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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School refuse to print worksheets!

152 replies

Chessismygame · 13/01/2021 21:26

Ok so I am homeschooling and I can't print off the worksheets as I don't have a printer. The work is put on Microsoft Teams and the children copy the questions and write the answers or print it off and write the answers in.
I have a child with ASD and has hypermobility in his hands so writing takes a lot longer than the average child. Be fair he is in mainstream and has no learning issues just an IEP which ncludes small group handwriting practice.
I am having to write everything down off the screen before it disappears onto the next thing so he can then copy the work and we often go into break and dinner time before he finishes.
Also by doing maths on paper it would lower his screen time which is making him very tired and giving him headaches.
I have asked school if they could print off the maths worksheet (one page a day) so he can just fill in the answers and they said no.
They said they can't do it for everyone and they also don't want people coming to school to collect due to Covid.
Yet they provide iPads for children with no device to use and they collect them, children with free school meals have to collect vouchers each week from school.
Obviously I will buy a printer but I am a bit disappointed in the school!

OP posts:
MrsOosh77 · 13/01/2021 21:30

Can you take a photo of the screen before it disappears then just upload the answers?

Smurf123 · 13/01/2021 21:30

All schools where I am are offering the option of hard copy packs so I feel they should give you the option.

Is he doing the teams on a laptop? If so if you click the ctrl button and the print screen button at the same time you can capture the screen... Have word or something similar open in the background and then just go in and click paste.
At least it will stop you/ him rushing trying to write it all down.

KindergartenKop · 13/01/2021 21:31

But you'd have to collect them every day and that doesn't sound covid friendly. iPads are picked up once. The teacher will probably only be planning a day in advance because he/she has had no notice of online schooling and has to re plan everything. It's not as simple as just opening up a folder on and printing off 25 word documents.

OverTheRubicon · 13/01/2021 21:31

What age is he? Is there a chance he could type directly onto teams? Could another parent print them? We're doing this for another family and actually quite like the drop off, my eldest gets to wave to his friend through the window and we get out of the house. Are you able to buy a printer? Often they are cheap second hand, and you can buy generic brand ink on Amazon that massively cuts down on printing cost.

It's worth raising with the senco, but I also think that schools are under a huge amount of pressure right now, they are sensibly trying to mjnimise work and risk, and it's worth looking at alternatives too.

year5teacher · 13/01/2021 21:32

I think YABU as you think one worksheet a day is nothing but multiply that by, say, 15 children who might all need different ones, maybe more than one, and suddenly you’re increasing the workload and number of parents coming in by a lot.
I also think YANBU because we are delivering home learning packs for SEN children weekly. So it can be done.

Dawnlassie · 13/01/2021 21:33

If only there was somewhere that sold printers. Like Ebay or Amazon

Oh hang on

kursaalflyer · 13/01/2021 21:33

Not ideal but if you have a second device can you take a photo of the work?

Cantreasonwithunreasonable · 13/01/2021 21:34

If they're using White Rose Maths you can buy the entire set of worksheets for the topic for £2. Look on their website.
Even if they're not, you can try to match the topic to their resources. They follow the Nat Curric and teach it well in small steps. For about £20 you can buy daily videos and all sorts, in a year group pack, to last a year. I'd recommend to anyone homeschooling whilst WFH.

ZoeTurtle · 13/01/2021 21:34

Take screenshots and then he can write "Q1" instead of copying the whole thing out?

Hankunamatata · 13/01/2021 21:34

Work a day behind. Take photos with your phone, write work out in the evening so ds can do it the next day.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 13/01/2021 21:34

Ask for one of the iPads for your use and take a screen shot of it before it disappears.
Or buy a cheap printer..

lavenderlou · 13/01/2021 21:35

I'm a primary school teacher. We certainly provide stuff on paper for all who need it. About half the class requests them. It takes ages to prepare every week and takes forever to photocopy but it is about providing equality of access. Not everybody can afford a printer and the resources required for using it regularly.

SionnachRua · 13/01/2021 21:35

Screenshot the work on Teams.

lavenderlou · 13/01/2021 21:36

However, I also say children can just look at the worksheet on screen and then write the answer on a piece of paper.

superram · 13/01/2021 21:37

Can’t they just type directly onto the document-you can copy and paste from pdf.

WombatStewForTea · 13/01/2021 21:38

Yanbu
As my school we're printing loads of packs for anyone who requests them regardless of whether they're pp/sen etc.
We photocopy it all on Friday and they can be collected from the front door on Monday.
Printer ink is much more expensive than the cost for us to photocopy.

Onlinedilema · 13/01/2021 21:39

I would do what Zoeturyles suggests.

Teardrop2021 · 13/01/2021 21:44

Copy and paste document into word or pdf and edit.

Tiny2222 · 13/01/2021 21:45

We bought a printer for homeschooling. Fairly cheap but the ink gets expansive. It has been a lifesaver though!!

Greysparkles · 13/01/2021 21:48

I don't understand, just leave it on screen and write the answers on a piece of paper?

reallyisthisallthereis · 13/01/2021 21:49

If he's in Secondary, it would be a logistical nightmare as teachers prepping the night before. They may be some subjects that use booklets etc that would be easy to send out but if it's just lots individual worksheets then it would not be possible.
I second buying a printer !

LittleOwl153 · 13/01/2021 21:51

As a mum to a hypermobile 11yr old (yr7) I'd say teach them to type the answers in. Or even use a dictation software. If school need to provide it in a different format for that to happen then ask for that. They will need to be able to type to keep up in secondary as wrists get really sore.
Admittedly maths is a problem as typing most maths answers is a nightmare.

Cheesypea · 13/01/2021 21:52

Can you afford a printer op?

notdaddycool · 13/01/2021 21:55

Unless there is no way you can afford a printer, which you haven’t mentioned. You are being very unreasonable. It’s a pandemic we’re all a tad inconvenienced you know.

Paquerette · 13/01/2021 21:59

@MrsOosh77

Can you take a photo of the screen before it disappears then just upload the answers?
This. As long as you know he has worked the questions out properly, that should be fine.

Or, as a PP has suggested, just do the work a day behind.