Would this worry you?

[CrispsandCheeseSandwich]

DD1 started in reception in September in a school with two classes per year.
They've just told us that both the reception teachers are leaving at Christmas (along with another teacher further up in the school). One of the reception teachers was new this year, replacing a previous reception teacher who left. The other reception teacher has worked there 20 years.

I guess I have 2 concerns.
Firstly that this isn't a great sign for the school, to lose these teachers, particularly after another reception teacher left in July.
And secondly, and this is my major concern, that they won't be able to replace these teachers. There was another thread on here this week about a child with no teacher and having a TA (maybe a specific type of TA?) instead, and the comments seemed to suggest this wasn't massively uncommon given the teacher shortage. Will they really be able to get 2 new reception teachers by January?

Would this worry you? And if so, how much? I mean, would you consider moving schools if there was no reception teacher? Or is it just one of those things and it will be fine?

It wouldn't worry me until I contacted the head and asked what the plan is.

I wouldn't worry yet.

If this is normal retention issues, I'd wait for the replacement. If no replacement comes, then have a rethink.

I'd be surprised at 2 teachers leaving that quickly, notice.periods are normally longer.

It wouldn't worry me until I contacted the head and asked what the plan is.

They've emailed us to say they're currently working to recruit replacements and will let us know when they have an update so I doubt there's any further info available.

I'd be surprised at 2 teachers leaving that quickly, notice.periods are normally longer.

It's three teachers, the two receptions ones plus a year 3 teacher, all leaving at Christmas. Obviously I don't know when they actually resigned though, just when the school told us about it.

They will have resigned before half term.

There are three deadlines for resigning as a teacher. Basically you have to give half a terms notice, not including holidays.

So resign by Oct half term to leave at Xmas, feb half term to leave at Easter, and may half term to leave in July.

So your school will not be able to recruit from other schools for a January start (resignation date has passed) and will either recruit from people currently on supply or get someone (three someones) in from an agency on li g term supply.

The good news is that unlike the previous thread, if a teacher is off sick the school has to pay the teacher off sick AND her replacement; in this case that doesn't apply so they will have money for wages.

Anecdotally I have heard that reception classes are becoming more and more challenging - more non-verbal children, more non- toilet trained children, many more children with SEN. Because of the way the process to support kids with SEN works, you have to show they can't cope in a normal classroom environment before they can get support - so reception classes are full of SEN kids not coping. This has an obvious impact on the teachers.

As a teacher this certainly does seem unusual, has there been any changes in SLT (new head, new EYFS lead?) as perhaps there’s been a clash with management or a new policy brought in that those staff are unhappy with. I don’t think you’d need to panic but I’d definitely keep an eye on things. Hopefully they can hire someone or at least get consistent supply.

It depends why they are leaving really. There's loads of non worrying reasons... relocation, maternity leave, retirement and promotion for example.

If its because they are unhappy with the school, then yes I'd be worried.

@Octavia64 is absolutely correct.
Where I live recruitment is very challenging.