Bad feeling about supply teacher

[christmaslover88]

I want to start by saying I don't want to be "that parent" but I have some concerns. ds started reception in September. The school is fab and the teachers all seem really amazing. He's very happy there and always excited to go

Yesterday I dropped him off and his normal class teacher was there. However, when he got home he told me his normal teacher had to leave as her baby was poorly (absolutely no issue with this, kids get sick, it's really tough for working parents) and they had a supply teacher for the rest of the day. Ds talked about the teacher, he's 4 so no concept of what makes a good/bad teacher so it was all just general chat about the day. Not one thing he said sat right with me

• DS was unwell over the weekend with a stomach bug. He last vomited Sunday afternoon so I kept him off Monday and Tuesday due to the 48h rule. Somehow the supply teacher knew he'd been off sick. She told him he was "still poorly" because he had a cough. It's fucking winter, everyone has a cough. I'm not keeping a perfectly healthy 4 year old off school because he coughed a couple of times
• She told him off for coughing into his hand not his elbow because he "would spread germs". I've made a point during covid not to make ds paranoid about germs and teach hand washing and covering mouth when coughing without putting a negative spin on it. I saw far too many toddlers scared of germs due to lockdown and parents driving the point home too negatively
• She didn't take her coat off the whole time she was there. I know it's cold but the school is really warm. This one might be petty but it just doesn't sit right with me
• She sat them all down on the carpet to discuss "things we don't do at school". I appreciate this could have been prompted by poor behaviour, but the normal class teachers have never had to do this sit down chat
• They spent the afternoon watching Hey Duggee. I'm not against tv in school (I know they watch numberblocks as part of their maths lessons) but it doesn't sound like this was linked to a lesson, just a way for the supply teacher to avoid teaching
• They weren't allowed to play outside. Reception have their own outside area connected to their classroom and it is normally free flow in and out in the afternoon. They all have coats, waterproof trousers and wellies in school

Obviously I understand the class teacher had to leave suddenly and it's not easy to get a good supply teacher at short notice like this, but not one thing ds told me was (in my eyes) a positive. Would you mention it to the school or just let it go? To be clear, I wouldn't be complaining or anything, just sending an email saying this is what ds told me. The school may not know what she was like or how the day unfolded if no one else was around

Happy to be told it's not a big deal or to not get involved, it's my first term with a child at school and definitely don't want to be difficult but I just felt she wasn't up to the school's normal high standards

yabu she doesnt need to do such a great job. shes a supply teacher not fricking mary poppins! keep an eye on any info your son gives sure but everything youve typed sounds like she just isnt perfect, Nothing wrong with that!!!

You were not in the classroom and did not witness any of this.

What you have heard has been described to you as a 4 year old - and not matter how truthful and honesty - does not have perspective or context.

Most of the things you have listed are pretty reasonable.

You have said you are happy to be told its not a big deal - its not.
You have said you are happy to be told not to get involved - don't.

Find your inner Elsa and Let it Go!

In KS1 science we have to teach about hygiene, specifically the spread of germs so if he doesn't hear it in Reception he will be hearing it in the next couple of years.

You are actually very fortunate to have got a supply teacher. Most absences on our school are covered by scrabbling for whatever available TA. Outdoor free flow is not available if adult ratios are down. But please do make a complaint about the teacher wearing their coat - I would be amused to hear the reaction to that!

I thought it was going to something awful the teacher had done! I wouldn’t bother about any of these. The cough/ill one might be linked to her coat-wearing - perhaps she’s not 100% well herself. This could also explain the not going outside. I did supply once when I was still recovering from an illness and I told them that on the phone, but they didn’t care and just wanted me there. They even suggested I could do an easy day.

Post partum makes you think/do some crazy af things OP - one afternoon of less than perfect schooling wont hurt your son in the long run. Yeah the supply doesn’t seem amazing but this is a non-issue; I reckon you probably would know this in other non hormonal times.

Give your kids over to whoever can watch them, run yourself a hot bath and pop on some nice music 💐

No wonder teachers are leaving in droves and there is a crisis in recruitment into the profession.

I think she sounds fine. School still have very strict hygine rules and i know that the coughing thing is rife at the minute so she is probably trying to keep them safe.
No issue with coat. She might have been cold.
Rule setting and boundaries are good... start as she means to go on.

Reception teacher and a mum.

Firstly, schools, particularly Reception classes get very cold. I often wear gillets and scarves indoors. No idea why this bothers you.

