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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that that the lazy cow who is my son's teacher should read IEPs

71 replies

Reallytired · 04/10/2007 21:58

My son is in year one and is hard of hearing. Infact he wears hearing aids.

My son's class is taught by two teachers and only one teacher was at parent's evening. Both teachers teach 0.5 of the time table.

Only one of the teachers was there. The teacher who was there did not realise my son was on an IEP. God knows what sort of job she is doing at meeting his needs. She ranted on about how he didn't listen in class. I pointed out that his hearing aids aren't jewelery and she needs to realise that he is likely to miss what is said.

My son has been seen by an occupational theraphist and a report has been posted to the school. The lazy cow had not bothered to read the report.

If teachers choose to have a job share then I think they should put in the extra effort to make it work. (Ie. attend parent's evening) I have had no opportunity to meet the other teacher.

I know several unemployed primary school teachers. If these teachers aren't prepared to do their job properly I think they should be replaced with someone who is a bit more committed.

Last year my son had a fabulous teacher. The difference stands out a mile.

OP posts:

moondog · 04/10/2007 22:02

I'd be draughting a snotty letter and ccing it to the governers.
Bloody outrageous.

Did you actually have to point the hearing impairment out in the meeting then?
God,what was her reaction? Did she have the good grace to be mortified?

weirdbird · 04/10/2007 22:05

I would be writing to the head and copying it to the governors as well, that is really NOT ON!!

What was the response when you told her? Was she suitably apologetic?

bumpybecky · 04/10/2007 22:36

I'd be asking for an urgent appointment to see the head and senco to discuss your son's needs.

It's not just this teacher that is failing him - the senco should ensure that all teachers are aware of and understand the IEPs / statements of all children with any special needs.

I'd also be asking the head why both teachers weren't present for the parent's evening. My daughters have both been through classes with job shares like this and both teachers have alwyas been there.

I do hope the teacher had the grace to apologise!

edam · 04/10/2007 22:37

YANBU at all. Outrageous. But sadly not uncommon.

tobysmumkent · 05/10/2007 01:17

Message withdrawn

xXxamyxXx · 05/10/2007 01:20

definatly ynbu!

OverRated · 05/10/2007 03:55

I am appalled. When I was teaching, the first thing I would do when I knew who was in my new class would be to go through their files and find out about the kids - any IEPS/ SEN issues, family situation that I may need to know about etc. And then I would re-read them the week before the kids came back so I was sure I had planned/ catered to everybody's needs as much as possible. That is what teachers are meant to do.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 05/10/2007 04:07

That's really bad. My DS is hearing impaired too (has a cochlear implant) and in Year 3 now. At parents' evening DH told his new teacher he'd need to sit closer to the front of the class, she sais she moves about a lot and it's not a problem, a few days ago his LSA wrote to us in his home-school notebook that they've moved his whole table somewhere loser to the front. I think it takes a while for inexperienced ppl to realise hearing aids/implants are not the end of the story when it comes to hearing loss. Does your son have a teacher of the deaf? DS's TOD does a training session with every new teacher and sees him at school for an hour every week, advising the teacher on any changes etc to the lessons for the week ahead that would make it more accessible for DS.

foofi · 05/10/2007 06:59

Sorry that this has been your experience. I worked in a school were there were lots of jobshares which worked terribly well - the Head knew he got more than 100% out of the two halves! Of course both teachers would attend parents' evening and write reports together etc. We talked on the phone EVERY night about the kids.

As for IEPs, surely the teacher writes them, or at least has to sign them off.

Hopefully you have given this woman a jolt into making more of an effort for your child, but if you are still not happy, take it up with the Head.

Original poster

Reallytired · 05/10/2007 20:08

My son was given an IEP at the end of reception. It was supposed to be reviewed during September. His new teacher didn't know of its existance.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 05/10/2007 20:16

I can imagine how frustrating that must be for you and especially for your son. Why was the teacher not aware - has she actually been given the IEP? Was she aware he had one? I am suprised it is this far into term without her knowing from someone, and even if she didn't know, why she hadn't come to talk to you if she thought your son wasn't listening, etc. regardless of any IEP.

