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Original poster

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?

86 replies

Sev124 · 02/12/2023 00:41

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?

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 02/12/2023 15:59

later found out they have to put a certain amount of teachers on a support plan every year to tick a box for Ofsted basically. Not sure how true that is any more though.

This is nonsense. Ofsted will ask in the prep call whether there are any staff to avoid during inspection. As a union rep, my head informed me that three of my members were on that list - 2 on plans and one for medical reasons. In all three cases, they were avoided and that was the correct decision.

It's nothing to do with a quota.

FrippEnos · 02/12/2023 16:07

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 02/12/2023 15:26

I agree

Why are you stressed that they're supporting you?

Show quote history

Because often headteachers use these to undermine staff and force them out of the profession.

The problem is that it is very difficult to find out the reason why its being used.

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 02/12/2023 16:36

There is such a culture in the profession at the moment of going off sick when put on an informal support plan. The plan will still be in place when you come back, unless you decide to hand in your notice. It's so hard to improve people's performance without targeted support but as soon as it's suggested people go off sick. School then has to pay for supply cover as the teacher is off on full pay, sometimes for months. In the meantime the children are getting a terrible deal.

Octavia64 · 02/12/2023 16:49

A lot depends on what type of school it is.

I have worked in schools where support plans were supportive.

I have also worked in schools where support plans were used to get rid of people who were expensive or whose face didn't fit.

I also have worked in a school where after an internal mocksted the SLT went round and put anyone on a support plan who wasn't teaching in the required style. They had more teachers on support plans than other teachers to mentor them. Loads and loads of experienced teachers left as a direct result.

To all the previous posters saying accept the support - depends if the intended outcome is to bully the teacher to leave or not....

Hiddenvoice · 02/12/2023 16:57

Sorry op but to me this sounds like a very typical school. Yes you teach lots of subjects during the day but that’s just a typical primary day.

Jotters need marked, it’s a lot of work and when you
teach writing then it’s very tiring marking all the jotters. I have a system that one day I might just stocker and stamp the jotters and then the next time I’ll write a comment. It just breaks it up a bit.

Usually meetings are out with the normal school teaching day. Check if you have a working time agreement as to how many hours are allocated to planning, planning meetings etc but this is normal of a school.

Usually our probationers switch up what they are planning as to get experience of planning, resourcing, teaching and evaluating all areas of the curriculum.

They have offered you support, right now I would take it. It seems like they want to help you and want you to do your best. Why not speak to them and ask what they are looking for. Observe other teachers and see what their classroom presence is like and if they have any good behaviour strategies you could implement.

Teaching is really full on, a lot of people expect it to be easier but there’s a lot of paper work with your job. The first few years are overwhelming so don’t be disheartened, it can take a while to find your feet.

Humanswarm · 02/12/2023 16:58

@Eastie77Returns I picked up on similar and hoped that maybe OP was fretful and was hurriedly writing the post?! Doesn't bode well does it?

wonderingwhatlifemeans · 02/12/2023 18:48

If you are a teacher in a state school you can hand in your notice at Christmas but you won't be able to leave until Easter. We have set leaving times in the school year. We can only leave at Easter and the end of the school year. Even if you handed in your notice now I am pretty sure you couldn't leave until Easter unless you were able to negotiate personally with your school.

ViolaSmart · 02/12/2023 18:58

Eastie77Returns · 02/12/2023 04:17

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.

Yes, me too 😞

Lovedthosechips · 02/12/2023 18:59

Coaching can be very effective and is something schools are increasingly investing in as they support staff to develop. You undermine yourself if you don’t look to improve and we all have different strengths and weaknesses. If you go off sick in probation (have you not completed your ECT time?) and still fail to do the coaching when you return then your employer would obviously be less than impressed.

Think about why this has made you react so dramatically. It sounds like you struggle to ask for help or look like you need any but teaching is a team support area and the best staff accept and offer help in all directions.

drowninginsick · 02/12/2023 19:22

Eastie77Returns · 02/12/2023 04:17

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 was thinking the same. The idea of just going on sick too. I hope it's a troll thread BlushConfused

verrymerryberry · 02/12/2023 22:48

You have some awful responses on here OP. Try the staffroom thread for some gentle guidance.

It's a forum so don't worry about your spelling/ grammar and because I don't!!

It's sounds like a tough school. Is it your first year. Wanting to call in sick is a fight or flight mode response. Honestly if they are only doing this at the point of a review day it's a bit late tbh and I question the SLT ability!!

I understand what you mean about having another meeting when you are at capacity already. Ask for some cover to be able to put the maths plans together (use the time to catch up what you would have been doing whilst meeting the deputy head) being asked to do the maths plans is a back handed compliment.

Why is there an off timetable teacher? Classroom presence can take years to establish. Mentoring is generally positive and you should already have an ECT mentor. Mentoring should not undermine you if done properly.

Try and stick it out. If not have a week off with a vomiting bug it is a much better strategy than calling in with stress at this stage in your career. No one will ever know.

A good coping mechanism is to imagine a snow globe and all the floating bits are your worries. They all settle and float away except the biggest worry - what is that and try and tackle it.

Resigning is last resort but do it worry of you have to do this. I stuck it out but I wish I hadn't. I see a couple of young teachers who escaped and they are far far happier not teaching and still have good jobs.

