No time to homeschool much but 70% of DC's class is in school. Worried about DC falling totally behind....

[Angelfishfan]

that's if really. I don't wanna discuss if we agree or not with the government. But my 10 year old who is needs a lot of help (no Sen though) can only do so and so much alone. Due to work (WFH but extremely busy, zoom calls frequently etc) and caring responsibilities (another child with complex needs, though luckily in school 9-3), I just cannot spend much time with my supposedly home schooled child.

I was much less stressed during lockdown #1 as it was the same for almost all of the kids in the class but currently 70% are in and are receiving lessons. Most of the others at home have a Sahp and get much more help. It means a huge gap will open up by Easter or even May for DC.

Not sure what I am asking but I am very stressed and worry, that DC will fall completely behind. How do other parents deal with this. School will just send some weekly work packs home but it doesn't work well die DC and we get some stuff online but it's all very basic.

Does anyone of any online tutors and is the financial help available? It not fair that 3/4 receive an education in school and a minority are left without for months and months. Just trying to figure something out so DC gets a regular education if this is gonna go on for a few more months.

And no, furlough refused and no other family support.

Similar here. A large percentage in school and being taught by a teacher. Most of the rest have a stay at home parent.

The impact is going to fall disproportionately on some children. Children of working parents who are at home are being short-changed

It's shit isn't it. It angers me too.

34 kids in at my son's school. Split into groups of 17 which one teacher and a TA.

The other 50 odd of them are at home. We have 5 10 minute zoom calls a day and feedback on the work once or twice a week. It's fine I'm terms of provision, they can't do much more.

But those 34 in school, in small classes with two trained teachers. Yeah they are going to do much better than my kid. Who has to spend at least 3/4 hours a day being ignored so I can do my job so I can pay the mortgage. By the time this is over, some of those children will have essentially had almost a years extra schooling.

It's horribly unfair and it angers me. But, I don't know what the solution is. I just don't.

Why does a 10 year old need so much support? In what way? Ours is just getting on with stuff. It’s not ideal and nowhere near as good as being in school but it’s the best we can do.

One teacher and TA per 17 kids that should say. So better than before!

We have grammar schools here too, my son is borderline. We can't afford a tutor so have resigned ourselves to the local state secondary. It's fine, it is what it is. But in a regular year, with none of this going on, and no unfair advantages for some of the other borderline kids, he may have got a place. The unfairness and the disparity between everyone and everyone's situation means things will be like this for a while to come yet! And it will have an impact.

Have you been able to speak to the teacher? It can be tricky to help because we need to be careful not to make it obvious to any watching parents that a child is struggling. But we can set up break out rooms apart from the main lesson where we can at least have a typed conversation if not live. I find I can pop in to different groups to speak live with children reasonably often but it depends on the class being able to work independently on a task for a while which they aren't always.

It's also possible that there are TAs who could be in key lessons to support your child and others but I'm guessing that, with 70% in school (!!) that is unlikely to be an option at your school.

I'm really sorry. I know it's hard. And I think we're going to have to accept that, no matter what we do, there are going to be big gaps within classes when we get back. And those won't be ignored. So the help your child needs might be delayed. But they will get it eventually. I know that's not good enough. It's a hideous situation

Why does a 10 year old need so much support? In what way? Ours is just getting on with stuff.

eh? some kids just need more help than others. is that so hard to grasp. If a 10 year ago old could teach himself, why do we have school?

DC struggles with spellings massively. Over the last 3 weeks we have to introduce fractions - proper and improper fractions. How to add e.g. 3/4 + 3/8 (i.e. sorting the numerator first). Maybe DC is not a bright spark but he needs a lot of help with this new concepts and could not do this himself.

Congrats, Wolfie, on your obviously much brighter and more self sufficient child. Mine isn't. 🤷

I am teaching my class as normal, asn, so my kids have either 1h when I get home fron school to do the full days lessons or they are moved to the end of the week/weekend. We only do literacy, numeracy and spanish and I will not feel guilty about it. Both of mine need a lot of support, 1 5 year old and 8 year old with extreme anxiety which means a melt down before or during most pieces.
My only advice is focus on core subjects, lit and numeracy. Depending on what they are doing use sites like top marks for games on what they are doing that can be played independently, my dd loves hit the button to work on division and multiplication as do my class. For literacy keep up reading and depending on what they are doing there might be simple activities to practise online. Don't make yourself ill about it, try not to get too stressed and don't let guilt eat you up. I get guilty, ever child in my class has a stay at home parent and my kids are being shipped around elderly parents with no education. But it's my job and my kids parents need the break and my ids need the routine also there will be catch up again on return.

Wolfiefan Not all 10 year olds are the same!

