To think the Ofsted inspector who blames WFH parents for low attendance is probably just resentful?

[JandamiHash]

The Chief Inspector of Ofsted is blaming parents who WFH for the demise of school attendance https://www.itv.com/news/2025-02-16/parents-working-from-home-makes-children-feel-school-is-optional-ofsted-head?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0ULgukQnTsabNTlcJRBI4kVQsMYkhCPK_KA4lUAgVkxOocYfo3onmRNHU_aem_nuBknA_QEGgfA93CaTPagg. Apparently none of us want to take our slippers off so we let our kids stay at home while we work.

He makes some REALLY weird points like his overworked dad he didn’t see much as his inspiration to go to school. And also MPs making sure they spend weekends with their families is a bad work ethic.

I know MN is a good example of whenever WFH threads are brought up, non-WFHers come on dripping with resentment over WFH and implying WFHers don’t really work. AIBU to think this man - who has somehow been knighted - is basically doing that? I’m not sure how much inspecting he does now, but Ofsted inspectors aren’t any superior or harder working just because they spend a few days working away from home at a time (something BTW I’m expected to do, at least 1 overnight a month).

Also as someone from a household where 2 of us WFH, I can’t think of anything worse than having kids flapping around us while we try and work. I’m FT, and this week I’m off Weds-Fri, as is DH. my DD11 will be at home tomorrow with strict instructions to keep away unless there’s a serious emergency (she’s secondary and old enough to take care of herself) and at a friend’s on Tuesday. My DS is 8 and is going into a holiday club tomorrow and Tuesday as his neediness is unbearable. Both have somewhere between 97 and 99% attendance so far this academic year.

YABU - “He’s got a point”
YANBU - “He’s wrong/resentful”

If that's the case why did the OP start a thread on an article she isn't going to read, then expect people to break down its contents for her?

Yes exactly that about the implication that WFH parents are lazy. He’s implying WFH parents have the time and inclination to care for children rather than work. I think he’s confusing WFH parents to parents who don’t work.

Ofsted either needs to be disbanded or completely overhauled, its honestly not fit for purpose.

For anyone dealing with school refusal, even when you work from home it is 5000x more easier if they just went to school! Rather than constantly trying to get them out of bed and ready and wondering whether you can make that meeting if they are able to go in at break or lunchtime. Parents certainly are not keeping them at home because it's easier for them!

It is a thing with slightly older children - they know Mum or Dad's at home, so say they're ill and need to go home, or will refuse in the morning and the parent needs to be online in ten minutes, so will leave them to watch tv as long as they're quiet.

It can be difficult for the parents because they can't say no, I'm in the office (combined with a kid crying down the phone at them - damn good reason to ban mobiles in school, that) or saying they've been sick with no proof.

Then you’d think actual statistics would be readily available to back up this assumption, but they’re not.

One provable correlation between persistent absence and parenting is low income households. That IS a fact so you think this guy would take the opportunity to say the government needs to be doing something to support those families. Rather than have a dig at a random group he happens to not be part of

I genuinely am. But it’s because nobody is asking me if I’ve seen Love Island, or if I can help them with their computer, or because 15 people are trying to make a cup of tea in the kitchen with the world’s smallest kettle. Of course people with fewer distractions are gonna be more productive

I have no experience of a school Ofsted inspection but thought the MN thread the other day about how abrasive inspectors are was really insightful.

@JandamiHash totally agree he should have backed it up with statics (which he easily could where I work for example)

I've read the article in The Times.

When you get into it there are actually multiple reasons why children might be absent with health, including Mental Health, getting mentions.

I wonder whether The Times, not noted for it's advocacy of WfH, has headlined that aspect for clicks.

When my kids were at school I'd have left for the commuter train to London before they were up. Until they were into Primary they'd have eaten before I got home.

I'm now 100% WFH and although my working day is slightly longer I'd have a lot more time with them if they were still at school. I could take them in and still be at my virtual desk by 09:00.

Yanbu, people are jealous creatures 😄

Nope schools didn't expect that on return. They put measures in place to support kids return.

They expect after 5 years that excuses aren't like arseholes.

