Shouldn’t/Wouldn’t a teacher notice?

[Camperseatinginsects]

This post is not to slag off teachers, I’m an Early years teacher myself and I know what an amazing job the majority of teachers do.
Dd started pre school in September, she does mornings in a class of 23.
Dd has been different since she started school and has huge meltdowns at home, I appreciate it’s a big change for and that she might be letting it all out at home. Her meltdowns seem like they might be more than this though, I’ve also noticed some possible sensory issues.
Had a meeting today with Dh and Dd’s class teacher, I mentioned my concerns and her change in behaviour at home etc, plus things she’s told me about hiding under the chairs at school because of the noise and so on.
Her teacher said she’d not noticed anything as she only has her in the mornings and has a class of 23 (there are assistants too)
Whilst I know how hard this is, I still believe that I would have by this point in the term have been able to have an idea of pupils behaviour and anything that may be different/stand out a little. Dd tells me she sometimes cries and hides in the corner…her teacher just kept saying she hasn’t had chance to observe as the class is so big.
Isn’t this her job though or am I being unfair?
Any teachers out there also? What do you think? Would you have been able to form ideas about students by this point?

Well, assuming your dd is telling the truth, even with a “big” class (of 23??! 😂), yes a teacher should be noticing a child hiding under chairs or crying in the corner after 2 months.

I honestly don't know, Camper. 23 is not a huge number for a class if the teacher has assistants. However, what I do know is that now you have spoken about it, your daughter's teacher will make a point of noticing her behaviour. You were quite right to speak about it.

It is very hard to say as you also do not know how reliable your daughter's account is. A five year old might say they have been hiding under chairs but this in fact could have been one occasion or might not have been seen as a big deal. The TA might have then said 'Come on out X' and that was that. You are noticing big changes in her behaviour and are assuming she must stand out in school. This early on in the year, there are probably many children who need help and support. I am sure that if your dd was constantly hiding from staff, someone would have noticed this as a cause for concern.

@jetadore She’s telling the truth, she’s hasn’t hit a lying phase yet and has no reason to lie, the teachers acknowledged the hiding under the chair, but said it was only a couple of times and she didn’t cry. Dd told me she was crying and the teacher asked her why she was crying and told her to go to the assistant, who also hadn’t noticed 🤷🏻‍♀️
I’m sure I’d notice or one of us would (assistant or myself in the classroom)

@LBFseBrom Yes, that’s the positive thing, she said she will look out now, but reiterated that it’s hard with this number of children 😬
Her job is surely to get to know and understand every one of those children though, surely 🤷🏻‍♀️

23 is not a big class. However, if it was a once off crying episode during art/ music etc, I can see how it may have gone without comment. She is aware of it now, so we'll done.

Is she actually a teacher in a preschool?

I work 1:1 with a reception child In a class of 25. We absolutely would have noticed this weeks ago and would have put support in place if one of our children was regularly crying in class and/ or hiding. I would follow up with the teacher in a couple of weeks if the behaviour is continuing and put her on the spot, ask what support they are providing.

23 is not a big class. And yes, she/someone should have noticed.

23 isn't that big a class for a preschool, she should absolutely have noticed this before now. I'd be keeping a close eye and following up in a couple of weeks if it continues.

You know as well as anyone else how skewed her perception could be at this age. It sounds like the real problem is the response you received from the teacher. I've not had a chance to observe it certainly makes it feel like your child has faded into the background. It's not reassuring is it?

Christ, in a class of 23 after almost 2 terms, even if it is only mornings, she should DEFINITELY have noticed!! As should her TA.

(Speaking as a fellow Primary School Teacher, albeit yr6).

She started in September. Its not even one term!!

But the teacher or a TA should have noticed

Another teacher here, I usually have a pretty solid assessment of the personalities in my class by now and I always have a class of 30. A class of 23 sounds like a dream! Don't get me wrong, I know it is a tough job but I think your little one has managed to fall under the radar (as heartbreaking as that sounds as that's a fear of mine for my own). Hopefully now that you have brought this up with the teacher she will notice more and have better communication about the situation - also better support for your DD, bless her.

My first instinct would be, a child under a chair at that age wouldn't stand out. A crying child at that age wouldn't stand out. But a child repeating this behaviour- crying whilst hiding from noise- would be something I'd address. If a parent raised it I'd keep a close eye on that pupil and feedback regularly. Maybe they can set up a quiet area (thought most pre- schools had these).
Is she sensitive to noise when out and about? Most kids are a bit sensitive to hand drivers, sirens etc, but anything else?

Driers!

Thanks everyone, it does sound like she’s fallen under the radar a bit 😔She did seem fairly relaxed with her feedback, lacked details about my Dd a bit, whereas I would have hoped she’d know her somewhat by now?
I hope I haven’t come across as one of *Those mums now though and that she hasn’t taken our comments the wrong way, she seemed slightly defensive to me, even though we approached it in a really open, pleasant way. Dh doesn’t think she was and has no issue with her not noticing, but it’s not his background and from my point of view, a child acting as Dd has been doing would stand out to me a bit more
Should I follow up with her via email in a couple of weeks?

@Veryverycalmnow Not really, not massively keen on the hoover or driers but nothing that greatly causes any concern.

@starfishmummy I feel that’s enough time to have noticed…

@BusyMum47 I feel the same…Dh says not necessarily and that maybe I’m more observant, it’s just natural though with the kids in your class 🤷🏻‍♀️

@NotQuiteUsual That’s exactly it, the lack of conviction either way? Either, no she hasn’t noticed anything as of yet, but will continue to observe…or yes possibly and she will observe further. It was a wishy washy answer really. It also took three emails and two weeks to set up the meeting

@captncrunch That’s what I’d expect

@ConnieTucker She’s the pre school class teacher

Pre school can have 26 kids at a time. So if she has another class in the afternoon then same size then that is actually 46 kids she has to get to know...

I was a pre school teacher and now reception though and yes I would have noticed a child crying and hiding.

@Hangingtrousers She has the same 23 children all day