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.

Surely you must have a way of preventing people just turning up, able to go in and out of your garden, especially as you say the 3 year old is out there unsupervised. Just put a note on the gate or something.
I would say you would be pretty high up on the list of children to check on.

Police could make the call based on the circumstances of so. Others think this is overkill, fair enough.

And thankfully most police forces would show some common sense and put the phone down on anyone reporting anything like this

They aren’t my rules, they are country-wide guidelines set by the government for emergency public health reasons.

Failing to follow them at work could lead to harm for the child and/or family, so yes it is a safeguarding issue.

In your opinion smile which you are of course entitled to.

Not seen any Government guidance saying teachers visiting all the children at their school in their homes is essential work, but please do point me to it if I’ve missed it.

There is no public rule that says head teachers cannot do socially distanced welfare checks on pupils. You can’t make up the rules or put weird interpretations against them.🤣

No one has suggested there are or should be Bluntness?

So what are you reporting him to the police for then?🤣

I haven’t reported anyone to the police.

Why would you hypothetically report a hypothetical visit from a hypothetical HT?

Why would you hypothetically report a hypothetical visit from a hypothetical HT?

😆

It's basic risk assessment stuff here people. He is doing something we have all been advised against doing and potentially could spread the virus between households. This might be justified for some pupils if they have concerns because they have not had communication from them, or if prior to lockdown they have been concerned. However the child's teacher has been in touch with the parents every week and the children are not vulnerable or known to social services. It is therefore a high risk activity without just cause.

I'd be very happy to explain to him why I wouldn't be allowing it in your shoes OP.

It's very unlikely he'll even go in OP's home,much less in her shoes.

Bluntness100 Excellent posts, especially this part

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.

Shocking how few people understand a school's ongoing role in Safegarding of children .

Most referrals received by social services don't come from worried neighbours or family members , they come from other professionals involved with that family. A school is a huge protective factor for so many children observing their wellbeing each day and recognising signs that all is not OK with them.

This is not happening at present as the majority of children are not in school. Hence why a member of school staff wants to do a quick visit to make sure all is OK with the children in their care. Many schools will have a dedicated pastoral member of staff or family support worker who will do this, obviously in the case of OP's school this is falling to the HT.

I would extremely doubt that the Head is planning to enter your house and invite themselves in for a cup of tea or demand to inspect the children's bedrooms. Even social workers are not doing this for the majority of cases, they will do a doorstep visit and speak to the children at a safe distance. I would imagine that the Head is rather concerned themselves as to what they may pick up themselves from visiting certain houses but they have a duty of care to all their pupils who are currently not able to be in school

Obviously if, in your case the Head Teacher does not appear to be undertaking this visit safely then of course you don't have to let them into your house but you would be a total dick not to even try to engage with them..

@Ariseandsmellthetea99

The school will have undertaken a risk assessment of how to do this safely- same as the delivery people from Amazon or Tesco.

Indeed @shinynewapple2020 and I am suggesting it has been done poorly.

I think it is an abundance of good intentions over good sense. I read on here when they were just starting to have keyworkers in, that one school were planning on having their kids making up aid parcels for the vulnerable isolating adults in the community. Front line nurses children. Making parcels. For vulnerable adults.

I just think that sometimes, the desire to do as much good as possible is not tempered by any knowledge of infection control. SLTs were not chosen because of their understanding of epidemiology. I am hugely worried about their priorities when we return to school.

Does the fact that schools are NOT choosing to do universal in-person visits not suggest that he has taken a rather 'unique' and in my view, ill advised, approach?

We get a lovely phone call once a week from my dd's teacher, she chats to my dd about what she's been up to and checks if we need anything and offers help with home schooling.

I can't imagine why this head teacher is intent on visiting all the homes of his pupils. Bizarre. I'd just phone and say you're opting out and would prefer a phonecall instead?

There's nothing atm that is universally happening in schools.

Part of why there are so many threads from parents moaning.

Too much work,too little .
Too much communication, not enough.
No phone calls, I don't want phone calls.
No online lessons, I don't want online lessons.

And so on. Most schools,heads and staff are doing their best.

My both my DDs teachers wanted to visit our home.we are sheilding so I said no i do send emails and pictures of DDs.ans we get weekly.phone calls.

Where's the OP gone to explain whether the HT has said he will be expecting to come in to the house for tea and biscuits - or like anyone sane thinks, that it will be a 2 minute chat at the door, from a distance, to check that everything is ok?

@user1494055864 ds3 is 9 years old, he's my 3rd son not a 3 year old. Our garden is mostly surrounded by a hedge. Random strangers don't go in but people like the postman and visiting headteachers would as you have to go through the garden to get to the front door.

I've talked to the school today and they said that he will knock on the door and then go and stand 2 meters away so if I pick youngest ds up before I answer the door then it should be fine. I do think it's very kind of him to go round to everyone. I just worry about everything with my 5 year old especially now as he has no sense of danger and puts everything in his mouth.

"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"

Well said, incrediblysad.

OP, whether or not this visit takes place is entirely up to you. There's no obligation whatsoever for you to entertain the headteacher's expectations.