Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be really cross about this feedback I’ve received at work today?

122 replies

BiscoffAddict · 11/06/2021 19:35

I’m a teaching assistant and am working on supply via an agency at the moment. It’s obviously been a tough year but most schools are just glad of the help. This week I’ve been working everyday at an Infant school. They seemed lovely, I was only supposed to be there four days but they asked me to do an extra day. Of course I was happy to help. Today as I left the teacher thanked me profusely and said she hoped she’d see me again soon.

I then get home to a message from the agency asking me to ring them and it turns out that the school had some ‘concerns’ about me. Apparently there had been ‘incident’, which I have no recollection of where I told a child with additional needs to stop dancing during circle time. They also accused me of using my phone whilst in the classroom, which I couldn’t have done because my phone was in my bag in the cupboard!

I was and still am absolutely gobsmacked! They were so nice to my face, and I came away thinking what a lovely week it had been.I just can’t get my head around it. This has never happened before ever, and even my account manager admitted she didn’t understand it because I always get good feedback and no one has ever had a problem with me before.

The whole thing has left me reeling and actually and I’m really fucking fuming! I can’t understand why they didn’t talk to me directly if they were unhappy with my work? I also don’t understand why they kept me for the whole week?

AIBU to be furious about it!

OP posts:
crimsonlake · 11/06/2021 22:03

On supply I think you have to develop broad shoulders, not take it personally and move on to the next job.
I worked as a supply teacher for many years and I recall one day taking a last minute call and obviously got to the school after 9am. I was gobsmacked at the amount of work left, reading, spelling test, literacy and maths set for the morning only booking all with differentiated worksheets. I stayed behind most of the lunch hour to try and mark, including sticking god knows how many worksheets in books. It basically would have taken the afternoon to mark such a huge amount. I did as much as I could, left a note for the teacher and then left myself. The school complained to the agency that I did not complete the marking.

TableFlowerss · 11/06/2021 22:04

I’d phone up the school actually!! Ask them about it as if they’re accusing you of stuff like that then you should be able to clear your name!

Original poster
BiscoffAddict · 11/06/2021 22:11

@Catra

My DH is a teacher and had a lovely, helpful TA in his class on supply for the week. When he found out she wasn't coming back he asked the head what had happened - as far as DH was concerned she had proven herself indispensable. Without even flinching the head admitted he didn't like the woman - no reason, he just didn't like her - so he'd lied to the agency and given her terrible feedback to get rid of her. DH was gobsmacked.

So while the feedback you received isn't true, it doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't meant for you, I'm sorry to say.

Wow! That’s awful! That’s the kind of thing that could ruin someone’s career, and self confidence. I don’t want to think this school has been deliberately malicious, but at the same time I can’t rule that out.
OP posts:
BoredOfThisShit · 11/06/2021 22:13

I had similar when i was a nanny….

The agency told me the parent didnt want me back because of these reasons (Listed them)
None of them were true.
I had no idea what the parent was talking about

Agency didnt put me on any other jobs after that 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
BiscoffAddict · 11/06/2021 22:13

And no I’m not going to call the school and make a fuss. I don’t see what that would achieve other than me sound desperate and unprofessional. No I’ll just chalk it up to experience and refuse to go back there, even if they’re desperate and no one else is available.

OP posts:
MissM2912 · 11/06/2021 22:31

I would guess the nursery have panicked at the mention of phone use and exaggerated the feedback if they thought the phone was out in the classroom.

WarOnWoman · 11/06/2021 22:33

It happens to the best of us, OP. I've had similar and I've no idea why the feedback was so bad.

In your case, was there another supply there from a different agency? Perhaps, the school mixed up the two supply TA? That's the only thing I can think of but maybe chalk it up to experience like you say. And yes, absolutely, best not to call the school. Onwards and upwards, OP.

Original poster
BiscoffAddict · 11/06/2021 22:38

To be honest I’ve seen teachers and TA’s texting and using mobile phones in the classroom loads of times. Obviously not there, and actually when I think about it now, I didn’t see any of the staff even glance at their phones at all which is really unusual.

OP posts:
covilha · 11/06/2021 22:45

Do the school have form for giving negative feedback? Does the agency give them a reduction when they do? Maybe worth finding out 💐

deathbypostitnote · 11/06/2021 22:48

I would write the head teacher a letter saying you've received this feedback (brief description) and you would be terribly grateful if she could clarify that it was definitely meant for you as you have no recollection of the described incident and didn't carry your phone on your person while at work. It doesn't sound as if you have much to lose at this point. If you emphasise that your honest intention is simply to learn from the feedback and ensure it doesn't happen again, and you are deeply grateful for any guidance she could give to help you clarify what happened and how to move on. You're not planning to return and she can only ignore it.

