Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Head teacher visiting all the children

233 replies

elliejjtiny · 04/05/2020 23:09

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.

OP posts:
Lumene · 05/05/2020 15:02

@GrimmsFairytales because the OP said so:

“Head teacher has announced on the school website that he is coming to visit all the children in their homes this week.”

CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/05/2020 15:05

Yes, all the children in their homes. Nothing about where the HT will be!

Pinkrose27 · 05/05/2020 15:05

As long as they don’t enter your home and stand back at least 2 metres where’s the issue?

DateandTime · 05/05/2020 15:06

The home visit is a very recognised way of dealing with safeguarding concerns Lumeme. In usual circumstances it would be entirely normal for school staff to pay a visit if they hadn't seen a child for a few days and were concerned.

As has been said the HT won't be planning to go inside all the houses, why would he put himself at risk for a start?

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 05/05/2020 15:09

We are doing this for families we are worried about. We have been calling everyone and if we don't hear from them we go and knock on their door to make sure children are ok and families are ok for food. We don't go in even if we are invited. Not sure where OP is but most families in my school live less than a 10 minute walk from school and this is likely to be the case in lots of densely populated areas. And we go in pairs for safety. Social workers have mostly stopped visits and kids aren't in school so who else is going to check on them?

We have also been dropping off food for isolating families, doing hundreds of trips to the food back, arranged a scheme for families who have no recourse to public funds and can't claim anything including free school meals. We have done thousands of welfare calls, sent work home online and dropped off or posted work for children who don't have a computer.

But yeah, SLT are all batshit, lazy and don't know what they're doing. Hmm

GrimmsFairytales · 05/05/2020 15:09

Lumene That just means the head teacher is going to the child's house, it doesn't mean they will actually enter the house.

The same way I would say I took some shopping to my sister's house. It's possible to do so without going inside.

ineedaholidaynow · 05/05/2020 15:09

@elliejjtiny would you be ok for the HT to visit if your DC are in the house and the HT standing outside at a suitable distance?

pooiepooie25 · 05/05/2020 15:10

Fucking hell. The Head WILL NOT be entering your house. He is travelling for work as part of his safeguarding role.

Non stop criticism of teachers. Fucking does my head in.

Greenpoppins · 05/05/2020 15:12

A socially distanced visit from a headteacher can be managed in a safe way. Vulnerable children at home unseen since the end of March is the MUCH greater risk here. I can't believe anyone would object to a teacher simply observing at a distance that the children are still alive and looking cared for.

Bluntness100 · 05/05/2020 15:13

I can’t see the issue here, as long as he socially distances and stays out of the home it’s fine. People just need to control their kids.

He is clearly going out of his way to check on the children and I think it’s admirable of him. If he sees something that worries him he can escalate as appropriate.

Ineedabreak19 · 05/05/2020 15:14

My dc school has been doing zoom calls and phone calls for those who don't have access to zoom. I think it is a welfare check on the vulnerable kids especially if their domestic environment is far from ideal. There has been an increase in domestic violence and murders of women & children during lockdown. I'm not surprised that some schools are carrying out welfare checks. They need to ensure their pupils are safe & flag up issues if needed.

Lumene · 05/05/2020 15:14

In usual circumstances it would be entirely normal for school staff to pay a visit if they hadn't seen a child for a few days and were concerned.

Yes and staff have also been known to escort children to school when vulnerable children otherwise couldn’t/wouldn’t be able to make it. This should be done only in circumstances where this would be proportionate and with appropriate safeguarding measures etc

A Head announcing he is visiting every child in their homes is not common practice during lockdown, and against govt guidelines which are there for good reason - whether or not they go physically into the house.

ineedaholidaynow · 05/05/2020 15:14

@ThisIsNotARealAvo SLT all the local schools are dropping off food hampers to families, as they are not using the voucher scheme in this area. SLT are doing it rather than other staff members or volunteers as they are also the Designated Safeguarding Leads, so can do welfare check at the same time.

Can I say as a school governor, thank you for everything you are doing.

Bluntness100 · 05/05/2020 15:15

Vulnerable children at home unseen since the end of March is the MUCH greater risk here. I can't believe anyone would object to a teacher simply observing at a distance that the children are still alive and looking cared for

100 percent. Often these children haven’t been seen for nearly two months. How anyone could object is beyond me.

DominaShantotto · 05/05/2020 15:16

Would be a miracle if one of our heads actually cared enough to let the staff call the children - only thing we've heard since schools close is endless emails about not contacting school and what we're doing wrong.

The other has very much been there to offer support if we need it and staff are monitoring kids are logging in online and no doubt chasing up any behind the scenes that seem to be dropping off the radar - I emailed in with some concerns about that child the other day (behaviour is always challenging but has escalated dramatically) and the head was on the phone within a couple of hours asking what school could do to offer support at all.

Bluntness100 · 05/05/2020 15:16

and against govt guidelines which are there for good reason

Bullshit, he will be classed as a key worker and this can easily be classed as essential as he is trying to check on the welfare of young children.

ineedaholidaynow · 05/05/2020 15:16

@Lumene what is common practice during lockdown? How can there be any common practice during lockdown?

Lumene · 05/05/2020 15:17

This on the other hand (or phone calls) is a great idea and most of not all schools will be doing this:

My dc school has been doing zoom calls and phone calls for those who don't have access to zoom.

ineedaholidaynow · 05/05/2020 15:18

Interestingly there are huge safeguarding concerns for zoom calls, especially for the school staff.

Lumene · 05/05/2020 15:19

@Lumene what is common practice during lockdown? How can there be any common practice during lockdown?

The common practice is following the guidelines - ie not making physical visits to hundreds of houses to have conversations with each of them while stringent lockdown measures are in place.

Making zoom or phone calls to vulnerable and other families on the other hand is common practice.

loobyloo1234 · 05/05/2020 15:20

Report to police

FFS. Seen it all now on MN.

Lumene · 05/05/2020 15:20

Interestingly there are huge safeguarding concerns for zoom calls, especially for the school staff.

This is true, and needs to be risk assessed and managed. It does not flout lockdown rules and risk lives though.

GrimmsFairytales · 05/05/2020 15:21

This on the other hand (or phone calls) is a great idea and most of not all schools will be doing this:

I'm not saying it will happen but it's easy to ignore calls. Or say the child is busy playing, out for a walk with the other parent, or a myriad of other excuses as to why they can't see them.

It could be months before a child is back at school, why are you so apposed to a head teacher wanting to check his pupil's are ok?

Bluntness100 · 05/05/2020 15:22

Lumene what’s your issue? Surely if he found and helped even just one child who is vulnerable and in trouble then it’s worth every single other parent opening their doors and letting the kids have a socially distanced chat for five mins. Surely every single right minding person would be willing to do this?

Why are you so vehemently against it?

Lumene · 05/05/2020 15:24

Bullshit, he will be classed as a key worker and this can easily be classed as essential as he is trying to check on the welfare of young children.

“Bullshit” charming and convincing argument there.

Yes teachers are essential workers and doing an amazing job in difficult times.

Visiting everyone in the school at home while there is a countrywide lockdown to prevent the majority being physically near each other so they can avoid transmitting a deadly virus - obviously not essential.