Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

4 different teachers!

110 replies

1234cakes · 11/04/2021 23:37

My 8yr old child has had 4 different sub teachers since September, my child is quite anxious and takes awhile to adjust to new changes, I understand things are difficult with the pandemic and her actual teacher may have health issues which she is unable to return so that is totally understandable, I just feel it is unfair on her class to keep chopping and changing the teachers, do you think I would be being unreasonable if I emailed the school and asked them to take that into account for next September and try to ensure they have a permanent sub or a teacher that has a good track record for attending?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 11/04/2021 23:44

Do you think the school haven’t noticed the class has had a crap time with substitute teachers or this is a situation they’ve got any real control over? Trying to find
long term full time substitutes is a nightmare.

You’re better off requesting to talk to about your child’s anxiety and what they can do to support her this year. It’s a long time until September.

MrsFin · 11/04/2021 23:46

On the other hand, it keeps things interesting for the children. And if they don't like a teacher, or the teacher doesn't like them, there'll need a new teacher in a few weeks.
Ditto if the teacher isn't a very good teacher.

I'd be more concerned if DD was in her gcse year, but she's only 8.

BackforGood · 11/04/2021 23:50

What PurpleDaisies said

JimmyGrimble · 11/04/2021 23:53

You do you I suppose but ... are you going to feel awful if it comes out that your child’s regular teacher has Long Covid, cancer or has lost her husband? Of course the school will take this into account next year. I agree with the previous poster about working with school to try and reduce your child’s anxiety.

MadMadMadamMim · 11/04/2021 23:56

Hysterical.

Teaching is such a piss easy job - as many of us discovered in lockdown - one can't imagine, really, why schools are short staffed or why it's difficult to get permanent supply teachers.

Oh, wait...

Wellpark · 11/04/2021 23:59

I'm a former teacher. I think it is reasonable for you to make your concerns known to the head. That is your right as a parent. You could ask for support for your child's anxiety and what you can do to support your child through the changes. Hopefully the situation will be resolved by the start of the next year.

Lou98 · 11/04/2021 23:59

YABU - the school wouldn't keep having sub teachers if a long term sub was an option so what do you really think you'll achieve from emailing them?

ineedaholidaynow · 12/04/2021 00:03

You can let school know your child is struggling but the school won’t have had different supply teachers for the shits and giggles, and they are probably already tearing their hair out wondering how they are going to cover from September.

ErinMcCafferty · 12/04/2021 00:03

I've been a supply teacher for years. Schools are practically throwing rose petals at your feet if you turn up and quite often my agency is pushing me at ten in the morning to go to a school where they can't get anyone. It's not a buyers market for schools. There is a teaching crisis.

I can agree to go to a school for a day to cover for an unwell teacher and then they ask me to go back the next day in the same class but I may have already agreed to go somewhere else. So then you end up with another teacher. It's not because you are unreliable.

CeibaTree · 12/04/2021 00:07

I think as has been said already you need to work on your child's anxiety and try and build us some resilience in her. I'm not entirely sure what you think the school will say, I don't think you are going to be pointing out anything to them they don't know! It's not like they would be purposefully changing teachers just for the fun of it.

Theunamedcat · 12/04/2021 00:07

Our primary moved the groups around so the vulnerable children wouldn't be disrupted by different sub teachers as they couldn't guarantee a continuous same teacher i think you should flag it that your child is struggling perhaps they can be put in a different class?

CallmeHendricks · 12/04/2021 00:13

I'm afraid this is, and will be, increasingly the norm in schools. I was off for a couple of months a few years back with a broken leg and cover was constant, but with different teachers. A couple of parents complained and the Head told them they were bloody lucky there was even a qualified teacher in the room (or words to that effect).

There is absolutely no need for you to suggest anything to the Head about your ideas for next year. Do you really think s/he hasn't thought it through? And a "good track record for attending" previously will count for nothing if they get Covid or, as in my situation, accidentally end up in hospital for major surgery followed by the ensuing recovery time. I hadn't had a day off in years, prior to that.

But by all means ask for advice about your child.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 12/04/2021 00:17

It can't always be helped I get that. However that's really bad for kids who can't cope with change. I'd say maybe see about putting her in a different class where the teacher is consistent. That's a,change in it self though.

rachelgreensroom · 12/04/2021 00:17

Do you think the school hasn't noticed that there's been four different teachers? It's not what they would choose but it's very likely out of their control and certainly out of yours.
Focus on what you can try and make a difference to - your child's mental health. Talk to your child about feeling anxious and by all means talk to the school about realistic and practical things they can do to help support your child.