I speak as an ex teacher. Some of this vital information is not always passed on to staff IME. Lack of communication from management down can be rubbish in schools. It is important to check that the teacher should have been aware - i.e. they had had the information actually passed on to them - before casting criticisms though. You may be blaming and accusing the wrong person!

Also there is no obligation for a teacher to attend any parents evening on her non contracted days. Wjhen I worked PT I did not attend on my days off - my union actually advised this. I was offered no additional pay if I had attended and I have my own child and childcare I would have had to sort out. I worked PT for a reason after all.

However I did make myself available to parents who needed to speak to me at other times.

You need to take this further and ask to speak to the two teachers again, either together or seperately if their work/pther commitments mean they can't meet on same day - but often there is a little overlap but not always. If that is not possible then ask to speak to the SENCO and the Head.

cazzybabs · 05/10/2007 20:20

Before you blame the teacher I would expect the SENCO to have pointed out to her that there was a dchild with an IEP and the last teacher should haev also made it clear in their handover. The report is probaly with the IEP and so that is why it is not read..and the other teacher may have had other commitments so couldn't attend parent's evening.

Don't be so quick to blame but do go in and ask questions...calling her a lazy cow when you don't know the full facts is a bit unreasonable.

cazzybabs · 05/10/2007 20:21

Hulababy - that is much more elequent than I could have put it!

hana · 05/10/2007 20:22

I disagree there - even if the information had not been passed on to the teacher, her experience and knowledge should have picked this one up.

about the parent-teacher meeting - it's more likely that the teacher who didn't attend this term will attend the next time

cazzybabs · 05/10/2007 20:23

how do you know she is exeperinced...she may be an NQT or at least in the early stages of her teaching career. I have been teaching 6 years and still worry about missing something..it is very easy, especially in a class of 30.

Hulababy · 05/10/2007 20:23

We don't know what her experience and knowledge of hearing impairments are though. In my 9 years of teaching I only came across one child with hearing difficulties, and he required no additional support, etc. She may not have had this before, and without the SENCO having informed her and given her access to the IEP she may not have known the problems, etc. involved.

edam · 05/10/2007 20:24

realybird's son wears hearing aids. I think the teacher should have noticed them, shouldn't she?

cazzybabs · 05/10/2007 20:25

And also we are only 4 weeks in to the year...if this was at the end of the year then I would worry but at least she has said something now.

Hulababy - exactly - I have never taught a chil d with hearing problems, or sight problems and only this year do I have someone with MILD aspergers!

Hulababy · 05/10/2007 20:26

edam - the child I taught with hearing difficulties had two hearing aids. He still did not have an IEP or any additional support. His difficulties were such that he didn't require them.

It is the job of the SENCO to pass this information on at the start of term, that is what they get extra pay for.

cazzybabs · 05/10/2007 20:27

And also just because he is hard of hearing does not mean he cannot listen - maybe is messing about in class because he can rather than because he is missing what is said...

Reallytired - I am not saying anyting about your son because I think you need to find out more information than you have!

hana · 05/10/2007 20:28

if - as the teacher pointed out - reallytired's son wasn't listening in class ( and was ranting about it) this should have sent alarm bells ringing for the teacher - it's not rocket science, esp with his hearing aids too

edam · 05/10/2007 20:29

But if you have a new child with hearing aids, wouldn't you check?

popsycal · 05/10/2007 20:30

I have typed three responses to this OP but deleted.

I am a job share teacher and did not 'put in the extra work' to attend parents' evening. My son had an overnight hospital appointment that we had waited over a year for and could not change.

I obviously need to work harder.

Please do not judge when you know NOTHING about what is going on behind the scenes.

Hulababy · 05/10/2007 20:31

As a teacher I would have sought out the parent to talk to about my concerns. I may aso have spoken to the past teacher and/or SENCo if I felt fit.

But we don't know what communication is like in the school.

I am in full agreement that the situation is not good and this situation should not be occuring. However, I think it is better to find out the full picture rather than laying blame with someone first.

Blandmum · 05/10/2007 20:31

I would just like to confirm that I have taught children with hearing aids who did not have (or need) and IEP.

I have taught some who did. But we have an SEN regester which is regularly updated, and the SNCO will inform you if you teach a child who is new to the regester.

The advice not to attend a parents evening on a day on which you do not work, or get paid for work, is IME universal.

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