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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

NQT for next year - should we expect to have to help out our DS?

53 replies

tricot39 · 18/07/2014 22:40

Hi. We have been allocated a newly qualified teacher for next year (Y1) who seems nice, but presumably will have a lot to learn. What (if anything) can we do to lend DS a hand?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DrJuno · 18/07/2014 22:42

She's a qualified teacher. Qualified. With exams and bits of paper and everything.

She's not some 16 year old school leaver.

Back off and let her get on with her job.

She'll have any support she needs from the school. Unless your DS ordinarily needs extra support, in which case I presume it will be provided, you don't need to do anything.

KaFayOLay · 18/07/2014 22:43

Both my dd's have had NQT's at various years. The teachers have been enthusiastic, more so than the old timers, and we'll supported by the school.

I didn't do anymore for my girls than I normally do with a long standing teacher.

GertieFinkle · 18/07/2014 22:43

You can not presume that the teacher is going to fail your son. That would be a good start.

pinkerson · 18/07/2014 22:43

Dd1 had an amazing nqt last year... It was her best year at school. Loads of energy and enthusiasm.

KaFayOLay · 18/07/2014 22:44

well not we'll.

123upthere · 18/07/2014 22:44

You have already presumably raised your DS until such times as now when he is going to be given extra knowledge & skills for a mere 5-6 hrs a day.

What are you worried about? The first year of school is primarily about the child socialising, learning a routine, becoming familiar with his class/room/mates

With respect - CHILL - and enjoy that he is growing up & gaining his first taste of independence. Any REAL issues with the teacher will emerge by Christmas. Until then, do her and your son a favour and let her get on with her job - would you tell a newly qualified GP how you could help her with her diagnosis when you next visit her? Thought not. Likewise, not to the NQT - she has trained heavily for the task in front of her. Support her, don't criticise her.

steppemum · 18/07/2014 22:45

dd2 is going into y2. She had NQTs in both reception and Y1. The reception teacher was one of the best teachers I have met, she was (and is) fab.
The year 1 teacher was obviously at times inexperienced (I help out every week) but over all the kids have had a great year and achieved all that they should.

123upthere · 18/07/2014 22:46

Incidentally, there is a mother in my sphere who goes out of her way to openly/loudly/ criticise the school & its staff. It makes HER look worse than the subject of her daily whinges. And it's VERY boring to listen to.

KaFayOLay · 18/07/2014 22:50

123 Y1 isn't the first year of school.
Not that it makes any difference but it isn't a socialising year, it's one where more formal learning starts.

123upthere · 18/07/2014 22:54

Y1 is still one of the preliminary years of school - behaviours are learned - children are still grasping what teacher expects of them and how their peers want them to behave. It is still young!

123upthere · 18/07/2014 22:56

'formal' learning can take place at very early ages - my DCs were 'formally' learning poems/songs/alphabet/colours/numbers aged 3

in the living room, not the classroom

feetheart · 18/07/2014 23:00

DS (Yr3) has had an NQT this year and he has been FABULOUS. If it happens again I would have no problem AT ALL.
Just support the teacher and your DS as you would usually do.

KaFayOLay · 18/07/2014 23:05

Right, whatever.
I was only trying to point out that yr1 isn't the child's first year at school as you suggested, because it isn't

Cheebame · 18/07/2014 23:08

DD has had an NQT this year and has had a lovely time and is doing well.

The teacher I had at the same age was waiting to retire and was rather less inspiring.

I know which I'd choose.

OP - do you know what quite how much work is involved in getting NQT status?

123upthere · 18/07/2014 23:09

Everyone has to start somewhere

nonicknameseemsavailable · 18/07/2014 23:30

I am actually very enthusiastic about DD2 having an NQT next year. having met him he seems keen, sensible, has personality and character and the children all like him. Yes he will be less experienced and no doubt will make some mistakes but I honestly think these are likely to be minor ones for things that come with experience like realising just how long it takes for children to do some tasks/work etc.

ohtobeanonymous · 19/07/2014 00:36

OP, perhaps undertake a PGCE yourself (depending on which undergraduate degree you have) so you can actually appreciate exactly what this NQT teacher has had to do to become qualified. This newfound appreciation of what the job entails will not only help your DS but help you appreciate exactly how much training and dedication this member of staff will have.
Then relax because you won't have to be the one setting individual targets, differentiating work across numerous subjects, planning for progress, marking, completing detailed lesson plans whilst being heavily supervised and mentored by more experienced members of staff, all the while having incomparable energy and enthusiasm because you are still fresh to the job! Nor will you be attempting to deal with judgemental and ill informed protective and caring parents who only want the best for their DCs.

