To continue going out on weekdays?

[Alwayswatched]

For context:
I am a teacher in a fair size city primary. I don’t live in the city but not far out (around 10 miles). I am in school 1.5 days a week and my DS (3) goes to nursery and wfh the rest of the time.

I am on my own with DS. Whilst wfh, most work is done before DS wakes up, when he is napping and after he goes to bed. Having said that, I do manage to respond to emails and calls whilst he is playing or watching TV. I work during the evenings at the weekend to catch up on anything I need to.

I take DS to the sea front every lunch time whilst at home. It’s within walking distance and that exercise is good for inducing a longer afternoon nap! He takes his bike or scooter and we’re normally out anywhere between 40 mins and 1.5 hours.

Yesterday evening I was told that a parent had been in touch with the school because they regularly see me out on a weekday. They are concerned about the impact of this on their child’s education. It has been advised that I stop our lunch time walk during the working week and stay at my computer. (Might be worth noting that I take any important calls and emails on my phone whilst on the walk.)

It is perfectly accepted amongst colleagues that those homeschooling older children have erratic work patterns and that’s fine. What’s not fine is erratic work patterns as someone on their own working around a toddler’s routine.

I feel self conscious going out now and feel like I’m being watched constantly. Before going into teaching I took a walk during my lunch every day so maybe that’s why I perhaps wrongly feel it’s acceptable!

AIBU to go out for a lunch time walk during a working week day?

Lunch breaks aren't up to an hour and a half long tho....mine is 30 mins which is barely enough time to feed me and the three kids 😂

I'm not against the walk....just been saying if work are paying you then they can expect normal working hours....which again I know is difficult as I'm dealing with it too and have been told by work to work normal hours and not get distracted by family, kids or housework...which is pretty impossible as I'm working from home because of lack of childcare

But she's working evenings to make up work hours she struggles to complete in the day....taking longer lunch breaks means having to work more in the evenings

And your point is? She's getting the work done ffs!! It's people like you who make me so glad I am no longer in the work force.

Lunch breaks aren't up to an hour and a half long tho

Says who? I can take up to 2 hours for lunch as long as I work 7.5 hours a day. I'm currently starting early, going for a walk for up to about 90 minutes at lunchtime and working until around 5 pm.

Unless the OP has been told by her employer that she needs to be contactable and working at certain times she can do what she likes at lunchtime.

Unless the OP has been told by her employer that she needs to be contactable and working at certain times she can do what she likes at lunchtime.

But school has hence this whole post

Parent mad and school are being unreasonable

Enjoy your walk today.

When and where you do your work is immaterial if you don't have to have face to face contact with your students at specific times.

What matters is whether you are doing your work on time to the requisite standards.

It does seem odd that the school doesn't have your back on this and thinks you should be at home at lunchtime in case a nosey parent sees you. I agree with pp's who've said I'd be looking for another job when things return more to normal. Sounds like pointless micromanaging to me. People have got hung up over the 1.5 hours but wouldn't this parent have said something if you'd been out for 55 minutes too?

@amy85

I interested to know what you are required to do as a TA that requires you to do full school hours with only a 30 minute lunch break. I don't think most schools are expecting TAs to do that.

I'm

Of course you should have your lunch break but justifying it by saying you take important calls while walking kind of takes away from that justification. Either you're out for a short break and should treat it as such, the calls can wait or you're actually taking longer than a lunch break. It's not professional to take those call whilst out and about IMO.

My HT would be laughing along at the madness of the complaint.

No wonder people are fleeing the profession. Keep going on your walk. And complain to the HT.

That parent is a dickbag! Carry on with your walks as long as you’re getting the work done I don’t see a problem.

Bet they’re the kind of person at work who makes a big song and dance about being there for their exact hours while doing bugger all and moaning about people who have a more flexible approach.

@ArtieFufkinPolymerRecords my SLT are trying their best to keep us homeworkers busy...we have been sent home a pack full of stuff to keep us busy....we started off with having to catch up on admin like sorting photos, online stuff for the class, planning activities for kids when they can't cope in school, planning resources and have been signed up for online courses lots and lots of them

Some of the stuff I'm doing is more helpful to my career than others but while I'm on full pay I'm happy to carry on lol

The half hour lunch break is because that's all we get when in school

Tell them to get a grip.

Outrageous behaviour from the parent and school. As long as your work gets done it's nobody's business what you do in your lunch or to be honest at any other time - so long as your work gets done. I'm paid for 3 days work but am spreading it over 4 so I can help my own child with their work. All lessons and resources have been
prepared and deadlines have been met. Some people are just petty.

I am staggered that this is an issue at all. Yanbu and the headteacher who raised it with you is an idiot.

Keep walking!

I’m also staggered 2% of people think YABu

Just to confirm, I have had nothing but positive contact with parents and colleagues regarding tasks set and communication offered from myself. I’ve also had lots of positive feedback about the PE activities I’ve supplied and recommended (one of which includes putting time aside every day to do something outside).

The 90 mins was an example of the longest we’ve been so far. It’s normally around the hour mark.

Honestly 🙄

It's your lunch break, I would just repeat that...

The person that complained was clearly either out as well or makes a point of watching out the window - I wonder if they are meant to be working???

Have a break away from the computer and stretching your legs, looking after your mental health is important whether you have a child to look after or not.

An hour is the standard teacher lunch break and 30 mins the standard Ta break as they normally have shorter contracted hours plus tea break in the morning unless doing duty so I'd say even contracted hour, work to rule you could do an hour walk with your child.

You are so not being unreasonable. When working from home it is perfectly reasonable to take a longer lunch break then work later (what I did till the work dried up). While someone might think, “Miss always seems to be out a lot” reporting to the school that it will their child’s education is ridiculous. And the fact that your head has told you to stay at home, and at your computer compounds the issue. Can you tell your head that it is illegal to work more than 6 hours without a break and what you do in that break is up to you!

Have a break away from the computer and stretching your legs, looking after your mental health is important whether you have a child to look after or not.

Also good for your physical health. It’s not good to hunched over a computer all day. Exercise and health are things schools are supposed to be promoting (they obviously don’t think it applies to staff)