CallmeHendricks · 12/04/2021 00:25

"It can't always be helped I get that."

Well, actually, I'd go further than that and say that it would never be deliberate.

CallmeHendricks · 12/04/2021 00:28

And requesting a change of class depends on, a) there being a parallel class to change to in the first place, b) there being space in that class, c) it would mean yet another change of teacher and, d) there would be no guarantee that that other teacher might not go off sick at any point too.
Plus, they'll be changing teachers for the next academic year anyway, meaning yet another change.

JustLyra · 12/04/2021 06:43

@1234cakes

My 8yr old child has had 4 different sub teachers since September, my child is quite anxious and takes awhile to adjust to new changes, I understand things are difficult with the pandemic and her actual teacher may have health issues which she is unable to return so that is totally understandable, I just feel it is unfair on her class to keep chopping and changing the teachers, do you think I would be being unreasonable if I emailed the school and asked them to take that into account for next September and try to ensure they have a permanent sub or a teacher that has a good track record for attending?
If you believe the school leadership need a parent to point out that a regular teacher would be better then move your child to another school.

Genuinely.

If you are so lacking confidence in the Head Teacher and their team that you honestly think they won’t know this, won’t have tried their best to sort it and need you to point it out to them then what does that say to them?

Honestly. No wonder people are leaving teaching in droves.

motherrunner · 12/04/2021 06:50

“Chopping and changing?”

Teachers are humans too - in my career I’ve had time off after my father’s death, after a miscarriage and the longest spell after spinal surgery. Have some empathy.

FrameyMcFrame · 12/04/2021 06:58

I do think an email is worthwhile

But ask something like:

How can we make the rest of DD's school year as stable as possible and how can we work together to help her overcome anxiety?

Mention that the constant changes of class teacher have had a negative effect.

It's good for the school to get parent feedback and it might be the catalyst for them to take some action or swap in a more permanent member of staff into that class.

Waveafterwaveslowlydrifting · 12/04/2021 07:05

I'm sure the head will really appreciate your suggestions OP. 🙄

Iamnotthe1 · 12/04/2021 07:14

@JimmyGrimble

You do you I suppose but ... are you going to feel awful if it comes out that your child’s regular teacher has Long Covid, cancer or has lost her husband? Of course the school will take this into account next year. I agree with the previous poster about working with school to try and reduce your child’s anxiety.
I've genuinely heard parents say: "So what if Miss BlahBlah has cancer?! My daughter needs..." I've also had parents complain about their child being in a particular class because the teacher might be off "if the cancer comes back".

@FrameyMcFrame

Many parents are supportive (and downright lovely) when there are such reasons for long absenses. But there are those who aren't.

FrameyMcFrame
or swap in a more permanent member of staff into that class

Thereby disrupting more children than before.

OP
It's a crap situation but if there was a solution, they'd be doing it. I've known schools where HLTAs had to be made "unqualified teachers" in order to cover classes for long periods of time (in one case, most of the year) and this was pre-coronavirus. At least her teachers are qualified.

Iamnotthe1 · 12/04/2021 07:15

Apologies - tagging error there that didn't show in the draft. There really needs to be an edit post button.

KatherineOfGaunt · 12/04/2021 07:22

@FrameyMcFrame

I do think an email is worthwhile

But ask something like:

How can we make the rest of DD's school year as stable as possible and how can we work together to help her overcome anxiety?

Mention that the constant changes of class teacher have had a negative effect.

It's good for the school to get parent feedback and it might be the catalyst for them to take some action or swap in a more permanent member of staff into that class.

What?! The "catalyst for them to take some action"?! If they had a permanent member of staff then they'd already be using them. Trust me, schools do not use short-term supply because they want to. They will be well aware that it has an effect on the class, it's not a situation any school wants to be in having four different teachers in front of one class.

By all means, OP, contact them about your daughter's anxiety. But I can promise the school will be looking at next year's staffing and making sure classes who've had different teachers this year are in a stable a position as they can for next year. It's all they can do.

KoalaOok · 12/04/2021 07:30

You can contact them about your daughter's anxiety but I'm sure they are well aware of the staffing issues!

KoalaOok · 12/04/2021 07:31

In a way it might even be helpful to her to get used to having different teachers so she can get used to the idea of change. But 4 in a year is a lot so I understand your concerns.