Teacher calling every week AIBU?

[TheGoldenNugget]

Just got an email from the school saying from next week they will call me every week to speak to me and my DS. I have a DS in year 2 and DD in nursery, the nursery called me last week to ask how we're doing (didn't even know they were calling) we spoke for a bit, they didn't ask to speak to DD and that was it.

Now I don't mind getting a phone call once to chat, but every week? Really? AIBU? Goodness knows how long this will continue, and they want to call every week!

We've been told we're going to get called at some point by the teachers from one school - complete with a full list of things we ABSOLUTELY ARE NOT ALLOWED to discuss with them which includes any concerns about SEN, emotional wellbeing concerns, academic concerns, needing any homework explaining so they can help kids with it, any developmental or behavioural concerns... look - just tell us out and out that it's a "checking we've not killed the kid" call and be done with it.

I've no doubt that the class teachers care about the kids massively - I think that our school Head has given up on the ones leaving at the end of this year since there's no SATs so no nice data to be monitored and scrutinised and really no longer gives a shit and wants them to be the next school up's problem. I've lost a hell of a lot of respect for the Head for how they've handled things with the transition year group over this to be honest - class teachers are amazing as ever but their hands are being tied by someone who puts policy and results above the actual small people involved.

@thecatsarecrazy you may get the teacher asking if they can stop phoning you

@DominaShantotto that is really strange

Very odd. Don't answer the 'phone, let it go on ansaphone?

I work in a school and our teachers and teaching assistants phone parents every single day.. we are a very small school. We do over the phone lessons with kids.. we've had 1 parent ask us not to contact daily, which is absolutely fine. I think a lot of our parents hated the idea of so much contact but it works really well and it does help to motivate kids.
We also still have responsibility of ensuring kids are safe at home.. if we didn't have contact for weeks on end and something happened then we'd have to answer for that.

@Lynda07 have you read the thread?

Schools and teachers can’t win either way on this forum

It sounds excessive, and unnecessary, to me, in addition to interactive lessons. I've only heard of vulnerable/at risk children being called once a week or more.

We received one telephone call some weeks ago.

But @EmpressMaudie as has been explained on here, it is not so easy to identify the vulnerable children as when they are in school. More children will become vulnerable as the weeks of this go on.

I think a lot of parents underestimate the many functions of a school - while it is primarily to educate, it is also a safety net and a source of support for all sort of issues. A phone call to help them continue fulfilling their other functions isn't much to ask of you.

While you may be coping well and providing your child a stable, happy upbringing, there will be many others who aren't being given the chance to do schoolwork, who's parents don't understand the work or how to support and motivate their child to do it. There will be parents who are more stressed than usual, struggling to heat the house and feed the family. All of this is before you consider the parents who are now in the process of separating, the children who are being neglected, or are subject to abuse - all issues teachers are trained to spot and flag up when they see the children every day.

If a phone call can help identify the children who need help, I don't understand any justification to complain or refuse.

FWIW DH is a teacher and has been making phone calls to his class. Sitting for a day talking to 10 year olds and their parents and trying to motivate them to work while also confirming they are ok is not easy and my understanding is it has helped in some cases as he's requested some forms for a food bank and arranged a school place for at least one family - in my eyes that makes the phone calls worth putting up with.

I have 3DC.

DS is in year 11, has had a couple of live google hangout lessons. Last week he received a questionnaire from head of year asking “are you still there?” If so, please can you send us any photos from your time at school/trips/concerts/events . They are planning a leavers event at some point.

DD1 (year 8, same school as DS) has had a couple of online tutor time sessions. Regular work set and submitted and feedback being received. DD1 emailed in a query and her tutor called to clear the query and a chat. I was quite surprised as she was very chatty with me and wanted to hear from me how things were going before speaking to DD. She loves being at home, although missing her friends and her sports.

DD2 is in year 4. Had no direct contact from them so far. We do have an email address for her teacher for queries, but not needed to use it. We have online work set, but not to be submitted. We’ve had stories and science experiments over the school FB page, and online assemblies. We have been told that there will be calls over the next 2 weeks, but for the kids. Not the parents! And w3 aren’t to say the teachers will tell them off for work not done. Speaking to her friends parents, DD2 is doing more than others.

The Safeguarding guidance that has been issued states that some groups are to be called regularly. For some parents it's daily!

Our primary school has got it right. They are sending newsletters, Facebook updates and website pages, telling us that every day between 9am and 3pm there is a member of staff to answer calls or emails from parents and if we need help, support or advice to please contact them. They also suggest we email our children teachers weekly just to keep in touch but this is optional.

On a personal note, I sent my daughters teacher an weekly email with our work and mentioned that we had done the assigned class work, as I had been in hospital.

The headmaster rang me to check we were ok and if we needed any extra support at this time. Which I thought was very sweet. Plus the teachers email were kind and understanding too.