Yr 4 - how many teachers?

[Methe]

My dd is 8. She goes to a bog standard state primary which does ok in it's offsted reports. I've been happy with the way her education has gone.. Until this term!

We worked out yesterday that she has been taught by 7 different teachers since they went back after the holidays. Yesterday they spent the whole afternoon painting in the care of a TA who's name she didn't even know. The afternoon before her class and the sister class were in the care on one teacher, in one room. So that it 60odd/1. He actual named teacher goes on maternity leave at half term and they have no idea who will be replacing her.

I know it can be difficult getting the whole story out of kids and I intend to go in today to find out wtaf is going on but what is normal?

In previous years they have had one teacher.

I am categorically not happy for her to be taught my different people every day and I can sense that she is not feeling settled in this year.

What is the best thing to do in this situation?

I would mention it to the head although she is probably as frustrated with the whole thing as you are. I assume that their teacher is off sick due to pregnancy problems and the school are having great difficulty in finding a long term supply and cover for the maternity leave.

Teachers are leaving the profession in droves. We have had two resign in the last two weeks. We had some interviews set up for one who was already leaving at Christmas (meaning we had three vacancies) and had three applicants for the jobs. One was so awful they decided not to appoint- leaving us still one short and the other two were ok but in the requires improvement range.

Finding good quality short and long term replacements is really hard. Most supply teachers do not want longer term contracts as then they get tied up with all the in depth marking and planning.

Of course none of that helps you or your poor daughter- just trying to give you a picture of what heads are facing at the moment. I would ask the head what is happening- it's really not fair to keep you all in the dark. I dare say the one teacher to 60 kids was a desperate measures scenario.