Aibu? Returning to school

[Holymolymackerel]

For background:

My dd8 is going back to school on Monday. Me and dh have decided this because she is struggling emotionally, she is slightly behind educationally, she is struggling being with ds who has sen and will remain at home and because dh is going back to his keywork after being furloughed, it will only be me with 2 children, one has sen as mentioned.

Am I right to be miffed that my dd will have a teaching assistant in the mornings and a play worker/ dinner lady in the afternoons?

I didn't expect her to have her teacher that she has had since September and knew there would be a change around but didn't expect to have no teachers at all.

Thanks

If you aren't happy - don't send back full time or at all!

I think the logistics of this will vary greatly from school to school.

Both of my children will be going back next week full time (vulnerable category as are adopted). We have decided that although we could just about carry on as we have been, school is the best option.

Our school have staggered drop offs and pick ups, slightly mixed groups (one year above or below), with a teacher or higher level teaching assistant and a ta. The adults will remain with the same group of kids the while time.

They are going to be doing English and maths in the mornings and project type work in the afternoon with as much outside time as they can.

As well as this there will be a huge focus on mental health and well being.

Teachers have been under immense pressure and each school can only do their best.

Do you know the TA? My sister is a TA and she's a fully qualified teacher. It's not unusual.

Its shit, do doubt. Keyworker kids are systematically disadvantaged with the current system as they have little time to do actual learning.
Kids of SAHP or parents on furlough have an advantage IF their parents can be asked. its shit all around.

People are talking about rotas of staff - that is fine if the staff aren't teaching anyone else. It slightly increases the risk but assuming staff can manage hygiene etc it doesn't raise it too much. The issue is the staff shouldn't be rota'd across two bubbles, as then you are linking the bubble. So if Mrs W works Mon-Wed and Mr X works Thu-Fri but both work at home the rest of the time that is ok. However if there are two bubbles and Miss C and Mr D switch between them throughout the week, then the children in each bubble are linked, so 30 children rather than 15.

We got a place for her because after discussions with the school, it was felt in our agreement that even though our ds is classed as vulnerable as he has sen and entitled to a place, we should have the place instead for none Sen dd.

My dd needs time away from ds and also we and the school felt that because of ds's sen, he would not be able to understand social distancing and also because he has to sometimes be given personal care which is obviously puts him and the staff at risk.

Try not to worry, op. It is not compulsory so if she doesn't like it, or you're unhappy with the provision, you can always pull her out.

I agree with phiney - lots of TAs are ex-teachers that really don't want the hassle that goes with the job. A whole load more are experienced, caring, engaging, well-trained staff that know the children and their jobs inside out.

Key worker provision is childcare I'm afraid. At DS's school, since Easter the staff have ensured the children can access their work and get on with it, and supported wherever possible, but the govt have said it's not a requirement, simply because many schools can't provide that.

She will get a break from DS, she'll see some friends, and familiar surroundings, she'll be having a tiny bit of normality.

Why on earth do you think a TA/dinner lady would not be able to support her if she gets stuck? In our school the TAs are often (though I admit not always) as qualified/educated as the teachers and are certainly able to support any child in school - that is why they are there. TAs no longer clean paint pots etc.

In 2 of the many years my 2 DCs have been through primary school I've felt their TA was more 'on the ball' than the actual teacher so I think you ABU on that point but obviously that's just from my own experience.

Neither of my 2 DC are in years that can go back to their schools. The primary school will only have 9 students in 12 classrooms. It leaves over 75% of the students without a place. Whilst you may feel it's unfair your DD isn't having a 'teacher', who is going to be co-ordinating all the home learning for the students that haven't got a place at your school if they're all tied up?

YABU, it's keyworker childcare rather than proper school. TAs and playworkers are just as "qualified" as a lot of the parents who are supporting children at home. Most children aren't with teachers right now.

I'm a secondary teacher and have been in the hub on rota, but unless it's my subject, I'm not that helpful anyway. The students definitely aren't gaining anything from my QTS.

This is why schools should remain just for keyworkers until kids can go back to normal.

My DD school sent the plan. Eyfs, yr1 and yr6 were going back. I choose not to send mine.

2 days ago the school had to scrap that plan because the government changed it to all keyworker kids go back first. So basically non essentialshop workers kids etc have priority.

