Any teachers here? Do teachers stop working when the kids do?

[33feethighandrising]

I made an informal complain with my DS's school a few weeks ago. I got an asnwer from the deputy head minimising my complaint, that made it clear she didn't really understand what I was saying.

It's a complex issue and I haven't had the time to formulate a response till now, but it's now the end of term.

I'd like to:

a. get a response from the deputy (in September would be fine)
b. make it a formal complaint (so, it'll go to the head)
c. give them and the governors some information from experts to help them undertand where I'm coming from

I don't expect a response from them at this time of year, but if I send something today, will the read it before the new term?

I was thinking of replying, saying I will expect my response in September but here's some info to help you understand where I'm coming from.

Is that fair enough? Or should I just wait till September?

I'd love to hear from any teachers or people who work in schools, I'm not sure wast to do.

You clearly wish to take this further and that is fine but teachers are absolutely on their knees right know.

Please send a “ holding email “ stating you want to discuss it further but then the full info a few days before they go back.

Having a complex complaint that the right people aren’t around at the right time to get in and investigate / resolve would really ruin someone summer.

It's a complex issue and I haven't had the time to formulate a response till now, but it's now the end of term

So you're so busy.

Once it's made into a formal complaint, the head has a time limit in which to respond (3 weeks I think). Given the complexity of the issue. I thought I was being kind in giving them more time to think about it, should they want to use it

And now you're doing them a favour. Jesus. [

@Helenluvsrob

You clearly wish to take this further and that is fine but teachers are absolutely on their knees right know.

Please send a “ holding email “ stating you want to discuss it further but then the full info a few days before they go back.

Having a complex complaint that the right people aren’t around at the right time to get in and investigate / resolve would really ruin someone summer.

It's too late, I already sent it yesterday.

But, it's really not news to them!

I'm not asking them to do anything this summer, and they've already had the main body of the complaint a month ago.

I haven't just instigated it, there's nothing in the email I sent that will be a surprise I don't think, and I made it very clear indeed that I don't expect a response before September.

@echt

It's a complex issue and I haven't had the time to formulate a response till now, but it's now the end of term

So you're so busy.

Once it's made into a formal complaint, the head has a time limit in which to respond (3 weeks I think). Given the complexity of the issue. I thought I was being kind in giving them more time to think about it, should they want to use it

And now you're doing them a favour. Jesus. [

Well, tbh, I do think I'm doing them a favour to spend considerable time letting them know about how their policies are putting the children at risk, due to a lack of knowledge on their behalf. It could save them several court cases in the long run - probably unlikely but certainly possible.

I'd get paid a fair whack if they employed me as a consultant to give them the same info!

And, yes, I'm busy, really struggling to keep my head above water in fact. What of it?

I don't think I'll comment further.

I wasn't sure whether my emails would be read. I got some good advice, thank you PPs for that, much appreciated.

I'm trying to work with the school on this, not fight with them. We all have the best interests of the DC at heart, after all.

I feel like the people who just like to have a go have started to descend, I don't feel this is very productive anymore.

Well, tbh, I do think I'm doing them a favour to spend considerable time letting them know about how their policies are putting the children at risk, due to a lack of knowledge on their behalf. It could save them several court cases in the long run - probably unlikely but certainly possible

Knock yourself out mate.

I'd get paid a fair whack if they employed me as a consultant to give them the same info

But you're not.

This thread I mean, not the complaint!

Well I'm working right now, although it's the school holidays. I'm not teaching as it's holidays, but I am doing admin type work that needs,doing.

However I'm at home and this week I haven't been checking the year group emails. I tend to check them and the social media messages once or twice a week in holidays, though don't always respond. I often just forward them onto the relevant teachers/slt.

Our headteacher and deputy monitor the school main email over the holidays but not all the time, and they may not always respond immediately/until next term. The main office also fields calls. Send good through urgent ones but others are out in hold il we return.

So it,would very much depend on what the matter was about.

If the deputy has responded and you are still unhappy then ask for a copy of the complaints policy and it will outline what to do. However if they haven’t understood I would try to explain again first

I haven't said I am going to make it official, only that I might and that I hope to talk to the head in September

I see you've sent the email but the fact that you had previously said you would hold off until September seems unfair. It means they may not be looking out for an email. I'm not sure how every school works but most emails in my small primary school go via the school admin account. I don't know how regularly that is checked over the holidays or who would see it. No parents have direct contact details for the SLT and I'm not sure whether there are set expectations about if staff, even SLT, need to look at email accounts over the holidays.

the fact that you had previously said you would hold off until September seems unfair.

