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.

[geraniumthefourth]

Oh and also, all of you moaning about home schooling? What do you think we were trying to do, whilst trying to homeschool our own kids/teach the keyworker/vulnerable kids, as the majority of teachers were in schools/teaching live lessons, to the detriment of their own children!!

[noblegiraffe]

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.

And so your child missed out on foundational education. Not the school's fault.

What did the government do about it? They rejected the £15 billion covid catch-up package recommended to them by their own advisor who quit in disgust.

Children have been expected to 'catch-up' in their classrooms with their normal teacher (who may not be a teacher due to staff shortages) during normal lessons when they are also supposed to be learning the curriculum they are meant to be learning now.

What's mad is that there are any parents siding with the government over teachers in this dispute.

[Macaroni46]

@Thinkbiglittleone

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

Not all teachers are striking. Depends which union they're in.

[needabreak5]

To be clear I have no problem with the strikes and I understand it has nothing to do with the pandemic.
I do have a problem with any home learning that is expected while working and this is what brings back the awful flashbacks.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

@Ariautec

Just a reminder that schools are following Department for Education guidance.
Government tells us what to do.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1128077/Handling_strike_action_in_schools.pdf

Thank you @BankOfDave and staff. So, so true. The education system is broken.

Schools don't have to though.

[museumum]

I understand your irrational anxiety - I too have some lockdown triggers that make me panicy but it is irrational. It’s just one day, take the day as leave if you can or work and let your kids play or watch YouTube. Or do half and half.
working and managing “home learning” simultaneously is not worth the stress, for adult or child.
we’re in Scotland and have had three strike days so far. I have taken one and a half off and ds has amused himself the other day and a half.

[noblegiraffe]

@OhYouBadBadKitten

Schools don't have to though.

Which is just another shitty decision to drop in the laps of Headteachers who have had many, many shitty decisions dropped in their lap from the government in the last few years.

They know they'll get complaints if they do, they know they'll get complaints if they don't.

Who would be a head? An increasingly dwindling pool of people.

[loulouljh]

I will not support any online learning..we are still scarred here from lockdown. If a child wants to do it then fine but I won't be standing over...will be working.

[needabreak5]

I know I have thought about just taking leave so I don’t have to worry about it. But 4 days is a lot out of statutory leave allowance that we need for other times incl school holidays / inset days etc.

[BankOfDave]

If I had any criticism it’s teaching unions need way better PR teams to get the message across.

It’s disappointing and to some degree embarrassing some of the comment parents make about schools without having the foggiest of what’s going on today. It’s the equivalent of an old lady waiting 36 hours for an ambulance with a broken hip. Ask ambulance drivers why they’re striking and won’t it put people at risk? The answer: they already are at risk.

‘My child won’t be taught for the day’. There may not be a subject expert/any teacher available that day anyway.

Wake up parents - your/our children are getting a very bad deal and you’re pointing fingers in the wrong direction.

[Macaroni46]

@geraniumthefourth

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.

Excellent post. Spot on!

[Yuja]

I support the teacher strikes and I sincerely hope they don't set work as that defeats the point.
My Dc will be watching Netflix while I work.

[Casilero]

@FOTTFSOFTFOASM

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

Couldn't agree more.

The Unions were VERY vocal during the whole covid period and pushing for lockdowns and compulsory masking. Now the economy is fucked and unsurprisingly inflation is through the roof.

You reap what you sow.

[LemonPledge555]

@needabreak5

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.

That’s brutal. Mine is young in year but similar class (slightly different in Scotland) and we had work set daily and 2 zooms a week. Some schools go overboard. Just sack it off. There were people in the class in preschool who never went to a single zoom and I doubt it will have any long term effect, just as this day won’t. I get that it feels overwhelming. But for the sake of 1 day I’d try not to be too upset about it. It’s just not manageable for some people. It wasn’t for us at the time either.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I fully support the teacher strikes. They are underpaid for what they provide.

If you can’t leave your kids to do the work, then don’t. You and your dh could even probably sit with your dcs at the weekend to do it if you so chose. Odds on it will be very light.

Complaining about getting work is unfair on other children, especially secondary. Our older kids lost enough schooling over the 2 years and shouldn’t be expected to not do work from the teachers, who are not striking.

[Georgeandzippyzoo]

Striking staff will not be setting the work.

Schools should provide food or equivalent (vouchers?) For those on free dinners. Hudbands school is providing packed lunches for those who need them.

[NocturnalClocks]

There's no point worrying about a single day for children that age.

If only schools took this point on board when it is the parent that decides the child will miss a day.

Also love the suggestion by a PP of "just take annual leave". Like everyone has soare with 13 weeks of school holiday to cover already. 🤣

[Kokeshi123]

I don't think it will matter much if you don't do it, and they can't make you.

I am neutral on the strikes. But I do hope that schools realize that every time schools close, it gets harder to take people to take attendance seriously. I'm not in the UK, but if I was, I'd laugh my head off at any attempts to stop me taking my child out of school after this!

[FrippEnos]

@Casilero

Couldn't agree more.

The Unions were VERY vocal during the whole covid period and pushing for lockdowns and compulsory masking. Now the economy is fucked and unsurprisingly inflation is through the roof.

You reap what you sow.

Oh dear more BS by those pushing their agenda.
Unions didn't "push for lockdowns" and "compulsory masks"

They pushed for measure that would allow schools to stay open, which when you consider what you are whinging about is somewhat ironic.

[spanieleyes]

Headteachers in my local authority have been instructed to keep schools open no matter what, even if it means the children sit in the hall all day watching films with the head!

[roarfeckingroarr]

@geraniumthefourth

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.

No need to be rude. Especially given these "hard of thinking" people are likely taxpayers, paying your salary and inconvenienced by your striking.

[MrWhippersnapper]

Fuck off with the ‘we pay your wages’ bollocks

[ilovesooty]

I must have imagined paying tax when I was teaching. Teachers are taxpayers too.

[roarfeckingroarr]

Course they are. It's a public service. One that's being withdrawn and kids/parents will suffer, so really no need to be rude to them as well.

[MrWhippersnapper]

It’s a public service that’s being run into the ground by the government, your kids are already suffering due to cuts and a recruitment and retention crisis.