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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Teacher odd interaction

66 replies

Letsnowalready · 10/11/2023 22:16

So today a weird interaction happened. Im a TA in a primary school. My teacher is a new supply teacher to the school and is also newly qualified. He made a karate noise and then the class started laughing and someone shouted oh you werent here Mrs........ they then all began shouting and laughing and saying Mr ........ almost kicked this certain pupil in the head by doing a karate kick. I said what's that I don't understand. The teacher then said class what have I told you about telling tales and sheepishly laughing. Then he said you say someone did this and don't name names.
I later asked the boy who it happened to and he said yea it was so funny apparently I bent down and Mr...... almost kicked me in the head and said come on (pupils name).
This pupil it happened to seems to be one that this teacher singles out alot. He had previously called this child annoying to his face in front of the class. Always picks him out to tuck his polo in. Picks him out to answer questions and says oh I better do this otherwise (pupil name) would say something to me.
I don't know if he thinks it's just banter but I just feel weird about it. What do others think?

OP posts:

LadyHag · 11/11/2023 00:03

Letsnowalready · 10/11/2023 23:18

Yes it went over how to report those concerns but not what concerns you should report really. I just don't want to be seen making a drama out of something if the SLT think it's nothing

Show quote history

It's not your job to decide if a concern you have is possibly nothing.

That is the headteacher's job as concerns about staff should go directly to the head. You dont need to make the decision as to whether it is something or nothing.

There are lots of issues in your post that I would be unhappy with.

SandyWaves · 11/11/2023 00:17

I hope you reported this, OP.

I would be very concerned and I am sure any parents on here would want to know if it was innocent or not.

Original poster

Letsnowalready · 11/11/2023 00:17

I did actually ask the teacher at break too. I said oh what's all this karate business all about in a light hearted manner. He said something about how karate came up and so he did this action and almost kicked this pupil in the head because he bent down to get something. But then he tried to explain away the not telling tales thing. I can't really remember what he said exactly but it didn't really make sense.
Today he also snapped at another TA. We were sitting discussing a music lesson and she came in laughing because it looked difficult and it was in a sympathetic good luck way. He snapped and went "what are you laughing at". It was awkward as she didn't know what to say and just handed him an envelope. Was abrupt and he's abrupt like that.

OP posts:

iLovee · 11/11/2023 03:41

You need to report this to a DSL. You should have had safeguarding training. Follow your schools safeguarding policy.

You should not be posting about it online unless you have changed significant details. I would report you to the DSL if I recognised your post, and I'm sure others would too.

I think you need a wee refresh in safeguarding.

MaisyAndTallulah · 11/11/2023 04:07

The teacher sounds like a jerk. He's bullying on plain sight and got the class joining in.

elapaosnabsndl · 11/11/2023 08:32

"Yes it went over how to report those concerns but not what concerns you should report really. I just don't want to be seen making a drama out of something if the SLT think it's nothing"

Good lord if this is real you are more of a concern than this teacher. You report ALL concerns, anything, anything at all that has made you stop and question something. IF this is real you need to go into work and ask them to repeat the training because you are a danger to the children you work with. You also obviously need to report your concerns about this teacher.

Also the PP is right, why are you posting this in multiple places on social media? Your school should also have a clear social media policy and you shouldn't be talking about things like this in public online. You should be reporting it through the appropriate channels at your school.

I hope you're just making up stuff and trying to stir drama because it's a better option than you actually working in a school and behaving in the manner you are doing.

RedHelenB · 11/11/2023 08:35

charlotte361 · 10/11/2023 22:29

I later asked the boy who it happened to and he said yea it was so funny
It sounds as though he has a great rapport with his class.You sound a little old school and maybe a little jealous??

This. Male teachers often have a different rapport with their pupils, as do younger teachers.

Nothingbuttheglory · 11/11/2023 08:40

Male teachers often have a different rapport with their pupils, as do younger teachers.

Having a special rapport with one particular pupil, as OP outlines, is not appropriate. Sounds like there are a number of low-level concerns which she should report to the Head. This is fairly basic safeguarding stuff.

Freshair1 · 11/11/2023 08:42

I'm struggling with how a TA is posting this on Mumsnet when they should be using their head and reporting to someone in their school..... Basic common sense!!!

SinnerBoy · 11/11/2023 08:45

Always picks him out to tuck his polo in.

Is the teacher tucking his shirt in?

Spirallingdownwards · 11/11/2023 08:47

Letsnowalready · 10/11/2023 22:51

The training didn't really focus on staff. I just want advice because I don't want to be viewed as causing drama

Show quote history

Ask to be retrained immediately.

