Head teacher visiting all the children

[elliejjtiny]

Head teacher has announced on the school website that he is coming to visit all the children in their homes this week. We're not shielding but DH and I, ds3, ds4 and ds5 are on the vulnerable list. Ds5 really doesn't get social distancing (he has autism and global development delay) and will probably try and hug the head teacher given half a chance.

I'm quite worried about this, I really don't think it's safe for the head teacher to go and visit all the children. I don't think this is optional though.

[Mumdiva99]

Gosh he's just popping over to check the kids are ok. Part of the school remit at the moment. He won't come in or be close.

[MrMannersIsAwful]

I’d refuse the visit politely. I’d hate people from school coming to my home and wouldn’t dream of going to theirs. Intrusive, unhygienic and unnecessary.

[IncrediblySadToo]

I'd refuse and it wouldn't be politely either. If anyone is coming in my house it's not going to be done plonker in & out of 220 houses

Frankly I'd be withdrawing my kids from that school if this is their idea of 'Social Distancing' & keeping families safe.

He needs reporting -bloody idiot.

[rossKemp]

Report to police

[rossKemp]

I’d really worry about this head teacher’s ability to be able to safely co ordinate the opening of your child’s school when the time comes

[Popfan]

I think you'll find he will be standing well away outside the house. All the posters outraged that he would be entering are jumping to huge and undoubtably wrong conclusions.

[ScrapThatThen]

I blame all the cheery newspaper articles about charismatic heads driving round their pupils streets every day. He wants to look good but this is an unwise offer.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Good god! This place is mad sometimes!

He's doing what schools have been asked to do, check their pupils are doing well and that parents don't need any additional help. Many HTs have chosen to do this in person to give parents the opportunity to speak, ask questions more freely than many do over the phone... and to check that responses are not being coerced/monitored in the home. They don't enter you hime, they stand outside and chat.

Imagine that's your remit... to nosy into people's private life just in case. DSis and her HT are sharing this task and she REALLY isn't enjoying it. But she is NOT getting the "Tell her to fuck off / phone the police" response many posters here are giving. No! She is getting a lot of moans and groans, some requests for additional help and a lot of Thank you and goodbyes!

Oh, and don't send a thanks but no thanks email. It may highlight your family as "at risk" - another thing HTs have no control over! Remember it is a safeguarding thing! And, as such, has a life of its own! But is, for some, an essential check.

[LastTrainEast]

it's non-essential contact unless he thinks your child is at risk in which case it should be social services and not him pretending to see kids about school-work to check.

Even if OP has a garden with access from the road what about all those who don't. Will he stand on the pavement? How about in flats?

[LastTrainEast]

If the school were closed for any other reason this could be seen as a generous gesture - I expect that's how he meant it so be nice about it, but the whole point of lockdown was to stop people doing what he is doing.

"and to check that responses are not being coerced/monitored in the home"

When did we go from teachers reporting anything dodgy they see (which I approve of) to teachers actively investigating?

When did it become the Education and Monitoring Authority?

Was a law passed? Was there training in social work/undercover work?

[OddBoots]

It won't be as many as 220 houses as there will be siblings. Doorstep welfare checks are not unreasonable in the situation, we are now off school for longer than the longest school holiday and with no return on the cards yet.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

When did it become the Education and Monitoring Authority? Somewhen The Goviot and Chums decided it was! And no, teacher's don't like it either!

[BreatheAndFocus]

Many HTs have chosen to do this in person to give parents the opportunity to speak, ask questions more freely than many do over the phone

What - by shouting your private business across the street as Mr Look-How-Great-I-Am stands on the pavement? Hardly private, and if anyone was being coerced then clearly that could continue in that situation.

But mainly, I think it’s a f**king outrage. We’re all sitting here not making any unnecessary journeys, not seeing relatives, children not seeing friends - and he’s going on a tour of 200 houses for no bloody reason whatsoever!

I’d say “No - we’re fine, thanks, and we prefer to support the gov rules”. That’s the polite version!

[Lumene]

My favourite one was that he should be reported to the police.

If someone is going round to every family’s house from their school during lockdown they are being careless with people’s lives and need to stop.

[PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock]

Do people really think he'll go inside every single house, have a cuddle and a cuppa maybe even use the loo?

[Thescrewinthetuna]

I really don’t think it’s that big of a deal as long as he abides by social distancing. Just call and say you don’t want a visit and say why. Offer a zoom call or something?

[KimTate]

Just don't answer the door

[Abraid2]

Isn't he just going to knock on doors and chat through the front windows?

[Maryann1975]

One of my best friends is an SLT and is spending this week going round homes of any family who have not engaged with any communication with the school so far (which in her school is a lot).
Personally, I think it’s a good thing.
My dd is meant to be on the ‘vulnerable’ list and hasn’t been seen by anyone at school for 5 weeks, how do they know what’s going on with her, I could be saying anything on my weekly chat with our SLT. I would support a quick visit from the school to check all is well. It might help to spot any families who urgently need more support from other agencies. It’s great if your family are doing fine, but there are others out there who aren’t and might be too proud to ask for help.
I am 100% sure the HT does not want to enter your home and will be completely happy with a doorstep chat observing social distancing.

[monkeytennis97]

Head teacher trying to win a gold star for assuring well being of pupils but totally missing the point about social distancing.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

I think it’s nice. Assuming it’s a distanced wave from outside. We’ve had visits from teachers. They dropped off all the work packs, we didn’t have to go to the door. But the DC wanted to wave at a friendly familiar face from a distance. This is primary school.

If it’s secondary that’s a bit odd.

[GrimmsFairytales]

Do people really think he'll go inside every single house, have a cuddle and a cuppa maybe even use the loo?

Don't be daft, he's not got time for a cuppa, he'll just have a quick chat, lick the door handles and leave.

[DateandTime]

He wants to see the kids and know they're alive, he doesn't plan to come in for tea and cake.

There's going to be an almighty fallout for schools who didn't attempt to see children, after all this when we find out just what has been happening to some children we haven't seen for weeks

[Spied]

He'd have been better off not announcing his 'visit' if he's wanting to welfare check the vulnerable kids.
We could all have our DC lined up looking happy and smiling at the window if we knew what day Mr X was due to 'visit'. When most days unannounced he'd hear screaming and crying half way down the street!

[AldiAisleOfCrap]

There is no need for welfare checks unless children are vulnerable. Homeschooled children don’t have visits.