Yes I’ve read it. He’s wrong about WFH being the problem with low attendance.

And I’m not sure I know enough to nail my colours to the mast but I’m pretty sure I agree with you. An inspectorate is needed from a safeguarding perspective without a doubt but from what I always read Ofsted is problematic and there’s a huge culture problem

Correlation is not causation - and all he’s linked it with is post pandemic rates, not rates of children with parents WFH.

Some schools act like we can't tell what chickenpox looks like? Ds had low attendance due to illness then he caught chickenpox from the school literally EVERY CHILD who went to that valentines disco came down with chickenpox over 3/4 of the school year were out at various points with chickenpox they sent the attendance officer around because they thought I was mistaken I was not mistaken he had chickenpox a bad case and nearly ended up in hospital they then said I should have returned him sooner I directed them to his Dr who was unimpressed listed his credentials his training and experience and said ds should be home to recover

I have read said article 😆 and i stand by my OP 😆 because it’s basically the same article without the information about new rating system 😆

I read the article, and some of it was, I am afraid, absolutely bat shit. Apparently wfh with children during lockdowns discouraged people from getting their children back into school. As someone who had to wfh whilst attempting to home ed a young child, I can confirm that it was absolutely horrendous, and I couldn’t wait for her to be back in school!

Both DH and I WFH. I go into the office one day per week and DH’s office is our house as he’s self employed. Our two DC have 100% and 99% attendance. The last thing I want when I am WFH is the kids there all day and we have a spacious house with a study each for DH and I. Would be worse if we had a smaller house.

My brother is a teacher and our ability to WFH drives him insane. I’ve told him that he needs to get another job if it bothers him so much. Wouldn’t be suprised if this OFSTED inspector is just lashing out because he wants to be able to WFH too.

Across all state secondary schools in England, persistent absence rose from 13 per cent in 2018-19 to 24 per cent in 2022-23.

We all know there an issue just not what the cause is.

I think blaming wfh - isn't it. Though suspect sick or possibly sick kids may stay home more than in past when went in sick or sub par.

I think it's partly covid- and breaking norm of going into school but for a variety of reasons many schools are harder places to be for many more pupils than in past.

This is another attempt to move the focus from the state of Ofsted, the crisis in teacher recruitment and retention, the state of many of our school buildings and poorly funded system that is impacting many of our children at school.

While I agree absenteeism is a problem - there are far bigger ones like not having enough teachers in the first place.

Ah I see - I’ll check out the other thread

No I don’t work for Ofsted and if I did it would be a mad move to slag my boss off on the internet 🤣

This doesn’t change what he’s said about WFH parents or how ridiculous his statement is. At least in THIS statement he’s using facts. Shame he doesn’t mention the fact so many low income families are persistently absent

I agree, and fear the chief inspector may have a point. However, I feel uncomfortable about the breadth of Ofsted's remit (and about Ofsted more generally). There's something judgemental and intrusive about Ofsted choosing to pronounce on this. The implication is that parents, yet again, are to blame. In some cases, they are of course. And not all of them will be working from home, especially with older pupils. There's worklessness and parents choosing to be at home to be considered too. In others, different issues will be at play - a school environment that pupils find intimidating, problems within friendship groups, bullying, poor and descending attainment. These are alluded to but as reported it still feels like finger-pointing.

MPs leave on a Thursday night because they have constituency days on a Friday which are incredibly busy and require a lot of forward planning.

I agree with you @JandamiHash and YANBU.

My ex worked from home (before the pandemic and still does) and it didn't impact on our children's attendance. However he did have times when he was away and if I was working then, albeit on a sporadic basis, getting the kids out to school on time for me to get to work was stressful for us all.

How bizarre to say that if your parents are in their slippers that your children won't go to school.

I can't believe you give OP such a hard time! Her initial point was entirely fair. He has not used any statistical data, it's literally just his thoughts.

And typical for Ofsted, they have not based their conclusions on reality. As someone who actually works in a school and responsible for monitoring attendance I haven't noticed any link between WFH parents and child absence. I also don't know why he is blaming lack of school nurse. I have worked in schools for 15 years and not one has ever had a nurse. The article is a perfect example of how out of touch Ofsted are.