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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to make a fuss about job-sharing reception teachers?

193 replies

EmmalinaC · 05/07/2010 16:18

DD1 starts school in September. Last week we attended the new parents evening and discovered that she will have two part-time teachers: Mrs X works Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Mrs Y works Thursday & Friday.

Many of the parents expressed concern about this and were told that both teachers were working mums and it suited them better to work part-time. They didn't really offer any justifications that were to the children's advantage (apart from 'it's better to have two teachers in case you don't get on with one' )

I don't want to start off on the wrong foot with the school by making a fuss about this but I can't help feeling that it is totally inappropriate for a reception class.

So AIBU to complain the school? To the Head? Or to the Governors?

OP posts:
belly36 · 05/07/2010 16:20

Maybe it's in the children's advantage to have two really good part-time teachers rather than one dodgy one?

wannaBe · 05/07/2010 16:21

yes yabu.

Having more than one teacher will be good for the children as each teacher will have their own strengths and what one cannot provide will hopefully be able to be provided by the other and vice versa.

annh · 05/07/2010 16:22

What on earth are you going to complain about? The fact that you don't like it? If you have concerns, perhaps ask to speak to the HT about the situation and take it from there. Job sharing is very normal in schools. I think if you think this is an issue to complain about, you are in for a rude shock when your dd starts school!

nellie12 · 05/07/2010 16:22

yabu. If they have children under 16 they are entitled to ask for part time work. Same as anybody else.

fwiw ds1 has had part time teachers through reception and yr1. I haven't noticed it making any difference.

Of course if your dd starts and there is an issue then you would be entitled to complain.
But there may not be.

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2010 16:22

well, it might work out great.
i think it's unfair to complain without even knowing if it works well or not

Greenshadow · 05/07/2010 16:23

Two teachers can be good - two different sets of skills and experiences to draw on. Less monotony. Umm, sure there must be more advantages.

Basically I'm saying I wouldn't be too keen on it either, but it isn't going to change, so try to find the positive rather than negative.

Complaining to the head/governors is unlikely to have any effect.

Job share is becoming increasingly common in all levels of education and I'm afraid we have to get used to it.

tethersend · 05/07/2010 16:23

YANBU. They will become completely confused.

The very idea of having two key figures to guide you through life is absurd.

Dominique07 · 05/07/2010 16:24

Wow absolutely.
No exhausted teacher at the end of the week but a fresh one who has had Monday tuesday and wednesday to prepare lots of activities for Thursday and Friday.
Great news for your child.

LilyBolero · 05/07/2010 16:24

Our school had a reception jobshare for ages and it was very successful.

OrmRenewed · 05/07/2010 16:24

Yes YABU. It works OK IME if both the teachers are OK. In fact it won't work with a single teacher if he/she isn't any good. Not up to you to dictate the teachers' working conditions.

stanausauruswrecks · 05/07/2010 16:25

YANBU. I'd be on to the Head, Board of Governors, LEA and contact the national press as well.

tethersend · 05/07/2010 16:25

Don't forget to complain about them having PPA time, too. There's probably someone else to cover that.

thirtysomething · 05/07/2010 16:25

Even if they had one teacher all week they'd end up with regular supply teachers to cover planning time, illness, training etc - at least this way if one teacher is ill the children have the other one for continuity. My DC have only ever had one main class teacher but in any one week end up with at least half a day with another - often unknown - teacher for one reason or another. Add to that maternity leave etc and you get the picture! Two teachers who work well together and take their jobs seriously has huge benefits in reception IMO.

