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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School closed for strike - homeschool?

100 replies

imhereforcake · 25/01/2023 16:05

I don't know if I am being unreasonable but here goes

I do support the teachers right to strike and agree with their reasons.

Have 2 children one in primary one in secondary and has ASD

Primary closed to 3 classes and child is in one so is off school

Secondary today emailed to say school closed but they are expected to do home learning at check in points during the day.

My Aibu is I'm not a teacher and I don't need this fight. I have taken a day off work as have no other options and actually want to do something with them and not have the battle I know I will have with secondary school child. She doesn't have an EHCP as she "copes" with school

Do I send an email and say not happening

OP posts:
JustWantedACat · 25/01/2023 17:16

It's unfortunate for those workers who's annual leave runs from april-march as many won't have any days left to book off until it resets in April, meaning they'll end up taking unpaid annual leave and who can afford that these days? Then, those workers taking the annual unpaid leave might have to cancel peoples appointments, some which could be serious or take months to reschedule and many work places could end up even more short staffed then they already are. It has such a ripple effect!

HikingHairDontCare · 25/01/2023 17:16

Does your child do any school work at home? Homework or revision? Or is that not possible due to ASD? If she does, could she maybe do that instead if she is used to doing that so may not cause such an issue?

They need the knowledge for exams so it’s in their best interests to do something if possible.

WineDup · 25/01/2023 17:18

You absolutely should not be doing any work from home with your kids. I’d be very surprised if there actually is any work set - the union had specifically told us not to set work, because we are on strike. We are not working. The work due to be done on that day should not be made up at a different time.

So if you support the strikes, don’t do the work.

Globe22 · 25/01/2023 17:26

I’ll be on strike and not setting any work for my classes!

Silverbook · 25/01/2023 17:32

I’m a teacher and really surprised you’ve had home schooling. To be brutally honest, nobody and I mean NObody is going to care one jot if your child does the activities set or not. Just don’t do them.

Original poster
imhereforcake · 25/01/2023 17:36

HikingHairDontCare · 25/01/2023 17:16

Does your child do any school work at home? Homework or revision? Or is that not possible due to ASD? If she does, could she maybe do that instead if she is used to doing that so may not cause such an issue?

They need the knowledge for exams so it’s in their best interests to do something if possible.

She does and academically she is great. But she is all about fairness and her brother is off school and has no work and all her friends in other schools don't have online so she is properly upset about it. It just feels wrong to make her do it and I'm losing a days pay to sit watching over her (yes she is old enough to be left but it won't happen if I don't watch her)

OP posts:
handmademitlove · 25/01/2023 17:42

Our school will have work set by teachers who are not striking - not everyone will be. But we can't have everyone in school as we don't know how many staff will be striking until the day. So those not striking will be in school - doing remote lessons for those students who are not in and supervising those students who need to be in as they are vulnerable or otherwise need to be on site.

User1643876 · 25/01/2023 17:43

I shall be at work as so won't be doing any homeschooling, what would you do if you weren't there and someone else was looking after the DC, they wouldn't be home schooling

Singleandproud · 25/01/2023 17:44

Teachers won't be setting it and won't be marking it as otherwise, what's the point of a strike? The school will be dredging something out of the archives from this time of year during lockdown and giving it as an option. The vast majority of children won't do it either because they can't because they don't have the right devices or simply because they don't want to. Don't stress about it.

WineDup · 25/01/2023 17:46

handmademitlove · 25/01/2023 17:42

Our school will have work set by teachers who are not striking - not everyone will be. But we can't have everyone in school as we don't know how many staff will be striking until the day. So those not striking will be in school - doing remote lessons for those students who are not in and supervising those students who need to be in as they are vulnerable or otherwise need to be on site.

Have the unions signed that off? We were specifically told NOT to do any work that should have been carried out by a teacher who is on strike.

