To not send my children to school on the strike days?

[mumoffourminimes]

(Primary) school have said they will open on the strike days with TAs in classrooms instead of teachers and they will not be covering the national curriculum (fair enough). But do I have to send the children in under these circumstances?

Is it even safe to have a school full of children and half the number of adults?

I'm especially thinking of the younger years, unfortunately there have been some violent incidents in both yr1 and reception classes and there are some kids that really need the supervision.

I don't want to send my children in for babysitting services, i'm at home on maternity leave so I don't need that, lucky I know. So AIBU not to send them?

Absolutely don't send them, I'm sure they'll appreciate the lower ratios.

They would probably be (secretly) grateful if you didn't send them. I'm not sure using TA's to cover striking teachers is legal unless they are cover supervisors, so that might change anyway.

Do you know how many classes are likely to be affected? Only one of the teaching unions is striking, so it's not going to be all teachers off. You might end up keeping your DC off when they have a totally normal day.

If kids who have TAs are loosing them to cover the class then really no one will be learning a single thing.

I wouldn't send them because (in ny opinion) TAs should not be being asked to cover classes in this situation. I wish they could refuse to do it as it is grossly unfair on them.

Depends on the school though.

We are 2 form entry and every single teacher is NEU and striking.

If it's relevant, I do support the strikes and I think it's a bad idea to ask TAs to do this.

Our school have said that staff who do go in to work should NOT be covering the duties of striking staff so that doesn’t seem right.

It's a single form entry school. No idea how many will strike. HT seems not to know either.

Doesn't seem safe either

I won't send my children under those circumstances because to me it's akin to being a scab.

My DD's primary school only have 3 year groups open on strike days due to staffing. They have enough TA's but not enough teachers

Okay 🤣

So I'm not going to be calling anyone who does send their children (some just absolutely need to) "a scab"

It's not the 80s

Ours is a small one form entry school and head as said it’s open as normal. Only 7 teaching staff so I am guessing they’re not striking.

Fair enough, I was taking about how I felt about it.

The past 4 generations of my family have been trade unionists, so I accept my position is a little different.

Beware that register will still be taken so if you’re in an area that fines automatically on absence you might be dealing with that

We have had no notice yet from my DC’s school about wether they are closed or not. Even if they are open, he won’t be going in. I am a teacher, and I will be striking. I’m order to support the staff in DC’s school who are striking, he won’t be going in. Even if they try to stay open for exam years only, he won’t be going in. He is year 11.

They don't have a history of fining, but this is what I want to check really. It'll be unauthorised absence do you think?

Very much depends on the school surely?
DS school is partially closed, only the children whose teachers are not striking will be attending school, and a provision made for the children classed as vulnerable.
DS will be off because his teacher is on strike.
All pupils whose teachers will be at work are expected to attend school as normal otherwise be marked as absent.

I wouldn't send them. I'd also send a strongly worded email to the head letting them know why you're not sending them.

Saying this as a parent and a teacher.

But how does the school know which teachers are or are not striking? I thought that the school isn’t allowed to ask them?

They can ask. They don't have to be told though

We’re not sending ours. The two schools have said that they’ll have TAs and other staff covering, but they will essentially be only providing a safe space for the day. They’ve asked people to follow the essential/key workers guidance as much as possible, and also anyone who has important hospital appointments or the likes. They’ve said they won’t all be in their usual classrooms as ratios will mean some juggling.

They’ve also asked to let them know if you’re not sending them for numbers.

My DD7 is no scab! 😁 She won't be crossing the picket line if the teachers are striking. I am not a teacher but I support their right to strike and don't appreciate efforts to undermine this with use of TAs.

Looking at the replies. I am guessing it varies on the schools, but our school has sent out this evening a list of classes that will be closed, but have warned that others might close