Looking to find out if this is normal as I don't have other experiences to compare to...
My DC goes to a v small rural comprehensive primary school with just one class ranging from Reception to 11yr olds. There are 2 classrooms, but they don't always divide up.
DC (Yr2) has told me that they (the class, sometimes half the class, sometimes all) are 'often' in the classroom without a member of staff for reasonably prolonged periods of time (approx 20mins). There is 1 teacher and 1TA min in the building at all times, sometimes 2TA... I was surprised that they are alone in the classroom for any length of time as I don't remember this happening when I was at school, other than for the odd moment when they'd go get the tv or projector or something like that.. but I know that was a loooooong time ago!
I only heard about this as my DC was telling me about some of the kids mucking about and I asked what the teacher said, but teacher wasn't there.
So AIBU to think it's normal to have at least one member of staff in a primary classroom the vast majority of the time, or is this normal, or is this an inevitability in a 1 class school where a teacher has to prepare lessons for such an age range?