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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Any experience of 2 part-time teachers?

29 replies

Tailtwister · 28/10/2013 14:33

One of the classes at our son's school has 2 teachers job sharing a primary class. My initial instinct is that this situation isn't ideal and I would prefer one dedicated teacher, but I would like to hear from anyone who has experience of their child being taught by 2 different teachers.

What are the pros and cons of such an arrangement? Does it affect the children in a positive or negative way and have you found any issues with consistency?

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pippitysqueakity · 28/10/2013 14:34

My DD2 had 2 pt teachers for her first two years in Primary. It was great, they were lovely and DD2 thrived under their care.

FlatsInDagenham · 28/10/2013 14:37

Yes. My DD has 2 pt teachers in Year 1. I think it works really well - each teacher has their own particilar strengths and expertise.

Two professionals for the price of one. Winner.

scarevola · 28/10/2013 14:42

My experience of this was not positive. Despite plenty of fine sounding words about good communication, it was patchy at best and frustratingly bad at times. Those with DC in the class who were doing just fine (and who I knew well enough to discuss it in detail) didn't mind - but didn't see it as better than having one teacher. Anyone who had an issue (big or small) hated it.

bundaberg · 28/10/2013 14:42

ds1 had 2 teachers at his last school and it worked really well

HumphreyCobbler · 28/10/2013 14:42

It is a very common situation and works out well generally. My ds had two teachers last year and it was very satisfactory.

As a teacher myself I think it is great because you can play to your strengths - I partner taught with someone who was a fluent welsh speaker which meant my class were not subjected to my welsh . Likewise I taught all the music. The numeracy and literacy teaching will generally be split across the week to aid continuity - so one will teach number and one shape space and measure etc.

There is generally crossover time and teachers are used to leaving detailed communications.

JewelFairies · 28/10/2013 14:43

My dd had two teachers job sharing last year and I wasn't particularly impressed. I didn't get the feeling the teachers got on very well and did not seem to communicate well.
I think it can work really well if the two teachers work well together but not if they work 'against' each other.

Piffpaffpoff · 28/10/2013 14:44

Yes, DS is on his second year of this and I think it works really well. I'd second what Flats said - 2 for the price of 1, each with their own skills, expertise and personality.

I think we've had one 'mishap' in 18 months when each teacher thought the other had told th parents something but neither actually had, but in the grand scheme of things that's minor.

CiderwithBuda · 28/10/2013 14:47

I knew of a situation where this happened and it seemed to work well. The teachers concerned were husband and wife though so no excuse for lack of communication!

cece · 28/10/2013 14:51

Ds1 had the best year ever the year he had two teachers sharing his class. They worked well together and he made huge progress.

poshme · 28/10/2013 14:57

All teachers are now entitled to 10% of time not in their classroom so even if you have 1 teacher the class will be covered by someone else for that time. The cover may well be from an unqualified teacher or TA so in a way you're lucky to have teachers for all the classroom time.

TunipTheUnconquerable · 28/10/2013 15:00

Yes, it was fine. They complemented each other. One was young and energetic, the other very calm and experienced. It increases the likelihood your child will have a teacher they click with.

bundaberg · 28/10/2013 15:35

poshme, i was going to mention that too!

LIZS · 28/10/2013 15:39

yes , worked out well.

Talkinpeace · 28/10/2013 16:16

my DCs had it. Fantastic. The two best teachers.

Lonecatwithkitten · 28/10/2013 16:20

DD had this in year 2. The lead teacher took a dislike to myself and DD and pretty much dismissed DD for the year. The other teacher tried very hard to make up for this. If it hadn't been a job share it would have been a train crash as it is it was only a car crash.

SpottedDickandCustard · 28/10/2013 16:23

Yes, DS is in Y2 and has 2 jobsharing teachers.

They are both great teachers and completely different in their strengths and approaches.

I think you need to judge the teachers and the way they make their JOS arrangement work rather than fretting about it.

shebird · 28/10/2013 16:26

My DD had this last year and like you I was sceptical. It worked really well as the each teacher seemed to play to their strengths - one was maths and the other literacy and phonics. As long as the teachers communicate and work well together then it can be very positive. Also if a child doesn't like a teacher then at least they are not stuck with the same one all year.

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 28/10/2013 17:37

It worked really well at my DS's school. it meant no PPA teacher and they generally covered for each other for courses as well, so it was actually less disruptive. The 2 teachers taught different topics within Maths and Literacy and different 'afternoon' subjects.

The only issue seemed to be with a bit of communication when one 'lively' lad was moved to sit with different DC depending on which teacher was in, and woe betide him if he got it wrong!

Original poster

Tailtwister · 28/10/2013 17:56

I'm not fretting about it Spotted, just interested in hearing other people's experience, that's all. I have no idea if DS will even end up in this class as it's one of 3 in that particular year.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their viewpoints. It's interesting to hear of the positive aspects, which seem to outweigh any negative. I guess it really depends on how well the teachers work together. If done well it sounds like an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

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TooTryHard · 28/10/2013 18:10

Yes and it's been great. It helps that we're incredibly lucky to have two good teachers.

Normal teachers are shattered by Friday so a change mid week is perfect.

AugustRose · 28/10/2013 18:14

My DD1 had two teachers in year 1 a few years ago and it didn't work well for her but it depends on the teachers I suppose. One went part time just prior to retiring and it showed as she didn't seem interested in what they were doing and the other was super organised but showed little empathy towards the kids.

DD2 is in a small primary now in year 2 and she also has two teachers but it works much better as they are organised and work well together. One is a little more strict but not unkind and is mainly a key stage 2 teacher and I think this will prepare DD well for next year.

missinglalaland · 28/10/2013 18:25

Yes. It went badly. I think this all depends on the individual teachers involved, of course.

In our case, the teachers didn't communicate well, and the kids just gave up. I often heard..."there is no point asking mum, she won't be back till next week and Miss So-and-so won't know anything about it. I am just going to forget about it!" Things were patchy and there was little feedback on homework and projects. I think both assumed the other had covered an area, when in fact no one had.

clary · 28/10/2013 18:31

Most classes IME have more than one teacher anyway.

DS2 in yr 6 has one named teacher, but in fact another teacher (whom he loves) teaches the class music, history and science, partly to cover PPA, partly to cover the main teacher's management time.

It's a two-class year so they are set for numeracy and literacy and if you are in top sets or bottom sets for both you get the other class teacher too.

Seems to work fine, as others say they play to their strengths. DD had a job share teaching her in yr 1 and it was fine.

BackforGood · 28/10/2013 18:33

It's FAB. You get teachers teaching to their strengths - say one's musical or artistic or into PE or drama - and you get a 'fresh and full of energy' teacher half way through the week. Every time any of my dc have had a job share, it's been a great year.

EATmum · 28/10/2013 20:44

Another plus for my DD was when one of her job share teachers became pregnant, the other increased her hours so there was no mid-year change. Obviously this usually won't be possible but it helped that class to have consistency.

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