school is placing me on a mentoring/couching programme as they think I cannot manage behaviour in my class- is this a informal support plan?

[Sev124]

Can i go on a stress leave in probation period and how long?

We had a ks1 review day - my background is eyfs but here i am working in a year1/2 mixed class. They first told me they want me to take over maths planning clearly pointing out that the other teacher is struggling and plans all over places, then they said about my presence in class saying my TA seems to have more authority. Then their telling me they think it will be good for me to get mentored by a off the timetable teacher they have - 6 weeks - this will undermine me in front of everyone

can i go on a stress leave in probation period and how long?

You need to speak to your union rep - they can help you get some clarity over what’s going on and support your next steps.

What can union do - as they have a list of points from the review day when they observed me- i have been given a very difficult class and already finding their behaviour very challenged- and now they decide that because i come from early years - i need support to get into the year1/2 mode.

I don’t get it. They’re offering you coaching & support with behaviour so you take it & potentially learn some more strategies. Why would your first response be to go on ‘stress leave’?! And how will this help? They think your maths planning is good - fab. Behaviour management needs work - fine! Everyone has strengths & weaknesses but if you don’t accept support you’re going to really struggle.

Take the helps that's offered and you may find ways to manage the class so that it isn't so difficult.

So you're first year teaching an older cohort, they are offering you support, and you don't want it and what to go on the sick? Maybe the role isn't for you if you're feeling this way and you're not out of probation even yet.

Some schools use support plans as just that; supportive ways to help you to improve an aspect of your teaching.

Others use it as a way to bully you out of your job, knowing that you will find it difficult to find another role if they take it to formal.

I'd take a bet on which type of school yours is.

To answer your question; yes, you can take long term sick in your probation.

I would suggest that you contact your union first.

However you do it, getting into teaching now is gruelling and it was already tough before the new PGDEs, 2 years probation etc. you're exhausted before you step foot in a classroom to teach independently.

Maybe teaching really isn't for you, maybe you could give yourself a 2 year break in another career and then come back to it if you really want to.

Whatever you decide, I wish you every success.

I will be probably be flamed for this but I can’t help but notice OP’s post is littered with grammatical errors and a lack of punctuation. I find this really concerning if OP is a qualified teacher.

I understand why you feel the way you do. I’m going through something similar in a role I’ve been in for a few months. I work in a completely different sector but I was referred for coaching to help with confidence building and time management. My manager explained they know I can do my job but they want me to be the best I can be, I appear as though I’ve taken that at face value and I’m getting on with it but in reality I feel throughly undermined and I won’t be staying any longer than I have to. I’m not saying I can’t learn anything but I’ve always been conscientious about my work and all that was needed was a bit more explanation and a bit of empathy. Yet my manager approaches everything in an almost robotic way and appears not to have any feelings, I’ve not had this in a manager before and I wonder whether their management style just doesn’t suit me. I don’t know if this helps you but just know you’re not the only one going through this kind of thing.

They first told me they want me to take over maths planning clearly pointing out that the other teacher is struggling and plans all over places

Does this mean that another teacher in the team has been doing all the planning for you so far? I'm not sure I understand, sorry!

Anyway, yes you can go on stress sick leave if you need to but if you choose this route rather than engaging with the coaching and making an honest effort to learn then I think you may want to use the time to consider r teaching is really for you.

Teaching is tough these days and it isn't for everybody.

This. They’re offering support so I don’t know why you’d not take it?

Going on stress leave won’t resolve the problem…

I noticed this too!

Being on a support plan is not an issues as such.
Being on capability I'd be worried but that's not it.
I would contact your area union rep and talk it through with them. Is there any other reason you want to go on stress leave ? Teaching can be really brutal but this half term is always a bad one, if I'm ever going to feel stressed it is during this time.

You want support to get into Y1/2 mode but when they offer you support you complain that it’s undermining you.

You realise that ‘stress leave’ isn’t a thing right? Getting signed off sick is for people who are actually sick, not people who don’t want to do their job properly.

Do you want to do the job?
Are you sick?
Are you open to improving?
Do you need mentoring?
Can you gain control of the class or do need strategies to control your class?

I am a manager in health but going off “sick” when actually you are doing a okay job but need to do better but can’t take any advice or support is the worst thing to can do for your career. You are not sick just need to listen, reflect and take action.

This. You’re being offered help from a more experienced colleague, be glad the school has the capacity to offer you support to manage a challenging class in a key stage that is new to you.

You sound like classic Gen Z. Can’t be managed, can’t be told what to do, will just refuse to work if anyone dares to criticise you.

In every job your performance will be monitored. This is not unique to teaching. You’re lucky they have offered to provide you with support rather than just fire you, as they would in other sectors.

I was thinking the exact same thing!

Referring to @TheCurtainQueen

You can go off sick but you’ll return to the coaching program.
6 weeks support is offered prior to 6 weeks on formal support program.
Hey want you to do well and they want to give you some support.

I’ve been in classes where I’ve had more authority than the teacher DN those who refuse support are difficult!

You can do this! You get very little behavioral management on teaching coarse - so think of it as an extension.

I noticed this too.

It could be that the OP is actually a parent or PSA member who wants to dig and has posted about a teacher, writing as a teacher…

You're under performing in your role. They're offering you support to rectify this. Your first response is to go sick. I'm guessing you're 20 something! Take the support, sort out the issues (and the grammar) and make something of your career.

Same 😬

I can’t spell for toffee and I don’t have cursive writing either - in my subject STEM, in the humblest way I can say this - I am a simply brilliant teacher - never ever less than outstanding and work at the top of my field within the indie sector. I noticed it too but it’s at the end of the week and I do think the spelling and grammar police have a lot to answer for if that’s what they think teaching is!

A few thing OP

1. union involvement - what help and what support. Could be great for your development but you need to dig deeper
2. your TA acting like the teacher - or words to that effect. Do they undermine you? Or are they fire fighting? Or a more dominate personality
3. Are you being asked to plan maths for the whole school or just your class?

the main thing is structure and it’s a good time of year - not teaching you to stuck eggs but …

class rules with them
keep it simple
reward and positive comments eg excellent sitting still Verity - 1 dojo or whatever have the sound turned on the whiteboard and reward engagement, support

explain the day break it down, plan for SEN eg visual learners

there are awesome teachers and strategies

I get my school is different 8-10 in a class
but I’ve worked in huge tough secondaries and was a Head in a primary for a while.

love & kindness are my rules

to everyone

my motto is structure and plan for me

And being willing to adapt.

Get out of your school and visit another mixed class and develop constantly - do this first going on long term sick or off on stress is fine to take care of your mental health / but you could also take the support mentoring and develop your own support

What is a couching programme?