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.

I support the strikes but I’d respond saying it will be difficult due to your work commitments that day and the children being present at home rather than in a school setting; but you’ll try your best to keep them engaged. What would they do if the kids didn’t show up/log on? Or what if you had no internet at home for whatever reason? Does anyone think they’d take any action? X

And lots of teachers were working in school with key worker and vulnerable children. Very few were at home.

I find it mad that parents get fined for unauthorised absence and schools breathing down their neck for attendance targets

yet schools were closed to most kids for months on end; parents expected to home school
now strikes

yet if a parent wants a couple of days off for a mini break at a cheaper time they’re demonised by schools

Teachers don’t fine parents the authority does, and you’re not paid for a strike day so are fined

Schools aren’t childcare.

I couldn’t care less if you take your kids out for a few days to go on holiday. I don’t fine you. The local authority forces the school to.

The government thinks it is as you have to get a job in school hours

This. Point 1 is key particularly. People don’t seem to understand.

Just ignore it

Online learning at that age is utter garbage and a waste of time.

Not schools. Policy is set by the DfE. Schools are required to have an attendance policy and get it in the neck from the LA if maintained and OFSTED if averages dip below certain levels.

Teachers are not the government.
Schools are not the government.
Take out your ire about being fined for holidays on them, not us.

As long as you don't expect teachers to go out of their way to catch up your kids on the work that they missed. Go for it.

Nope @FrippEnos my kid is bright, he doesn't need 'catching up'. I managed to achieve excellent grades taking two weeks holiday every year (parents in emergency services with allocated holiday). I think he will be fine doing the same.....

Wow, the teacher bashing is incredible on here. Not surprising though unfortunately.

The lack of understanding is astounding. Just to be clear:

The government decided to close schools during lockdown. Not teachers.

The local authorities deal with absences and issue fines. Not teachers.

The DFE has issued rules around home learning during strike action. Not teachers.

The government is winning again by pitching us all against each other when THEY are the problem. But by all means let's all just sit around blaming each other 👍

Sending my support to all teachers striking. Perhaps if people looked into the reasons why teachers were striking, they might show a little more support too. Rather than just jumping on board the 'teachers are evil' train.

I think it should be optional. I wish it worked well for my daughter but it doesn’t. She tries so hard but she can’t engage. It’s a waste of time for her

I don’t understand when people say this. Of course it is a core part of the ‘childcare’ arrangement for working parents. We don’t have any nearby family etc. kids go to breakfast club, school and then afterschool club. In the holidays they go to holiday camps. School is a huge portion of our childcare. What alternate do we have?

Very well said @BankOfDave .

Lockdown was nearly 3 years ago. Your kids would have been 1 and 3. Possibly 2 and 4. You can’t have done much “lockdown learning” with them? I say this as the parent of a 6 year old. The second lockdown we had a bit but she was still just in preschool.

I feel like you are catastrophising for the sake of 1 day. Keep them alive and occupied while you work, they aren’t going to expel your kids for the sake in 1 day of online lessons during a strike.

Striking teachers will not be setting or marking any work for strike days- that's part of the strike action. Nobody's expecting others to do their job- striking would be pointless in that case.

Non-striking teachers should not be required to cover for striking colleagues as this undermines strike action.

hes almost 7, so they were 1 and 4.

second lockdown DS1 was in reception and there was work set every day, 2 class video calls, projects etc. all whilst working full time - it was impossible.

How much lockdown learning was your then 1-year-old doing?

Even your older child would surely have only been nursery age- and they were one of the first cohorts back.

And it’s 4 days of strikes not 1.

I think I’m just traumatised from the amount of online learning I ‘felt’ I had to do when DS was in reception, all whilst trying to juggle work and childcare simultaneously.

For the hard of thinking/reading:

• Teacher pay is appalling for what teachers have to do. And no, that does not include the holidays.

• The pitiful 5% pay rise which was finally actioned by the government, they made schools pay out of THEIR OWN BUDGET. These budgets have been slashed and slashed to the point that your children are being taught by TA's, or by a revolving door of ECT's, who are cheap and inexperienced, and who soon realise that it's a waste of time so leave.

• Experienced and dedicated teachers are leaving in droves, why would they stay for crap pay, constant criticism, unsustainable workload, and a wage that means many of them cannot afford to live.

The worse part of it is that even now, I know most teachers are feeling guilty for striking and worrying about classes missing out and wondering if perhaps we should be setting classes so they don't get behind, or are planning yet more bloody catch up/intervention or whatever so that the children aren't at a disadvantage...

You say we are childcare/lazy/greedy whatever, (so why not pay us per child in each class for the going rate for a day of childcare!?) yet complain when we ask for fair wages, and in a way that does not disadvantage YOUR CHILDREN.

He was reception age. The school still set a lot of learning. The 1 year old didn’t exactly make it easier.

You won’t be alone just do as you wish.

I don’t care either way tbh but I get the not wanting to hear the same old stuff from pandemic