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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the teachers resent me?

113 replies

ThisMonkeysGoneToAldi · 27/06/2025 06:34

I work at lunchtimes only, minimum wage, I used to teach but like this role as it fits around school drop offs/pick ups.
At various times we need to line children up, gather them together to put sun hats on etc. Many staff let them run/scream to do this. But I prefer to get them walking rather than running, sing songs or read a quick story which keeps them calm. One girl can get extremely upset when it’s noisy, but LOVES songs. I get really bad vibes off the SLT when I do this but I’m sure it’s the right thing to do? One v sweet member of staff said ‘you get them sitting beautifully’ and TBH, I think I do?? But the leaders there really don’t like me!!

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 27/06/2025 06:36

I’m pretty sure that the SLT are just happy that the lunch time supervisors are doing their job.

Dinosaurshoebox · 27/06/2025 06:38

Can you give examples because I can't see why you would even be a thought that crosses SLTs mind.

TooManyCupsAndMugs · 27/06/2025 06:40

If they have to go somewhere quickly, I can see how you reading a story might be seen as time-consuming but I can't think of anything else

Azandme · 27/06/2025 06:42

I'm SLT, albeit with older children. As long as they were where they were supposed to be, doing what they're supposed to be, I wouldn't care.

Muffsies · 27/06/2025 06:42

What are the 'bad vibes'?

Didimum · 27/06/2025 06:44

How would anyone here know?

zeebra · 27/06/2025 06:44

I think you are reading too much into this. I bet they don't give it a second thought. No harm is being done.

Hanovercrosse · 27/06/2025 06:45

Are you implying you can do the job better ? If all the story reading is wasting time then I would get annoyed

PollyBell · 27/06/2025 06:47

Why do you need then to like you? Your post comes across as you are doing it for their approval, Why?

And why would they resent you?

Original poster
ThisMonkeysGoneToAldi · 27/06/2025 06:48

The bad vibes are a sense of ‘being sent to Coventry’ which my colleague has picked up on too in terms of the way they behave towards me. My immediate boss is not part of the SLT in the area where I work, she’s lovely and not like that at all - so I stick with her appraisal of me. But it’s just not a nice ‘feeling’ to experience daily.

OP posts:
WhereHasMyPlanetGone · 27/06/2025 06:49

Why do you think their feelings towards you are due to the methods you have for lining them up?

Original poster
ThisMonkeysGoneToAldi · 27/06/2025 06:51

It’s only ever really quick. So as we are counting and checking that we’ve got them all - and as we put their hats on (singing).
And then a quick 5 min story before take over.

OP posts:
Muffsies · 27/06/2025 06:52

Primary teachers being immature and petty? Well I never.

WhereHasMyPlanetGone · 27/06/2025 06:53

Surely if you’re doing a 5 min story every time they need lining up, that’s taking up a fairly large part of their play time?

Sprookjesbos · 27/06/2025 06:53

I just can't really picture what you mean as someone who works in a school. Are you a midday supervisor? Are you talking about lining them up to go in/ out of class/ to get their lunch? If so as long as you are managing their behaviour what could be the problem?
If they're waiting for you to bring their class in and you're out there reading a story to the line, I can see this would be annoying!

Original poster
ThisMonkeysGoneToAldi · 27/06/2025 06:54

I do about 2 mins of songs until they are ready to go out and we’ve counted they are all there.

Story is after tidy up time as we wait for take over. Max 5 mins!

OP posts:
BeachPossum · 27/06/2025 06:56

Is the implication here that you're much better at getting the children to sit nicely than the teachers and therefore they are jealous and resentful of you?

I don't think any of us can confirm that! It seems unlikely but perhaps you work with very petty people!

Original poster
ThisMonkeysGoneToAldi · 27/06/2025 06:56

No it’s on the teachers carpet - they are quickly putting out activities…it’s usually the opposite, they are often late so we wait for them!

OP posts:
Fetchthevet · 27/06/2025 06:57

When I was teaching we used to find it really difficult to recruit midday supervisors - the hours are inconvenient (not close to drop off or pick up) and the money earned is minimal. So if you get 'bad vibes' where you are I'm sure you'd be quickly snapped up by another school. It's great that you can line them up quietly and get them to walk but I shouldn't think the SLT would be jealous of that (if that's what you are implying), that kind of thing will be second nature to them.

Twisterpiggy · 27/06/2025 06:57

At various times we need to line children up, gather them together to put sun hats on etc. Many staff let them run/scream to do this. But I prefer to get them walking rather than running, sing songs or read a quick story which keeps them calm.

The only thing I can think of is you’re making a bit of a meal out of lining them up, if you’re reading a story (!) to get them to line up to get their hat on surely that’s just taking ages and getting in the way?

Original poster
ThisMonkeysGoneToAldi · 27/06/2025 06:58

No I only ready a story while we are waiting for the teacher at take over. Lining up is a quick song.

OP posts:
ShoutOutLucile · 27/06/2025 06:59

Surely they are just getting on with their own jobs. Thinking about data and other nightmare stuff. Maybe they don’t see a need to talk with you as you are doing what needs to be done.

If they thought you were doing a bad job then they would speak to you rather than ‘send you to Coventry.’

Jackooo · 27/06/2025 06:59

It sounds like a nice way of getting them calm but the teachers probably have they own routines for calming then once they reach the classroom and the lineup storytime is delaying everyone.
Why don't you ask what suits them? In that scenario I would defer to what suits their teachers who have to manage the full day

DustyTangerine · 27/06/2025 06:59

who are you getting this vibe from daily? Are the SLT coming to watch this lining up like it’s the changing of the guard?

CopperWhite · 27/06/2025 07:01

It’s lunchtime and all you’re doing is putting hats and cream on. There don’t need to be sitting beautifully at this time, they need to make the most of the time they have where they aren’t being told what to do.

I doubt the teachers give much thought to you as a person, but they might not like your practice if it is time consuming and unnecessary.