Reception teacher MIA

[Dalooah]

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.

@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

Their ‘half days’ are probably the days they’re having their PPA. It’s not like they’re down the coffee shop having a relax, they’re still in school but working on planning and assessments etc.

@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.

100% agree with this.

To all the posters who said that we shouldn't be told, I completely get not being informed of the details but it's DCs first full week at school and nothing has been said. And in all honesty, it has reduced my confidence in the school. It's actually made me quite disappointed. It wouldn't take much to let us know what the interim arrangements. DC has mentioned a couple of names of teachers consistently but then at other times has no clue who these adults are.

I totally get that the school don't know how long the situation will last, but a general, 'don't worry, we're handling it' I think, would be courteous.

I suppose my stance us assume the school is handling it and dont need to be told so. Id only expect to be told that it wasnt being handled! I guess some people need more reassuring but i dont personally find a note saying 'your class teacher is off for an undefined period of time but rest assured we are doing everything we can to ensure your child has a good experience' that useful because thats what i expect to happen anyway.

Have you actually asked the school? As 4 and 5 year olds are notoriously unreliable in their view of events/people they see/what they do everyday!

Hi OP

Weve had the same. Isnt a school starting with 'C' by any chance is it?

Weve had notifications of one member of staff and one child testing positive so far although theres actually two members of staff off but the 2nd may not be covid related.

Our school have told us if the class is being covered for more than a couple of days. Not details but stuff like Miss H will be taking the class on a Thursday/ Friday and Mr B will be doing rest of week until suitable replacement. Or we welcome Mrs D who who will be taking over the class till Mrs Y returns.

Small chatty school though so everyone knows who's off on maternity. That a teacher had a stroke and is going to return part time etc.

@FawkesThePhoenix

Hi OP

Weve had the same. Isnt a school starting with 'C' by any chance is it?

Weve had notifications of one member of staff and one child testing positive so far although theres actually two members of staff off but the 2nd may not be covid related.

It is, also In a city that begins with C?

@Dalooah

No 'B'. Seems as though there a few schools with the same problem then! I'm shocked that both reception classes are currently missing their teachers in my sons school.

And as a parent I would want to know this so I have the option of removing my child from the school.

My DDs YR teacher was off for 2 weeks in the January. We got a letter right before the Christmas holidays ended saying "Mrs X is off and hoping to be back by Y date, until her return the class will be covered by Mrs A, Mrs B and Mrs C"

We did find out later the reason for Mrs Xs absense (it was to do with one of her own DC) but the letter was reassuring.

I'm covering (I'm a supply teacher) for a reception teacher at the moment. The parents haven't been told and I'm forbidden from 'going on the door'.

And the TA shuts all the blinds at 3pm so the parents can't see it the classroom. I'm finding the whole situation preposterous.

Obviously the teacher is entitled to some privacy. Nobody needs to know why she isn't at work and presumably the school think there will be an uprising.

I don't know how was have, as a nation, got ourselves into this situation where teachers and people who work schools are treated in this odd way. As if they aren't just humans with lives of their own doing a job like everyone else.

@SavoyCabbage

I'm covering (I'm a supply teacher) for a reception teacher at the moment. The parents haven't been told and I'm forbidden from 'going on the door'.

And the TA shuts all the blinds at 3pm so the parents can't see it the classroom. I'm finding the whole situation preposterous.

Obviously the teacher is entitled to some privacy. Nobody needs to know why she isn't at work and presumably the school think there will be an uprising.

I don't know how was have, as a nation, got ourselves into this situation where teachers and people who work schools are treated in this odd way. As if they aren't just humans with lives of their own doing a job like everyone else.

That is so weird. My child (old in the year and pretty on the ball) would definitely have mentioned that. This kind of thing just breeds mistrust.

I think that when a school creates a professional distance between the school and the parents (which is completely standard and necessary) it then also creates an expectation on the part of the parents to be kept informed in situations like this one. Obviously no details just a broad outline of cover plan etc.

Also, wanting this information doesn't mean you can't also be concerned about Mrs X the person.

