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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not know what to do regarding daughters 1-1 and Covid.

57 replies

No91 · 31/10/2020 20:10

This might be long so I apologise.

DD is vulnerable, she hasn’t been back at school
However she does have a 1-1 which is fully funded by council not partially funded via school but completely by council.
Currently up to now her 1-1 has been on classroom at the school from 9 am to 1.30 ( small classroom 30 kids and 3 other adults ) She then comes to our house from 2-3:30 to reach my daughter.
Would I be unreasonable to now ask the school either she comes to mine from 9 am - 3.30 or if just afternoons not to be in the classroom at all.
Remember she is not a school employee and is not funding via the school but directly via council as my daughters 1-1.

OP posts:
peakotter · 31/10/2020 21:41

I think you would be ok asking for it to change.

However bear in mind that the highest risk is right now. After lockdown starts (assuming you’re in England) the risk should drop. Does your child have any health issues that would make them higher risk?

Littlebluebird123 · 31/10/2020 21:46

That is a tricky situation.

I think 1-2-1 all day would be too much. Most of the support in school is to help the child access what is being taught, the discussions, facilitate group work and then the practical things such as medical need, PE, playtime support. That's why you'd need all day. It's not the same at home.
And I can see why the TA would go into school. They'd need the explanation etc from the teacher in order to relay that to the child to make a good link between the two.

But I can see why you're hesitant.

On the other hand, if she's KS1 then there's little evidence to suggest the TA is more at risk than a regular carer coming in and out as they'd visit several different homes.

I presume the TA takes as many precautions as they can? - staying away from the other children as much as possible, mask on etc.

You seem to be within your rights to ask for this but I would expect your child to be exhausted with such intense education. (Or bored). The adult would also find that incredibly hard to keep up.

Original poster
No91 · 31/10/2020 21:48

@peakotter yes that’s why she isn’t in school at the moment.
Between myself and medical team we deceived it was safer for her to be at home this winter.

OP posts:
Original poster
No91 · 31/10/2020 21:49

@Littlebluebird123 exactly that !
It’s not that I think the school are doing anything wrong at all. The 1-1 is great I think it’s the having her in the house etc that’s worrying me right now with mixing at school to.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 31/10/2020 21:50

Senco here. I would be unhappy about a TA going into your home at this moment. Who’s decision is it for your child not to attend school? I would be providing learning packs and online resources to be sent home, perhaps with a daily online session with the TA being based in school. And yes, 1:1 for 6 hours is absolutely too much for any primary aged child, let alone one under 7 I’m afraid.

bloodyhairy · 31/10/2020 21:51

I'm a 1-1 and this request is entirely unreasonable.
Spending her working day at your house is a completely different dynamic to spending it at school, where she'd be able to chat with colleagues in the staffroom, and enjoy proper breaks. And you're talking about her being at your home for the WHOLE day.
If my 1-1 is off, then I am put to work with other children. She's not going to be sitting twiddling her thumbs at school, believe me!
I'm really sorry Thanks and obviously wish your daughter nothing but the best, but I honestly don't think you can dictate how the 1-1 should spend her day.

Original poster
No91 · 31/10/2020 21:53

@Soontobe60 it’s was all trans decision to have her at home. The school can not do social distancing and she is extremely vulnerable.
Obviously I do not know how much contact the 1-1 is having with the other children. I have emailed the school for some clarification.
The issue is if she wasn’t providing daughter with an education she wouldn’t have a job.

OP posts:
Original poster
No91 · 31/10/2020 21:56

@bloodyhairy you have missed the point of her job. Her job isn’t to be the schools 1-1 / ta she is specifically employed for my daughter to provide education at school and at home.
The issue is that covid has thrown this a bit. Either way she would have to provide some education to daughter or she would lose her job as that is her job. So I am balancing making sure she has a job to stay in and the welfare of daughter. I do not want her to out of a job :(

OP posts:
bloodyhairy · 31/10/2020 21:56

And yes, 6 hours is far too long.

You say she wouldn't have a job if not for your daughter Confused, but wouldn't she just be utilised elsewhere?
Apologies if I have misunderstood.

