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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:
LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 13/01/2021 22:24

They should surely just load the sheet onto teams once the lesson is over? Our school is being very careful about not assuming every child can be sitting in front of a computer at the specified time, whether that's because parents are working, they're sharing devices, the WiFi goes down, etc etc - so anything that is used for a 'live' lesson is also posted on the class files page.

tttigress · 13/01/2021 22:25

If buying a printer buy one with cheaper replacement cartridges (this used to be Epson, can't comment on now)

Original poster
Chessismygame · 13/01/2021 22:27

The lessons are live if that makes a difference, I am new to teams so will try a few of the things people have suggested.
I am getting my son to type up some lessons as it's making it easier but maths is too difficult. He is in year four and is coping fine with the work online. Just this one lesson each day is throwing him off schedule and leaving him frustrated.
I can afford a printer so will order one tomorrow if no better.

OP posts:
Pinkpig234 · 13/01/2021 22:28

I don't understand why people are giving OP a hard time.

Her son has ASD and he has a disability. It's not unreasonable to ask for printed copies to help...surely they are meant to make reasonable adjustments to help under law?

If, you're struggling with money. I know HP Printers can be under 30 pounds and they often come with a free trial on instant ink. I know instant ink has it downfalls but it's what might be helpful for time being.

Imiss2019 · 13/01/2021 22:29

Presumably they are uploading the worksheet to teams if they are expecting you to print it?

If so use the snipping tool to copy the images and questions into a word document and then type the answers under each question you’ve “snipped”.

converseandjeans · 13/01/2021 22:29

I don't see why OP should buy a printer when the worksheet could just be added to the Teams chat or put onto google classroom. Surely not all the class can work that quick?

Pinkpig234 · 13/01/2021 22:32

The one I've got is not under 30 pounds no more. But, what I've said before might help and as someone else has mentioned it - snipping tool on Microsoft is very helpful.

Imiss2019 · 13/01/2021 22:32

We’ve found maths tricky to follow with the online lesson too so we watch the lesson but do the worksheet later on. It’s too fast paced for ds to do the work in “real time” along with the lesson.

NeurologicallySpeaking · 13/01/2021 22:33

They must be uploading the resource if they expect you to print it so why aren't you downloading so it can be edited in word or viewed on another device / the same decide split screen.

But if you can afford a printer, as you have said you can, seriously just buy one rather than go to collect at school every day. That's ridiculous.

Original poster
Chessismygame · 13/01/2021 22:37

There was no other copy of the work sent just what was on the screen. I did point this out to the school. The school did say there has been a lot of issues with home learning.
It would be better if the lessons were pre recorded, I could pause and rewind and my son not be distracted by all the rude messages in the chat box!

OP posts:
Subordinateclause · 13/01/2021 22:39

@Mumto3thatsme No they won't necessarily be planning a week in advance. I have a plan for maths but don't physically choose/create the exact sheets or tasks until the day before as it depends how children get on with that day's work. This is what primary teaching is meant to be all about - assessment for learning. I also only get technically get 3 hours of planning time a week - I have to come up with the idea for lessons before I create them, and then have around 40 tasks to create. If each one takes on average 15 minutes to prepare that's still 10 hrs of work. Whenever I hear about these work packs schools are providing I think it must be schools who just blindly follow White Rose maths or Twinkl and aren't actually responding to the children's learning as it happens.

Imiss2019 · 13/01/2021 22:40

How are you going to print it then if it’s only on screen for the live lesson?
Ask them to upload a copy of worksheets to the files or assignments tab.
Alternatively tell them you will watch the recorded version so you can pause as needed to complete the work.
DS has ASD to so I find we have to tweak how we follow the live stuff. I don’t ask school if they’re ok with it I just tell them that’s how we need to work for ds to be able to access the learning. All the teachers are completely fine with it.

FinallyHere · 13/01/2021 22:41

I'm so sorry you are having this trouble.

If the work sheet appears on your screen, it must be possible to take (or open) a copy on the screen, mark the answers and submit the results through Teams again.

Maybe you you ask in the chat how best to do that. Fingers crossed you find out how to do this.

All the best.

B33Fr33 · 13/01/2021 22:42

Could the school ask the local community for an old printer for a student? We had to upgrade our printer in the first lockdown so we donated it to the local foodbank who were asking for a family in the first lockdown.

ekidmxcl · 13/01/2021 22:44

You can get fantastic printers for under £40. Mine prints, copies, scans etc and was under that price (from Argos). In some areas Argos will do a same day delivery. Amazon basics printer paper is great quality and less than 1p per sheet.

TBH I think the burden on schools is heavy enough. Unless you can't afford a printer, I don't see why you think the school should solve this problem for you, a printer is a family household basic IMO. I bought a printer when my dc were in primary school. It's something that is generally used a lot for schoolwork, even when not in lockdown. One of my dc also has SN and tbh it makes it even more important to get the work done in the most efficient manner possible.

Cherrysoup · 13/01/2021 22:47

Just screenshot it.

SourMilkGhyll · 13/01/2021 22:53

Have you checked the 'files' tab at the top. They might be loaded onto that already.

Or use the iPad to screen shot the work and then use the editing function to write on the photo with a stylus.

HolaChicos · 13/01/2021 22:58

We also screen shot, add Mark ups and then send on some of the work we get through. I'm not going to make any more work for myself than I have to. Just ordered a new touch screen pen to make it neater.

Squidsister · 13/01/2021 22:59

I agree, ask the school to upload the worksheet. Or take a screenshot. You can then edit it on the screen. You can mark up PDFs. Or he can look at the screenshot and write it on a separate piece of paper.
How does the teacher mark the work ?

Schools are trying to reduce the number of visitors going into the building, understandably.
We do post packs out to SEN children but they don’t come and collect them.

To be honest though I would probably just buy a printer - especially as they get older, it’s useful for school work.

whippettiger · 13/01/2021 23:05

I totally get it’s another expense at a difficult time, so hope you can get a better solution from other parents / teachers but re: the cost of ink, was just going to say it’s worth looking at the HP subscription service. I pay something like £1.99 a month and they post it to you, I’ve got a backlog of it because they send more than we use. I have no idea how they make any money but it feels like really good value when compared with forking out for ink when it runs out.

Gwenhwyfar · 13/01/2021 23:06

@blue25

Printers are really cheap!
The ink isn't though. And you need the space for it and the paper. I refuse to buy one for working from home.
Whatflavourjellybabyisnice · 13/01/2021 23:07

Not the point at all, but supermarket brand printer ink is SO much cheaper than branded I.e. Epson or whatever.
The packet says use at your own risk but it's only to cover their backs.

noblegiraffe · 13/01/2021 23:14

You can afford a printer but your first thought was to make a teacher print it off for you and then put it out each day for you to go to the school to collect? Confused

DanaCScully · 13/01/2021 23:18

If it’s on Teams you should be able to download it. Save it to a folder you’ve created for schoolwork or desktop. Open the doc from where it’s been saved and edit the doc online to type in sums etc. And then upload if that’s what the school request. This is what we have been doing.

1Q84isHappening · 13/01/2021 23:24

As a primary school tech teacher the school are at fault here.

I’m a huge geek and even I don’t own a home printer! I genuinely don’t need one.

The school should be doing either of the following:

A) converting their PDFs to editable Word documents (very easy to do!) so that pupils can either print them or type their answers directly in the document

B) distribute the PDFs via class notebook (a feature of teams) so that pupils can use either the typing tools or inking tools to write directly on the document

This is what my school are doing and we have had no complaints regarding printing.