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?

Perhaps you would feel more comfortable with home Ed OP. You can’t decide who the school should appoint. What happens if you decide you don’t like this person for some reason?

Regardless of anything, no one touches DC until I decide DC is happy. No one else makes that decision, especially those who have never met them. So yes, it is me who decides whether to trust 1:1’s abilities.

@Hankunamatata

Because the teacher is in charge of the class teaching the class as a whole. Not showing any preference for their own child.

A 1:1 is a whole different ball game. All my kids have 1:1. They have travelled through school with them, supported them, allowed their independence to grow. Their 1:1 sit next to them. Give them special attention. Take them out of classroom when needed.

This.

Teachers don’t become teachers just to teach their children. They are professionals who know how to separate the role as parent and role as teacher. There are lots of children in my DCs school who are children of teachers, some we wouldn’t even know about if we didn’t go to the same birthday parties as them. I had friends in high school whose parents were teachers, there were certainly no favouritism.

As your child’s 1on1 your going to be very bias for your child’s sole needs and 100% bias towards them, especially as your only getting the job just to support them. Your poor child will never get a chance to have any time away from you.

My hairdresser went to my DCs school, her mum taught my DCs over 4 years between them, I asked her if she was sending her dd to the school she was very adamant she was not doing this. She said when she went there her grandma was a teacher, her aunt a ta and her grandmas sister worked in the kitchen. Then her mum started. She hated it as she never felt she could do anything without being watched and checked up upon. How will your dd feel if your her 1 on 1 at school all day and then she’s home with you the rest of the time?

What about what your dc thinks?

So yes, it is me who decides whether to trust 1:1’s abilities

I forsee a tricky road ahead.

Then yes, I can home ed. I have done for 5 years with another DC. Secondary would be the better choice though.

I may be comfortable right from the beginning, as may DC, but it’s a huge change and I’m not comfortable with the idea that it’s expected to hand them over and have someone they’ve never met change and wipe them.

Of course you need to be comfortable with your child's support. Have you discussed with the new school what their intimate care policy is?

There were a couple of kids in my high school whose mums were teachers there. It was never an issue, although weirdly they were both out of their correct year group. One a September birthday who was a year ahead, and one a July birthday who was a year behind, but I believe had been abroad for a year. That was at a private school though. I assume they can make their own rules up.

See above, DC can make it clear when they’re comfortable so I can then back off as I have through Primary.

Getting this transition right may be the key to continued success in mainstream education, I’d be crazy if I didn’t take that seriously.

I see it as being like a carer or nurse.
You’re going to have a difficult relationship with the school if you expect to veto who they choose to employ.

Taking it seriously is different to refusing to let anyone touch your child.

I know you say that mainstream is best but with the level of care needs and being non verbal, your dc is very vulnerable. Have you spoken to the new school at all?

Ultimately OP the school will appoint a member of staff that they feel is suitable for a job role without discussion or involvement of a parent.

If you decide you are not happy with the person then you can withdraw your DC from the school or refuse to send them. But that's probably your only option.

You have no right to insist on being involved in school recruitment, even if it is for a 1:1 for your child. What do you think will happen if you're not satisfied?

Yes, I’ve spoken to the SENCO on three occasions since November. Never met face to face obviously at the moment. I didn’t know they were hiring from outside, and as such there wouldn’t be the same chance to meet prior to school year starting as we’ve done before. I was only told on Friday that was the plan.

Meet in September or July, if you don't like them your reaction will be the same...

I think secondary school could be very tricky for you. I have a child with SN at mainstream and I remember her having a really difficult night, so I thought I'd pop my head around the SENCO's door to let her know and see if the could help DD2. I got sent away with a flea in my ear for being on school premises and told to make an appointment. It's just totally different to primary school. I've met my children's tutors once. I get 5 minutes with their class teachers twice per year, and I get a summary sheet report with letter grades for effort and homework, then a grade level for attainment. That's it. If my child has a problem I can email the teacher, but generally, it's hands off.

I'm sure you'll have slightly more involvement as your child's needs are extensive, but still, it will not be like primary school.

I’m not expecting it to be a easy time ahead, I’m well aware of what we’re getting into, however I think the start needs to be done right. My concerns only relate to getting off on the right foot and giving DC the best chance of success in secondary.

