Crying over school closures

[Fuckallofthis]

Firstly I don’t want an argument or masses of people piling in with ‘think of the teachers’ or their vulnerable people. I fully understand WHY schools can’t/won’t open, I’m just so so upset about it all.

The idea of continuing like this. Working, homeschooling a young child and having a toddler. It’s just impossible. I saw the news about the return being delayed and burst into tears, am currently in the bathroom trying to compose myself for my families sake.

I’m struggling so much, I’m just so tired. I’m failing at home school and had a call yesterday letting me know that I have to send his work back by the end of the day, my toddler is just left to be entertained by the TV and my own work is slacking.

I can’t escape the feeling that when this is over I’m going to be left unemployed, with a stunted toddler and a child very behind in his learning.

What do you prioritise, how can you decide which person/thing is most important? I never thought I’d choose work over children but how else will I pay the bills. This feels like it’s never going to end and I just can’t cope.

It’s just impossible. I can’t be furloughed, school and pre school won’t take the kids and DH is out all day. I feel like I’m drowning.

What do you think "classed as vulnerable" means confused
Why would you think that is not fair?

There is obviously a very good chance that OPs children are vulnerable - which is fine.

But what’s not fine is random people on the internet who have an issue with schools being closed telling her not to submit the work which will then class her DCs as vulnerable when they are not.

How can you think that is fair on the OP, her DCs or the school/actual vulnerable children that may miss out on a VKW place.

Sorry @toocold54 I know this is all causing some cognitive dissonance to you.

@toocold54

What do you think "classed as vulnerable" means confused Why would you think that is not fair?

There is obviously a very good chance that OPs children are vulnerable - which is fine.

But what’s not fine is random people on the internet who have an issue with schools being closed telling her not to submit the work which will then class her DCs as vulnerable when they are not.

How can you think that is fair on the OP, her DCs or the school/actual vulnerable children that may miss out on a VKW place.

Really, don't worry

No school is going to get "confused" and accidentally think very young children with wfh parents who don't submit all the work are vulnerable and give them a school place instead of a kw/vulnerable child.

Schools already know which children really need to be in school.

Most schools are perfectly able to recognise that it isn't possible for lots of parents to do all the school work if they have jobs and have multiple children. I can assure you of that.
I'm a Chair of governors at an infant school and we are very well aware of the impossible situation parents face and have very realistic expectations.

Whilst I would love schools to be open for the sake of everyone's children, including my own, I sadly believe that currently they are safest closed. I support the teaching unions, I have no axe to grind. That is in your imagination.

My advice to the OP was to do what she could, when she could and to stay engaged and communicate with the school about that.

You, as a teacher, no less, are failing to acknowledge the impossibility of the OP's situation. Her children will certainly be vulnerable if she loses her job and can't pay her bills, or has a nervous breakdown trying to do what cannot be done, and possibly may not be in her childs' best interests.

No school is going to get "confused" and accidentally think very young children with wfh parents who don't submit all the work are vulnerable and give them a school place instead of a kw/vulnerable child.

Please read the government guidance.

If a child isn’t engaging - a phone call home is required - this teacher did nothing wrong!

If a child is not engaging or the parent cannot get them to engage then they are classed as vulnerable - again read the guidance.

As I said - there is a massive difference between not engaging Vs not completing every single piece of work set.

It IS compulsory to do the work - what are you not understanding?!

It is not. What part of this are you not understanding? Suitable work for the child in whatever way possible that works for the parent delivering it must be done. However there are no fines anyway. You do not have to do anything from the school if it doesn’t work for you.

link to law

You, as a teacher, no less, are failing to acknowledge the impossibility of the OP's situation.

Exactly how am I?

As I said I am a single parent wfh full time whilst trying to juggle home schooling too, so I have every sympathy with anyone trying to home school.

What I am not agreeing with the fact that everyone has jumped on the teacher saying they’re in the wrong for phoning home - when this is exactly what they are meant to do.

I am a teacher and had a phone call home too as I didn’t realise they needed to do a video tutor call every day - did I start a thread bashing the teacher for doing their job? No I just accepted that it was the rules and got over it.

@sonypony

Please could you tell me where exactly it states that the work is not compulsory in the link you just provided?

The teacher did nothing wrong in making the call but it sounds like the content wasn't great - instead of saying that work has to submitted the same day and piling pressure on, they could have asked if the parent needed any support, told them which pieces of work to prioritise if they have limited time, or just told them they are doing a great job in impossible circumstances and the most important thing is just getting through the day!

[quote toocold54]@sonypony

Please could you tell me where exactly it states that the work is not compulsory in the link you just provided?[/quote]
It's not going to list everything that isn't compulsory. It just says what you do have to do.

Write the teacher a polite email pointing out that the work they are setting necessitates massive involvement from you because there are not proper instructions or recorded lessons of any kind, meaning that you cannot do this. State that the teacher has a choice. Either they can start issuing content that involves less involvement from you. Or you will be forced to ignore school content and do your own thing at home.

Be completely polite but do be assertive and clear. You need to prioritize keeping your job right now.

If the teacher persisted in calling after I'd explained the above, I'd politely repeat the above on the phone the first couple of times. If it happened a third time, I'd block the number.

Get some workbooks and get your husband to do homeschooling stuff at weekends with your son while you take the toddler out. It'll be OK--it's only Y2.

but it sounds like the content wasn't great

How do you know this?

OP didn’t say anything that the teacher said - just that they phoned and said the work is now compulsory and if it’s not completed then they have to ring home.
Which is true and over their heads.