I guess some people need more reassuring but i dont personally find a note saying 'your class teacher is off for an undefined period of time but rest assured we are doing everything we can to ensure your child has a good experience' that useful because thats what i expect to happen anyway
Same here. Why would I need a letter or contact to tell me the obvious situation that a member of staff is off and the school have arranged cover?

If the idea of a school arranging cover for an absent teacher without informing you is enough to lack confidence in the school, it isn't the school that has the problem.

I'm covering (I'm a supply teacher) for a reception teacher at the moment. The parents haven't been told and I'm forbidden from 'going on the door'.

And the TA shuts all the blinds at 3pm so the parents can't see it the classroom. I'm finding the whole situation preposterous.

Obviously the teacher is entitled to some privacy. Nobody needs to know why she isn't at work and presumably the school think there will be an uprising.

I don't know how was have, as a nation, got ourselves into this situation where teachers and people who work schools are treated in this odd way. As if they aren't just humans with lives of their own doing a job like everyone else.

What stands out to me is that you have observed this situation and you are asking why "people who work in schools are treated in this odd way", instead of asking why people who work in schools are behaving in this odd way. In your own example 100% of the odd behaviour is on the part of the school, whose staff are making strange assumptions about the parents staging an "uprising". Can you not see that deliberately misleading parents undermines confidence? And believing the children won't mention their teacher's absence shows a poor understanding of reception age children?

I wonder if the reason parents haven't been reassured that there will be smooth and consistent cover in the teacher's absence is because the school can't guarantee it.
Long-term supply teachers are like hen's teeth these days.

I’ve seen a couple of cases like this. They get all weird because the teacher does this annually and has been for years. They try to hide it from the fresh set of parents with increasingly more defensiveness, who then without the background info just see it as really odd.

What do you mean, "the teacher does this annually?"

She not MIA she's off sick. This dramatic way of talking about it makes me think you're being quite uptight about this a prone to dramatic reactions.

I think given we're in a pandemic, and there are likely to be other staff off sick too or isolating you're being unreasonable and ott.

Can you not see that deliberately misleading parents undermines confidence?
Of course I can. It's madness!

And as a parent I would want to know this so I have the option of removing my child from the school

Gosh! Have you asked the head for a list of teachers ailments and likely hood of them being off ill? Or chances of their elderly parents being off sick?

The children will be learning through play, getting used to routines and having dinner -

They be looking at assessments for language and understanding etc

A lot of teachers are able to do this!

@BluebellsGreenbells

My post was supposed to be in response who a poster who said that the school's response to a teacher's long term sickness/absence might be to have a series of supply teachers rather than a more consistent replacement. I was pointing out that I would prefer this to be communicated as soon as possible so I can make an informed decision about what is best for my child. Some children may be able to cope with lots of new teachers, teaching styles etc. Some children wouldn't cope. For some reason the quote function didn't work when I posted.

For those who are shocked both reception teachers are off already etc, would you prefer them to be in with COVID/flu/other transferable issues? I was off for 2 weeks last term as my DH died. The parents still do not know why I was absent. Illnesses happen, life happens sadly it doesn’t follow school term times.

As someone who was off on extended leave after my miscarriage and had parents in mutiny at the supply teacher, trying to find me on social media and hanging around where I live (I live locally) - I find all of this panic pretty distasteful and odd.

Teachers going off on sick is a big deal. We drag ourselves in for anything non-contagious, feel insane guilt when we have a stomach bug and constantly talk ourselves out of any sick leave. For the teacher to be off sick 1st week, to the point where the children are making cards- something must be quite wrong.

Your child is being looked after and educated by qualified adults. This is also reception, not your child’s a level class in February. They will be absolutely fine and the school will be able to manage this.

Also, most people haven’t met the teachers face to face. It’s literally week 2 in September.

I would get a grip or this will be a very long year…

@SouthSideSally

And as a parent I would want to know this so I have the option of removing my child from the school.

You would remove your child because a teacher is off sick? It could happen anywhere. Supply staff are not always available to give continuous cover.

And the TA shuts all the blinds at 3pm so the parents can't see it the classroom.
I had to do this at one time because of parents peering in, waving to their children and distracting them when I was trying to talk to them.