I taught both my dc at their Comprehensive . Dd was never in my form but ds was. It was never a problem for anyone except the History teacher who sought me out to complain every time ds did anything wrong. Eventually I asked if he called the work places of other parents whose kids were guilty of chewing in the corridor or whispering in class.
My dc are grown up with dc of their own now and dd teaches at the school where her sons are pupils. She doesn’t teach them directly though.

However I would expect more in the way of qualification or experience than is being asked for.

...... but you say the salary is a very basic one. You said 12.700 (not sure if you are saying £12,700.00 pa, or £12.70 per hour, but either way, the salary is not going to attract highly qualified people in the main, unless you just hit lucky as it seems you did in Primary school with someone wanting short hours, term time only. So, with such a low salary, why would you be expecting "more in the way of qualification or experience" ?

Now, don't get me wrong, I know SEND support is incredibly underfunded, and I also get that personal care such as this is a very sensitive area, but I agree with everyone else that you can't apply for the job.

My concerns only relate to getting off on the right foot and giving DC the best chance of success in secondary.

My tip would be to be pleasant and helpful to the school and communicate with them in a way that says "How can we make this work....." rather than "I am going to / not going to"

Also, to be a bit more honest about what you are asking.
This thread has nothing to do with whether a teacher can teach their own child at school.
It also took you several pages in before mentioning a pretty crucial piece of information that your dc's 1:1 wasn't leaving, but that your dc was going to a completely different school, which will (as a secondary) obviously work in a completely different way from the current (Primary) school.
Be clear what you are asking about at all times and you will get clearer answers.

Because I was expecting a little more in the job description about skills that would be essential for working with my child, such as Makaton or experience with certain resources they use in school. There’s nothing mentioned, just ‘no experience necessary.’ Why would I be happy about a likely downgrade in the experience of the person who will spend as much time with DC during the week as I do?

My view re personal care stands, no one does that until DC and I are comfortable, that will mean me attending the school for a minimum of 3 x per school day until we’re happy.

To be honest I wasn’t aware that it wasn’t clear that it’s a school change, rather than 1:1 leaving, it wasn’t an intentional vagueness.

My sister was my sons teacher in primary school it was great as if I was late leaving work I could text her to keep him 😆

If his EHCP says he needs 1:1 his current 1:1 should be doing all transition visits. School can’t ask or expect you to go with him. It’s important for the new school to meet his current 1:1 so the transition is as smooth as possible.

My sister was taught by my mum in infants school, due to her teacher going on long term sick. I don't think there were any issues.

@Fiftyand

If his EHCP says he needs 1:1 his current 1:1 should be doing all transition visits. School can’t ask or expect you to go with him. It’s important for the new school to meet his current 1:1 so the transition is as smooth as possible.

Yes to this being the standard way to doing transition visits for significant needs children. Most transition days have been cancelled though in the last week.

They’re only getting one day at the new school, the date hasn’t been decided yet but as I understand it the current 1:1 will need to meet her next child then. In an ideal world the new 1:1 would be there to accompany my DC. The only available person who could oversee the personal care other than his current 1:1 is me, it’s that or he won’t be able to attend.

I can see your concerns op.

You need your child to be able to communicate and this is through makaton

You want to protect your child, as any parent would, but not letting a random stranger touch them in intimate places.

These are key elements of your child's ability to deal with life. I think you need to bring these points to all people involved in your child, current and new. It was a shame this didn't come up in the annual review but you and your child need clarity before the move.

I can fully understand why you had the thought of applying, but no I don't think it's appropriate. Your DC needs that wider circle of adults, to learn how to build relationships and build up what independence they can. But definitely offer your services to start with.

Keep on at both schools.

Also keep in mind some of the "unqualified" people can be the best. I've worked with an amazing 1:1 this year. She has done so much for the child that she works with but is certainly not qualified.

I almost can't believe your in this situation transition wise. It seems all kinds of wrong.

Good luck op.

When I was in grade 2 a boy in my class was the son of the teacher. He was very naughty and I just remember her yelling at him all year. I don’t remember him being especially naughty any other year we were in each other’s class.

When I was in year 3 my father was my PE teacher. I did. not. like. it. I can’t really remember why but it made me really uncomfortable and I was very relieved to go to a different school the following year.

At my second primary school and high school there were teachers kids there and the policy was they could not be their teachers. And it made sense.

I get why you want to do this OP, especially from a health perspective. But I do think it’s a bad idea from a social and educational perspective.
I really hope you can find a solution