If OP said the teacher was rude or implied the OP didn’t care then I would be the first to defend the OP.

The school sounds unsupportive. My kids school are good in that they have live lessons and go through the worksheets with the kids. Dd is y3. Any work not completed they told not to worry and do what we can, just email pictures when ready they certainly isn't a deadline. Could you speak to the headmaster.

@toocold54

but it sounds like the content wasn't great

How do you know this?

OP didn’t say anything that the teacher said - just that they phoned and said the work is now compulsory and if it’s not completed then they have to ring home.
Which is true and over their heads.

If OP said the teacher was rude or implied the OP didn’t care then I would be the first to defend the OP.

Well I think that isn't great, and if teachers at my school were implying submitting work was compulsory or that there would be some kind of sanction then I'd be very disappointed.

Please could you tell me where exactly it states that the work is not compulsory in the link you just provided?

“ It remains a parent’s duty to ensure that their child of compulsory school age receives a suitable education in whatever way they can”

Well I think that isn't great, and if teachers at my school were implying submitting work was compulsory or that there would be some kind of sanction then I'd be very disappointed.

It’s crap but the government said they wouldn’t close schools again and now they have they need to try and show they care about children’s education.

It is also a good way to check in on those kids that might be at risk.

I do it because I have to but also to try and make sure the kids are safe and well at home more than actually wanting the work.

My message to all parents is just to try and do as much as you can - that doesn’t mean you need to complete everything it’s just about having a go.
And if you have any problems or can’t do it to just let me know so there’s a communication there and I know everything’s ok.

@sonypony

It remains a parent’s duty to ensure that their child of compulsory school age receives a suitable education in whatever way they can”

The school sets the work but it’s the parents duty to make sure it’s done. This is true even with year 11s - imagine trying to get a 16 year older to engage when they really don’t want to!

No it means you don’t have to do the schools work you can provide whatever suitable education you want.

In developing their remote education, we expect schools to:

have systems for checking, daily, whether pupils are engaging with their work, and work with families to rapidly identify effective solutions where engagement is a concern

That is what the guidance says and perhaps the reason you got a phone call?

[quote toocold54]@gamerchick

So teachers don’t have to work full time and parent and the same time too?

My DDs teacher will often have to have her toddler on her lap for the entire video call else she will just be screaming and crying.

I have 4 classes a day with 30+ students in each. Each of those need to have work created and set and marked, parents phoned, assessments, grades, questions constantly, video meetings to students/parents as well as the normal staff videos etc - all of which I have to juggle whilst home schooling my DC. I give more attention to my students that my DCs.
Do I hate it - yes absolutely!
Am I going to start a thread moaning about the teachers/I’m struggling more than others - no!

What annoys me is there are key worker parents I know like nurses and shop workers, who would give anything to be able to wfh and not send their DCs into school putting themselves and DC at risk - then they come on threads like this and see all the moany comments about how people want their kids in school because it is “easier”.[/quote]
So what?

Schools are unreasonable to give parents deadlines on homeschooling. It's that simple. You don't get to imply it's compulsory or else .... Consequences.

Also our household are keyworkers and my kids in school. I do not wish I could work from home and wish he was at home and the people where I work tried working from home and get the horrors of doing it again.

Shock, everyone is different.

No it means you don’t have to do the schools work you can provide whatever suitable education you want.

😂😂 it obviously doesn’t come on now.
The teacher said on the phone call that the work is now compulsory that should have been your first clue.

Schools are unreasonable to give parents deadlines on homeschooling. It's that simple. You don't get to imply it's compulsory or else .... Consequences. hmm

@gamerchick

Unfortunately it’s not up to schools it’s the government so if you have an issue you need to take it up with them. The work is compulsory end of.

If you don’t like it perhaps remove your children from school and permanently home school?

The teacher did exactly what they were meant to. You cannot argue when someone is following the correct procedures. It’s actually really embarrassing reading people trying to imply the teacher was somehow in the wrong!

But I’m sure if the teacher hadn’t phoned there would be a thread moaning about that, as apparently teachers can’t do anything right at the moment 😂

OP please don’t worry about toocold. I’ve already been through this with school. A member of staff phoned making threats about it being compulsory to do their work. I asked them to check the law and got a phone call from Higher up the following day to apologise for their misinterpretation of it. Not heard from them since. Further down the link I sent you can see the part of the act that makes it a criminal offence and allows the fines has also been disapplied anyway. I hope you have a better day today, school become more supportive and this is all over very soon.

i think the dissonance here is between what the law requires of the schools, and what it requires of the parents.

The SCHOOL is required to set appropriate work and ensure the children are engaging and identifying those who don't/won't/can't and speaking with their parents to try and resolve it.

The parents job.. "It remains a parent’s duty to ensure that their child of compulsory school age receives a suitable education in whatever way they can"

"WHATEVER WAY THEY CAN" that little phrase right there gives us the wiggle room/leeway to NOT be compelled to hand work in by 3pm on the day set.. it gives us the space to say to the school 'i'm doing the best i can, it'll be worked on at the weekend and handed in then' or whatever else works for us as a family.

The Schools need to stop trying to enforce THEIR rules of operation on parents who's only obligation is "to ensure that their child of compulsory school age receives a suitable education in whatever way they can"

As a parent with a disabled child who's had to pretty much fight my way through the disability Act and each parties obligations i dont have a problem in pointing this shit out where legalese is concerned.