ok, ds2 claims the teacher pushed him, what can I expect to happen?

[kittywise]

Ds2(8) has a supply teacher covering for a teacher on maternity leave.
The class do not like the supply teacher, but I have said to ds2 that he just has to put up with it etc.
Today he came home and told me she had pushed him on the chest when telling him to sit back down.
Now he can be a naughty boy at times, not awful, just pushing the boundaries like many 8 year old boys, I am under no illusions.
After great questioning and giving him a chance to 'retract ' the statement I phoned the head and told him what ds had told me.
So, now what can I expect to happen?
I wish none of this had happened, either way it's a very tricky situation.

I think the head will talk to the supply teacher to get their viewpoint and then try to get some witnesses, preferably including a neutral adult. They will also probably talk directly to your DS. Then they will get back to you.
The follow-up will depend on what they find out from all parties.

What will happen if she denies it?

Has he come to any harm?
It's hardly abuse imo.

No but teachers are NOT allowed to touch children UNLESS for their own safety or the saftey of others. Pushing a child is illegal.
She clearly cannot control the class well, it's very worrying
ggirl, I take it you'd be happy for your dc's to be pushed by their teacher then?

Well if he was being naughty and not sitting down when he's told a gentle shove to get him to do so wouldn't worry me.

Pushing him on the chest whilst telling him to sit down is not pushing him so he falls sprawling on the floor though. There is a difference.

I would expect the head to have a word with the teacher, get their side and then report back to me.

I wouldn't expect there to be any disciplinary consequences beyond the teacher being "told off". I would be watching out for anything in the future though.

"No but teachers are NOT allowed to touch children UNLESS for their own safety or the saftey of others.". ey? so you're saying that a teacher is not allowed to take a child by the hand/put a hand on shoulder etc if child is upset/no touching? sorry but that's ludicress.

Is it possible that the teacher put her hand on your child to encourage him to sit down? I'm assuming she didn't push him to the ground? in which case I think you're overreacting, your ds should have done as he was told in the first place.

Check for details. Did she push him or put her hand on his chest?

If all she did was push him into the chair she'll be told not do do it again.

I doubt if she will be publically flayed or anything

What? Where? Sprawling on the floor? Have I missed something?

and imo all this "teachers are not allowed to touch children" attitude is the reason why children get away with murder in schools. I'm not saying that corporal punishment should be brought back or anything but teachers just don't have any power any more - it is the children that are ruling the schools and it's crap.

I totally agree.
Ds' teacher (reception )is always giving the kids a hug if they're upset and I see nothing wrong with that.

wannBE as ridiculous as you find it the law is that teachers are not allowed to touch childre, that's right and that includes holding ha hand, giving a cuddle etc.

I too find it ridiculous but it's the law none the less.

MB I checked again and again with him that it was not just a gentle laying on of hands to 'encourage' him to sit back down. He maintains it was a push backwards, she was standing up over him and he was kneeling down.
I am really amazed that the general concensus here is that it's ok for a teacher to push a child.
I actually don't think it's ok for anyone to push a child.

He is upset by it, but hey he wasn't hurt so who gives a damn? Oh apart from me

I think you're over reacting (like most people on here). Why didn't he sit down when he was asked?, do you think it's ok for him to defy the teacher? OK so he might be upset, do you think he might do as he's told next time?
FWIW at my boys school the teachers do hug the children, we were specifically asked when they started in reception if we wanted them physically comforting if upset, don't think anyone said no.

It's not against the law for teachers to touch children, that's just one of those things that gets repeated so often people start to believe it.

At all the three primary schools my various dc have been at, teachers have hugged or cuddled children or taken them on their knee. How can that be wrong? I'm sure the law can't be as straightforward as that.

And yes, I think you are over-reacting. If she'd pushed him to the floor or against a cupboard or something, I'd have an issue with that. A Y2 teacher once slapped dd1 across the face, and I made a formal complaint about that. But a gentle push to get him to sit down? I doubt my children would have even told me about it, they'd have assumed they were in the wrong themselves for not doing as they were told.

where does it say it's against the law for a teacher to touch a child in any way? where? because I don't believe it's illegal. because if it was, then:

children would not be allowed on school trips where they have to hold on to an adult's hand to cross roads.
would not be allowed to be administered to in the event of an accident in the playground.
would not be allowed to be helped when getting changed for PE or similar (talking reception age children here).

show me where it says that no teacher is allowed to have any physical contact with any child under any circumstances and I might believe it, but in the meantime I think that's patently untrue.

It is nearly impossible to not touch or lay hands on a class of 8 year olds in reality. Never mind the ones that walk into you, hug you etc. Imagine taking your children round the shops without ever having to steer them in the right direction. Pushing someone is different though. I can't imagine anyone having to push someone that hard to get them to sit down from a kneeling position. (Not defending the teacher as I don't know - just pondering.)

It's impossible to work in the classroom, especially ks1 and not touch children.
Today I must have touched every child in my class - with affection (either injured or in greeting), grabbing (stopping them falling in the playground, removing from a tangle of bodies), hand holding (helping them off equipment, 5 min punishment in the playground) etc etc.

well have googled and ... nope. Nowhere does it say it's illegal. Didn't think it would somehow.

agree it would be impossible in ks1 not to touch a child - have spent the morning in reception and have had numerous requests to "help me with my coat/my top (they did PE) and there is one child who doesn't respond well to verbal communication so has to be taken by the hand to sit on the carpet/at the table etc.

cannot be avoided.

he should have bloody well sat down when she asked him to in the first place!

rather than calling the head, I'd have made that incredibly clear to him TBH

I would be totally livid at my DS if he showed that kind of lack of respect then came home complaining

Now if he was bruised from some beating .. or had fallen over it would be a different matter

But don't you think you're taking the wrong tack here?

Of course teachers have to touch children.

However, it was something I was always told when i was teaching and my mother ( a head) has also said this, so we are both ill informed.

Ok then so you all think it was perfectly ok for the teacher to stand over my son and push him backwards.
Personally I would rather she didn't phyiscally bully my child.

In his school any kind of physical aggression is against the school rules.

Children are told that they are not allowed amoungst other things to shove another child
.
If she was a half way decent teacher she would use her voice to control him.

In all my years of teaching I NEVER had a need to control another child by pushing.

If I wanted a child to sit down I would tell him to.

Thankyou for you opinions. Let's hope you don't find yourselves in my schoes.

The accepted term amongst teachery types is that you're making a rod for your own back.