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 ?

Agree agree agree.

What @rosehugger says.

Whilst I can understand your worries and concern, as others have written, its not as bad as it would be if your daughter was in, say, y6 or y11.

”Well I know this has been an ongoing issue with this teacher, so I expect the school to get another teacher in.”

A school can’t just get rid of someone - schools have to obey employment law. (At least in the UK.).

In general…. 6 months off on full pay ( with doctors notes etc.) 6-12 months on half pay. At that point you can be dismissed for incompetency - because you’re not well enough.

If a teacher is away a week, back, then off the clock doesn’t restart.

If one is seriously ill then you can ask to retire through ill health.

Some schools pay into an insurance scheme to pay for cover. But some can’t afford it/hope that no-one is ill/pay as they go/ cover it internally using TAs and teaching staff loosing their non-contact time.

I’m not sure if you know exactly why your daughter’s teacher is off? In my experience few are off for minor reasons.

Some ailments, like my wife’s cancer needed a straight 7 months off. Some struggle back, out of a sense of duty, between chemo treatments.

Some conditions flare up, requiring time off periodically

To my mind, pain as it is it’s probably best not to complain unless you know all the facts - and even then………

Its your attitude and personal attach on the teacher that is absolutely out of order. Show some compassion and accept that their employment is absolutely nothing to do with you.
have you raised the problems with lack of teaching cover with the school?

@northernnitemarrrr What negative impact is it actually having on your DD atm?

specifically.

One of my kids had an awful teacher for 2 years, we used to put the flags out if the TA was taking the class. She was absolutely brilliant and the Head was frustrated that he couldn't persuade her to qualify.

So I suppose to me it depends on if the TAs/Supply teachers are any good.

How does a school move a teacher to supply? Schools do not employ a bank of supply teachers, in senior schools they often have cover supervisors which are glorified TA’s with often little to no training.

@northernnitemarrrr The teacher is ill, and it is very likely there is no money left in the budget for supply teachers at this point due to the rules earlier in the academic year requiring supply staff more frequently than they would normally. It’s not right but it’s not sick pay or your lack of sick pay that is why your DC doesn’t have an adequate supervisor while the teacher is unwell.

”Well I know this has been an ongoing issue with this teacher, so I expect the school to get another teacher in.”

from where?

Even if they could get rid of the teacher - which they likely can’t because sick people have rights - where do you suggest they so easily find one from when there’s a UK wide shortage?

I love how you use Tory as an insult when a) they've been elected repeatedly by your compatriots in droves and b) this is about someone wanting a decent education for their children.

YANBU OP. So much taxpayers money is wasted otherwise so it's impossible to further fund schools. And now teachers want a double figures % pay rise despite finances being dire.

You can't for

*cant criticise teachers on here

Do you think children at private school would be dealing with this - being taught by TAs so often?

No, of course not. It affects grades and quality of life for a lot of students in the long run.

How self absorbed is the OP. Your kid is in YT 2 ffs.
I’m sure your little darling will manage just fine.
Teachers are leaving in their droves and supply is getting harder to come by.

You’d like the teacher to resign would you?? Is this actually for real🤤

You have no idea what the health issue is and it’s none of your business anyway!

@MargotChateau it's not selfish to want her child to receive a proper education

I always thought private schools didn't have to employ qualified teachers. Did that change?

You do realise that lots of the teachers in private schools are not teachers

And the Op hasn’t actually raised any issues with her DDs education. Just the people taking the class - questions of what’s actually problematic in the teaching have been ignored

The teacher isn't going to quit because your child doesn't have a teacher teaching the class.

No, it didn’t

Wouldn't happen in the private sector so why is it acceptable in the state?

Children in private schools are regularly taught by non-qualified teachers, so it does happen…

I have sympathy for the teacher but also
find it quite amusing that schools are so hell bent on 100% attendance and any non attendance will cause the child to fail in life… and then not provide a qualified teacher for weeks on end. How home education cannot possibly be any good because of lack of a ‘qualified’ teacher. Makes me smile wryly.

Education in this country really has gone to shit.

I think YANBU. It's crap.

I used to share a class with a teacher who was off on stress for many terms. Completely selfish, in my opinion. If the stress lasts longer than a few weeks, quit and find something less stressful to do and let the school recruit a new teacher.

Obviously, if the illness is something like cancer, that's quite different but still YANBU to be concerned your child doesn't have a teacher in year 1.

I agree it’s a shit situation, but I don’t know what can be done about it. Teachers are only human and get sick, get pregnant, work part time etc. all these things (in my opinion) are a pain for schools and make it harder for the pupils in their class, but I expect to have those things in a job, so teachers should also have the same options available to them.

DS had 6 teachers in year 2. That was a job share, they both retired, they got supply in at Christmas, which changed fairly quickly, then 2 new job share teachers started at Easter. It was far from ideal, but nothing really that the school could do. They were advertising for a full time teacher through the autumn term, but if no one wants the job, school are really limited what they can do. Same in your situation, the school can’t sack the teachers for being Ill and they can’t magic the budget to pay for supply.

For year one though, as long as your child is generally doing fine, then this is very unlikely to have any long term impact.

Lmao at people thinking that only qualified teachers teach in the private sector.

I know someone who is a qualified physio who works as a teacher in a private girls school.
she’s the first to say she knew nothing about teaching but was attracted to the long holidays, and was burnt out working for the nhs.

Yes - this. Go and have a chat with the Head, find out what is meant to be covered and seek assurance that it will be, and how.