Outdoors- it is freezing today and maybe there wasn't enough children wanting to go outside to warrant an adult bring outside.

Hey Duggee- not the end of the world and I'm sure it wasn't the whole afternoon. For one thing, the children would get bored and it would be difficult to keep them on the carpet for that long.

Sitting on the carpet- sounds like a gentle approach to address issues.

I’m going to bet that Hey Duggee was on for break time if they didn’t get out today. I often put on a cartoon and have toys out when it’s an indoor play. Today was the same as the playground was too slippy.
Tbh she is quite right to tell him to cough into his elbow and give a reason why. It was a teaching moment and she was doing just that.
Getting them out to the carpet is a great way to get to know them and set her expectations.
Commenting on him being unwell - she may/may not have been told he was absent. He may have been coughing and she asked was he feeling ok. Next thing 29 little voices shouting he’s just been off, all desperate to be the one to deliver the news.
It may not have been a supply teacher but a teacher from elsewhere in the school who normally provides cover. It is hard enough to get supply never mind someone coming in after 9am.
The only part of the whole thing that rings alarm bells for me is her keeping her jacket on! Schools are so hot and stuffy, I’m surprised she didn’t pass out!
You have a lot going on just now and having your first child at school can be very scary. As both a mum and teacher, I worried so much about my DD and would be playing over things she said in my head. I’ve taught the early years many times and know what to expect!

She told him he was "still poorly" because he had a cough. It's fucking winter, everyone has a cough. I'm not keeping a perfectly healthy 4 year old off school because he coughed a couple of times
Why the aggression? She didn't say he should have stayed off school. Just correctly pointed out he's not fully better yet.
She was probably wearing a blazer or jacket. A 4 year old wouldn't necessarily know the difference between that and a winter coat
Nothing wrong with her telling him to cough into his elbow or speaking to them about what not to do

Why on earth does it matter if she kept her coat on!?

He probably forgot to cover his mouth when he coughed like 4 year olds often do

Honestly, I hope some of you aren't parents, your poor kids growing up with this example!
The irony.

Child been off all week.
Child returns to school still recovering but fine to be at school.
Supply teacher hears him cough and shows concern to the TA about the child who explains child has been off all week and is feeling better but still not quite right.
Supply teacher keeps an eye on recovering child and shows sympathy when he coughs.
Parent complains.

I'm a supply teacher.

I'm quite often in a situation where things don't run smoothly through no fault of my own. Things like not being able to go outside because you need a key fob or a code to get out a locked door.

My agency give me a choice of schools on the days I want to work. That's how short of teachers the UK is. I've been in a classroom where the dinner lady was the only person with a year two class the day before.

At least your child had a teacher. Even if she kept her coat on.

It's early school years, try not to worry.

DDs year 6 supply teacher shouted at the class all day for petty things (eg not all standing behind their chairs and saying good morning to her - they didn't know they had to, it's not that kind of school) and failed to explain the maths properly. Even the kids who are usually fine with maths in class were struggling.
Luckily she's only there for a day.

Save your battles for the big stuff. Teachers do vary but in our exp the majority have been really committed and talented.

Please do no send email. All of the things you have mentioned sound really petty.

My 4 year old once told me they didn't have any toys out at nursery that day. Another time he told me there wasn't lunch that day. 4 year olds are not reliable witnesses.

No, I disagree. She should absolutely send an email to the head of a school telling them that she has a bad feeling and that things 'don't sit right'. The head will be most interested I'm sure with these insightful comments.

I do feel for you OP, when it’s all new to you, but schools are bonkers at this point in the term and staff sickness has been high so people have been covering all over the school. I’m a teacher - mainly KS2, but have done a little KS1 but put me in EYFS and I would probably stand in the middle of the room and cry! They are tiny and have a completely different curriculum from anything I’ve taught before. Tbh they would be lucky if they didn’t end up watching CBeebies all day as I wouldn’t have a clue!

She kept her coat on 😂😂 omg please email that one

You aren't even a term in and you are already up in arms. Thirty eight terms to go.

I am really relieved to get to the end of reading your posts only OP to see that you have realised you are feeling irrational. Until then I was thinking you were 100% that parent, because your concerns really are petty.

Maybe your ds didn’t come across positively about the supply teacher because he didn’t feel very positive about his teacher having to leave and someone new being in his classroom and he would have felt that way no matter how wonderful the teacher was.