To refuse to give up time to help kids catch up?

[PeachyM]

So I’m a teacher. And we’re nearing the end of the school year- finally :) Two kids from the same family but in different years disappear off for a two week family holiday, which hasn’t been authorised. I’m not going to particularly question their parents’ decision because it’s up to them. But they’ve come back having missed two weeks of a core subject and the parents have now requested we give up time to help catch them up. I’ve said no because I already have a shit ton of end of year stuff to finish and I don’t have the time. Parents have accused me of being unreasonable and said that I’m refusing to do my job. Who’s in the wrong here?

Op your not being unreasonable.

I'm Scottish so don't really understand English system. Is Year 10 GCSE year, have they not already sat the exams?

However I don't think parents should take secondary kids out of school for holidays. I'm loathed to even do it with primary kids.

Am also a teacher (secondary).

I'd direct them to the resources/weekly overviews on Teams and let them crack at it themselves.

They could come to study support and I'd look over any catch up work, but that's an open offer to any student.

The parents are massively unreasonable in taking them out and then expecting lessons.

I assumed you were primary, who is taking a y10 student on holiday in term time?! Madness!!!
Our school do make a pack of any handouts kids miss when off school (primary) and will happily give you a run down of what was missed in a short chat at pick up, I feel that's appropriate but I wouldn't expect any more tbh.

But the parents’ entitlement has really infected the kids and they’re complaining in class that Miss isn’t bothering to teach them so they’ll fail. this must be soul destroying for you.

@PeachyM
Can't see what you have to offer. The parents are clearly subject matter experts - as they knew that the two weeks did not require attendance.

Jeez they’re ridiculous. I do think that parents should be able to take their kids out of school for holidays, but if they do, it is completely on them to help them catch up and to not make a fuss if they fall behind in something.

Typical entitled behaviour from the parent. No, you don’t need to do nothing over and above for these children. It was the parent’s decision. It’s like when parents go on an unauthorised holiday and ask the teacher for homework before they go. No! Of you want them educated, send them to school! Homework takes time to prepare and the teachers in my school aren’t expected to do that.

this!

That wasn't what happened. These parents wanted the teachers to take their time to make up learning packs to take on holiday as they were doing for kids off with covid! How rude of them!

Have SLT actually been involved? I would refuse. Lunch breaks are sacrosanct and your union will back you up on that. The students themselves should be spoken to re their comments in class, it’s poor behaviour.

@user143677433 I think it’s highly unlikely that there are packs of work, relating to the two weeks missed, just lying around!

Private school op?

Obviously you aren't refusing to do your job. You did your job, it's not your fault the children weren't available to benefit from it. It would be different if they had been ill. If the parents wanted their children to catch up, they could use the money they saved on the termtime holiday to pay for a tutor.

No.

You are absolutely within your rights OP.
(My child missed nearly 5 months of school due to a serious accident that was the fault of the school. The school flatly refused to help with any catching up whatsoever. That was unreasonable IMO)
These parents are extremely entitled. YANBU.

Why should they?? Honest question, why?

You missed the lessons. Your choice. Face the consequences.

It's unreasonable you took time off during term. End of.

No way should you give up your time. Why can’t they copy the notes from a friends book and anything they don’t understand, look up on the internet like the rest of us!

Well that is just odd

I would have withdrew my child and then applied for another

Presumably it was quite shit before the accident?

Everything about this indicates private school.

the fact parents were able to take out for two weeks with no mention of any consequences (same at my children’s private school).
The direct and regular communication between parent and teacher (private encouraged, my experience of state is discouraged) and finally the parents expectations.

I don’t think unreasonable to provide some additional info or support, presuming the school permitted the trip. Not giving up lunch breaks (although on mumsnet it would seem no teacher has ever managed to go to the toilet, let alone have lunch!) but just saying that you’ll provide the syllabus and copies of any handouts

@endofthelinefinally , Yes, that was beyond unreasonable of them in those circumstances.
But THIS? No WAY!

Private school op?
In my experience, this level of entitlement is usually found in the state sector. Parents in the independent sector don't have to take children out early because holidays are longer anyway so they hit the quieter time by default.

Ha! Trust me they do take them out!

im taking my two out for 3 days early this summer and 3 days before October half term

and not uncommon in the slightest. Far from it!

Not reasonable at all.

It wouldn't take 2 minutes to do at all - it would most likely take quite some time.

Per subject. As the children are secondary age, they must be studying a minimum of 8-10 subjects each, should each teacher take the time to email bullet points? That's a lot to ask of teachers in their spare time, because the childrens parents took them out of school for two weeks.

I agree it's not the childrens fault, but it's not the fault of the teacher either. I think the most the parents could hope for is that the children are allowed to join in any extra sessions that are sometimes offered to GSCE students, but certainly shouldn't expect any extra to be laid on for them.

Just do what every other child has done when missing a lesson - borrow notes from a friend to see what they've missed.

I think it’s about rights and responsibilities. They have the right to take their children out of school for holidays, but they also have a responsibility to make sure the childrens’ education doesn’t suffer as a result - their problem, not yours, even as the teacher.

I work in an indie and parents do sometimes take children out. They let school know, request work before they go and supervise the kids doing it.

I have never known an expectation for a teacher to use their free time to do 121 catch ups. Our parents are not that entitled.