They all have different strengths, weaknesses and abilities. And they all need different types and degrees of input to reach their potential.

This makes me so angry particularly when we hear kids may not go back till Easter
It's so uneven and criminal

manic, we get no zoom lessons. And no contact from class teacher. Only a call from the TA every second week to make sure DC is fine. I told her DC struggles and doesn't learn much but she only ever says she will speak to teacher but nothing ever happens other than a few extra copies we can collect from school..

Completely agree. I'd be complaining to the head.

At our school only TA's are onsite. Children in school are accessing the same remote learning as kids from home. To me even that is a bit unfair as a TA paid to focus on a child who'll do a better job then me working plus supervising home learning. However I acknowledge it's about as fair as it can be.

Children in school are accessing the same remote learning as kids from home.

how so? how can those at home access the same as the ones who have normal lessons??

My 10yo is also just getting on with it doesn't need my help at all other than a kick up the bum to turn the tablet on and pick up the pencil. Once hes started though he completes his work himself, sends it to the teacher and responds to her feedback.
My youngest however is a different story he does need my complete support. Yes its extremely hard but I try and tell myself that if he was in school he would not be getting complete 1-1 support (if any really) so even if just an hour work we do overall its been productive and worthwhile. At the end of the day we aren't superhuman we can only do so much and teachers are aware of the pressure on parents at home trying to work and school at the same time.

Yes they may need different levels of support. But no child gets loads of individual attention for every subject every day. One teacher and a TA and 30 kids.
And it’s not about being bright. It’s about kids getting in individually. In the last year of primary I wouldn’t expect a parent to have to sit 121 with a child.
Secondary next year with all the expectations that go along with that.

@Angelfishfan

Children in school are accessing the same remote learning as kids from home.

how so? how can those at home access the same as the ones who have normal lessons??

In my dc class the children in school either watch the lesson as the teacher delivers it online or if its smaller group sessions they access it from the school ipads same as those at home.

Yes they may need different levels of support. But no child gets loads of individual attention for every subject every day. One teacher and a TA and 30 kids.

I think you didn't read my post - 70% of the kids are in and having normal lessons and my child has no lessons. Not sure what you are struggling to understand. 70% see their teacher and TA for 6h every single day for normal teachings whilst DC gets some paper copies to work on without any teacher input.

It’s the same at our school. It’s shit and unfair. My vague plan is to try to throw money at it next year and get some tutoring or something. I really feel my child is completely expendable in all this.

I think you need to challenge the school more. If 70% are in can your child go in to? Not being able to access home learning is one of the criteria.

If you aren’t getting live or recorded teaching ask the school why not, and what they are going to put in place.

ah, I see, 3. that is much better. In our school it's 100% lessons in school vs the total absence of lessons for those at home.

Not being able to access home learning is one of the criteria

I tried but I am not a 'keyworker' and DC doesn't have an EHCP plan.

I asked about zoom lessons but they said it's not fair as there are a number of children at home who don't have laptops (hence the heavy reliance on paper copies).

I was

Angelfish that really doesn't sound acceptable?! I know not all schools are doing live whole class lessons (but should be doing pre recorded if not live). But I'm not aware of any where the children don't have access to a teacher at the other end of a computer when they need one - whether that's by individual and small group catch ups or at least emails. I don't know the answer but your child is being let down. Does the head know the situation?

Wolfiefan Yes, they couple with 1 teacher and maybe a TA to 30 when they're in the classroom. But that's after being taught the lesson content in the classroom with a chance for questions and clarification first. It's very different to do work independently without that initial input.

Have you requested a place?

With a sibling with severe and complex needs he should be classed as vulnerable and come under young carers criteria

Angelfishfan
If there are that many children in school, the school are actually putting their key worker provision at risk if they have a positive case.
I am a teacher and I would do this:
Ring the school and ask about the percentage in school. Check your facts first.
If it is the case, ask to speak to the head about how they can make the provision more equal. Where I work the remote education is a mix of teacher videos and links to particular Oak lessons. Everyone does the same work whether they are in or out of school. However having such a large percentage of the school in will mean that the teachers are flat out teaching the children. Could they arrange to video or stream the maths and English daily? Could they spare a teacher or TA to record videos on the maths and English that can be sent out to the children learning remotely? Open up a dialogue with them about what could possibly be changed to improve the offer. However, be aware that by opening the doors to so many children have left them with very limited options. We have a smallish contingent in school which has allowed us to make the remote education better.

@itsgettingweird

Have you requested a place?

With a sibling with severe and complex needs he should be classed as vulnerable and come under young carers criteria

they refused as they wanted something 'official' about DC's young carer status. but we don't have that.