User1643876 · 25/01/2023 17:48

Some working people will have grandparents looking after the DC, they likely won't be homeschooling, they may want to go out for a day out

handmademitlove · 25/01/2023 17:50

@WineDup the teachers who are not striking will be teaching their lessons as normal - for lessons where the teachers are striking there will be no lesson, just a note on teams that the lesson is not taking place due to strike action. Absolutely no covering lessons going on - just those who are not striking. So not at issue. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Zanatdy · 25/01/2023 17:54

My DD would end up doing it as kids often get kept in at break etc if they don’t do it. But I’d just go out and have a good day

catgirl1976 · 25/01/2023 17:55

We've not heard yet. A letter is going out tomorrow apparently. But if the school is shut I won't be home schooling. I'll be too busy working, DS is looking forward to a day off and I don't think it supports the strikes to have them work. Who will be preparing the work and making sure they check in? If they are shut they are shut so I'll be telling them thank you but no.

Simplelobsterhat · 25/01/2023 17:57

My kids school and the school I visit for work have both specifically said setting work would break strike rules about not covering so I don't know how they are doing check points? Very surprised if they are doing covid style home learning. Both schools I know have suggested revision/ bbc bitesize / usual maths activity website /getting on with homework tasks, but I didn't get the impression they'd be checking up. I guess they may set more homework than usual in the next week.

Loads won't do it, but yes if she is worried either do as much as she can cope with or email school and explain the issues. Definitely don't stress about it. I'll be letting my kids amuse themselves while I work from home!

User1643876 · 25/01/2023 18:00

I wouldn't send any email, I wouldn't stress about it either or take a day off work if they are able to look after themselves

flumposie · 25/01/2023 18:05

I get the impression schools are trying to cover themselves after all the complaints during lockdown of work not being set.

WineDup · 25/01/2023 18:06

handmademitlove · 25/01/2023 17:50

@WineDup the teachers who are not striking will be teaching their lessons as normal - for lessons where the teachers are striking there will be no lesson, just a note on teams that the lesson is not taking place due to strike action. Absolutely no covering lessons going on - just those who are not striking. So not at issue. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Who will supervise them though? We were told not to even supervise.

HikingHairDontCare · 25/01/2023 18:10

imhereforcake · 25/01/2023 17:36

She does and academically she is great. But she is all about fairness and her brother is off school and has no work and all her friends in other schools don't have online so she is properly upset about it. It just feels wrong to make her do it and I'm losing a days pay to sit watching over her (yes she is old enough to be left but it won't happen if I don't watch her)

Show quote history

Fair enough. Then I’d just email and say that due to her ASD, she won’t be completing any work set and that she isn’t to be questioned or punished for it when she is back at school. And tell them to talk to you if they have an issue with it, not your daughter. Its a ‘reasonable adjustment’, as there will it’s only a day and only a few more at most.

IncessantNameChanger · 25/01/2023 18:10

I have three school age kids and I don't know if any of the schools will be striking. I'm not doing home learning. Maybe extra reading but that's it. If I had notice and could plan but that's how it works. I have a hospital appointment on one day so they will either dragged along or left with the teen. I don't think he wants to supervise and I'm not missing my appointment

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 25/01/2023 18:11

I’m having to take holiday to look after mine, and I’m not wasting a holiday day on homeschooling. We will go out and have fun for the day/visit somewhere instead.

SeanMean · 25/01/2023 18:11

There is absolutely no need to send an email saying she won’t be doing the work.

handmademitlove · 25/01/2023 18:11

@WineDup All students other than vulnerables etc will be at home. Lessons set on teams for those teachers who are not striking. Non striking teachers will be on site supervising students who are in - who will be doing their work / revising / watching films / playing board games as appropriate...

No striking teacher is being asked to do anything. Teachers and support staff who are not striking will be supervising those students who need to be on site. All other students will be remote learning at home.

Union reps are happy with the arrangements.

dapsnotplimsolls · 25/01/2023 18:11

Contact the SENCo and let them know. They can then pass it on to other staff.

365names · 25/01/2023 18:12

Any child with an EHCP should be potentially offered support in school.

despite the fact that 7 primary teachers are striking - my son with an EHCP has been offered supervision

so ask