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.

That's a pretty big assumption you're making there.

In what way? The OP says the HT is visiting every child in the school in their homes, which is essentially the same. Where’s the assumption?

Unless you think it might be a Scottish Islands school with only about 6 pupils?

I am sure the HT is adult enough to stand 2m away and if the OP is worried the child will run towards the HT, then they can wave from a window.

so surely it is no different than the postman, courier, volunteers dropping off parcels etc, going from house to house.

Dropping parcels off is not the same as visiting for a chat.

Visiting every child in the school is not the same as visiting vulnerable children if needed.

Visiting every child in the school is not the same as visiting vulnerable children if needed

Are you deliberately being obtuse? So many people have said the HT might not have any idea which families are struggling through the lockdown. Do you think it’s ok that he ignores his pupils even though they may be at risk currently?

But this will be seen as part of their role (at the moment under lockdown)

Why? There is absolutely nothing in the guidance requiring it, and I can't see the DfE condoning a lot of unnecessary journeys.

Visiting every child in the school is not the same as visiting vulnerable children if needed

Given the huge changes in the last few months, there's a good chance that a lot of families who wouldn't have been considered vulnerable before might now be just that. As the head teacher has no way of knowing if the circumstances of families has changed, it makes more sense to check on all the children.

Lumene I think we all understand you would not wish this at all, why is something only you know.

What the rest of us do know though, is that this is not a super spreaders event, in fact it is absoltely safe as long as he socially distances, so your reason for not wanting this is clearly something hidden. No one, even you, can believe what you’re writing.

I’m not going to ask you to explain your real reasons, they are none of our business, but I would say it’s pointless to keep hammering on it’s. Super spreader event when the head will stand socially distances from the family in all likely hood, unless he is a fucking idiot and should not be in charge if schools,

This man is doing a good thing. A very good thing, and you will not convince any right minded or decent person otherwise.

You know that children have died or been seriously harmed because their carer died/became unconscious and nobody knew right?

OP has options, as do all the other parents. OP hasn't come back to say if she asked for clarification of what the visit will entail and what the reasoning behind it is.

ATM we have shouts of kamikaze head and call the police based on pretty much nothing.

My neighbours son has SN. His teachers come regularly. Neighbours stay at door and teachers on pavement.

I don't see an issue if he's doing this.

But personally I'd tell him to sod off.

Am stressed enough without home visits from the head.

Are you deliberately being obtuse? So many people have said the HT might not have any idea which families are struggling through the lockdown. Do you think it’s ok that he ignores his pupils even though they may be at risk currently?

Not visiting all your pupils in their homes isn’t ‘ignoring people’. Head teachers don’t go round visiting every family to hunt out people struggling as part of their role.

Schools will be well aware of who the vulnerable children are, the appropriate protocols, channels, evidence and agencies to work with to establish this and offer safe support and so on.

You know that children have died or been seriously harmed because their carer died/became unconscious and nobody knew right?

Yes, this is why schools are supposed to have 3 sets of contact details for safeguarding including one that doesn’t live at their home address.

Don’t see the relevance here?

I saw our head teacher standing in the garden at a distance talking to one of the pupils. I was passing in the car. I don’t know if she was handing out lunches or just a visit. I think it’s very nice for them doing this

Schools will be well aware of who the vulnerable children are

It's been over a month since schools closed to most of their pupils. They have no idea which families have lost jobs, have sick relatives, are struggling for money etc. The list of children who might now be considered vulnerable, could be very different to when the school last saw its pupils.

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I'd guess some pesky pupil has hacked the school website and posted it as a joke.

Bluntness at least 7 posts on the first page disagree with your belief that “This man is doing a good thing. A very good thing, and you will not convince any right minded or decent person otherwise.”

You may disagree with them and me but just because someone has a different view to you doesn’t mean they have some weird secret agenda.

My view is the risk of visiting all pupils in a school at home outweighs potential positive benefits. This is different to targeted visits based on behaviour/evidence/knowledge.

I understand others disagree, and why. I would still flag a HT doing this to local police personally as I think they are going against critical public health advice and risking the lives of families of children in their care. Police could make the call based on the circumstances of so. Others think this is overkill, fair enough.

There are very few other agencies being able to check on new families becoming vulnerable, this is mainly if not totally falling on schools.

Schools will be well aware of who the vulnerable children are

I wish that were true, but it’s not. Many children are living in homes with little to no love, and low to medium levels of abuse and neglect. Something they get respite from when they go to school. Something that can escalate in times like this. Many parents can appear thoroughly pleasant and respectable. Many children can appear to give little signals, because they are clean and dressed, but may be the quiet one, the one who bullies, or even the pretty normal one. Who goes home to an alcoholic parent, or a screaming parent, or two screaming parents, one who is handy with their fists, just a slap, don’t you know. Living in filth. No interaction, wrapped up in their own world. No help with school work. All manner of shit.

So no, school don’t know. And nor will a five min distanced chat at the door always show that, but what it will do is show the child their is hope. That someone cares. That they will be going back. It will show the parent someone is watching, and it might just show that child who can’t come to the door, or when they do, it’s obvious something is very very amiss.

50 percent increase in domestic abuse calls. How many of these have children at home, witnessing it. Or even being involved in it. How many don’t get reported. How many children are being abused or neglected right now and are too scared to tell anyone.

I would still flag a HT doing this to local police personally as I think they are going against critical public health advice and risking the lives of families of children in their care

And hopefully the police would be wise enough to want to come into your home to check your children’s welfare to understand why you were so scared for the head to have a socially distanced chat with your child.

Are you the Head Teacher Bluntness?

I am not bothered by people judging me for flagging safeguarding concerns Smile.

I have heard teachers are checking up on certain kids who are eligible to attend school due to be classed as vulnerable, sn etc to ensure parents are coping and the children are receiving appropriate education etc. Unfortunately there will be children who are harmed as a direct consequence of lockdown. No idea on this specific case but if a child has sn this is likely to be the reason. Just speak at the door, no need to get angry.

Couldn't have put it better myself @Bluntness100 and yet there will still be parents saying visits shouldn't be happening.

Maybe all parents should be made to do a safeguarding course, and listen to transcripts from actual child abuse cases, then maybe more will understand.