Class teacher left, new one started got ill and DS has had various supply staff or half days from obviously ill teacher.

[figleaf]

Is there any point going in to speak to the head?

Part of me thinks she'll say "what can I do, staff get ill". Part of me wants her to know how anxious these wasted weeks are making me and DS.

The behaviour in the class is deteriorating too. Little things are creeping into DS's descriptions of his day like "X and Y are a team and they spend the day trying to steal more pencils than P and Q's team". DS has gone through more pencils in the last 3 weeks than in the whole of last year. Also a special needs child in the class (who has thus far done really well in the class) has been trapped in the loo by some of the boys because too many of them were allowed out to the loo together and decided (in a lord of the flies manner) to have some fun at his expense. As the child can't speak he became very upset and knocked the loo door off it's hinges. This would not have happened with his old teacher.

Since Jan 7th ,when they started back at school, they have done practically no work. DS has been told OFTEN that "as you have all been so good you can have extra play/golden time". This tells me that even when the teacher is in she isn't operating on full power or perhaps hasn't done her prep. The supply staff are a mixed bag too. One mainly does colouring in. Another does Maths with them that is seriously easy and with all of them he has only had his reading book changed twice in 3 weeks. He normally reads 2 - 3 books a week.
My DH says he's only 6 and it doesn't really matter what happens at school at this age but I don't agree.

Honestly,honestly should I chill out or go in for a chat with the head?

I very much doubt that the head can do anything.

If it would make you feel better, you could have a chat, but I would assume the head would say just what you posted.

What do you think the head could do?

loo thing should be sorted for safety reasons

Tbh in this instance I would phone up and have a word with HT. If nothing else it means the HT can say to the class teacher that concerned parents have been phoning in, and if Teach is not well enough to be in, it would be more helpful all round to sign off sick for a period of time and get in reliable supply, so the children are not missing out.

By "half days from obviously ill teacher" do you mean she comes in in the morning, then goes home sick during the day? If teachers do this it is very hard for management to arrange effective cover for the classes.

Yes roisin, in during the morning then off ill. I know martianbishop is right that she can't do much but I'd have thought that rather than letting the supply staff do colouring in etc she might set more appropriate work herself. I don't want to be the pain in the a**e parent but the way things are going this half term will be a right off.

DH just come home and told me to chill out about it.

In these circumstances HTs often feel their hands are tied, and there's little they can say to member of staff who "feels ill". But what they really need is a bit of ammunition in the form of "some parents have phoned in to complain. They are asking would it not be better for ill teacher to stay off, so that school can arrange to have a supply teacher in who can plan the lessons and ensure the class are covering the work they need to, rather than just emergency fill-in material".

Do it! I would. There are some things that it's worth getting a "pushy" label over.

Yes I think so roisin, Going to have a chat this morning with the head if she is not too busy. If I can't I`ll make an appt' for later.

Spoken to head.
She is aware that the children have basically been babysat and has told the teacher that she must either be in or be signed off sick so that a supply can be brought in.
She was unaware of the problem with the special needs child but said she would look into it plus the pencil stealing game.
I'll just have to leave it a while now and see how things go.

Figleaf - I hope they get this sorted out soon. An odd day or so 'babysitting' is OK, but on and off for 3 weeks and more is completely unreasonable.

Sounds like a positive meeting anyway ..?

Think so. I'm going to monitor things this week then see her again if I'm not happy.

