Teacher's strike

[ilkleymoorbartat]

Am prepared to be flamed for this and told IABU, so just wanted to gage others opinions.

Have 3 kids 8, 5 & 10 months. School teachers on strike next week on Wednesday and we have an inset day on the Monday.

I'm seriously considering taking kids out of school on the Tuesday to have a little break somewhere.

The last year has been horrible, and it seems like a good chance to get a cheap break with little disruption.

Is this a completely terrible idea?

Where to start….

Exactly. So stupid and inflammatory it's not worth anyone's time.

TAs don’t have to cover, although they do have to be in work if timetabled to be. They can also choose to join the strike whether in a striking Union, non-striking union or no Union at all. They will lose that day’s pay for doing so, but that’s up to them.

I don't think the school is in a position to pretend they care about attendance

Schools follow rules. Ultimately, if your child is deemed to have had too much time off, you’ll be dealing with educational welfare and potentially the courts. That the teachers were on strike so I thought I’d take a bit more time off isn’t going to cut it, is it?

(I know technically an inset day isn't meant to be a day off, but for most teachers it is in reality)

You’ve attended an inset day, then? Lots of inset days to be able to day that’s the reality for most teachers?

This is absolute bollocks , unless someone can show me the published guidance? No one is telling schools to run on unsafe staffing levels.

Schools have been asked to prioritise vulnerable children, those with ECHPs and FSM and to stay open for them if they can.

Our LA has been very clear that schools also need to balance this against respecting the rights of the workforce and managing employee relationships.

FWIW after a staff of 70 teachers I only know of 2 who will be striking, although they don't have to tell us yet.

As to OP's question, it seems like a great idea to me and no one's going to fine a family with otherwise good attendance for one day.

TAs can be asked to cover, if that's part of their normal duties.

Go for it!

An inset day kind of feels like a holiday to me as it's just like a day in a normal office job, without the extra stress of actually teaching...

I'd go!

Very unlikely to get a fine for one day off school. It's only the Tuesday you're taking them out for. Go for it!

I now have a 21 and an 18 year old. We never took them out of school. In hindsight I wish we had as a few days here and there over the school life really isn’t going to make difference. I wish we had done a cheap mid weeker etc

Just email in and tell them the truth. You'll get a reply saying the absence is unauthorised but for one day who cares?!

TAs can be asked to cover, if that's part of their normal duties.

They can be asked to cover, but they are under no obligation to do so. They are advised to consult their own Union if they feel they are being forced to cover for a striking teacher, normal duties or not.

INSET days are in no way a day off for teachers! We're in school all day on those days doing essential training. What makes you think they are a day off "in reality"??

I’d do it at this age. I’d say that due to the disruption to your working week from the inset day and unexpected strike action you have had to scramble a plan for childcare for that week and accordingly the kids won’t be staying in their normal home on Mon-Thurs so cannot come to school on Tuesday.

i completely agree that the schools haven’t a leg to stand on complaining about the missed days of education/ unauthorised absence. And the LA won’t care about a single day. So I think you’re safe.

i groaned when my dd’s school announced she will miss 5 days of school due to strikes and all of it will be covered (inadequately I’m sure) by Teams lessons. I could weep for my dd, who has some kind of ptsd-esque reaction anytime someone mentions Teams after the shit show that was the lockdown experience.

im sorry for teachers, I am, but I’m even more sorry for our kids.

@mumof1or2 "What makes you think they are a day off "in reality"??"
Nothing. That poster is just being a goady fucker. Ignore.

@Dotjones Wow, your ignorance is staggering! 😂

Absolutely do it. Say they've got tummy bugs. If the kids dob you in deny it completely and say you were away at the weekend and they've muddled their days. The school are in no position to preach about attendance.

Both my kids are off on Wednesday and if they had an inset day on Monday I wouldn't hesitate to take them on a little getaway 🤷‍♀️.
They will be absolute Hippocrates to get on your case about their education!

I'd tell the truth.
The kids will tell them anyway 🤣

Their union may request that they don’t undermine another unions work, and covering classes would be doing this.

I’m the opposite. I didn’t sign up for an office job, I signed up to teach. Sitting in meeting after meeting is sheer torture. Especially since 90% of them could have been emails/is just a rebranding of what we already do/is patronising at best

Our school isn't striking thankfully but I would if I were you!

Your SLT will be kicking themselves they chose that day as inset - the attendance levels on Tuesday will be shocking.

I'm very tempted by this too OP! Center Parcs is only £500 for the week in March when there are two consecutive strike days. I only have one school aged child, and his class is closed on those two days. But can I justify him losing a further three as we would go Monday-Friday.

Tough one!