It's a huge fuck about. If the schools are safe then just half the class and send them all back, with their teachers 2.5 days a week. I appreciate many teachers will be unable to risk it. In that case teaching assistants may help?

As she is in with the keyworkers it is just supposed to be childcare. However, I know schools around here are helping kids with the work set by the school. So hopefully she will do some school work. The set up for returning kids is small groups with the same teacher or TA looking after them. The set up for keyworkers, at least round here, was that teachers were on a rota and going in once every few days / weeks. I am not sure if that system changes.

If they have to split the children in to smaller groups of no more than 15, they can't all have a 'proper' teacher with them. Also, they can't move one teacher between groups of children because each 'bubble' is meant to remain the same, to limit the number of other people each person has contact with.

So you are miffed that you're lucky enough that they've given you dd a place when they don't have to, that she'll get the time away from her brother that she needs, and that there will be an adult to assist her with any difficulties she has. Ffs they really can't win

It's the first thread! Yes, OP, you are being U. Unless you are from the Ministry of Magic and ready to magic up the extra classrooms and teachers. It would be a joke, only it isn't funny. Not even the DfE have any idea what to do next to increase and improve provision. They will soon have to copy Nicola Sturgeon's work.

The reality is that the schools are currently there as childcare and not for education, and this will continue when they reopen in the coming weeks.

Ministry of Magic

OP it's your choice. They have offered you a place for your DD that she probably shouldn't have you have accepted.
If you are unhappy then you can change your mind and keep her at home.

So you are miffed that you're lucky enough that they've given you dd a place when they don't have to, that she'll get the time away from her brother that she needs, and that there will be an adult to assist her with any difficulties she has. Ffs they really can't win

^This. The place isn't for your DD but even when then give it to her you complain that it's not good enough 🙄 keep her at home if you're not happy with what the school are offering

@rawlikesushi

And, having been into school to see the new classrooms all set up, I'm laughing drily at anyone sending their child back for mental health reasons.

@rawlikesushi - can you say anymore about what the set up looks like/ will appear for the children. I’ve seen a few reports on set ups abroad but nothing in U.K. Might be useful to know what the children can expect - thank you 🙏

In a lot of cases TAs are employed specifically to help with struggling children. It’s childcare, not education as your school should make it very clear to you. The teachers will be sorting out and marking the remote learning for all the other children who will not be in school. Any TA or dinner lady who is even remotely competent will not leave your dd to struggle. I have also found that a lot of the children are very keen to help each other.

Since it was announced that schools were to go back to children other than the key worker children, those who work in education have been desperately trying to point out that:
a) we don’t have the room to do as they ask, in the way they have asked for it to be done;
b) we don’t have the staff to do what they have asked;
c) putting in place the measures required will make it grim for the children and runs the risk of damaging their ‘love of learning’.
Just because it isn’t what people and the gov want to hear, it doesn’t make it any less true. We are educators not magicians.

We will do our very best for the children we are caring for, we will make the experience the best it possibly can be but it will not be what children, staff or parents are used to.

There is, and has been for a while, a massive shortage of teaching staff. Schools can’t magic them up as and when. That is an issue that needs to be addressed by the gov. The wages don’t come close to justifying the workload or stress.

The good news for you is as a result many ex-teachers who went into the profession for the love of children are now TA’s. The wages are still pants but luckily the workload is more family friendly.

The TA I work alongside is an absolute gem and I have the greatest of respect for her. If any child is lucky enough to be in her bubble, they will have struck gold.

If you, or anyone else who thinks YANBU are miffed at the situation being less than perfect take it up with the Gov. Think about it the next time you vote. Be constructive! Or just be happy that your child has been given a place when really the school didn’t need to give DD a place under the circumstances.

Your school haven’t been very forthcoming with you, unfortunately, if they didn’t make it quite clear that the ‘bubbles’ will be staffed by any member of school staff and teachers will not be able to move between the bubbles to support children with their work.
You could give feedback on this lack of information to the Head or accept they are doing their best apart from clearly communicating how the ‘bubbles’ would work.

Of course teachers won't be able to move between bubbles Saucery. That's the whole point of bubbles.

I really can't understand why this is a shock to anyone. We have been banging on about it for weeks.

Quite, IBlame. Which is why I repeated it for the OP as it was something that seemed to have surprised her.