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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

191 replies

mumoffourminimes · 25/01/2023 21:55

(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?

OP posts:
liveforsummer · 26/01/2023 22:05

Yes, but they must be teaching staff and members of a teaching union. Headteachers as I said cannot be members of a teaching union.

There have been no HT's in any of our schools on any strike days. School nurseries also have been unable to open despite non teaching staff running them (no longer have nursery teachers in council nurseries) because no head available, who would be ultimately responsible in the case of a high level welfare issue needing reported.

Rinoachicken · 26/01/2023 22:06

I’m anxiously waiting to hear about DS2 school plans. He has full time 1:1, so not sure how that will work if the TA he has full time is being expected to cover the whole class?!

I work from home so can keep him home if needed, I support the teachers 100% - I just need to know what the plan is!

LolaSmiles · 26/01/2023 22:08

YANBU at all OP.

The guidance sent to schools shows no regard for the children and is a case of get any adult you can to supervise any number of children above the age of 7 as there's no ratios for over 7s.

blueskylie · 26/01/2023 22:11

have you any idea about how rich these unions actually are? they arent little groups who meet in town halls collecting 50 p subs from members each fortnight?

The accounts for unions are public. You can just Google them. You can see exactly how much income they get and exactly how it is spent. The unions are owned by the members. The members elect the executive and the general secretary.

blueskylie · 26/01/2023 22:13

liveforsummer · 26/01/2023 22:05

Yes, but they must be teaching staff and members of a teaching union. Headteachers as I said cannot be members of a teaching union.

There have been no HT's in any of our schools on any strike days. School nurseries also have been unable to open despite non teaching staff running them (no longer have nursery teachers in council nurseries) because no head available, who would be ultimately responsible in the case of a high level welfare issue needing reported.

Pretty sure it's bullshit that headteachers can't be in a teaching union and must be in NAHT, Nasuwt and NEU definitely accept school leaders. Headteachers are teachers.

As SLT I was advised to leave one union to join a specialist leadership one, but I didn't and it was fine.

Eyerollcentral · 26/01/2023 22:14

LolaSmiles · 26/01/2023 22:08

YANBU at all OP.

The guidance sent to schools shows no regard for the children and is a case of get any adult you can to supervise any number of children above the age of 7 as there's no ratios for over 7s.

Take that up with your MP then. The government makes the legislation that permits that. They have also permitted the strikes to happen.

Pinkflipflop85 · 26/01/2023 22:14

Eyerollcentral · 26/01/2023 21:47

Yes, but they must be teaching staff and members of a teaching union. Headteachers as I said cannot be members of a teaching union.

Show quote history

Headteachers can be, and are, part of the NEU who are taking strike action.

Eyerollcentral · 26/01/2023 22:15

Pinkflipflop85 · 26/01/2023 22:14

Headteachers can be, and are, part of the NEU who are taking strike action.

Show quote history

It is different in this jurisdiction then 🤷‍♀️

blueskylie · 26/01/2023 22:16

Which jurisdiction are you in exactly, @Eyerollcentral?

Eyerollcentral · 26/01/2023 22:23

blueskylie · 26/01/2023 22:16

Which jurisdiction are you in exactly, @Eyerollcentral?

N Ireland as I said earlier

SleeplessWB · 26/01/2023 22:27

Eyerollcentral · 26/01/2023 21:47

Yes, but they must be teaching staff and members of a teaching union. Headteachers as I said cannot be members of a teaching union.

Show quote history

Headteachers can join the union. They are still teachers for employment purposes regardless of whether they actually teach or not.

blueskylie · 26/01/2023 22:33

N Ireland as I said earlier

Been to union conference in Belfast. Really interesting city. Teachers in NI can join the same unions as in rest of UK. NEU is operational in NI. Lots of heads chose to move to NAHT for specialist advice when they become heads, but they are still teachers.

worstofbothworlds · 26/01/2023 22:33

My DC school is providing childcare for key workers where both parents are working out of the home that day and has asked for proof. I thought that was typical anyway.
But I'm an academic and it's a strike day for us too.

