Reception teacher MIA

Dalooah · 2021-09-16T19:02:18+00:00

Hey all First child has just started reception and I wondered if this was the norm. DC has said that their class teacher hasn't been in school all well. Was missing at the stay and play session last week, was in the next day- not sure how long for but was there are pick up. But hasn't been in since Friday last week. They've had two TA's while the class teacher is off. DC says teacher is poorly and class is going to make cards 🤷♀️ Should parents not have been informed? I feel like starting school under covid circumstances hasn't helped as we've not even met the teacher F2F.

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PeonyTime · 16/09/2021 20:08

No, you shouldnt be informed.
Let the school get on with sorting out staffing, and trust them to do what is best. It is none of your business if the teacher is ill, bereaved, at a training course, or about to get sacked.

Iamnotthe1 · 16/09/2021 20:10

The Reception teacher isn't missing in action. Your daughter has told you that she is unwell.

No, parents would not be informed if staff member was ill and they have absolutely no right whatsoever to know what is wrong with said teacher. In fact, giving you details would put the school in breach of the GDPR.

If it's going to be a long term thing, such as the teacher having been diagnosed with cancer, they may inform you after consulting the teacher to tell you what the new arrangements for the class will be.

If it's something short term, or Covid related, they would not inform you.

Rizzoli123 · 16/09/2021 21:09

My sons reception isn't in she has broken her wrist. We were told by email. Some teachers only do half days we aren't told when

Orangejuicemarathoner · 16/09/2021 21:12

@Rizzoli123

My sons reception isn't in she has broken her wrist. We were told by email. Some teachers only do half days we aren't told when

Maybe the school doesn't know when?

Most staffing is sorted out between 7 and 8 in the morning...

NailsNeedDoing · 16/09/2021 21:14

You don’t need to know that the teacher is ill. You have trusted your child to the school, not the individual teacher.

MumOfBoys16 · 16/09/2021 21:36

I think I would want to know about long term sickness if my son's teacher was off.. and more to know that the school had a robust plan like consistent cover rather than lots of supply.

Orangejuicemarathoner · 16/09/2021 21:44

@MumOfBoys16

I think I would want to know about long term sickness if my son's teacher was off.. and more to know that the school had a robust plan like consistent cover rather than lots of supply.

I don't know what you think you mean by "a robust plan" - but the plan would be, and always will be - "do the best we can with the resources and staffing available". Which might be lots of supply.

SalmonLeaps · 16/09/2021 21:48

Is the teacher actually ‘missing’ or is another member of staff with the children?

DunderMifflinSalesRep · 16/09/2021 21:51

My daughter's reception teacher went missing two weeks before the end of last term. Nothing was said, kids didn't get to say goodbye etc. It was quite sad really. DD still asks about her occasionally.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 16/09/2021 21:52

My DD (Yr4) currently has a long term supply (until at least half term). We were informed of this by email the day before term began (and the deputy head took the class until the long term supply teacher was sorted)

Never been informed about short term sickness.

The teacher being absent half day a week its their contracted 'planning and preparation' time and schools use different methods of cover for this.

MadMadMadamMim · 16/09/2021 21:53

@MumOfBoys16

I think I would want to know about long term sickness if my son's teacher was off.. and more to know that the school had a robust plan like consistent cover rather than lots of supply.

I think many parents overestimate what schools can do when teachers are off sick.

Schools are struggling to get supply teachers in many areas. It's just not possible to have a "robust plan" for most schools, given the lack of money they have and the lack of people to cover. You take what you can get, mostly.

Elephantsparade · 16/09/2021 21:59

Not only is supply difficult to get, its not always possible to know how long someine will be off to make a plan. They might have a sick note that keeps being extended.

Fanfix · 16/09/2021 22:02

Should you have access to private information about another adult?

No. She could be ill, have suffered a bereavement etc. Your child is entrusted to the school not the teacher.

EastWestWhosBest · 16/09/2021 22:03

It could be a host of reasons: bereavement, pregnancy, broken arm, miscarriage, stress, etc. Most of those aren’t really anyone else’s business.