Not sure where you're getting this from as I never said that.

I said I'd reply to them weeks ago and I'm late getting back to them.

@Applesarenice

If the deputy has responded and you are still unhappy then ask for a copy of the complaints policy and it will outline what to do. However if they haven’t understood I would try to explain again first

The deputy responded but it was left unfinished, as not all of the points of my complaint were covered on the call because the call wasn't arranged in advance, I was bounced into it without having my notes at hand or being properly prepared.

I'm not unhappy about that, as I could easily have said that I wanted to talk another time when I was prepared, but the fact is we didn't cover all the points of my complaint. The deputy agreed to follow up on the points that were not covered in our call and has been waiting for me to respond.

You said you were going to wait until September to talk to the head.

@sol7

You said you were going to wait until September to talk to the head.

Eh? Where did I say that?

I certainly don't expect to speak to either of them before September but I wasn't sure about whether to email or not, hence this thread (which seems to be getting a bit strange now!)

Have you spoken with any other parent or get any sense that this “safety issue” is causing concern to others?

I haven't yet, no. I wasn't sure what the right thing to do is. DS is in year 7 and I don't know any of the other parents well. I know a few of them to say hi to, but don't have their contact details.

He only had one good friend in primary, whose parents I know, buthe's at a different school now.

I am in a Facebook group for the whole year, and have thought about when I should let them know, but I'm not sure what the answer is. I thought it'd probably be fair to give the school a chance to respond first, before putting it out there, so to speak.

Perhaps if I make it a formal complaint that's the right time? Or maybe I need to give the head a chance to respond and only then if I have to take it further, open it up wider?

I don't know. If anyone has any advice on this I'd be grateful.

As I said above, I want to work with the school if at all possible, not antagonise them unnecessarily or start a fight.

You are that parent.

The point about not involving the governors too soon is a good one. If it does go to the panel hearing stage, it threatens the objectivity of the panel if a governor has already seen it been involved with it previously, and can be a pain for a school to find a governor who is coming to it fresh, in line with DfE best practice (and independent school standards if an academy). However if it's a safeguarding concern that represents a threat to children, and hasn't been dealt with since you approached the school previously, consider a referral to the DfE if you think a child is at risk of imminent harm upon return.

Yeah, and you are that poster echt.

Like a fucking vulture, looking for people to pick apart.

It won't wash here, I've been here 14 years now and it's skin off a duck's back.

Personally I'd much rather be the parent who communicates with the school when she sees a significant risk to the kids unfolding, than the poster that makes entertainment out of picking at someone who's making that complaint. I'm sure you'd rather be you though. Why don't you fuck off and do some troll hunting elsewhere or something.

I won't reply to you again.

@33feethighandrising

I don't see how the issue is relevant, purpledaisys. I'm asking whether teachers work over the summer, and whether it's a good idea to give a head advance warning of a complaint with some info.

The same advice would stand no matter the topic, surely.

Please have some respect for my and my DS's privacy.

Maybe mumsnet isn’t the place to post then!

You need to email the school office email and request a copy of the complaints policy, admin staff tend to work a couple of days during the holidays.
I’m a staff governor in my school, we certainly wouldn’t be asking staff about any complaint over the summer hols, but if it’s a safeguarding matter it would be dealt with,

Op

I have to be honest
Fact that
A) clearly not raised before if deputy had no idea really what you were trying to say
B) nothing mentioned on the year FB group

What is the issue?!

@VienneseWhirligig

The point about not involving the governors too soon is a good one. If it does go to the panel hearing stage, it threatens the objectivity of the panel if a governor has already seen it been involved with it previously, and can be a pain for a school to find a governor who is coming to it fresh, in line with DfE best practice (and independent school standards if an academy). However if it's a safeguarding concern that represents a threat to children, and hasn't been dealt with since you approached the school previously, consider a referral to the DfE if you think a child is at risk of imminent harm upon return.

There isn't an imminent threat, don't worry! It's hard to explain but I don't want to get into the details as I think it would be unwise to risk the school seeing the complaint discussed publicly when I'm hoping we can resolve it amicably.

I won't go to the governors, although they are aware there is a complaint. I'm not in contact with them though.

DH is a deputy head and checks his emails everyday of the school holidays. Also goes back to work for 4 days during his 'holiday' for GCSE and A level results day.

I’d be that parent too over safeguarding. I hope we all would