How much notice does a teacher have to work before they leave?

[PeterParkerSays]

We've just had the introduction session for parents of children entering Reception in Septmeber. On the same day, the teacher of what will be DS's class has resigned. Cue a session with the headmaster saying "this is teacher for class X but they won't actually be here by September because we found out today that they're leaving".

We have settling in sessions arranged at the school in late June and July, when the children get to meet the other children in their class, but the teachers don't do home visits. Is it likely the new teacher will be in post for the end of June, so DS actually gets to meet his teacher before he starts in September?

TIA.

DD met her Reception teacher on the first day of the autumn term.

We had moved, and got in off the waiting list just before the summer holidays.

She know not a single one of her classmates, and had never seen her teacher.

We treated it as if it wasn't going to be a problem (as DS was a school-refusing selective mute who had only been back at school for 3 weeks befoire that summer holiday, and given the trouble we had had with him it was VERY hard to be all confident and 'it will be fine' about DD, but we managed it).

It wasn't a problem.

I'm more surprised that they had an induction before half term - that's the bit that sounds unusual to me. IME (over years of teaching plus years as a parent) no sensible school thinks about their staffing for September before June, as they know everyone is entitled to resign up until the last day of this half term.
In our authority, everyone has 'moving up day' on the same day - it's brilliant as it means teachers are often released from the school they are leaving to go and be introduced to the new children. If it's an NQT, then they are often available too - tends to all goodwill, and can't be forced to, but it's pretty common IME.

"It is down to individual contracts DD's school requires a full terms notice."

All state schools are governed by the same rules which are laid down in the teachers pay and conditions document.

To leave at the end of...
Autumn Term
(31 December) Teachers must resign by:31 October
Spring Term
(30 April) Teachers must resign by:28 (29) February
Summer Term
(31 August) Teachers must resign by:31 May

Bramshott, they could recruit a teacher who isn't currently working, or a NQT but any teacher already in a job wouldn't be able to resign from it in time to start in September.

many schools will release staff with less notice (depending on circumstances)

Thank you Mrz I was just illustrating that what was being said up thread was not true of every single school there are independents who will have different contracts.

OP, are you serious?

The teacher's timing is not "rubbish", and it isn't a "poor first impression" either, it's happened exactly when it's supposed to and many schools haven't even recruited or decided who will be teaching which year group by this stage, let alone announced it to the parents. Our children don't know who their new teacher will be until July.

Maybe the teacher who is resigning didn't even secure a new job until this week? Many interviews are taking place this week. Are you suggesting teachers quit their jobs before they have secured another? How would they be able to pay their mortgages/bills in September if another job didn;t turn up? (likely, in this economic climate)

Some of my colleagues are interviewing this week.

A teacher leaving at the end of the school year and given the required amount of notice is hardly unusual or unprofessional.

Lonecatwithkitten is your school private? In general, state school teachers have to give a half terms notice, private school have to give a term.

Not read all post but when my dds school reception teacher left, it was the new teacher who did the taster sessions in the July for dd2 even though she didnt start at the school til the sept! She just came to the new school for the day on leave from her current post.

Hi PeterParkerSays:

Good news is this is plenty of notice and the new teacher is likely to be hired before the end of the school year.

That may even mean that your child will get a chance to get to know him/ her before the new school year.

This happened to us with DD2 and we were pretty surprised but in fact the new teacher turned out to be fantastic for DD2 and she got off to a flying start (much better than DD1 who really struggled). We could just about cope with one struggling child, so were exceedingly pleased to have had such a successful YR for DD2.

My advice is relax. Most importantly don't convey any concern to your DS. Teachers come and go and it is important for childre to appreciate that this is the way of things. (obviously not ideal if lots of teachers going - alarm bells should be ringing - but quite normal for teachers to take a year out for maternity leave, retire and indeed move onwards and upwards in another school).

Every school is different but usually Year R doesn't start full-time from the beginning, but starts with half-days or one or two days a week and then gradually build up to full time - so there will be a period of settling in with the teacher.

I suppose the way to look at it is would you like it if people expected you to remain at your same job for the rest of your career? I suspect the answer is no. Teachers are entitled to move (especially if partner's job moves) and to build their own career/ fulfill their ambitions. Also trust me an unhappy teacher is no good for the children. Better to have someone happy to be there.

HTH

Thanks for all who answered my question - that makes sense!

Thanks PastSell. We're not conveying any worries to DS.

