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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Being marked absent if not on zoom.

187 replies

Whattheactual20201 · 04/01/2021 14:50

I am for school closures and we are in London so school is closed we just got an email to say DC2 school are having a zoom registration every morning at 10 am where all children must attend for a morning debris tray in and half an hour lesson dressed etc.
Rules are
Quiet room, adult present, but no one else.
You must make sure your child is attendance otherwise they will be marked as absent.
Would be impossible for us to do
So will have to accept her being marked as absent on the days we can’t do it. Can this go down as official absence like a usual one would ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Whattheactual20201 · 04/01/2021 14:51

What on earth - debris tray was meant to registration 🤣

OP posts:
Juanbablo · 04/01/2021 14:52

I think that's quite ridiculous. Many people probably have younger children to take care of that can't be left alone while they attend this zoom with another child. I'm not sure about the absence thing.

TheGirlWhoLived · 04/01/2021 14:52

Could I ask why it’s impossible? Or if it is a logistics thing then you are going to need to let the school know, it’s more of a safeguarding issue I think?

Somethingkindaoooo · 04/01/2021 14:53

Is this due to a lack of a device?
If so, perhaps the school can help?

TheGirlWhoLived · 04/01/2021 14:53

So they NEED an adult present, they can’t just be on their own?

Comefromaway · 04/01/2021 14:53

Unless they are secondary age and can manage it themselves then that is an unreasonable expectation. (Actually it also implies there is only one child or enough devices/connectivity to go around.)

Thesearmsofmine · 04/01/2021 14:54

It is so ridiculous.
What about people living in tiny flats? People with one device for all dc to share or parents need it for work purposes? People with no device at all?

Original poster
Whattheactual20201 · 04/01/2021 14:55

I have 3 kids including a new born a dog and work from home at the moment with meetings throughout the day 🤣🤷‍♀️

I’m not sure I could make sure that every day for 45 minutes minimum my one DC is on zoom.

OP posts:
EggysMom · 04/01/2021 14:55

What do you do if you have two children?

NoGoodPunsLeft · 04/01/2021 14:55

It would only br possible for us if me/DH being in the room counts if we're also working, possibly also in meetings on zoom/teams!

KarlKennedysDurianFruit · 04/01/2021 14:55

Why do people not understand why this isn't possible? Some people are trying to WFH whilst looking after children, some have other children they also need to supervise and can't be in a room away from them for half an hour every morning. Some people live in small flats with two adults trying to work and there is no quiet separate space for this to take place that isn't also inhabited by other children/adults

Comefromaway · 04/01/2021 14:55

@Juanbablo

I think that's quite ridiculous. Many people probably have younger children to take care of that can't be left alone while they attend this zoom with another child. I'm not sure about the absence thing.
Exactly. My kids are secondary/college age but if they were younger I also had a mil with severe dementia who couldn't be left alone as well!
TheSilentStars · 04/01/2021 14:56

That's how we've done registration since lessons have been online.
We are now on Meet but in the spring on Zoom we also downloaded the "reports" at the end of every lesson which showed absences and how many minutes each student was present.
If they aren't present, they're absent. Officially.

PlanDeRaccordement · 04/01/2021 14:56

Why is it impossible? I’d set the child up and then pop in now and then or tell child to shout for me or DH if the teacher HAS to spot an adult at one point. I certainly would not be sitting by my child for a full half hour twiddling my thumbs when I should be working.

Almostslimjim · 04/01/2021 14:57

YANBU OP.

Reasons I can think of as to why it could be impossible for lots of people:

  • parent is working can't be present
  • younger/ other kids around so can't leave them to be with online learning chil
  • too many people in the house needing devices
Stompythedinosaur · 04/01/2021 14:57

That's ridiculous. You can't guarantee all dc have their own device to access zoom at that time, and what are you meant to do if you have multiple dc, just vanish the other ones?

poorbuthappy · 04/01/2021 14:57

All you have to do is make sure they are there with headphones!
Assuming they aren't just turned 5 and liable to wandering.

Original poster
Whattheactual20201 · 04/01/2021 14:57

@PlanDeRaccordement I couldn’t leave her unattended whilst I dealt with other children she is my child with additional needs she wouldn’t even be able to mute etc

OP posts:
AldiAisleofCrap · 04/01/2021 14:58

Just ignore the adult present, they mean in the room not on camera. They have to say that for their own school safeguarding policy but they have no way of knowing if you are. @Whattheactual20201

Original poster
Whattheactual20201 · 04/01/2021 14:59

I don’t mind home schooling at all DC in question is off regardless as shielding but it hasn’t been an issue as this hasn’t been a requirement.

OP posts:
AldiAisleofCrap · 04/01/2021 14:59

X post but she wouldn’t need to mute the teachers do that. All she has to do is sit there and speak back to the teacher., she won’t need to press anything.

TenShortStories · 04/01/2021 15:00

They've come up with something in a hurry that felt reasonable. They will quickly discover that it won't work that easily and they'll need to change the plan or be more flexible, don't worry. Send a quick and friendly email explaining that you won't be able to be present with your DC during the zoom and go from there.

Original poster
Whattheactual20201 · 04/01/2021 15:02

@AldiAisleofCrap there’s no way she would sit there or talk 🤣

She has a autism, speech delay, attached to feeding tube I would have to bring newborn with me and be dealing with both whilst also doing a work meeting. Elder DC is fine he will be on laptop in his bedroom ( 13 )

OP posts:
MeringueCloud · 04/01/2021 15:04

Is the school actually using Zoom?

itsgettingweird · 04/01/2021 15:04

I would:

Email to explain you have a newborn and so they would have to be in room.

Explain your work schedule means you can't guarantee you won't have meetings but will endeavour to schedule any further meetings outside of these times and pencil an hour of "away" in.

Explain you understanding this is also safeguarding to ensure they "see" children and offer to have a zoom meeting with D.C. and teacher at a separate time of day (even for just 5 minutes) on days this doesn't work for you.

I often find when you've highlighted a problem and suggested a perfectly reasonable solution they'll either a) accept solution or b) let you off because they can't be bothered to do that for you and the other 10 families in the same situation!