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AIBU?

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year 6 class not getting any remote teacher support - what are the teachers doing all day

344 replies

anyname147 · 08/04/2020 18:30

My ds is in year 6 and has been at home, like most of his peers, these last few weeks. The (state) school has not offered much in the way of remote learning assistance to the kids or parents who are helping them, other than a few links on a page on their website which has remained static for several weeks. In spite of having to work full time, I am not a teacher, but have managed to cobble together some learning stuff for ds to do at home, but this is with zero help from the school. I understand some teachers are still working at school because of the key worker children etc, but surely the vast majority of staff are at home? What are they doing all day if they are still on the payroll? Surely a 10 or 11 year old can be sent homework tasks - that's actually marked - or weekly links to relevant year group content? I understand the kids don't all have laptops, but virtually all households have email and at least one computer or smart phone or tablet. I just find it hard to believe that his school staff haven't risen to the challenge of continuing their pupils' learning and instead have literally abandoned them because they cant go into school. I have, on the other, risen very much to the challenge and look forward to helping my ds learn new things, but this has come (time-wise) at the expense of my job.

OP posts:
Feenie · 08/04/2020 19:24

Actually, when my bil asked me this last week, the answer was that I had spent the day writing and emailing round a death policy (that is now mandatory in our LEA).

That what you wanted to hear?

anyname147 · 08/04/2020 19:33

Yes I know it's the holidays now - I am not expecting work to be marked at this time. It was the two weeks before the holidays and the Summer term. When I emailed the head about it she just said to check their website which has hardly anything on it and has been static for weeks. Not all teachers will have carer duties at home. They are all being paid with our taxes. Yes I am cobbling together maths questions, writing exercises, science videos and projects. But I would have expected the school to step up a lot more

OP posts:
Aragog · 08/04/2020 19:33

Oh and the teachers at my school are also putting together report which normally go out next half term. They’ve spent time creating a new report to reflect the new situation and have been gathering information for those too.

FrippEnos · 08/04/2020 19:36

They are all being paid with our taxes.

I hear what you are saying.

Go on.

disorganisedsecretsquirrel · 08/04/2020 19:36

If I were you I would take this opportunity to chill out. He's yr6 so going to secondary. Let him get off the fucking awful educational treadmill for a few months and just let him do something HE actually enjoys. Now is the time for a bit of child lead learning. Without all the structure he may at last be given a moment to think for himself.

He isn't going to miss his place at Oxbridge because of a few months of school aged 10.

The teachers are having a much deserved break. (No I'm not one - there is no amount of money you could pay me to deal with competitive/academically pushy parents. )

Aragog · 08/04/2020 19:38

As said - you may see a difference after the Easter break now they’ve had time to get organised. It was very quick notice in the end and many school just hadn’t had time to prepare. The initial priorities had to be to sort the childcare provision and activities for the children who would be in school, including over the Ester break.

It sounds like they’ve put some interim tasks online for you to get yourdc started.

maneandfeathers · 08/04/2020 19:38

Looking after their own children who are also off school Confused

grumpypug · 08/04/2020 19:38

Oh ffs.

I'm a teacher. We supplied work for the 2 weeks before the holiday. We've been working to put together online resources for after the Easter holidays. No, they haven't been put online yet as, despite what some people may think, we do actually care about what we offer the children whilst not at school and it's not a five minute job.

Aragog · 08/04/2020 19:39

They are all being paid with our taxes.

It was always going to come wasn’t it?! Hmm

Beebie2 · 08/04/2020 19:40

“What are the teachers doing?”
How many teachers does your child have?

It’s difficult to answer the above, because i don’t know which school your child goes to.

There are however, several tasks that they could have been doing;

  • getting better from illness
  • working 8:00-6 (or anywhere in between) in a hub - consider the likely percentage of key worker children
  • working in a hub within the same authority, with pupils from other schools
  • taking care of their own children
  • distributing free school meals /vouchers
  • liaising with social care and other agencies to ensure vulnerable pupils are safe
  • writing policies
  • creating a plan for ongoing safeguarding

I could go on.
If you’re unhappy I’d speak to your child’s school. They’ll be able to advise much better about why they’re operating in the way they are.

Ellisandra · 08/04/2020 19:45

@grumpypug you / your school might have supplied work - but mine sounds very similar to OP.

A link to Twinkl Y6 resource pack.
A list of activities - if you did one a day for the 2 weeks, that would cover 30 mins I think.
Zero teacher contact.
A vague “we’ll set another activity list after Easter” - so I’m let wondering, do I need to plan some activities, or are they going to do something more detailed, and taking more time?
Communication has been poor.

Speaking to friends, some have had weekly 1:1 calls with the teacher, others have logged on to a new daily challenge every day that they’re expected to submit.

I’m not against kids relaxing for the first 2 weeks, or the school saying, “shit, this is going to take some prep - bear with us!”

But that works if they communicate it.

I find the OP very easy to believe, as it is my experience and that of some friends too.

The two I know at (different) private schools have had LOADS of teacher contact, and full day timetables following their normal weekly timetable, work set for each subject.

Lostthefairytale · 08/04/2020 19:46

Having spoken to friends with kids in different schools there is a huge variety in what primary schools are doing and some seem to be doing very little. If one school can provide feedback on every piece of work and come up with varied and creative ways to engage the kids then why shouldn't we expect that from them all. Most schools seem to be doing this, but some definitely aren't.

Theholidayarmadillo4 · 08/04/2020 19:50

Ring the school or email again and lay out your concerns. No one here can assist you.

Ps teachers pay tax too Shock

TellMeWhoTheVilliansAre · 08/04/2020 19:50

So your job has suffered because you are looking after your (only?) child. Yet you can't imagine that teachers jobs might not similarly suffer do to similar commitments at home?

Why are you allowed neglect your job in favour of looking after your son but expect a teacher to be on top of everything.

Here's something which might surprise you... Every child will go back to school on the back foot. Teachers won't look for or correct the work that was set for home. Some schools might not be back at all before the summer holidays. If they do get back teachers will be too busy trying to figure out how everyone managed and getting everyone back on track to be looking at 10+ weeks of work done at home.

Get your child to read. Get him to bake and weigh ingredients. Get him building Lego. Print out a few pictures off the internet and go bird spotting. Go for a walk and see what flowers and trees are starting to bloom now. He doesn't actually NEED set work from school. You don't NEED to take on the role of teaching the curriculum.

HowManyToes · 08/04/2020 19:53

They are all being paid with our taxes.

Oh, you’re one of those people.

Kuponut · 08/04/2020 19:54

We've had nothing from one school apart from "do some reading with them" and the other school is mid-getting-organised but the staff are engaging with the kids, recommending websites and things to do, sending them photos of the class pets the kids are missing etc and generally just being as much of a factor in the kids' lives as they can be.

I'm actually really pissed off at the first school who are using the time to write all their curriculum plans for September and seem to have forgotten this year's kids altogether.

We're working our way through Beaver and Cub scout badges in the absence of anything else really to be doing. I'm normally incredibly pro-teacher but I do think the first school have dropped the ball badly so far on this one.

Nonnymum · 08/04/2020 19:55

Quite a lot of teachers have been in school teaching key workers children. I'm not sure what you expect the teachers to do?

Ladyglitterfairydust · 08/04/2020 19:56

Oh not this again! I’m sick to death of the teacher bashing threads.

Beebie2 · 08/04/2020 19:57

I really think you have to consider that schools are being placed in very different circumstances.

School A may have 2 children in school, a full staff available, lots of staff who don’t have kids at home, and a large leadership team to deal with schools meals and safeguarding.

school B may have 40 children of key worker children, possibly including kids from several primaries, a large % of staff off sick or self isolating, a member of staff at home with a vulnerable spouse, a member of staff home with a baby who has no nursery space to access etc etc

Surely it’s quite logical to assume that some schools are supporting parents better than others, because schools are not all in the same boat.

willowhazel · 08/04/2020 19:58

I'd have thought you were too busy teaching and with your oh-so-important job to be wasting your time on here. Come on OP, your little prodigy has to have got to grips with rocket science by the end of the week.

noideaatallreally · 08/04/2020 19:58

I have not stopped. Setting work. Marking work, Doing predicted grades. Emailing students to give them emotional and academic support. Sorting out the September time table. Volunteering to be on the rota to teach key workers students. I've also been ill. Going in to do so during the Easter holidays.

I think the tax payer has had pretty good value for money. And I'm ok - thanks for asking.

Poetryinaction · 08/04/2020 19:59

I am a part time teacher.
I am writing content ready for after the Easter holidays. Going in 3 days the week after the holidays.
I am doing remote training.
I am planning for next term and next year.
I am having meetings and answering emails.
I am posting links for distance learning for my classes.
I am also looking after my own three children at home. And volunteering to help people in need in my area. And helping friends and neighbours with all their education related queries. And keeping in touch with relatives. I'm quite busy.

FlapAttack23 · 08/04/2020 20:01

Literally abandoned 😱😱😱😱😱😱 god that’s AWFUL OP

Fatted · 08/04/2020 20:04

They are being paid with our taxes OP?!

Them and every one else on furlough at the moment. But I'm not banging on the door of Topshop demanding to be let in now because I'm paying for them, am I?!

What do you honestly expect people to say? They're all having a good time in the back garden, knocking back a couple of G&Ts and laughing about rolling around in tax payers money?!

Azandme · 08/04/2020 20:05

What have I been doing?

Well I was sick with all symptoms of Covid-19 for two weeks...

I'm looking after my own children and a vulnerable relative.

I'm completely changing how we work, I've had to learn a whole new set of software, I'm setting work online, and I've got to set GCSE grades for all my students. I'm also focusing on the vulnerable students I have, making sure they are safe and having frequent contact with them and support services.

My child is getting FAR less of my time than you are able to give yours.

Just because you can't see what teachers are doing, it doesn't mean they aren't doing anything.

You clearly have time to be twattish online though...