DD's reception teacher just didn't get her at all and she basically had a wasted year academically. Would have much preferred a job-share; that way at least one of the teachers might have noticed how much she was struggling!!

sarah293 · 05/07/2010 16:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

madeindevon2 · 05/07/2010 16:25

actually this is very interesting as i see a lot of threads about mums wanting to work less than full time and feeling very agreaved when their request to work 3 days a week is rejected....
but when the shoe is on the other foot we think its unreasonable?

bleedingheart · 05/07/2010 16:27

YABU. I'm sure children can cope with two different adults during the week. Did your child go to nursery? They can't have had the same adult carer every day, week in week out then surely?

susiey · 05/07/2010 16:27

my dd who is in reception has 1 teacher but she is an nqt as such she has a whole day out of the classroom for ppa and they have 2 different techers covering those times. she loves having different teachers they tend to enjoy some subjects more than others and therefore are more arty or more doing IT with the other she really enjoys it.

also they will have a teaching assistant with them who will remain the same the whole time ( its certainly the case with my dd.

it also means when their teacher sick and they have a supply teacher they are used to hvaing someone else not just one person.

My friend is a reception teacjer on a jobshare and she is a really good teacher better 2 happy motivated teachers than 1 unmotivated teacher

I would see how it goes when she starts school and address any problems as they arise rather than making a fuss now.

tethersend · 05/07/2010 16:28

bleedingheart, even if they didn't, there's a chance they have two parents...

Original poster
EmmalinaC · 05/07/2010 16:28

I'm not trying to dictate the teachers working conditions at all! This really isn't a thread about their entitlement to work part-time. I'm just questioning whether it is appropriate in reception year, when the children (some of whom have only just turned 4) already have so many other things to get their heads round.

I'm happy to hear from mums who have had a positive experience of it that IABU

OP posts:
Fayrazzled · 05/07/2010 16:29

My son's reception class is taught by two job-sharing teachers and it has been great. The children aren't unsettled by it at all and they benefit from two enthusiastic teachers with different skills and personalities.

So EmmalinaC I think YABU and will make a fool of yourself if you complain. You have no right to expect your child will be taught by one full-time teacher only.

Barmymummy · 05/07/2010 16:30

I felt the same worry when my DS started school last year as did alot of the parents.

One year on and there are definately cons to it such as having to tell everything twice over, buying 2 presents (JOKE!) and not always getting consistent answers to your questions/worries BUT the pros are that one of the teachers is a complete arty teacher and does all this wonderful creative stuff with them whilst the other is a bit less creative and more strict but is more into the academic side of things. I make that sound like they can't do both but what I mean is they compliment each other well and the kids, once they got used to it, benefitted from 2 teachers different strengths & overall I would say it has been a success.

DD is about to start year 4 as a job share so hoping the same will apply

Try not to worry, it will be fine and your DD will love school

LtEveDallas · 05/07/2010 16:30

DD is in Reception right now and has jobshare teachers. Hers are one working Mon, Thu, Fri and the other Tue, Wed.

Works fine, not a problem - DD likes Mrs A "because she puts pony tails in her hair" and Mrs B "because she always asks me to read"

Absolutely nothing wrong with it - and dont see why you would think there was

gingernutlover · 05/07/2010 16:31

YABU it can work very well

I may be a little biased as I am a reception teacher who jobshares! LOL.

However, I have been job sharing in the same class for about 4 years now and before that I worked full time in the same class. I honestly dont think the children are affected by it.

If both the teachers are good you get 2 good teachers who arent knackered and who come in on their days refreshed and enthusiastic.

Complain if you like but nothing will happen becasue it is perfectly legal and works very well in many cases (realise there will always be good and bad teachers, full or part time!). It is not really anything to do with you who who is employed and on which basis and you simply have to trust the head to have made a good decision just as they would when employing any teacher.

Fayrazzled · 05/07/2010 16:31

And my son had only just turned 4 when he started school (he's an august birthday) and he didn't have any problem at all with having two teachers (and 3 TAs). The children will be assigned one of the teachers as a "key worker" anyway.

lazarusb · 05/07/2010 16:31

Each one of my 3 dcs has had job share teachers at different points (including Reception) and they have all worked really well. They have different strengths and helps transition at the end of the year as the children don't become too attached to one person. As long as the teachers have a good working relationship I really wouldn't worry.

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