To think that I would be a good candidate to work as classroom volunteer

[TennisandTea]

I'm a qualified secondary school teacher with 10 years or so experience thinking of switching to primary as love teaching year 7's.

Also got other education related qualifications, good references etc.

Currently (for last 18 months) a SAHM.

Thought it would be good idea to get some experience in Year 5/6 class.

But, local primary school didn't want my voluntary help in classroom for 2 mornings a week because they had enough helpers already.

Took 2 emails and a phone call to get this answer btw - they didn't bother answering emails and when I phoned Mrs Wigglebottom in the office was really rude and made the decision herself that they didn't need or want my skills or experience.

I asked for direct email for person responsible for recruitment and emailed her, but she didn't bother replying either (2 days later) so I quite angrily emailed the headteacher who emailed me back telling me that my anger was inappropriate, they didn't want any old Tom, Dick or Harry volunteering, they had parent helpers from within the school community and no thanks.

Have since emailed seven other local schools and have only had one positive response - one other said OK but you'll have to pay your own CRB check
and five not a dicky bird!

AIBU to think this is a bit poor?

Worra point well made.

I rather think you have, at least with the first school.

I actually have degree level education in all the subjects I "help" in, but often my role is to play board games with children who need to learn to lose, have conversations with those who never get to chat at home, and so on. My academic qualifications perhaps help very, very slightly when I am asked to give observations on where children are struggling, but that is all.

It is good you would try to do what they asked you to do, but if you approach other schools, I would start with that point.

Yes keep trying OP

Also I think it's area/LA dependant on how much help is needed in schools.

That would be funny. Trying to give OP a breadth of examples, and actually both talking from the same teeny pond.

You're making my point for me now, I think. You're equating taking more than 48 hours to reply with not replying at all or not 'bothering' to reply.

I hope you find the volunteering opportunity you want.

Actually no, I don't think you would be a good candidate. You come across as self important, pedantic and over bearing, all traits not in the least bit favourable to helping out in a classroom. So Yabu.

YABU

You come across as pushy, full of yourself and with an inflated sense of your importance. Sounds like you expect the schools to be jumping up and down with glee at the chance of you gracing them with your presence in the classroom

You may find this an impossible transition actually; I was sec with 10 years experience, had 18mo as a SAHM then got a job in the dd's primary school as a TA (year 5/6). Did this for 9 mo, then tons of supply in various local primary schools while applying for primary jobs. I must have applied for 12+ jobs and didn't even get an interview. Too many cheap NQTs out there.

Eventually went back to secondary which I love again now.

Oh and BTW your attitude ,as described in your first post, is terrible!

The situation does seems a bit mad at the moment. If someone wants to go into teaching the rulea are that they have to have at least 2 weeks experience of working in a state school with that age group, in other words, volunteer experience. But schools don't seem to want to assist with the gaining of that experience. My husband is a chemistry professor who wanted to move to secondary teaching. He wrote to dozens of schools to set up the experience, only one of them bothered to reply and that was to say no. It can be very frustrating.

*the rules are

Even a small primary will get upwards of 200 e-mails a day, we do! The school secretary needs to sift through them, in addition to the rest of the work s/he has to do, then pass them on to the head. The Head may, or may not be in the school on that particular day. Even if they ARE in school, I'm afraid a request for work experience ( which is actually what you are requesting, rather than volunteering to help) would, I'm afraid come further down the priority list , probably below child protection cases, budget meetings, school audits, building maintenace, and the 1001 other things that primary school heads have to deal with. If your e-mail did reach the top of the pile, the Head would then have to ask the Year 5/6 teachers whether they would like a work experience in their class ( and the week before SATs the LAST thing a year 6 teacher wants to be thinking about is work experience!).

I would develop a little patience before trying again!

I'm a primary teacher and I think it's great that you are trying to get some experience in a primary classroom, but the way you are coming across is a little OTT. I love helpers in my class but it works best when they are calm, patient and reasonable as this is how they are with the children.

I think you need to relax a little, take a step back and possible try to organise a placement again in a while.

Actually, you'd probably be pretty hopeless. You'll be far to used to being in charge to adapt well to being told what to do. You should also appreciate that most teachers spend their time teaching and planning lessons, not pissing about with their emails...

We get lots of requests from people wanting to come and spend time in school with a view to doing teacher training/conversion courses/TA training etc. I would say that it takes at least 3 weeks for a decision to be made. The process goes like this:

E- mail arrives at school

48 hours to be printed out and put into pigeon hole of relevant SMT member or be forwarded on by e-mail

At least 4 or 5 days for the SMT member to find the note or e-mail due to other responsibilities.

Up to a week before the SMT member has a chance to deal with it.

Several days for the SMT member to work their way around individual members of staff to find out whether they have the capacity/would like to have an additional adult in their class. You might be lucky and the SMT member may be able to introduce it at a staff meeting which shortens this time,

Anything from a day to a week for that member of staff to contact the person e-mailing in.

I think you are being completely unrealistic in your expectations. Just because you didn't hear back immediately doesn't mean that you won't hear back. On the other hand, if you approach it in a "you'd be lucky to have me" sort of way, which is how your first message reads, then you are very unlikely to be offered a place. Sorry to be blunt.

I am looking to step down from my teaching career and have enquired about working as a TA. I did think I would be great. Our SENCO told me in the nicest way that I would be a nightmare as I am so used to being in charge.

Maybe that is something to consider