My other DC is very miffed as they are at an independent school.

Eyerollcentral · 26/01/2023 22:45

blueskylie · 26/01/2023 22:33

N Ireland as I said earlier

Been to union conference in Belfast. Really interesting city. Teachers in NI can join the same unions as in rest of UK. NEU is operational in NI. Lots of heads chose to move to NAHT for specialist advice when they become heads, but they are still teachers.

My understanding from my friends who are teachers here is that most don’t do that though. Happy to be corrected

Eyerollcentral · 26/01/2023 22:48

Also many teachers here are member of the INTO, which is an all Ireland teaching union, not sure of their policies.

juggleit · 26/01/2023 23:06

my kids school have said they wont know until the day of the strikes. On here it seems some parents have already been informed of striking teachers.

Why is there a variation of communication between different schools? I’m not against the strikes but some notice would be very helpful for working parents so they can organise child care?

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 26/01/2023 23:13

juggleit · 26/01/2023 23:06

my kids school have said they wont know until the day of the strikes. On here it seems some parents have already been informed of striking teachers.

Why is there a variation of communication between different schools? I’m not against the strikes but some notice would be very helpful for working parents so they can organise child care?

Schools/HT’s can ask teachers if they’re going to strike, but teachers don’t legally have to say.

I know in my DS’s school the original plan was for TAs, non striking teachers and others to cover, but the level of discomfort about stroke cover lead to the decision to close.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 26/01/2023 23:13

Strike cover. Not stroke cove

Justdontbejudgy · 26/01/2023 23:20

Our schools have just been closed. After school club offered additional care for the day as per holiday arrangement(so daily cost). We used the club once before Xmas and I was disappointed by the lack of picket line at the school! Suppose if it's closed......(we're in Scotland BTW). Not sure if other LAs have been offering some provision .

Changingmynameyetagain · 26/01/2023 23:24

Ours is closing to every year except year 11, any teachers not striking are running revision sessions and catch up classes.
DD is going in to work on her Art exam submission as her teacher isn’t striking and has encouraged all her students to come in on that day.
Not sure about any other subjects yet, we are finding out tomorrow what lessons they are running.

My other 2 DC are planning on having a lie in apparently. Hmm

juggleit · 26/01/2023 23:35

@YetMoreNewBeginnings thank-you for the explanation.
Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly on the day!

I feel so sad about the state of our education system for our children and the teachers sucked into an utter s@@t show. ✊

JanglyBeads · 26/01/2023 23:39

Strikers do not receive any money from the union, the hardship fund is for those who are already in hardship.

DfE has told schools they have to treat ay absence as unauthorised unless due to illness etc.

BloodAndFire · 26/01/2023 23:39

@Firstbornunicorn thank you for providing the extra context re your daughter's appointment. It was helpful.

In those circumstances (regular appointment for chronic condition, only delayed by 1 day) I can appreciate why you made that decision. I think an urgent appointment for a potentially serious issue, which might take weeks to rearrange, would be different

Thatladdo · 27/01/2023 07:14

Arrangement for any payment is between the respective union and the workers in question, I would guess very minimal unless the teachers union have set up a strike fund and been contribution over and about for some time but thats their business.

If you really dont want to send you children to school, keep them off. Say they are unwell due to stress, that they have overheard / read about teachers calling them scabs for simply waanting to go to school on the days some of the teachers are striking / making a noise outside costa / in the pub.

Ive been on both sides of the picket line in my 26 years of work & union membership, both striking and crossing lines, but never have I EVER heard of people who are not actualy in the workforce and union involved in action referred to in ANY negative way - especialy children.

LolaSmiles · 27/01/2023 08:44

Ive been on both sides of the picket line in my 26 years of work & union membership, both striking and crossing lines, but never have I EVER heard of people who are not actualy in the workforce and union involved in action referred to in ANY negative way - especialy children.
Same here. I've never heard anything negative said about people not involved in the striking union that's taking industrial action.