Dh has removed dd from school today

[purpleturtle]

Dh helps in dd's class on a Thursday morning - just for the first hour or so. Already this week we have spoken to the class teacher (also deputy head and SENCo) about dd's unhappiness at school. TEacher has been pretty dismissive, and tbh there is probably a large degree to which dd is just going to have to lump it. She struggles in the large group environment, and is academically ahead of most of the class.

So anyway, dh was so unimpressed with the bad behaviour of the class, and the supply teacher's powerlessness in the face of the bad behaviour that he told her he would bring dd home today, and the teacher said she totally understood his reasons.

We await contact from the class teacher, when she's out of a meeting, and the headteacher, when she's actually back in the school. And this is supposedly one of the very best primary schools in the city.

There is a part-time cover teacher who has been moved from dd's class a day a week, to do all her time with another class who's teacher is recovering from surgery. And another teacher has been off since half-way through last term, but I think they have had supply teachers there.

If the class teacher is as poor as you say, how come she is also deputy head?

Sorry, that came across as doubting what you have been saying - didn't mean it like that.

I don't think it's quite so straight-forward as that. The teacher actually has a very good reputation, but has been teaching reception for years. I don't know why she's moved to Y1 this year, but I speculate she's not entirely happy with the change.

I honestly think this is a good teacher under pressure, rather than a poor teacher.

I'm a parent governor at an infant school and I have to agree with 1Michele - take it up with the Governors. That's what we're here for, and we have ultimate responsibility for making a school a safe, happy and learning environment. There have been complaints at my school (although I hope not in the same league!) and in my experience they've been dealt with fairly and efficiently - sometimes Heads are poor at taking criticism because they see the school as their baby.

I think a couple of governors have children in this class. Just need to track them down!

oh dear
I must say PT your report of the meeting does not sound very positive to me.
It may be that the HT is well aware of the problems, but is not able to admit them to you; but it doesn't sound like it.
You don't expressly say so, but it also seems that dd is not making the expected progress - hence the other children catching up with her; and that is not a good sign either.
You absolutely do not deserve any blame for the supply teacher leaving: she is clearly unhappy with the whole situation.

Round here there is a major surplus of primary school teachers - maybe that's not the same everywhere? - but I cannot believe the school is not able to sort out regular cover for this class: it should now be a number one priority IMO.

Thinking of you,
Rx

Do you know, roisin, it hadn't occurred to me that if she's being caught up she's not making progress! I'm not worried about that though. I really just want her to be happy.

At bathtime tonight I discovered that dd had pooed her pants. It took me a long time to get at what had happened, but it boiled down to her not having gone to the loo at playtime this afternoon, and then not daring to ask her teacher just after playtime, because the teacher would have told her "she should have gone at playtime, and wasn't allowed to go". Dd also took it upon herself to decide not to tell anyone about the 'accident', because there wasn't a helper (ie friendly teaching assistant) who "would know what to do". Now, going to the toilet before it's absolutely urgent is an ongoing battle I have with dd. But it can't be right that she's not able to speak up about accidents like that at school.

(I was also mad that she didn't tell me when she came out of school. I wouldn't have taken her to the park for an hour after school if I'd known . But that's nothing to do with school!)

I am a TA and very for your daughter, wish she was in my class!

I think they only have a TA for about half the week; and not the same one all the time. I have come to the conclusion that the class teacher responsibilities should be job-shared for the sake of the children, if not the teacher.

Think we'll keep our heads down till half-term, and then see what we need to say/do then.

Just a thought and may have already been asked, but any chance you could take your child out of the school all together and put her in a different one?

She may be happier and a different school may be better.

Well, we are actually hoping that we'll be moving in the summer anyway. As yet, we don't know where, or even really if; but we do need something to change for us as a whole family, so the school move is inevitable, just a question of timing. Because of that, I don't really want to move her now.