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.

@roarfeckingroarr 🤣

That's a new one I must say. Yep, none of us pesky teachers pay tax or contribute to the public pocket... just when I thought no-one could stoop any lower...

It is interesting that there has not been this level of vitriol, spite and incandescent rage about any of the other sectors striking...

To be clear I have no rage about the strikes themselves (though I’m not sure striking over pay alone is going to help much - don’t think a pay increase will touch the sides on the issues that are making so many teachers leave).

I have ‘rage’ on the suggestion of home learning expectations imposed upon working parents (and non-striking teachers), I think we could all do without it. I know initially it’s just 4 days but there could easily be more strikes and closures planned.

That's funny, I had to go out to my public facing job everyday for 10 hours a day during Covid but didn't expect a medal like teachers. My teacher friend was clocked off her laptop by 10am everyday according to her, she says she misses it.

So not all teachers were working hard, some were hardly working.

Well the fact I was invited to attend a meeting at 3pm with less than 48 hours notice to talk about a trip abroad that’s happening in less than two weeks…yes I can believe it’s like this in other schools too!

I support the strikes. I wouldn’t be doing any work with my ds if I had to look after him whilst working on the day - luckily grandma is stepping in for the day as a one off but I certainly won’t be asking her to homeschool him!

Im not allowed AL on a strike day because some people from my work will be striking (but I’m in a different union)

Confirmed its like this in other schools. not to mention the last minute day changes to things like sports day ('the forecast is hot today so we'll do it tomorrow instead'), school play ('we've re-jigged the classes' so your DC are now tomorrow) are really disappointing if one of us has booked leave. And 'school trip this week cant go ahead without parent volunteers'. I'm surprising actually, given many teachers are parents themselves that schools do this to parents.

Children suffering? You don't think they'll be cheering from the rafters when they hear that their class is going to be closed. And those "poor" kids whose classes will run as normal. I reckon they're the ones who will consider themselves to be suffering.

You were invited, not summoned. Email back and say it doesn’t work for you, can you reschedule.

If school can't safely look after all children, they might be set home work by their teachers actually at work.

Just because some lessons won't take place doesn't mean kids can't do some work.

However, work won't be set by those on strike, and shouldn't be covered either.

So if the English teacher is working, theoretically there should be an English lesson or work to do, but a Maths teacher isn't, then there ought to be no Maths from anyone.

Not schools though, just like Department for Education strike guidance, schools follow DfE attendance guidance.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance

I support the strikes. It’s not just for pay, it’s for money in the school budgets to give a better education for our children.
My daughter won’t be doing her distance learning as if her teacher is striking she shouldn’t have been asked to set the work.

If teachers want to strike that are welcome but the DoE fails to realise that when people strike the work doesn't get done. I have had an email this morning from school stating that online learning is again compulsory. This isn't fair on parents. We also work. We are not some stop-gap.

If teachers want to strike then go ahead but parents should not have to complete compulsory online education. It should be left for when teachers return to work. When you strike NONE of the work gets done. That's the whole point of a strike.

@Devsmum13 I absolutely agree with you. Our Head has categorically said (to us staff) that we are not setting ANY work. Whole school is closed.
Can't see how they could say it's compulsory, either.

Striking teachers wouldn’t be setting work but non-striking teachers may well be expected to set work for their own classes (not those of striking colleagues).

Regarding teacher bashing and blame the government, L.A. etc, don't teachers realise in any work place employees will bear the brunt of policies they have no control over. This is not unique to the teaching proffesion.
I work in a supermarket every time an item is moved, increased in price, discontinued, out of stock, cheaper in another supermarket it's all my fault, although l am an online picker so have absolutely no imput whatsoever in that side of things, it's not like l go home and think let's move the beans so a hundred customers can come and complain about it. Supermarket staff are joining the union in droves they will be next ones out, we also worked all through covid, my shift was changed overnight from 9.00 am start to 1.00am, to avoid social distancing whilst picking what thank did we get ?

At 6 and 4 I wouldn't bother doing any online work with them. I wouldn't even bother with my yr6 DC. Missing a few days isn't going to do much harm to their learning on a whole.

However....

My yr10 DC will be doing any work set for him because its his GCSE work and if they don't set any he will be revising. He can do most of this himself though.