3luckystars · 11/06/2021 22:49

I would email the agency and say ‘regarding our earlier phone conversation, while working in the school, I was not using my phone and that other incident did not happen, the school were really happy with me too. Could you follow up about this, as I think there has been a mix up, thanks a million’

OccaChocca · 11/06/2021 22:56

Why are you furious? It wasn't you. You didn't tell the child off and you didn't use your phone in the classroom. They clearly have the wrong person.

Did you not challenge it with the agency?

I think I live in a parallel universe when I read Mumsnet sometimes. Please grow a spine.

JesusWeptonaBike · 11/06/2021 23:00

@OccaChocca

Why are you furious? It wasn't you. You didn't tell the child off and you didn't use your phone in the classroom. They clearly have the wrong person.

Did you not challenge it with the agency?

I think I live in a parallel universe when I read Mumsnet sometimes. Please grow a spine.

The OP has already said she was the only supply at the school this week so it was definitely about her....
TableFlowerss · 11/06/2021 23:02

@BiscoffAddict

And no I’m not going to call the school and make a fuss. I don’t see what that would achieve other than me sound desperate and unprofessional. No I’ll just chalk it up to experience and refuse to go back there, even if they’re desperate and no one else is available.
Fair enough, but you don’t need to go in guns a blazing. You’d just ask for a chat to discuss a situation and explain why you feel it’s unfair as it could scupper your chances with the agency.

It’s like slander and no way would I stand for that if it want true. Certain things are subjective but saying someone was using a phone in class when they weren’t, isn’t subjective. It’s an outright lie.

TableFlowerss · 11/06/2021 23:03

@OccaChocca

Why are you furious? It wasn't you. You didn't tell the child off and you didn't use your phone in the classroom. They clearly have the wrong person.

Did you not challenge it with the agency?

I think I live in a parallel universe when I read Mumsnet sometimes. Please grow a spine.

This!
MaMelon · 11/06/2021 23:06

If someone lied and accused me of something I didn’t do in the workplace then I wouldn’t take it lying down. OP - you don’t have to go in all guns blazing but surely you need to correct the record?

Griefmonster · 11/06/2021 23:19

I don't understand if you are saying you don't remember telling the child off (there was an event that sounds like the one but you dispute the telling off) or you don't remember a child dancing during circle time (likely entirely fabricated or wrongly assigned feedback)

Bedtimeforever · 11/06/2021 23:26

That’s terrible. I have had the same, I went in as a teacher, taught the whole day, helped and assisted the children and was told if I needed anything, just pop next door (literally less than a metre from classroom I was in) which I did do for something.
School then complained I left class unsupervised for a period of time, didn’t do what they wanted me to do, spent time on my phone etc etc and they refuse to pay me teacher rate and would have to settle on TA rate. Lockdown happened and I never did a supply shift again, thankfully.

Another time I had 4 lessons on my timetable, and afternoon free. Asked at reception and she said to go home (and asked them 3 times to confirm this properly because frankly, it seemed too good to be true). Within 15 minutes of leaving agency calls saying school said I walked out.

Loved the flexibility of supply, but seriously found the constant treating like cr*p quite difficult.

Blossomtoes · 11/06/2021 23:28

@insancerre

They have got you confused with someone else
My first thought too.
MsTSwift · 11/06/2021 23:31

Honestly op much sympathy but you have to toughen up. I offer a professional service and the vast majority of clients think I’m marvellous but occasionally they just don’t. It doesn’t work and they don’t like you - like the other posters. You can’t please all of the people all of the time. It’s upsetting horrible and unfair but sometimes it happens.

chaosmaker · 11/06/2021 23:33

Could the agency have mixed up similar named schools? It does seem really weird. Or did they name you? In which case something is wrong somewhere and like other posters, I would challenge it.

Cadent · 11/06/2021 23:34

Sounds like you were too good and someone wants to protect their job.

CSIblonde · 11/06/2021 23:36

You'll prob find they have a high turnover of staff if it's definitely not a mistake & you had your phone in your bag etc. I had this as a Contractor , nice to my face slated me to the agency. Luckily I'd really clicked with a Client's PA & she provided proof they'd lied about me leaving early. (I'd been emailing her right up to 5pm re setting up an urgent meeting). I also had an Agency that recognised my feedback was normally glowing, so something was v amiss.

Topseyt · 11/06/2021 23:44

I think this should be challenged and I don't understand why you are not going to.

If I was accused like that of stuff I simply didn't do then no way would I just roll over and let it happen. It makes no sense at all. If the school were unhappy with you then surely they wouldn't have invited you to come back for an additional day

It just doesn't add up at all. Someone may well have cocked up somewhere along the line. Even if they haven't, blatant lies are malicious and should be challenged.

memberofthewedding · 12/06/2021 00:01

When you are a professional person or in business sometimes people (for their own reasons) leave very unjust feedback, which can get posted on public forums. I believe you should always respond in a civil manner, and give your side of the story. If you fail to respond, it can appear that you do not care.

Swipe left for the next trending thread