but my experience is that most teachers can identify a child with additional needs, especially in early years because they know where a child should be developmentally so can spot discrepancies.

Sorry if none of that makes sense!

Do you really work 12 hour days / 60-70 hours a week teaching in a primary school as lots seem to suggest?

I wasn’t suggesting teachers should be diagnosing or pinpointing particular conditions. I hope that was clear in my post.

I actually get what iwouldtakemuchmorethanthis is saying. I know @Mrsteacher is saying teacher saying that tecaher would notice issues and differences and seek help and advice however i have 2 children with sen in mainstream and i have yet to come a cross a teacher who do this. Worse still i even currently have a teacher who says my ds issues aren't there even when SALT has been in obsereved and pointed out the issues to them. SALT even went as far as saying the school was missing ds issues. Now i am not trying to say thw teacher is rubbish or isnt doing her job just trying to point out that sometimes they don't have the training to notice some issues and differences.

Hello, thanks for responding. We are intending to do it in reception when said child isn’t even 5 yet. Over their entire school career I can’t believe it holds them back (frequently or every year etc, a different story.)

I was just wondering how much does it complicate life for teachers?

@Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis @MrsTeach

I totally agree that the teacher will be able to flag a concern over a potential additional need of a student and they will then liaise with other professionals to get guidance for themselves and parents as how best to support the child. Exactly the same with child abuse- the class adults will often be the first to flag a concern to the safeguarding person within the school and they in turn pass this information on to social services. It would be social services then who would provide guidance as to what to do next.

When I have had a child with a specific need in the class then I will research the need and go on courses/take advice as necessary.

@MrsTeach yes I agree that this is awful and so many teachers try and fight against this. However are overridden by the SLT....

@fizzysci

We are regularly given staff meeting/INSET training on conditions that are present in children in the school. The class teacher/any adults who work closely with that class are given more in depth training and the rest of the school an overview.

@googlegoals

I know teachers who do work these hours in different schools, but I don't personally do 12 hour days all the time. However at certain times of the year you definitely work more hours than others.

When I have had a child with a specific need in the class then I will research the need and go on courses/take advice as necessary. I’m sorry I think my questions have got lost in the mix. I’m interested in the experience of teaching children with additional needs. My questions were,

So what would help?
What is impossible now?
How big a problem is this for your students?

I hear A LOT about this from parents point of view and I’m interested in hearing the other side.