We are in the new half term now. On Monday we all got class news letters dated Jan 7th. In it she explains that the kids will have Language sheet on Monday. Maths on Wed and read twice a week in school and at home. As it was Monday I expected a language sheet but no. The only sheet not filled in in the booklet could not be done by DS as he hasn't read the associated book yet. All bar 3 of the other sheets were unmarked. His Maths folder was in the Homework pack too. It wasn't wed so I didn't think he would have Maths but I checked through it anyway. It too was unmarked. I wrote a note and put it in the folder saying I was confused as to which shet she wanted DS to do and I mentioned the unmarked work (I gave her some wiggle room by asking if DS been handing it in on the wrong day or to the wrong place). That was Monday, today is Thursday and still no reply. We did have a maths sheet to do last night and when we opened DS folder my note was STILL there. Probably unread (along with any homework he has done since Jan).
The Maths he is doing is Baby Maths eg 12 - 2 = ?, 14 - 4 = ?, 17 - 7 = ? etc and his reading books are still too easy and not being changed frequently enough. Every month his old teacher was here he read an average of 7 books. Since we have had this woman he has has 2 an month.

Is it time to officially complain now or should I give the head another go at sorting it?

bump

It has been a month since you went to see the head and standards have fallen further ? Inform the school of your intention to make an official complaint and then do it ! I understand that absense through sickness is unavoidable and blameless, but someone has to take responsabililty for the mess your ds class is clearly in. I really would not hesitate to complain if I were in your situation.I know you want to maintain a good relationship with the school but they are not providing the service they should be. Im sure your dh would be happy to complain about unsatisfactory service in a consumer situation, and this is your ds education !

See the head. You can be understanding re teacher's illness but explain what the difficulties/problems are and leave it with him.

Have you been in to talk to the teacher? I would do this before going over her head to the Head - if you see what I mean.

You never see the teacher seeker. She is in on the bell then off. I did send her the note I mentioned above but she hasn't read it, or has read it but blanked me. I feel a bit sick this morning because I wrote the head a letter yesterday (after posting on MN) listing all the difficulties as I saw them. I said it was a formal complaint letter mummyoffrankie but I'm not really sure what I mean by that (except I dont want to be put off by a vague promise that it will get better). I'm taking the boys in to school now so I'm just wondering what will happen now

Oh well, then I think you've done the right thing.You've given her the opportunity to talk to you about it, and she hasn't taken it.

I hate it when I hear of primary school teachers not being available to parents either before or after school. So many minor incidents develop into major one because there isn't the chance to sort them out early.

you have done the right thing, dont feel embarrased or anxious about making a complaint, it is your absolute right.you have given them multiple opportunities to address your concerns and they have failed to do so. im sure they would be more concerned with the situation if ofsted arrived for an inspection. good luck and i hope things improve.

No response this morning but I imagine as I wrote to the head she may write back to me.I have found out that another parent put a note in the H/W wallet on Monday and they also have not had a response. Perhaps I'll get a letter at pick up time. Failing that I'm on the School Council (bit like governors but in Scotland)so I'll bring it up there. The council has been doing a survey of parent attitudes to the school and various policies. We've had a 20% return on the survey but more from my sons class. 3 parents have specifically mentioned the lack of routine and H/W now the old teacher has left.The head hasn't seen the results yet but I may give them to her on Monday (strength in numbers and all that).

Got a written reply from head that was quite sympathetic. She showed the teacher my letter last night and was going to dicuss it with her today but the teacher if off ill again.

Says it all really, guess I can kiss goodbye to this half term too

I'm a bit confused about why you're concerned about a six-year-old not getting homework; my Y2 gets virtually none, and that's the way I like it.

Its not really the homework motherinferior, that was just the most obvious thing that changed when the old teacher left. Its the lack of reading, nothing being marked, all the stories coming home that "we were all so good we had extra free time" and the Maths that our cat could do let alone my P2 child. They have spent 4 of the last 7 weeks not knowing who would teach them the next day (or if they would stay the whole day) and one of the other 3 weeks was half term!

Hmm, yes, I do see but I do also think well it's bearable at this stage, tbh. But then I am a notorious slacker when it comes to education.

My husband agrees with you Motherinferior b.t.w. For the last 7 weeks he's been asking me what I learned the term after Christmas in Y2. When I say I cant remember he says 'there you go then'.

I thought your main concern was the behaviour of the class and the continuity. And the fact that the teacher ignored you and wasn't available to talk after school. I really wouldn't be worried about homework if I were you!