To ask if a teacher can teach their child at school?

[Tylila]

Do some schools/councils have policies against it?

How are situations handled when the child is involved and the teacher has to look at both sides without favouring?

Are there other considerations to be aware of?

@L0bstersLass

Sigh, of course I’am.

The school and you absolutely know best despite both you and all staff members at the school never meeting any of us.

You could request current 1:1 creates a handover document for incoming 1:1. You could write one up yourself as well.

Happened at my DDs school and all seemed fine. It was single form entry, so no option of a different class.

There's no way this is ever going to happen.

@Hankunamatata

That’s all totally possible I’m sure. I only saw the job description on Friday night so no chance to discuss with official parties yet and work out plans around everything.

I have worked as a 1:1 for 6 years with a number of different children I have never met the children before I started working with them and only met the parents of 1 child it's not common in my experience that parents meet the 1:1. If the school are advertising for an unqualified 1:1 then that level of care must be in line with his ehcp. I have a degree but the job doesn't require it the parents and the children I work with don't know or need to know I am qualified to degree level. It would not be appropriate for you to be his 1:1 the role of a 1:1 and the role of a teacher are very different. I was not allowed to work in the same class as my children when we were all at the same school.

The level of care needed is very high. That’s why DC has the 1:1 they have now as she is the most qualified.

The EHCP reflects that the level of care is very high too.

OP is there any chance that the school have someone in mind already? It can often be the case.

I met both 1:1’s we’ve had before they started working with DC. I would have thought this standard. No way would I hand them over without knowing who they were.

We had this at the school we have moved from. Quite a few staff had children/grandchildren there. Some of these were not the best behaved, but it was not dealt with correctly.

There is no opportunity for DC to meet new 1:1 before the first day in an entirely new school, with new peers and teachers.
Have the school shared the job advert with you or have you seen it advertised? Do you know the role it is for definitely is your child's 1:1?

No, they are specifically sourcing from outside existing INA’s. Interviews in middle of July just before end of term.

Had the review meeting the other day and had I read the job description prior to that I would have questioned the SENCO as to why they aren’t looking for more in terms of experience. No mention made of 1:1 made in meeting.

I'm confused about the need for the degree, given that the1:1 is providing personal and medical care, is it a nursing degree?

Yes, only advert on their website and specifically mentions stuff relating to my child but doesn’t ask for the experience of it prior to application.

I don’t think there’s a need for the degree, DC’s 1:1 happens to have one and her experience has got them to the point we’re at now. However I would expect more in the way of qualification or experience than is being asked for.

Not standard at all in my experience, there were about 10 1:1s in the last school I worked at 2 who deal with intimate care non of us met the children before we worked with them, my friend has a child with high level needs and intimate care needs she hasn't met his 1:1 workers before he started school, he also goes to respite care every week over night she hasn't met the staff there either.
It sounds to me you have had a really positive experience but it is not the norm, how many hours care does you son received on his ehcp? What level is his 1:1 most 1:1s are employed as level 2 locally and the salary you quoted is higher than average especially when they are saying no qualications or experience is needed.

Well frankly I am a clingy parent when it comes to the particular need that ds requires staff to have specialist training for so I do absolutely understand your concerns and they are totally valid! The right support for him determines his quality of life and what he can access on a day to day basis. So it's exceptionally important that it's right especially if he is used to having his needs met to a high standard and someone without that level of knowledge is taking over. It's a delicate balance and there will be a difficult transition period. We have never been able to avoid this unfortunately.

I would ask to meet with the 1:1 before they meet your child as a sort of hand over. As previously mentioned you could create a personal profile for him with any tips you feel could help the new 1:1, the old 1:1 could give some valuable insite also. I'd ask for training to be completed before they work with your child. Depending on what the specialist area is it might be really helpful for them to see how you support ds with this, shadow you for an hour if that makes sense. All things we have done and where welcomed by his school and ta's. If you don't ask you don't get.

It sounds really unsettling OP. I have in the past known of parents being involved in the recruitment of their child's one to one - either directly, or more commonly through a parent governor who has met with the parents then acted as their 'representative' on the interview panel. Might be worth suggesting?

Pretty standard not to meet 1:1 until start back to school

It can be hard to source 1:1. Its term time pro rata basic wage.

Most schools cast a wide pool to find the best candidate by not being specific. If they have to re advertise the job due to a roo specific criteria that would take even longer and a danger that 1:1 wouldn't be in place for september.

My mum taught me in year 5 of primary; my class was her first year in the job. We had just returned from abroad the previous year so I was fairly newish already. To be honest we both agree now it was awful. I was bullied horrifically; not sure it was because my mumwas the teacher but it certainly didn't help. We both found it stressful, probably because of the bullying issues I was already experiencing.

Asking for experience can put off really good candidates though. People can be trained and they have until September to learn any extra skills needed.

I would not be comfortable with a parent being a full time 1:1 of a child in the classroom. It wouldn't be fair on any of us. If your child is attending school, then there is an acknowledgement you want them to have a school experience and become independent. That is difficult if mum is always around.

@Hankunamatata

Pretty standard not to meet 1:1 until start back to school

It can be hard to source 1:1. Its term time pro rata basic wage.

Most schools cast a wide pool to find the best candidate by not being specific. If they have to re advertise the job due to a roo specific criteria that would take even longer and a danger that 1:1 wouldn't be in place for september.

I agree, they've opened it up as much as possible to get as many candidates as they can. They want a decent pool to choose from.

Is it an INA change, or is the school changing too? Your wording of not letting dc attend without knowing them implies school too. If it is only the INA changing, then school will know your child already.

@Bobblesock

That’s helpful, I will look at suggesting a parent governor representative.