Year 2 - part time teachers - how did this work for your child?

[Crunchymum]

Hi,

Am looking for experiences regarding this. Y2 DC will have one teacher early week and a different teacher late week.

It's quite unusual in our school (this is the first time I've come across it in my decade long relationship with this school)

I'm a part time worker myself and its feels very unsavoury to even ask the question but after all the disruption of reception and Y1, I'm concerned about the effect if this teaching arrangement on my DC.

Any thoughts, experiences, practical advice appreciated and I'd love to hear for any PT teachers for reassurance.

It has worked really well for my dc. A stable job share with the teachers doing their set hours is fine. It was when they had loads of different supply teachers that my youngest (year 2) really struggled with. Mostly because he has autism and hates change.

My son has had it twice, same beginning/ end of week thing. Teachers A&B then a couple of years later A&C.
He didn't really get on with A but really liked B. Not so sure about C.

Truthfully it didn't work well for him, he has got on much better with a single teacher this year. However that could just be the individual teacher rather than the job share arrangement.

My dc had this in Reception and again in Y3. It worked well both times, though he did have a preferred teacher each time out of the 2!

It's also meant schools (and my dc) being able to retain experienced teaching staff, who may otherwise have left due to workload and young families.

Any job sharing teachers I know have worked really well together. They usually do a phone handover at the switch over time so that both are up to speed on any issues.

Tbh though, it's not like you are going to be able to do anything about it, is it?

It depends on how well the job share teachers work together. If you have two of equal dedication, then it works brilliantly for the children. If one is supply and one not dedicated, it can be awful. You need one or both to lead (ideally both). If neither do, it’s a car crash.

It is v common. I am not sure why you are worrying about it either as there is nothing you could do even if you didn't like it other than leaving the school!