But seriously, is OP really just trolling....?!

FullOfChoc · 19/07/2014 00:49

Personally I wouldn't worry at all about an NQT in year 1. I agree they are enthusiastic and bring fresh ideas. If you child has any additional needs then they tend to be open to new ideas and have the most up to date training.

DD had an NQT in year 3 and she was fab, really encouraging and improved DD's confidence. I loved her.

However, I work in a school and NQTs are still learning and trying things out on your children. They do make mistakes and schools fail to give them the support they need, so I do understand your concern. We've got to get used to NQTs because, as more and more experienced teachers leave and only 50% of NQTs are still in the job five years later, they are going to be a larger and larger part of teaching staff.

Hope your LO has a great year.

PastSellByDate · 19/07/2014 07:14

tricot39:

Genuinely my experience has been the NQTs have worked harder, been more dedicated - attempted to get to know every child - tried to avoid favourites - and had higher standards - as compared to the 'old hands'.

Yes - I get as a parent you'd prefer to know by reputation your child is getting the 'excellent' teacher - but in the main these days it is an employer's market and odds are that they've hired a 'cracker jack' teacher.

Obviously keep a watchful eye - but you may well find you've got yourself a cheshire cat's grin in about a month's time when you realise the new teacher is streets better than the old one.

HTH

Pancakeflipper · 19/07/2014 07:29

DS1 has just completed a year in juniors with NQT.
Tbh after the first term I was thinking this is going to be a year to hold onto attaintment and doubted much progress would be made.

But then the NQT rocketed off.... the class has been a hive of learning activities, they have been a happy class, no discipline problems, happy parents, their topic work has been especially creative in teaching methods.

Progress for so many has been impressive.
It has been DS1' s favourite year and the one he's made the most progress.

So give them a chance to settle and hopefully they will rocket just like our brilliant teacher. As the others say there's pressure on them to perform, they will be supported by school etc...

2cats2many · 19/07/2014 07:38

Both of mine have had NQTs this year and they've both thrived. I'm so grateful they've had teachers that were fresh to the profession and full of new ideas.

Like someone else said, NQT is already qualified. They aren't on work experience.

2cats2many · 19/07/2014 07:39

Both of mine have had NQTs this year and they've both thrived. I'm so grateful they've had teachers that were fresh to the profession and full of new ideas.

Like someone else said, NQT is already qualified. They aren't on work experience.

hairylittlegoblin · 19/07/2014 07:45

A NQT has a lot more experience of teaching than I had of looking after a baby when DD was born. And yet she has survived!

DD has a NQT next year and I've already heard rumblings on the playground about it. The poor woman doesn't even have a classroom yet. Makes me rreally cross. I don't know of any other job where everyone knows that you're just qualified and judges you for it.

Original poster

tricot39 · 19/07/2014 07:52

Thanks for the positive/reassuring posts. They are what I was hoping for!

The Y1 class last year had an NQT who struggled terribly and will be leaving at the end of term. Reading between the lines she may be leaving the profession.... Our school has a lot of change to deal with so has not been great at supporting staff. My friend's son was in the Y1 class and I suppose I (mistakenly) assumed we would be in for the same.

Having said that there are a lot of posters who have made massive assumptions about me so I'm not the only one who jumps to conclusions!

Ohtobe - troll hunting breaks the forum rules

OP posts:

HaplessHousewife · 19/07/2014 07:53

We had an NQT this year for reception and she's been brilliant, much more engaged with the children than some of the older, more established teachers. I've had no issues at all and if no one told us we would never have known she was a new teacher.

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