To think the school should not be providing online learning on strike days.

[needabreak5]

School say they likely have to close because they can’t accommodate all kids. The non striking staff will provide full day online learning for all pupils, which kids are expected to engage with. How are parents expected to do this? My kids are 6 and 4 so can’t just get on with it.

DH works full time and needs to be in next Wednesday. I work full time, but will be able to WFH and try to do as much work as possible while DC are occupied (with iPads / TV etc) and catch up when DH gets home. AIBU that it’s unfair to expect parents to engage a full day online learning if they are trying to work too? Feels like lockdown learning again which was impossible!

I know it will be fine to just not do it, but I don’t think the school should be asking this of parents.

Well I think schools won’t be able to win as for every parent that can’t do it there will be one demanding work is set.

If you can’t do it don’t, no one is going to punish you or the children.

The school should not be asking this of you, and the teachers should not be on strike. Especially not after fucking lockdown.

Thats interesting, I read the guidance earlier which said that if schools were providing online learning they have to provide packed lunches for all kids on FSM so I assumed it wan't going to be a popular option because its just not practical to arrange online learning AND a whole lunch collection thing with hardly any staff.

I agree the school should not be asking this. Fuck off, some of us have to work too.

I support the strikes.

I think they are offering it to fend off whining but they won't mind at all if you can't do it.

A lot of schools are overdue for inspection at the moment, and they probably want to have an answer if they are asked how they supported families/ learning.

Lockdown had nothing to do with teachers at all - wee worked throughout it, often in the classroom with vulnerable children, at the point where other people were hiding away genuinely afraid of dying.

Our wages have fallen against the cost of living, year after year after year. We have politely asked for rises, we have tried to negotiate. Exercising our democratic right to withdraw labour is all that we are left with.

Lockdown had nothing to do with teachers at all - wee worked throughout it, often in the classroom with vulnerable children, at the point where other people were hiding away genuinely afraid of dying.

I still thought the home learning expectations set for young DC were impossible with 2 full time working parents (demanding not strictly key worker roles so no school place).

I won't be doing homeschooling as I have my own job to do.

Lockdown homeschooling had me in tears most days and near suicidal by the end. I'm not going back there.

I support the strikes but even the thought of homeschooling is making me panicky again.

Why not? We did it through lockdown and coped. And teachers were keeping schools open for the most vulnerable children or adapting to working online.
I'm planning on coping much the same way I did during those times. All at the kitchen table, out of office on to manage expectations, work around what they can realistically do. Watch a nice film when it all gets too much.

This has as much to do with schools as lockdown did.
This is being pushed forward by the DFE and Ofsted.

This is how it’s making me feel too!

why not

Well, for starters, who is setting the work?

It does rather negate the point of a strike.

They are offering online learning as they are obliged to do so as non striking staff are getting paid. If you can't do it then don't. The teachers will cover all they need in school, especially at the ages of your children. Do whatever you need to to manage the strike days.

Mine will be doing it. Same as they did in lockdown.

@FOTTFSOFTFOASM during lockdown I couldn't go on trains, see nurses in a hospital etc so by your thinking they shouldn't be on strike either. Also teachers didn't close schools during lockdown, that was the government and teachers were working from home. They are entitled to strike.

I doubt they care whether you do it or not, it is just an option

Just strike and close the school FFS. No need to put any extra pressure on teachers or parents to provide home learning. I’m sure the non-striking teachers have plenty they can be doing.

Our wages have fallen against the cost of living, year after year after year. We have politely asked for rises, we have tried to negotiate. Exercising our democratic right to withdraw labour is all that we are left with

Try being self-employed!

@isitginoclock It's very smug to say "we did it through lockdown and coped". There were many, many people who didn't cope, and I can fully understand why they didn't. And I have no dog in this fight, as my DC are all adults.

It's in the DfE guidance to schools to do this. Blame them. Although not on strike day, as the DfE will be on strike.

Teachers are damned whatever we do.

We’ve been told ours have to attend and if they don’t they will be marked absent which will go on their attendance record.

I don’t want to do this, I support teachers going on strike. I feel like I’m being asked to be a scab doing this.

I was under the impression the schools are not allowed to replace the striking teachers. So who would be delivering this class ?

Just don't do it 🤷‍♀️

The children are not “scabs” for turning up if they are told to do so.

But as with all things school related they are your children and it is your choice.

I wouldn't put it past one of my colleagues to set work for classes of teachers that are striking.

If work is set for a class of a teacher that is striking, just remember that the striking teacher will not have to mark it.

I thought those striking won’t get paid so it’s unfair to expect them to set work.

id rather the schools prioritised getting free school meals to those entitled to them.