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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

Teachers secondary age daughter helping in primary one class

85 replies

Fashion83 · 30/05/2022 17:49

Our DS is in primary 1. (Scotland - age 5, almost 6). He is in a council ran school. We are privileged to have so many PSA’s (teaching assistants) in the school so the children get quite a bit of small group time with one adult. However this week on a video posted to a parent app the teacher was showing us a group who were doing a literacy game with her daughter who I think would be around 14/15/16 years old. Assume she is off on study leave. Am I right in thinking this is a bit strange? Since when did teachers take their children in to help. Unless she wants to study teaching but perhaps let us know?

As an aside, said teacher is part time & the deputy head teaches our son and his class on a Friday which I was quite happy with however I could count on my hand how many times she’s been there in class over the past 2 terms and they’ve had another teacher. No issue as such but we as parents haven’t been told which annoys me. AIBU to expect to be told?

Thanks.

OP posts:

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DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat · 30/05/2022 17:51

Is it a work experience week maybe?

Chemenger · 30/05/2022 17:52

It will be work experience.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 30/05/2022 17:52

Why are you so concerned? What is the problem? She is also a child still?

User56785 · 30/05/2022 17:53

YABU. They don't have to tell you things like that!

Maybe she was on work experience. My DD's is next week. Not that she will be doing it in a school as she is forbidden from being a teacher.

Maybe the time your dd gets to secondary school, the teacher retention rate will be even lower than it is now and there will be absolutely no teachers left.

HollowTalk · 30/05/2022 17:53

She's probably applying to uni to study teacher training and is getting some experience in school.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 30/05/2022 17:53

I’m also thinking work experience, in my mind the more the merrier!

yes a deputy is often pulled out for meetings etc

MadAngryCry · 30/05/2022 17:53

Work experience, perfectly normal.

No, I wouldn't be expected to be told something like that.

TrashyPanda · 30/05/2022 17:54

Probably work experience

what is the issue?

Heavymetaldetector · 30/05/2022 17:55

I did my work experience as a TA in my Mums class. Absolutely loved it. Why would you need to have been notified of this?

RiaOverTheRainbow · 30/05/2022 17:56

I don't think you would necessarily be told about kids on work experience, or student teachers, parent helpers etc. I'm not sure why you'd need to be, especially if they're only there for a week or so. And do you know she was actually the teacher's dd?

headofpotsandpans · 30/05/2022 17:56

What's your concern OP? And yes, with the retention and recruitment crisis it's not unexpected that the depute will be pulled out of class constantly for other things. The school's duty is to provide adequate cover, but not to inform parents.

Howshouldibehave · 30/05/2022 17:56

Am I right in thinking this is a bit strange?

No, you are wrong. It’s probably work experience but why would it matter to you either way?!

SnowyPetals · 30/05/2022 17:57

When mine were at primary, it was entirely normal for the Y6 (10/11 yr olds) to do reading and literacy games with the younger ones for 15 mins or so. Also, no, the school doesn't need to inform parents every time a substitute teacher is in place.

SavoyCabbage · 30/05/2022 17:57

It's almost impossible to get work experience this year. Schools are almost the only option.

Lots of businesses don't t have insurance for under eighteens. Then there is the covid situation.

My 15 year old is stuck with going to works with her dad. Even that was fraught as he was asked to sign a form informing him that his work experience student should be able to access the toilet that suits their gender identity.

MichonnesBBF · 30/05/2022 17:58

Is your child happy, safe, well taken care of and meeting targets??
If so I personally wouldn't have any issues with what is happening...
Pretty sure the teacher would have asked for permission for the teen to be there (they really don't need the parents)
As for the deputy head covering...its quite probably one of those instances where something works on paper but not in reality with other issues and needs taking over..
They are still providing your child with an education...

If you feel your child is being let down educationally, failing to meet targets, refusing to attend or is just miserable and sad then yes I would without a doubt make arrangements to speak to the headteacher.

TitoMojito · 30/05/2022 17:58

Definitely work experience. I did my work experience in a primary school when I was in 4th year. So did many of my friends.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 30/05/2022 17:58

I wouldn't expect to be told, but I would expect the school to have formalised it properly and for work experience kids not to be left on their own with the pupils.

Having said that, when I was at school a pair of 10 year olds would routinely be left in charge of a class of 35 junior infants while the teacher went to lunch. I don't remember how we controlled them, because I certainly couldn't do it now.

thirdfiddle · 30/05/2022 18:00

Work experience? DofE volunteering?
She will have been signed in in some officially capacity I'm sure, schools are quite secure these days, teachers don't get to just tag random teenagers along.

cansu · 30/05/2022 18:00

I literally have no idea why this would be an issue. Many schools have work experience students or visitors who are looking for experience before doing a teaching qualification. You are just looking for a problem where there isn't one.

TitoMojito · 30/05/2022 18:00

And no, they don’t need to tell you. It happens every year.

MrsAvocet · 30/05/2022 18:08

We're in England but it's just been year 10 work experience week at our local school and year 12 have their week next week. Primary schools are a very popular choice. To be honest, I don't think that going with her Mum is ideal for the girl herself - we arranged for my DD to go to a school where she didn't know anyone when she did the same thing - but there's nothing "wrong" with it, and it might be the only practical option for her.

motogirl · 30/05/2022 18:10

It's normal, work experience. My dd went to work with exh at university, my other dd went with a friends dd

2bazookas · 30/05/2022 18:20

Teenagers in Scottish state secondary schools are required to spend some term time in a work environment getting work experience. It's well regulated, and formally arranged by agreement between their school and the employers . See below. IME it's a hugely valuable experience. I've known kids turn very diverse work experience into their full time career.

<www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/work-placement-unit/>

DogsAndGin · 30/05/2022 18:26

In England - volunteers are allowed to come in and work with the children - as long as they’re accompanied by a DBS holder at all times. It allows us to have volunteers to come and listen to the children read, for example.

Toddlerteaplease · 30/05/2022 18:28

I did in in the school my mum taught in.

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