You clearly weren't paying attention to safeguarding training if you didn't think it focuses on staff too.

The boy himself says the incident you didn't witness was funny. Sounds like you are jealous of a young NQ teacher more tha there being a real issue.

ilovesooty · 11/11/2023 08:49

anbdoejpmb · 10/11/2023 22:47

I find it more concerning you are sharing this across different social media platforms instead of using the appropriate channels at your school to report concerns. You should have done training in this and know exactly what you should do 🙄

I agree.

Spirallingdownwards · 11/11/2023 08:49

Letsnowalready · 11/11/2023 00:17

OK so not only do you not like him you and another teacher were laughing together about him. That's nice.

AtomicBlondeRose · 11/11/2023 08:49

I’m a teacher. Yes it can just be a different style of teaching and a way of building a relationship with a class BUT if you have concerns you report them upwards - don’t talk to the teacher about it, just factually lay out what you’ve seen and heard. It’s up to the safeguarding lead to decide what to do from there.

ilovesooty · 11/11/2023 08:52

SinnerBoy · 11/11/2023 08:45

Always picks him out to tuck his polo in.

Is the teacher tucking his shirt in?

Irrelevant.

Skyblue92 · 11/11/2023 08:53

OP, I’m reading a lot of excuses as to why you didn’t immediately report any concerns. I agree with a PP ask for more training.

You clearly didn’t listen in the training or you just didn’t understand. Concerns on staff always go directly to the head teacher.

There is no set list of what concerns constitute reporting or not, anything that is a concern should be reported.

You never investigate it yourself, that is down to the Head Teacher to investigate and gather all the facts.

the fact that you are discussing concerns on social media is concerning.

leigha4 · 11/11/2023 09:01

I’m an ITT so I’ve just done this training. You must report any concerns about another member of staff to the headteacher. DO NOT report/mention it to any other member of staff in the school.

neonjumper · 11/11/2023 09:01

If you had a concern you should have gone straight to your DSL . There is lots about reporting concerns about staff in safeguarding training .

You should not be questioning the child or teacher yourself , that is the DSLs role ... this is very clear in the training as you could be leading the child into making declarations based on your input .

All your other little observations sound like jealousy, looking for problems , reading into things . I think you are allowing your own personal opinions on how teachers should behave interfere in your judgement.

Also , very unprofessional of you putting this on social media . There will be a policy in your school about how staff use social media .... coming on here to talk about sensitive matters is breaking the guidance in the policy !!!

OutDamnedSpot · 11/11/2023 09:05

It sounds like you haven’t been adequately trained in safeguarding. The section you need is on Page 20:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1181955/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023.pdf

Bubbles332 · 11/11/2023 09:13

Anyone who does direct work with children in a school is supposed to have read at least part one of KCSIE. My advice to you would be to make sure you have, as being new to the job is not an excuse. It’s on the DfE website, but your school really should have given you a copy to read and sign that you’ve read it. The part about reporting low-level concerns is on page 87. It’s awkward, but if you have a bad feeling about something you should report it. Hope this helps!

Motherofacertainage · 11/11/2023 09:15

Your safeguarding training has been inadequate if it hasn't included what to do if you are concerned about a member of staff. Like other posters I am concerned that you are posting about this online rather than raising it at work but this is a criticism of your school rather than of you because it should have been made clear what the procedure should be. Speak to your line manager or the DSL (assuming you know who that is) on Monday. If this teacher is not being monitored then he should be!

MadeOfAllWork · 11/11/2023 09:21

If you have a concern then talk to the safeguarding lead. They will decide if it’s important or not.

Quitelikeacatslife · 11/11/2023 09:24

Safeguarding training is mandatory and so is that you have read KCSIE. It also is very easy, report to DSL. Low level concerns are just that, mostly and usually nothing but if everyone reports to DSL they may have an overall picture that you do not.
If you are not clear then ask for more training ,

Tomorrowiscoming · 11/11/2023 09:32

As previous posters have said ypu need to follow safeguarding policy- read it again if you're not sure. Being new is no excuse for not reporting something you found uncomfortable, go see ypu ht or safeguarding lead. The don't tell anyone thing would be mote of a concern for me as this is highlighted in safeguarding training as something school staff should not be saying!

Thewondererhasreturned · 11/11/2023 09:33

Why don't you as the TA just say to the teacher that you've noticed they focus on child X a bit and maybe involve the other kids a bit more (if you feel he is being singled out) i agree the teacher shouldn't be teaching the kids to not tell names when someone's done something wrong but I can see how this could have been meant in a jokey way. Is the child in particular very confident or jokey themselves?

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