Yesterday I was spectacularly tired which probably didn't help, and I was in floods about it talking to DH last night, who was frankly baffled. We had a nightmare start to DS being at nursery, and I did all the morning drop-offs with screaming, sobbing and clinging on to my shoulder, so I guess, in my mind, I wanted this to be as smooth, and planned for, as possible. I just don't want my little boy sitting in a classroom sobbing because he doesn't know anyone or have mum / dad now even I know I'm being melodramatic

I'm meeting some mums of children already at the school tonight, to try and get their views on this. AFAIK there's only this one teacher leaving, so it's not a wider issue about the staffing.

And thanks to veryone else with the "eh, PFB" comments. no, really . DS is my PFB, and I just want this to go right for him. DH and my dad when I spoke to him last night, are very much of the "never mind, they'll get another teacher, can I change the TV channel now" mindset where this is really not an issue. Your comments helped to show that this is a majority view.

Independent schools do seem to do whole term. DD will have a new teacher in September - she knows his name, but AFAIK will not meet him before September.

OP - I would imagine that the school will try and make sure that the TA who will be with the class in September will be there for the induction day, so that the DC have at least one vaguely familiar face.

I understand OP. It is so upsetting to have your sobbing child pried out of your arms every day. My DH didn't understand how it made me feel leaving DS at the childminder every day until he had to do it himself.

Hopefully you will get plenty of reassurance that your DS's start at full time school will be smoother.

The teachers in our school move classes within the school every 2 years or so, especially the more newly qualified ones who want to widen their experience, so it may be that the school recruit a new teacher, who goes into another class and an existing teacher will move into reception. If the school had only just got to know about her leaving they will not have had chance to consider what they are going to do. If this happens your son will get chance to meet his new teacher because they will already be working in school.

Your Ds will be fine. I think you need to let this go, otherwise you will be burnt out by the end of primary! Teachers can change every term. Pregnancy, reshuffling,sickness, job opportunities. DS's friends will change as well, kids move schools, fall out, fall in.

I think the most beneficial thing you can do, is be excited for your son and reassure him. You are the only thing you can control.

Hi

I understand the sheer horribleness of having a child that sobs when they are left at nursery (despite knowing they are fine after). The thing I would say is don't assume the problem will be the same at school. My dd sobbed EVERY day at Nursery but was fine at school as she was "a big girl"

Hope it all works out ok and well done for taking on board a completely contrary opinion that wasn't always necessarily gently put :-)

Hi PeterParkerSays:

One thing that really helps make the transition to School is to read starting school books that address nervousness, new people, and other common worries of starting somewhere new and not knowing many people.

We found Julie Walton Edward's (Yes Mary Poppins herself) & Emma Walton Hamilton's Book Dumpy at School very useful - lovely story about a little boys first day and feeling a bit unsure of it all...

www.amazon.com/Dumpy-School-Julie-Andrews-Edwards/dp/0786806109/ref=la_B002BMA3P2_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369399068&sr=1-15

I'm sure if you search your local book store or Amazon (just type in first day at school books) you'll get tons of ideas.

It is quite a transition, but having been through it twice I can assure you it's harder on the parents than the child. Try and focus on what you liked about school and have your DH talk about what he liked - try to establish for your DS that he may not like everything, but there will be things he loves to do there and isn't it exciting he's such a big boy now!

HTH

Hi, our DS had a new teacher for Reception. She came in for the induction morning which was good of her and her previous school. As others have said the TA will hopefully be the same and they will also have seen the classroom and playground and that I hope will help them settle when they start. Also in our school they move the teachers around a bit so it might be a per-existing teacher.
Good luck for Sept.

It won't make any difference to your son who he meets at his settling in visits. Children are often looked after by the old teacher and makes no difference at all.

I know you feel it's bad timing for your DS, But it honestly won't make any difference to him come September. I've been a teacher for many years and we often get children who join late who've not visited at all - they always get on fine!

To throw something else into the mix, DD1's new reception teacher sustained a serious injury setting up the classroom three days before the start of term. She was off school for just over a half term. DD1 coped!

Children are much more adaptable than you think.

When my dd1 was between p1 and p2 (yR and y1, age 6) we moved from a remote rural island to a major city. She went from a composite class of 7 pupils, all girls aged 6-12 (she was youngest) to a class of 25, in a school of over 300. She met her teacher in passing when we collected uniform the day before term started. She got on the school bus and had a great time, she knew no-one.

Teachers are allowed to leave, can even be moved around mid yearv(or go off sick, or on maternity leave). These things happen, and there's no lack of professionalism in this happening. And home visits? I've never heard of a child with no SN to be visited at home. It all sounds very fussy and PFB to me, I'm afraid. But then I'm a pretty laid back just get on with it parent (and I'm a teacher too!).

My son's school will be visiting all of the reception children in September. It's obviously not that uncommon.