Online all day primary school

[peppermintteadrinker]

I've just had a full online timetable for my child who is in y5.

He's got ASD and couldn't cope doing online alone for more than an hour in the last lockdown.

I'm a lone parent with some flakey support from ex. No support bubble. No childcare bubble. Work full-time as a lecturer so will have to run my own online classes in 2 weeks time.

I'm sat here in tears. I can't cope.

I'm not bashing teachers but I simply can't do what they're asking and neither can my son.

Is this what all year 5s are doing?

Waiting for confirmation from school. But online all day wont be happening... Internet won't support it for two children. I'll be happy with set tasks to complete through the day and the odd group session online. But my children are fortunate in having a parent who can focus on them during the day. Just that pesky rural internet to contend with.

Please contact your SENcO , SEN children are not expected to complete work and neither are working parents expected to not work to homeschool children. Only do what you can, the teachers have lots of pupils that are similar . Do ring and talk to the school. Do private message me if you would like to. I have an ADHD child.

Mine has a morning and afternoon class meeting on teams (bit like registration)

Then they have a timetable with learning tasks to complete throughout the day.

NO live lessons which is a shame

Just contact the senco.

They can’t win can they teachers? Too much, too little.

It’s hard because while some parents will feel it’s too much, some will still be saying that isn’t enough. I think you need to a) contact the SENCO and b) just do what you can, don’t feel pressured to complete every single piece of work. The SENCO should be able to advise you on more specific things you can do to modify it.

I'm dreading live lessons, a reception child and year 1 who has ASD is going to be very challenging.
My two older children in secondary will be mostly fine.
Another child who will be going to school as have an ehcp.
Not the schools fault but there just going to have to understand that I'm mum not a teacher and just getting through the day with my 6 year old is hard enough on its own without any break.

@peppermintteadrinker

I've just had a full online timetable for my child who is in y5.

He's got ASD and couldn't cope doing online alone for more than an hour in the last lockdown.

I'm a lone parent with some flakey support from ex. No support bubble. No childcare bubble. Work full-time as a lecturer so will have to run my own online classes in 2 weeks time.

I'm sat here in tears. I can't cope.

I'm not bashing teachers but I simply can't do what they're asking and neither can my son.

Is this what all year 5s are doing?

Does he have an ehcp? If so he could attend school.

If not just do what you can when you can, and hour a day is better than nothing. Speak to Senco.

Definitely contact the SENCO. I've been asked to signpost a child in my (secondary) class to what he should focus on as he won't be able to do all the tasks. I'm happy to do this, I'd do the same if he was in lessons - so at the moment I'm just letting him know what his main task is for the week. I imagine in primary they might suggest he joins in for specific online parts each day.

If he had ASD he might also class as vulnerable so may be able to have a place at school. Might be worth asking that too.

I understand that teachers are in a difficult position and I have every sympathy. I just know that this is too much for me and my child. I've emailed the teacher and head. I already told them my position a while ago when there was mention of the contingency plan but I had response.

DS hasn't got his formal diagnosis. The teacher is new as his has gone off on maternity leave so she doesn't know us. I've not met her. The senco has the forms returned by our NHS trust as the school have not completed them correctly so his assessment isn't even going forward just now.

I can barely manage my own workload as a lecturer. The last lockdown was awful and so hard on my son as an only child and me as a working lone parent. I just feel like I'm cracking up and no support

I'll see if I get a reply to my email.

Just ring and ask for a quick chat with the head-now. There are probably 500 emails in their inbox and it might be a wait.

You are worried this is important-and I bet the head can reassure you very quickly. Please ring.

@Letseatgrandma thank you. Maybe I will try. My line manager is ringing me and scheduling meetings just now and I can't stop crying..plus I'm doing D's lunch

My year 5 ds has no live lessons but 2 maths worksheets, 30 mins of his own reading with examples of text to write up in his diary, a piece of text for guided reading with questions, an art challenge based on a Banksy piece, some questions based on graffiti, spellings and meaning, a few questions about hope, joe wicks, an hour yoga session...that is today anyway. They have left it to him how he manages time which is actually making it harder. We are giving up and going to the park soon. He has been in tears today and his foundation stage brother is demanding lots of attention, I give up.

Just do what your son can manage. You'll have to fight your corner if they start to question but they will understand.

I know you aren't bashing teachers but please know this isn't them targetting or ignoring your son's needs, they have to prioritise getting the bulk of planning out to parents and families, and unfortunately those with additional needs may be dealt with later. It will get sorted, your son will be okay but be patient. He'll likely be given work to do in his own time throughout the day and he'll likely be given flexibility on most classes, he may just have to appear briefly to be registered and checked on.

Whatever happens, know that your son is the priority for teachers and you, and if he cannot do something, you mustn't force him. They will understand and at most, an absent mark won't be a big deal as it'll all be sorted when his assessments are done.

It'll settle soon, you're both going to be okay.

Well I had to go up and collect stuff from school as they asked us to do. The lovely y6 teacher had a chat and explained it isn't a live teaching timetable at all. It just came across that way from the way they set it out. I am so relieved.

Thank you for kind responses if letting me flap out loud on here.

I've said it before but pandemics, menopause and lone parenting are a really shit combination.