Drowning in home learning

[BumBurnerBum]

I work from home full time. It's a full-on job and, having been made redundant twice since COVID, I need to keep my performance high.

DD5 is having four Zoom lessons a day. She will not do this on her own - I have to sit with her, tell her to concentrate, sit still, not wonder off. Most of the time (especially maths) I also need to explain the question to her and help her with responses.

It is impossible to work with this - I have lots of meetings (Teams) and am also responsible for writing extemely complex documents for which I must be able to concentrate on.

I raised my concerns with the school and they told me to 'do my best'.

So in a particularly fraught week she missed several of her Teams calls and the school called me to tell me that she had to attend all of them.

On top of this she also has home work to do every week, which it has always been like pulling teeth to get her to do.

I get it's important and I am very concerned about her falling behind, but the pressure is just really getting to me.

I am involved in some critical projects at work which all provide their own pressure, but it's what's coming from the school that is currently making me want to curl up and cry.

I have parents evening next week so I can raise my concerns. There is nothing really anyone can do - I feel guilty for not putting 100% into a job I desperately need to keep, guilty for not giving her quality time and guilty for not prioritising her education.

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

Just me then

Hang on - she is 5 years old, or year 5?

I can’t think why a 5 year old is so desperately in need of 4 live lessons a day. Tell the school it’s not doable, end of.

As you’ll know if you e spent any time on here, you are not the only one struggling with school and jobs. I like home schooling personally, but even I have trouble working around it.

I'd be blunt and firm. Say it's not possible! Tell them you will do what you can but they should expect that she won't be able to attend all calls.

You're not the only one! It's hard. I don't have any answers just empathy.

It’s completely impossible and there is no way that school should be telling you she has to attend all of them. Our school has been very clear that parents can only do what they can and will have to prioritise their work as that pays the bills. If they are so concerned they should be offering her a place in school now with the keyworker/vulnerable children

I feel for you. Me and my DD8 had an awful morning today. She had to come off a Zoom call as she was getting upset and then had a total meltdown over nothing (wish I could do that myself really when on a work one!). I emailed the Head to let her know that I would try and get her to do one of the subjects set for today and a bit of reading but that would be it. I find it very difficult trying to work and supervise my DD - you are not alone but I know sometimes it really feels like you are.

I frequently feel that I am the only parent that can't crack home learning! No advice really but just wanted to say that you're not the only one that struggles. Big hugs.

Is she 5 years old?

Tricky! What can happen if she doesn't log on? What are they doing?
At that age I would purely help with reading, lashing of support with reading, everything's coming from reading...

Hand writing practise and maths times tables.

Op there is nothing more yiu can do

We have two teachers chats but work is set via Oak academy.
We can watch and do it in our own time.

I only do the core nothing else.

Feel your pain OP! I was in tears before I got out of bed, the longer this goes on the harder it gets but it's an impossible situation! Are you able to take any annual leave, I'm taking a little to get through this.

Thank you all for your responses.

Yes she is 5 years old so she can't log herself or mute herself or anything.

She also gets behind and then upset when the class has completed a challenge that she's halfway through.

I will have to be firm in the parents evening next week.

Thanks again.

I hear you, mps/schools/workplaces seem to be deaf to single working parents struggles (mainly affecting women) at the moment and good luck trying to find a mythical childcare bubble to help with schooling too! There is no winning formula that I have found and you feel that you are failing at everything whilst being busier/more tired/more stressed than ever.
Again no answers just and .

She's 5 year old and having 4 zoom lessons over day? Utter madness , why on earth are the school insisting on attendance for such young children.

My ds is 11 and he'd actually benefit from live lessons and has none . I really think schools should focus on live lessons for the older children who can engage independently and reserve pre recorded and worksheets etc for the younger ones with less pressure to complete.

In your situation I would just say it's not going to happen, you have to prioritise staying employed and keeping the roof over your heads, I can't see how school have any grounds to enforce this. Just stand firm and tell them she will attend when she can.

Yes it does feel like madness and I'm glad others can see that as well. I will email her teacher today, thank you.

5 years old! 4 live lessons a day! My Year 5s wouldn’t all attend 4 a day. Some have run out of steam and need a let up. Please don’t feel you are failing - your school probably have to call as part of their policy but they should be understanding that a one size approach cannot possibly fit all.