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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to request work for my son while hes off school

18 replies

notnagging · 15/07/2013 20:06

My son had an operation last week. I notified the school & requested work about a month before he left. No reply. I sent a message through the school receptionist again no reply. I then sent a letter to the headteacher saying how disappointed I was that they had not replied & could she make sure work was set. Again no reply! I rang the school & the secretary said they did get the message & thought it was strange they haven't replied. My son is not allowed out for 2 weeks and is going crazy at home.
I don't understand why they wont send anything? I don't think Im being unreasonable & I thought the school had a legal duty to educate if a child cannot attend school? Im thinking of sending my dh in tmw to have a word.

OP posts:
cornypony · 15/07/2013 20:07

YANBU
How unprofessional of them.

englishteacher78 · 15/07/2013 20:16

Most odd. I wouldn't have been able to send work a month in advance but when he was off I would try and send some - usually via the student's email

trinity0097 · 15/07/2013 20:20

How old is he? What operation has he had? Does he have access to a VLE where he can get work/assignments?

(And in this hot weather near the end of term do you think that much real quality work is happening? Nothing worth catching up on goes on in my classroom in the end of term - curriculum activities, but not of the learning new things, just consolidating)

WestmorlandSausage · 15/07/2013 20:25

I think they are probably wondering why you asking for work when school is just about to break up for summer and none of the children in school are doing any work either as its all sports days and end of year trips/ parties.

I doubt the teachers have been doing much lesson planning at this time of year as they have also been writing reports for gazillions of children - they would probably be having to set work specially for your DS.

Education isn't just about set work - its about so much else. It will probably do your DS some good to be bored witless - thats the best times for children's imaginations to be set free. Perhaps set him a task of planning all the things he wants to do when this two weeks is up!

Why are you sending DH to complain if you are the one bothered by it?

WestmorlandSausage · 15/07/2013 20:26

so on balance thats a YABU

soverylucky · 15/07/2013 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
notnagging · 15/07/2013 20:27

I don't think they will be doing much but just wanted something to keep him going. He is going crazy being stuck indoors in this weather. At least if I knew what topic they had been doing, I could help him do something.

OP posts:
Original poster
notnagging · 15/07/2013 20:30

I have to stay at home with him as he's not allowed out. He really misses school. We are in a grammar school area & they are still doing work as they have their 11plus the first week back.

OP posts:
Whathaveiforgottentoday · 15/07/2013 20:33

It is a legal duty and you Yanbu. We got asked for work for a student that was off today in briefing.
He's probably not missing much but they should still send work and if he's bored, perfect opportunity to catch up on some work.

phantomnamechanger · 15/07/2013 20:33

is he sitting the 11+ then? if so there are countless free papers to download/practice online, as well as stuff you can buy.

starfishmummy · 15/07/2013 20:34

In the same situation except it has been longer for ds. Teacher said she didn't know who arranged for the home teachers to come in and has done nothing to find out...... Formal complaint is on the way

Original poster
notnagging · 15/07/2013 20:39

It's really frustrating. I have been doing everything I can. He's stuck in & has apps to help but he's been crying today because he misses school. He has asked for work & wants to try & go back in before the end of termHmm

OP posts:
Hulababy · 15/07/2013 20:42

Unusual for the school to not send work if asked for, even if just some links to revision sites or some photocopied sheets.

If he is doing 11+ next term, why not google? There are lots of past/sample papers online that you can print off.

WaitMonkey · 15/07/2013 20:43

I've had this trouble with my primary aged ds. It took weeks to get any work out of them. Yet there up in arms if people take their kids on holiday during term time. Then they are bothered about the children's education suffering nothing to do with Ofsted at all. Hmm

Original poster
notnagging · 15/07/2013 20:48

Yes I have been doing things with him but I don't know what they have been doing specifically. At least if I knew the topic I could do some work with him on it to reassure him that he's not missing much.

OP posts:
Original poster
notnagging · 15/07/2013 20:48

Thanks for your replies.

OP posts:
englishteacher78 · 15/07/2013 20:51

If preparing for 11+ make sure he's reading lots (including a bit of 19th century fiction) and try some comprehension tasks - www.teachit.co.uk has some.

Original poster
notnagging · 15/07/2013 20:58

Thank you englishteacher. In going to try & speak to the head tmw at least to ask why they didn't have the courtesy to reply.

OP posts:
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