Original poster
No91 · 31/10/2020 21:57

Unless the school decide to keep her on and fund her role within the school

OP posts:
bloodyhairy · 31/10/2020 21:58

Ok, I understand. But I still don't know of anyone who'd be happy with that set-up. Sorry. Hope you manage to reach a satisfactory outcome for everyone.

Original poster
No91 · 31/10/2020 21:59

@bloodyhairy no because she isn’t paid from school etc she is employed by the local authority to provide my daughter an education whether in school or home. So yes normally you would be correct as they would be employed by the school funding / funding the school gets from daughter.

OP posts:
ScrapThatThen · 31/10/2020 21:59

I would take extra precautions at home (distance, ventilation) or go online. I wouldn't do more than 2 hours a day 1:1.

MoonJelly · 31/10/2020 21:59

I suspect she is a school employee. The council will put the money to cover her salary into the school budget.

Original poster
No91 · 31/10/2020 22:00

It’s just a crap situation all around as she is a great worker and a great 1-1.

OP posts:
Original poster
No91 · 31/10/2020 22:01

@MoonJelly no unfortunately she is paid by council initially the first one we got was agency from council then they allowed us to change it to this one who was given by a diff agency that was more suitable.

OP posts:
Takethewinefromtheswine · 31/10/2020 22:11

EOTAS for the same length of time as the school day, as others have said, is very arduous for the child and the amount of focus would be stressful for an adult, let alone a medically vulnerable child. In our LA, Portage, which is a similar situation , have been stopped from doing home work due to the risks to the child.
However, having said that, if your child has an EHCP, the legal position is that the provision within the EHCP should still be delivered. Is there an option for your child to have the support virtually for the whole day, with appropriate breaks, to ensure she gets her entitlement?

Rachellow · 31/10/2020 22:16

I'm not being funny but it's KS1 she should be able to cope with the curriculum without having to watch it being taught to the class first everytime if she's been a KS1 TA before. Could she not come to you in the mornings then have a 15 min chat with the teacher after school finishes to clarify how to teach x. Also as a KS1 teacher I would be teaching very differently if I was permanently 1:1 rather than 1:30.

Boulshired · 31/10/2020 22:23

She wouldn’t lose her job unless you de register your daughter from school. She is still registered at school so even though 1:1 is employed by the council the curriculum will be provided from school. The council would expect the member is staff to still complete working hours even if the hours are not completely with your DD.

Believehope · 31/10/2020 22:32

Surely she is a 1-1 support worker, not a teacher. So her work programme would be set by her teacher, and the 1-1 would support her with that, and report back to the teacher. Your daughter needs a qualified teacher as well as a 1-1.

Believehope · 31/10/2020 22:36

And some teaching from a teacher too!

Believehope · 31/10/2020 22:38

Also, the child protection implications of a 1-1 working in a child's home shouldn't be overlooked. For the sake of both the adult and the child.

DC3Dakota · 31/10/2020 22:50

@Believehope

Surely she is a 1-1 support worker, not a teacher. So her work programme would be set by her teacher, and the 1-1 would support her with that, and report back to the teacher. Your daughter needs a qualified teacher as well as a 1-1.
Please read the full thread. OP has stated she was specifically employed by the council to TEACH her daughter.
worldweary45 · 31/10/2020 22:51

Are you with your dd and her 1-1 when she is in your home?
I think I'd find having someone in my home for 6 hours incredibly stressful.
My dd had home tuition in year 10 following an op and the 1.5 hrs she had a day were stressful enough!

I understand the funding you have and have worked with 2 other families with this set up (I'm a SEN teacher)

In both cases they had 2 hours of 'work' per day then the 1-1 would provide therapeutic care, communication and social interaction and life skills for another 2 hours. These were both for children aged 10-13 but for a ks1 pupil I would be looking for 1-2 hours of work then play (really important) and practical learning (art etc)

I also understand your concerns about bringing infection from school into your home

Would it be worth discussing with the school the 1:1 coming for longer periods Tuesday-Friday, starting first thing? That way they could be in school Monday, collect planning and prepare resources from the teacher and then there's no need for her to be in school again before she sees your dd?

Original poster
No91 · 31/10/2020 22:54

Yeh I think I will contact school senco and key worker on Monday to discuss. I took us so long to get this all sorted with over a year of arguments over previous 1-1 set up that I am so scared to rock the boat !

OP posts: