Is my state school shit or just normal?

[Twattergy]

I've been v relaxed about the educational side of lockdown in terms of impacts on DS's learning (year3).
But today I've just been hit by how crap I think his school has been. Or maybe it is normal (state primary?). Tell me if this is better or worse than what your state primary school has offered:

1. online hub that is extremely un user friendly in which small number of worksheets are uploaded once a week. No need to send in work. I gave up and used bitesize .
   
2. from next week, 12 weeks in, one 30 min zoom group w teacher. Once a week.
   
3. from next week, one short daily video uploaded on aforementioned un user friendly hub, from teacher introducing that days work.
   
   Nothing else. Why the small amount of videos and zoom now, after 12 weeks, at the time when more of the staff will actually be busy with yrs R,1 and 6? Am I being harsh in judging this as crap? Btw I know what fee paying schools are offering so no need to describe to me what they are doing by comparison!

[VashtaNerada]

Regarding the pay, I had a career before becoming a teacher and it’s shocking how low the pay is considering the challenge of the role. I’ve never worked harder or been more challenged intellectually, physically or emotionally.
I really do understand how frustrating it must be if schools aren’t engaging at the moment. I don’t understand what’s going on in those situations. But please don’t turn against us as a profession. I work incredibly hard to serve my community, and that includes the parents as well as the children. My pay has taken a huge hit as has my work/life balance, but I do love my job. It’s hard but it’s wonderful at the same time. I always thought that most parents understood that. I hope the parents at my school understand that.

[Aragog]

My school - state infants.

In school provision since 23 March:

• full time place for any KW/vulnerable child
• most have come in part time, though full days when in
• following a mix of some home learning and some 'fun' activities
• as numbers have increased, more,home learning tasks are being covered
• reception to return full time on Monday, though numbers are currently low but likely to increase
• no room for year 1s to return - not enough physical classroom space

Home Learning - term time :

Mainly provided on a learning platform, but also a parents shared google drive to access materials posted too, though this is normally a day or two behind

From the start we have posted that we will provide home learning but we will not insist on it being done, as we understand parents and children have to have a balancing act right now, and prioritise may well change over the time there off. We have monitored from our end and any we have concerns about have been acted on, to protect our more vulnerable children.

• Monday to Friday :

- daily teacher-led/produced English, maths and Phonics/Spag
- daily 'fun' challenge
- daily subject lesson - source varies from teacher led to bite size, etc
- brief feedback from teachers/LSAs on any work posted as it comes in
- reading diary pages posted by pupils to gain stamps towards their reading challenge certificate

• Weekly:

- teacher produced PHSE session
- key 'per learn' vocabulary word for the next week; teacher led/produced
- weekend 'fun' activity
- weekend 'keep in touch with your class mate/friend' activity
- story or other message (text or video, mix) from the teacher/LSAs at least weekly, often twice a week
- weekly celebration assembly video from a member of sly awarding this week's reading certificates
- Weekly 'show and tell' highlighting good work/effort, or fun events activities across the class also posted in the blogs,
- as appropriate addition fun activities for holidays and weekends, or,activities,linked to,special,events such as Easter, Eid, oceans Day, etc

We also have links to other sites such as Times-tables Rockstars, bug club, etc and move 'evidence' of that learning into the learning platform to keep it all centralised.

Contact:

Parents can contact staff in a range of ways including main office telephone/email, year group email to year group teachers, via the learning platform and via social.

Pupils can contact their teacher/LSA via the learning platform. Pupils are also encouraged to post photographs and videos of other activities they've enjoyed at home to share with the staff and/or their class mates.

This week children will receive a telephone call from their class teacher. We've not done it before for all as not felt it was necessary as there are so many other ways to communicate with the staff. The more,vulnerable. Or those not engaging, have already been contacted.

Almost all our parents have been positive. We've had a very very small number complain about either the format or the amount (two felt there wasn't enough, 2 felt it was too much though are now happy they know they don't have to do it all, and can access it via google drive rather than the online site.)

As staff we love,seeing what they are doing at home and have particularly enjoyed seeing come collages made by the parents of 'class photos' of children at home.

