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Original poster

Is it normal to receive daily emails from A level teachers?

18 replies

Euphonium · 14/10/2019 10:01

My son started A levels this year. He has a variety of disabilities -- the upshot is that he's disorganised and required direct communication. Hints and suggestions don't cut it. All made clear on his EHCP.

I am receiving several emails a day from various teachers about lost/undone homework. I have a designated homework time at home but at some point, the boy needs to eat and sleep.

I'm a little concerned that they think this is support. That emails to me is their responsibility discharged, and they can continue on without any differentiation.

Has anyone else experienced and successfully dealt with this?

OP posts:

Kez200 · 14/10/2019 11:47

Is he doing homework at all?

Really at this age he should be attending to it himself so I would take the emails as a warning across the bows. Go in to school with him so this can be sorted out. If theres an issue then it is being faced now as, ultimately, learning how to be organised and meet deadlines is an essential skill for work or uni.

How well did he do at GCSE might he be struggling with the content? And how good was he at completing homework at GCSE?

Id approach this as a round table discussion so he can take ownership and any real issues can be sorted.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 14/10/2019 11:57

There’s a big difference between GCSE and A level. Is he enjoying the courses? I think most 6th form teachers or 6th form colleges expect a level of independent learning, that perhaps your son doesn’t have.

I agree that a face to face meeting with them could help to iron out some of the issues you’re facing and coordinate the flow of emails. The teachers do have a responsibility to follow up on work that hasn’t been done. You might need to explain what differentiation would help, given that he’s now a 6th former and preparing for independent life.

pikapikachu · 14/10/2019 12:02

With A-levels you are supposed to study at home the same amount that you study at school. So for an A-level that is taught 5.5 hours at school, he should be topping up with 5.5 hours of self study.

Dd studied hard for GCSE so is used to studying but has found the amount of home study to be a shock to the system.

I've never received an email from my kids teachers but they don't have SEN so wouldn't expect to,

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TeenPlusTwenties · 14/10/2019 12:05

If they are going to email you re lost/undone h/w, they would be better off just emailing you about homework when it is set and then you can help your DS be organised to do it.
You also need to get a list of 'self study' tasks from the teachers. So when work isn't set what sort of thing should he be doing instead. (eg questions in maths, vocab learning for MFL, etc)

pikapikachu · 14/10/2019 12:05

Does he have a planner, folders etc to help organization? Dd takes subject folders, lined paper, squared paper (she does maths), a planner, pencil case (she used to store it in her blazer pocket) and some of her subjects have a pupil group chat too. She also has a waterproof folder to put bits of paper in that she didn't have time to organise in the right subject folder. Waterproof is important as she walks to school and English weather.

Original poster

Euphonium · 14/10/2019 14:12

He does have folders, he is prompted by me to use them daily.

At GCSE, he had a teaching assistant working with him throughout most of the day, but unfortunately his school for GCSE didn't have a sixth form.

He's decided to drop Further Maths, but is still taking Maths, Physics and Computer Science.

There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to do the work he needs to get done. He arrives home at 4.10, has a drink, starts homework, eats at 6.30, carries on doing homework.

Hopefully dropping Further Maths will free up his day at school to get some of his work done.

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 14/10/2019 14:17

What sort of differentiation are you expecting? Are there specific things the teachers aren’t doing?

LemonPrism · 14/10/2019 14:25

Jesus I certainly didn't do 5 hours of homework every day at A level! Maybe 1 hour. This was only in 2013

Original poster

Euphonium · 14/10/2019 14:46

The differentiation he received at GCSE was generally organisational, so... being specifically told where to put items in his folder, that sort of thing. This, I think, is unworkable at A level and he is really struggling as a result. He has Show My Homework on his phone but for some reason he's still missing things, and I really cannot see where he can fit it in.

He didn't need any help academically, and he doesn't seem to be struggling with the work itself - just the amount of it.

I didn't stay at school past GCSE. I don't actually know how to help him besides cutting out time he must sit downstairs and do homework with my supervision.

OP posts:

superram · 14/10/2019 14:51

I emailed the parent of one child a lot-but not every day-maybe once a week and I felt that I knew her so well I should invite her out for dinner. I think you need to speak to the senior in the new school as your son obviously does need support. Do you check show my hw? It’s designed so you can see what is set.

FlibbertyGiblets · 14/10/2019 14:52

You should have access to Show My Homework as well iirc.

dontgobaconmyheart · 14/10/2019 14:55

Not normal in my experience at least OP, unless it's all gone very wrong. What support does he get at college? I don't think it is his subject tutors responsibility to do anything other than what they've done by appraising you of the situation and directly telling him about his homework (assuming they are).

Is the issue that he is struggling to manage his time himself, the academic level of the homework or something else? His chosen subjects are not easy ones.

I think you'll probably need to book a meeting in to discuss this as there seems more to it and there may be options for support that are not currently in place and it would be good to go in and openly discuss it before it spirals further for the poor lad.

pikapikachu · 14/10/2019 15:10

Is he using his study periods effectively? Study periods count towards the self-study hours if used correctly.
Dd says that she puts earphones in (so she can't be interrupted) and does some work,

pikapikachu · 14/10/2019 15:12

Lemon prism- it's not 5 hours a day. It's 5.5 hours per week per subject. Dd has study periods that she can use for work too so she's not chained to her desk.

colditz · 14/10/2019 17:30

Honestly, he doesn't have the required organisational skills or time management skills. His memory is appalling. He has a communication disorder (ASD) and ADHD. He's medicated for ADHD and anxiety.

But he wants to be a robotics engineer, and he has the academic ability to do the work ... and honestly ... I cannot think of anything that would be MORE suitable because everything else would require a maturity level he doesn't have.

colditz · 14/10/2019 17:33

Sorry, it's Euphonium here, I couldn't remember my password so signed in with an old account!

FlibbertyGiblets · 14/10/2019 17:39

Hiya school senco should be able to help. Email in with your OP paraphrased and ask what strategies. Quote ECHP.

IgnoranceIsStrength · 14/10/2019 17:39

Does his EHCP recommend one to one support in lessons and is he getting that? I have a similar student on a levels and he uses a diary which his one 2 one support writes in which then goes home to his Mum. He should only be in for 4 full days max on 3 a levels so there should be time built in to get some of the work done

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