A dilemma about nursery teacher - sorry a bit long!

[sjackson37]

I am doing a placement for my college course in the nursery at the school where 3 of my children go. I have to do 5 mornings and 1 afternoon a week to make the time up. The nursery has one teacher in the morning and a different one in the afternoon.

Now this is where it gets a bit complicated. Last year my DD1 was in the morning nursery and I went in as a parent volunteer. The nursery nurse was off sick (has been for nearly a year now) and they had another parent helper who was doing a teaching assistant course as the nursery nurse. The morning nursery teacher was off sick for a good few weeks and so the afternoon teacher stood in for her. There was also another parent helper in there as well. Now the afternoon teacher would do nothing at all with the kids. She wouldn't let them paint, play with sand or water (nothing messy!). She just sat and did her paperwork etc. while we played with the kids. I just thought this was because she was a stand in. I have since been told this is not the case and she was like this with her own kids in the afternoon.

Well my first afternoon with her was this week. As soon as I got there she said, oh I'm glad you've come to help because I've got loads of paperwork to do! She proceeded to sit at a table and do her paperwork. At one point I was left on my own with 10 kids (who I didn't know and they didn't know me, aged 3 years)in the nursery classroom whilst she went into the school. She never once did anything with the kids. Me and nursery nurse did it all. The kids were an absolute nightmare and their behaviour was appalling but she did nothing to help us out. At one point a girl bit a boy whilst she was lining them up to go outside and all she did was ask the girl to apologise which she refused and that was it.

Now what do you think I should do? Should I have a word with the head teacher at the school about it? Should I have a word with the morning nursery teacher (who is off at the moment but should be back in a week) who has been at the nursery for many years?

This is also more of a dilemma because I am a parent governor at the school. I don't think I can just leave it because the children are missing out. What do you think I should do? Help please.......Sorry it's so long.

You can't just leave it, definitely. Can you ask her why she's not more involved with the children?

Or talk to the head.

deffo can't leave it

btw is yopur nickname your name cos you may want to change it if it is

that's the sort of thing you can bring up at a governors' meeting - or make an appointment with the head

It wouldn't be right to bring it up at the governors' meeting - accusing someone publicly without them having the chance to defend themselves wouldn't be appropriate. And if it comes to disciplinary action against the teacher you would need a panel of governors with no prior knowledge of the problem so that they can act as an unbiased appeal panel if necessary.

I think it would be best to go straight to the head - it sounds like the teacher is taking advantage of you for a start, but just as importantly is not giving the children in her care the opportunities they need to develop - and that includes understanding the need for good behaviour.

yes - didn't really mean in the meeting but more before or after when you could have an informal chat with head

Also, from your own point of view, what are you learning from her? Sounds like not very much. Shouldn't she at least be observing you? Or more importantly at the beginning of a placement, you observing her?

I think you should use your role as student to ask her for a copy of her timetable. Ask her how she structures it. Where she fits messy play in. Whether they work as groups rotating around the activities of whether she prefers whole class messy play followed by whole class quiet time, such as a story.

You should be able to see straight away whether or not she carries out any of these beautifully prepared plans that require all her time.

As a parent governor you really do have a duty to say something as you are on that board to represent the parents of the children she is 'teaching'.

Not easy, so good luck!

Thanks for all your replies (it is me, i just changed my name).

Beccles I would love to come to your nursery but unfortunately I am in Stockport, Cheshire (a bit too far!).

I have decided I need to do something but am still unsure as to whether to go to the headteacher. I think I will have to. Just now need to pluck up the courage to speak to her.