How concerned would you be about this info re school?

[DuckDuckPenguin]

For context:
DC is currently at a school preschool and is happy there. We have (or had!) decided to put the school down as our first preference for reception next year.

Recently a friend shared with me some concerns raised by parents of reception children at the school. This is 2nd hand info so I don't have full details, but I am confident that the details below are correct:

• multiple children report that the teacher has made comments such as "can't you see? do you not have eyes?" and also to a child with glasses "you are wearing glasses and still cannot see"

• in the first week of term the teacher dealt with children continuously taking their shoes off by threatening to put the shoes in the bin, and then followed through with this. Child was given their shoes back afterwards. (The parent of the child raised this with the teacher who confirmed that it had happened)

• another child has reported that the teacher said "if you act like a baby [i.e. crying] I'll treat you like a baby"

• multiple parents saying their children are unhappy

The school is known for being fairly strict and academic, which we think (or at least hope!) will suit DC, but this worries me.

Would you reconsider your school preferences?

Absolutely yes I would reconsider. The early years are so vital in laying a good foundation for the future years; how can a child learn and feel valued in the environment you described?

Do you want your child to feel happy about going to school, or fearful? Choose a different school, definitely.

It sounds awful. Happy children learn. Terrified children receive therapy in adulthood.

Thanks... That's how I'm feeling but I'm really torn as we moved her to the preschool this year and she's settled really well and is happy 😭

NB there are four reception teachers - these reports are all about one in particular. But of course I can't choose which teacher she would get.

@DuckDuckPenguin if she settled well at that school she'd settle well at another one. It sounds like that teacher is not well suited to early years. Have these issues actually been raised with the Head or just playground fodder? Schools can't improve if nothing is said and that teacher needs moving out asap. You may well find a different teacher in place when they return in January.

If you have chosen this school as it's fairly strict and academic but this is how you are hearing it plays out in reality then nope I would not send my child there. Tbh a school that values and demonstrates kindness, happiness and making an effort rather than academic results is more likely to be a nicer place to be and therefore more conductive to learning. The emphasis should be on academics alone at any school.

The last sentence was meant to read the emphasis should never be on academics alone but also kindness. That teacher is not showing the latter.

As I understand it the parents are planning to raise it, although I don't know if that's with the Head, or just with the teacher herself.

You're right that the school can't change things if they don't know. Annoyingly I can't say anything as it's all 2nd hand.

Yes I agree

I would look at schools that have a strong pastoral reputation rather than academic. If you have a bright child and/or supplement learning at home then that child will do well anywhere, a school that prioritises kindness and caring and building children's self worth and love of learning is worth is weight in gold. Send a bright child to a school with high pressure and poor pastoral then their self esteem and love for learning quickly gets eroded away and it's very difficult to get back.

Tbh if you have a child who is kicking people or furniture, removing shoes is a good approach. Comments about children behaving like a baby or not looking for things properly 🤷🏻‍♀️ isn’t this normal? Many reception age children over the course of any school day will do at least one daft or dopey thing.

I would look at a school and get a feel for the atmosphere rather than going on hearsay.

If quite a few parents are unhappy this would ring alarm bells for me.

It sounds as if this teacher isn't really suited to teaching reception children.
Firstly teachers don't always stay in the same year group every year (they may move to be with older children).
Secondly teachers do move to different schools.
I would be wary of choosing a school based only on a particular teacher.
I am aware of a family that chose a different school only to find the teacher they didn't like moved to the other school as well!

My DC had a year 1 teacher like this. She was horrible and she did it in front of parents too. I spoke to the head teacher about it and got 'oh no, she's lovely'. She definitely wasn't. One of my children struggled with her - for the other child it was like water off a duck's back. I think you have to factor in how your own child might cope with her. There will always be difficult teachers on the school journey, or teachers your own child doesn't gel with.