Original poster
Sev124 · 03/12/2023 00:06

I am not bothered by the grammar comments/ jokes as I was crying my eyes out while typing this on mumsnet. I did not think about reading through what I had written at the time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sev124 · 03/12/2023 00:12

Thank you, yours is one of the most helpful and positive response I have received so far. I understand we need to improve but it is very difficult because it feels like even more pressure on top of all the other things. Thinking that in 6 weeks when they review again I could be placed on another support plan or formal support plan is already effecting my mental health. Because once I am placed on a support plan will mean my future teaching career will be impacted. I have finished my ECT year and moved onto a new school after getting married. I would just rather leave on a good note and try a career change for a little while.

OP posts:
verrymerryberry · 03/12/2023 08:20

The ECT induction is two years now so if you started in 2022 you won't have finished it.

During this time you will be entitled to extra help and support which is outlined here

www.gov.uk/guidance/changes-to-statutory-induction-for-early-career-teachers-ects

It is much better to finish the ECT as if you don't finish it within a certain timeframe you cannot work as a qualified teacher.

I think I would contact your union also so you can talk through the options. As an ECT you should also have a mentor. If you don't is there a member of staff you trust to speak to. They should help on your behalf. If not you can email the head your concerns and to clarify the situation

You need to find out what the mentoring will entail. I used to be a coach so it can be supportive. It can be abused by some schools as an "informal support plan". But you will have to ask. So I suggest the help of union or trusted colleague.

Sending strength! There are nice schools and it is possible to come out the other side whatever happens!

HeadCreature · 03/12/2023 11:34

Sev124 · 02/12/2023 10:42

Thank you. My confidence is not the best but it is nothing like it used to be when I had first started. My presence is much better and I speak with a more confident voice. I will take your advice but I have a very difficult class, some of the children are put into additional social skills lessons. If I accept the mentoring and stay on my idea is that, these children, the same children will not change in 6 weeks. The last thing I want in my career line is to be placed on an actual support plan. The workload is already too much for me. Even appraisal meetings are scheduled during our lunch times and after school. They would like me to plan maths and I said I would try of-course but then they would like me to sit with deputy head after school, in my personal time. Marking, we teach least 3/4 subjects a day and that is 30 x 4 books to mark daily. They want every single work to be marked. I just don’t think this school or the job is for me. I was planning to leave in April. But noticed I can leave with months notice. I think I want to move away from teaching for a while.

When do you expect meetings to be scheduled?

Your working day isn't done when the children leave.

Teachers terms and conditions say something along the lines of 1265 hours (that's your teaching and meetings etc - time that can be directed by your HT) and as long as it takes to discharge your professional duties.

Teaching is tough - your line managers would much rather not be having to do support plans so it will have been put in place because it's needed. Not to upset you.

smilyfairy · 03/12/2023 11:59

I'm a primary school HT , your job shouldn't be make you feel like this . It sounds like you feel totally overwhelmed.

A couple of things firstly take the help been offered I would love to be able to support my teachers like this don't presume any intervention from the HT is done with malice and bad intent .
Generally ,we are humans that are doing our best in limited circumstances.Take the help it's a tough job.

Can you stand back a little from it and not come at everything with such high anxiety ?I often tell my teachers we are not the emergency services ,so no need to act like everything is an emergency.Marking 6 year old books is definitely in that non - emergency category !

Do something fun with your class that doesn't need marking , I love outdoor learning . Have a no writing day .
Laugh ,I laugh with the kids , my staff ( a lot of black humour) .
Finally if it's not the job for you or for you right now that's fine ITS JUST A JOB.

If it helps I had a different career before teaching and hated it .

Bippitybobbityboing · 03/12/2023 14:24

You sound like a lovely HT @smilyfairy I hope they appreciate you!

archerzz · 03/12/2023 15:08

Why would you go on stress leave??? That will just make you appear more weak than you already are. Just use this as an opportunity to improve.

themusingsofaninsomniac · 03/12/2023 15:11

It sounds like maybe it's not the career for you? It's ok if it isn't though. If it's stressing you out like this I'd look at a career change...

MmedeGouge · 03/12/2023 15:18

Eastie77Returns · 02/12/2023 04:17

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 noticed too.
It is remarkable.

Bernadinetta · 03/12/2023 15:22

FedUpMumof10YO · 02/12/2023 06:52

What is a couching programme?

Hope that made you feel big and clever and that you never in your life make a typo when upset and crying 🙄

verrymerryberry · 03/12/2023 15:25

OP I think you should report this to @MNHQ and ask them to remove it and repost in the Staffroom.

These hideous comments are enough to push the sanest person over the edge let alone another young vulnerable teacher.

Repost in the staff room where there are many experienced hands will have some sage advise.

No wonder young teachers are leaving in droves.

Shinyandnew1 · 03/12/2023 15:26

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

Is there a probation period, @Sev124 ? Where is that stated and how long is it?

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 03/12/2023 15:33

Can I suggest you repost in the StaffRoom as you will get a more tailor advice.

Crishell · 03/12/2023 15:36

I'm a bit shocked by some replies here.

If you're finding things tough, and you're put on a support plan, theoretically it should be to actually support you and help you, but often it does result in teachers going off with stress as it's almost the nail in the coffin. You can't manage, you're not good enough and a support plan can often be interpreted as the same thing, so you lose even more confidence in yourself and want to throw in the towel.