[Aragog]

Oh and all videos are pre recorded. We are not doing live lessons for a range of,reasons, mainly that it isn't appropriate for our school catchment as a whole. That won't change. Fortunately, unlikely many MNetters, it isn't something our parents see as being overly useful.

[Aragog]

And yet again, this does now appear to have become just another teacher bashing thread.
And yet another thread to hide. Wish I'd read to the end before being bothered to post!

And FWIW every member of our staff - teacher, LSA, office staff, management, caretaking, etc have all been working throughout.
Some cannot go in, due to shielding or being clinically vulnerable, but that were working from home. In fact the more our numbers in school have increased, the more those who can't go in are supporting the home learning.

No teacher or LSA I know have sat doing nothing since Larch. Not a single one.

[cocktailoclock]

@Aragog but that is not the experience of people on this thread.
Many are working really hard - but the whole point of this thread is the disparity

[Aragog]

The thread may have started that way, the latter comments haven't.

Again - complain to your individual schools if you feel they are not doing enough.
Complain the the DfE and the Government if you think schools have had rubbish guidance as to what should happen.
Complain to individual LEAs if you disagree with their approach.

But don't just claim all schools and all teaching staff are doing nothing. Which is exactly what this thread, and hundreds of others since march, end up doing. Every Single Time.

[Walkingtohealth]

So there you have it teachers. You are lazy and shit at your jobs. It must be true, as that's what so many are saying here.
And they are paying your wages from their taxes doncha know.

Hope you are properly ashamed!

Nowt like a good old bit 8f teacher bashing is there?

And before anyone starts I know that's not what the thread is about but just read d some of the comments.

Some of you need to drop your current jobs and hot foot it to teacher training courses. Am sure you'd all do a magnificent job dealing with all the shit teachers have to put up with. Not least snewry superior parents like some of the posters here.

Thank god I am not a teacher I'd end up shoving some of you out if the classroom onto your snooty arses.

[cocktailoclock]

@Aragog I have done all of those things and got nowhere
I have never suggested all teachers are doing nothing - but neither is it helpful for teachers to say ALL teachers are working flat out
This and teacher threads where teachers are being honest have demonstrated that

[lifestooshort123]

But don't just claim all schools and all teaching staff are doing nothing. Which is exactly what this thread, and hundreds of others since march, end up doing. Every Single Time.
I can't have been reading the same comments as you then. The post is about shit schools and we've voiced our opinions of some crap teaching that is around at the minute. It the post was about wonderful schools then the comments (hopefully) would have been different. There are rotten eggs in every basket and the last 3 months have highlighted departments that have not been pulling their weight. To use the excuse that teachers also have children at home is a no-no - my daughter is a single parent wfh in a full-time job and having to sort out a lot of her son's education. We're not teaching bashing, just expressing our frustration that this is what our families have to look forward to - possibly until November.

[Doyoumind]

This thread makes me feel depressed. I am so sad for my DC when I hear about the effort and work some schools are putting in while my DC will go from March to September, or later, with nothing more than a few links to teaching resources provided with no direct contact and no feedback. It feels very unfair on them. The school have received numerous complaints but have not changed their approach.

[stuckindoors77]

I have never suggested all teachers are doing nothing - but neither is it helpful for teachers to say ALL teachers are working flat out
This and teacher threads where teachers are being honest have demonstrated that

I have to agree with this to be fair. The amount of stick teachers have got during the pandemic has made us sensitive because a lot of things have happened that are totally out of our control.
But
There are some amazing teachers, some lazy ones and some in between. Some super pushy schools, some ridiculously laid back and some in between.
As a teacher I'd say that most of our staff are working their socks off to provide the best for our children, some have firmly established themselves as stars going well above and beyond and a handful appear to have gone to on holiday for the last 11 weeks.

My ds school is a high achieving school, they've done enough but haven't pushed themselves I don't think (although I accept that there's probably work going on that I don't see)

I do think that if this carries on in September then the govt are going to have to be much clearer about the standard expected for remote teaching. Members of staff will need to be designated to set and work, run online classes and make up and deliver learning packs to children who are unable to access education in school. That'll be tough because of all the staff needed for bubbles but we'll have to find a way.... surely?

[cocktailoclock]

@stuckindoors77 Thank you for your helpful and reflective post.