School might well not know when she will be back.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 16/09/2021 22:04

I disagree with most of these responses. Certainly the school doesn't need to let you know if the teacher is sick for one day, but if she is off for a week (or possibly more, who knows?) then they should send a quick message to say "Mr/Ms X is not in this week, and class will be taught by Mr/Ms Y".

I moved my DS in reception partly because his teacher disappeared for a month and his class was taught by a succession of random unnamed teachers (or TAs, again who knows?).

EastWestWhosBest · 16/09/2021 22:08

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I disagree with most of these responses. Certainly the school doesn't need to let you know if the teacher is sick for one day, but if she is off for a week (or possibly more, who knows?) then they should send a quick message to say "Mr/Ms X is not in this week, and class will be taught by Mr/Ms Y".

I moved my DS in reception partly because his teacher disappeared for a month and his class was taught by a succession of random unnamed teachers (or TAs, again who knows?).

But perhaps they don’t know how long she is going to be off for. And very often they don’t know who they will get to cover.

gogohm · 16/09/2021 22:08

No you don't have to be told but if it's a long term situation they may email you with the name of the supply teacher. My friend works as supply as does her dp, she's had who term contracts and just half days. They do supply because it pays better than contract work!

ArrrMeHearties · 16/09/2021 22:10

My ds is in p2 and if his teacher is off a message is put in his online journal stating Mrs x is off and so Mrs y is covering today

KatherineOfGaunt · 16/09/2021 22:13

She's not "missing in action" 🙄 She's off sick. School and the teacher herself may not know how long she'll be off for, although if there's talk of card-making it suggests a longer absence than the usual week or two.

In answer to your question, yes, it's normal not to be told your child's teacher is off and why, unless they know it'll be a long-term absence (although never why unless the teacher themselves volunteers the information).

I had about five weeks off when I miscarried for years ago. I hate the thought of the parents of my reception class being all nosy about my absence.

rattlemehearties · 16/09/2021 22:14

I think based on what you've said and that it's still settling in weeks in England you could contact the school and ask for reassurance that there is stability/consistency in the class for your new starter. Maybe they can send an update to the new parents. Obviously there's no need to hound them but I agree that it's very early days for Reception so it would be good to keep parents informed of what's happening in the classroom.

Bobholll · 16/09/2021 22:18

Could the teacher have covid? Seems quite likely 🙈

LolaSmiles · 16/09/2021 22:24

Why would parents be informed? Would you expect updates if a sick note is renewed too? Maybe the member of staff and the school don't know how long the situation will continue.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/09/2021 08:22

But perhaps they don’t know how long she is going to be off for. And very often they don’t know who they will get to cover.

After a couple of days it's time to communicate something. DS had just started reception, we had been told how crucial all the settling in was, the teacher had visited each pupil at home so they would be familiar... and then every day DS was coming home talking vaguely about "a lady" and asking where Miss X was? I thought he was confused. All the school had to do was let us know the situation had changed.

If my dentist is sick, she just says "I'm sick". If we cancel a clinic or list at the hospital because the consultant is sick, we say "he/she is sick". If another doctor can cover it, we definitely make that clear. And of course we don't always know when they will be better, but that doesn't mean we just say nothing.

Clymene · 17/09/2021 08:27

@TheYearOfSmallThings

But perhaps they don’t know how long she is going to be off for. And very often they don’t know who they will get to cover.

After a couple of days it's time to communicate something. DS had just started reception, we had been told how crucial all the settling in was, the teacher had visited each pupil at home so they would be familiar... and then every day DS was coming home talking vaguely about "a lady" and asking where Miss X was? I thought he was confused. All the school had to do was let us know the situation had changed.

If my dentist is sick, she just says "I'm sick". If we cancel a clinic or list at the hospital because the consultant is sick, we say "he/she is sick". If another doctor can cover it, we definitely make that clear. And of course we don't always know when they will be better, but that doesn't mean we just say nothing.

But then people are going to demand to know when she's coming back. And what the school's plan for her absence are.

Just opens a while can if worms

TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/09/2021 09:39

"The current situation is XXX. We will update you when possible."

Like I say, schools are not the only organisations who deal with staff sickness. I have found that a policy of not stating what will become clear anyway (the patients will notice their surgeon is absent, the children will notice their teacher is absent) only undermines confidence.