DDs teacher is constantly off sick

[northernnitemarrrr]

The school say this isn't an issue for her education ( year 1) But I just feel if a TA was a suitable teacher then they would be the teacher. And they having random Ta's or support staff cover the classes, so it's always a different person isn't really on. None of the TA's have been there all year, as they don't seem to last long in our class. Maybe it's the class or the teacher but AIBU to be pissed off ?

Well it depends, we need more information. If it's year 10 or year 12, obviously it's not amazing. Year 1, probably less terrible though still not ideal.

Oh, and quite a few TAs are former teachers who stepped down many levels on the pay scale to do the work they enjoy without the high levels of stress that come with having sole responsibility for the class. HLTAs have taken a specific qualification to enable them to cover classes.
It really isn't just that 'they aren't good enough'.

Tbh I'd say that cover using TAs from within the school is preferable to using staff from supply agencies as it provides more consistency for the children.

YANBU to think it could be a problem but what do you actually expect the school to do about it?

Not really sure what you are saying, but you do know that teachers are allowed to be ill , yes? My best friend is on her tenth month of cancer treatment - I am far more concerned about her than I am about the students in her class.

The school's managment should be putting inlong term, reliable cover if the teacher is off on long term sick. If they are not it is because they are trying to save money, have no money, or cannot get anyone good and reliable in.

Well I know this has been an ongoing issue with this teacher, so I expect the school to get another teacher in. I honestly think my DD has had her teacher less than 50% this year. She was at some point only doing 2 days a week but not a job share with no other teacher.

There is a HLTA in the school but he can't cover everything can he, so more often they just don't have a teacher.

We had something similar in Year 1 and I complained to the Head. One day, when the teacher was in, she asked me if I had time for a brief chat. She showed me how everything is planned, and it's clear what needs to be taught every day and how they were going to do that. She also talked to me about DD's current levels and how well she coped with the changes (in all fairness I didnt think it was an issue for DD anyway, I was just concerned). She assured me that her class weren't behind in their education and understanding. Worth having a chat in hope you can gain some reassurance.

If the teacher is sick, the tescher is sick. All the school can do is get supply in (if they can find any - they are thin on the ground atm), which might well be a different person evert time and who would not know the children... or use the staff they have in school, who may be TAs but at least they know the kids. Staff absence is very high. I know of GCSE science classes who had no science teacher for 2 whole terms.

When you say get another teacher in, do you mean fire the unwell teacher and replace them or pay the huge agency fees for a supply?

If teacher is sick they still get paid so the school don’t always have the finances to pay for a supply teacher, especially a small school. As long as kids aren’t being left their probably learning more as different teachers flourish at different things. I understand the education side but they all learn in different ways

@Madmog I know what you mean, but if a teacher isn't valuable other than just for planning them schools would just use have one to plan then use cheaper supervisors for the classes. I feel my DD needs someone you knows what her gaps are and what she excels in.

Sending a TA from another year or class in isn't the same as a constant teacher. This is a big school and honestly it's a different person each day at drop off. I know some TA's are school mums and that whilst they had previous careers, then helped out at the school they certainly weren't infant school teachers.

YNBU at all, it is not ok and it does have an impact on the children's learning. Unfortunately there is often no supply available, and even if there was there's no budget for it. Yet another way our children are being failed by cost cutting and incompetence.

Most teachers do everything they can to be at work, even when they shouldn't! We used to have peripatetic supply roles to cover long term teacher absences and ensure continuity of learning, but that was something else that was cut in the last few years.

@Madmog :

"She showed me how everything is planned, and it's clear what needs to be taught every day and how they were going to do that."

But that isn't reassuring is it? The teacher is telling you they've planned and prepared for her absence. But it's just not the same is it? Or else we'd (playing devils advocate - teasingly) question what the point if being a teacher was, if everything is hunky dory when they aren't there, at all, all year. We all want out dc taught by a teacher don't we?

That's the issue there won't be money for a supply teacher. They haven't had a supply teacher or even been loaned a teacher from another class in the same year. As I said this is a big school.

IMO ideally the teacher needs to leave. In many businesses you can be dismissed for too much sickness, this is excessive sickness. It maybe a learn term condition, obviously as parents don't get told why she's off sick. I just don't think it's fair. I appreciate the teacher needs to earn, and yes I've complained but the school are very dismissive.

YANBU.

youll need your tin hat on here though.

And we are creatures of habit, we all want stability don't we? ideally we don't want numerous different supply teachers, we want one teacher ( or a job share but you get the point) to teach us all the way through the year.

Have you emailed Head asking for your concerns to be noted? I would.

Are you a medical specialist, with intimate knowledge of the teacher's health? Then who are you to judge whether it is excessive?! In a previous role I covered for teachers undergoing long term cancer treatment, as well as for those who were off because their own children were having prolonged, life saving treatment. None of these teachers 'needed to leave' FFS

This is most likely not a teacher problem, or a school problem. If schools were properly funded this wouldn't often be an issue. If people continue to happily go along with successive government decisions to defund education, this will become even more of an issue...

In many occupations that level of absence would trigger various stages of review, ultimately leading to dismissal if there was no improvement. Where it's a long term issue eg cancer, a different process would kick in to ensure adequate cover.

If you arent well enough to do the job, you can just remain indefinitely on payroll.

It's not fair to the children.

cant just remain on payroll

Please have a read of the thread on teacher shortages!
I think the current situation in schools is only going to get worse!

It would annoy me, too OP, but this is MN. People are encouraged to phone in sick at the drop of a hat. Bugger the employer or the end users.

If someone is that unwell, then it needs dealing with.

You know this process exists in teaching too right? Our HR follows the absence policy with certain amounts of sickness triggering meetings, warnings etc. Can’t remember exactly but think it’s more than 3 occasions in 12 months then a sliding scale.
Unfortunately teachers are human. A teacher at my school is off with breast cancer, we are an SEN school and can’t get supply no matter what we do. The advert has been up for long term cover for weeks. However the fantastic TAs with great knowledge of the children are stepping up for now until we can recruit.

It's not acceptable to have a TA teaching 50% of the time, no. But it's also completely unreasonable of you to expect the teacher to resign.

Blame our shitty government for underfunding schools and for not supporting people in ill health to, you know, live.

Of course it isn’t good enough. Either children need to be taught by trained teachers or they don’t.

And it’s of no interest to parents what’s wrong with the teacher, it’s not about the teacher, it’s about the children. And yes long term sickness may well mean they need to leave, that’s normal in any job.

Sorry that was meant to reply to @InChocolateWeTrust post

I'm sorry being off sick every week for at least a day, if not multiple days is excessive. Working a half term only only 3 days a week with no other teacher cover is a lot of time off. Teacher hasn't been back since half term. It really is excessive and no I don't know and I don't need to know why they are off sick. It could be something serious or a mental condition, but it doesn't make it ok for the class.

I just feel the school should a) be honest that it's a bit shit b) loan the class a teacher one morning / afternoon a week from another class. Because there are 2 other classes having a full time teacher and my DD's class having a 3 days a week if we are lucky. Or no teacher for weeks like at present.