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Original poster

Horrible cover teacher

107 replies

HHN · 22/02/2024 16:30

So there’s a teacher in my children’s school she covers reception - year 4 one day a week. My son is in year 2 never had any issues with her he’s pretty laid back and nothing phases him. My daughter is in year 1 last year in reception she would have this teacher every Tuesday & every Tuesday she would get upset we spoke to her teacher a few times but nothing seemed to happen. She’s never got wrong off the teacher just the teacher shouts at people really loud when they’re naughty and even though she’s never shouted at my DD she scares her still. Beginning of year 1 her day with that teacher changed to a Wednesday & so every Wednesday she was getting upset we didn’t bother the teacher this time we went straight to the head teacher had a meeting and explained it all to her. She was lovely and ever since that nasty teacher has been nothing but overly nice to my DD she still shouts but I think she makes more of a friendly effort with my DD so she isn’t so scared anymore. Anyway after speaking to a few people in the school yard my DD isn’t the only one who this teacher scares her class on has 18 pupils and 6 of them I know have also had to complain about this teacher. Why is she allowed to get away with screaming, shouting and scaring 4 & 5 year olds.
What else could we do about this situation?

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Spirallingdownwards · 22/02/2024 16:36

Teacher slamming thread alert.

A 4 or 5 year old perception of shouting may just be a stern approach speaking up over noisy kids.

If she were screaming as you say other staff would know.

User56785 · 22/02/2024 16:42

Why is she allowed to get away with screaming, shouting and scaring 4 & 5 year olds.

So your dd is fine now but you have asked around in the playground anyway? Good plan. Whenever I resolve a situation I always subsequently try to make it worse again too.

What else could we do about this situation?
You could retrain as there is such a teacher shortage it would be very helpful.

Original poster
HHN · 22/02/2024 16:45

User56785 · 22/02/2024 16:42

Why is she allowed to get away with screaming, shouting and scaring 4 & 5 year olds.

So your dd is fine now but you have asked around in the playground anyway? Good plan. Whenever I resolve a situation I always subsequently try to make it worse again too.

What else could we do about this situation?
You could retrain as there is such a teacher shortage it would be very helpful.

Very helpful of you.

OP posts:
fedupandstuck · 22/02/2024 16:48

There is nothing you can do about this situation. If your child is now ok with this teacher then that's the end of your concern. Teachers get observed and assessed by their senior management regularly and they will no doubt be aware of the areas that each teacher needs to improve on. But that is something that is between the teacher and their employer, and it's totally inappropriate for you or other parents to be interfering in that.

Original poster
HHN · 22/02/2024 16:48

Spirallingdownwards · 22/02/2024 16:36

Teacher slamming thread alert.

A 4 or 5 year old perception of shouting may just be a stern approach speaking up over noisy kids.

If she were screaming as you say other staff would know.

I couple of weeks after I spoke to the head teacher I over heard another mam out of my DD’s class speaking about the same teacher to someone else. A bunch of 5 year olds aren’t going to all make up this lie about a teacher and all say the same thing unless it’s true.

OP posts:
Original poster
HHN · 22/02/2024 16:49

fedupandstuck · 22/02/2024 16:48

There is nothing you can do about this situation. If your child is now ok with this teacher then that's the end of your concern. Teachers get observed and assessed by their senior management regularly and they will no doubt be aware of the areas that each teacher needs to improve on. But that is something that is between the teacher and their employer, and it's totally inappropriate for you or other parents to be interfering in that.

i think it’s 1 million percent appropriate when our children are involved.

OP posts:
Countrygirlxo · 22/02/2024 16:51

Have you ever tried to reach a class of 4 and 5 year olds?
This is an age where boundaries are set and at this age if there are no boundaries kids will walk all over you so big voices sometimes need to be used.

fedupandstuck · 22/02/2024 16:52

No it's really not. You can speak to the teacher about your child. If your child is now ok then you have no business listening to playground conversations and then taking that back to the teacher or to the senior leadership.

Original poster
HHN · 22/02/2024 16:55

fedupandstuck · 22/02/2024 16:52

No it's really not. You can speak to the teacher about your child. If your child is now ok then you have no business listening to playground conversations and then taking that back to the teacher or to the senior leadership.

I haven’t listened to playground conversations and took anything back to the teacher so not sure what part of the thread you read that on?
I’m pretty sure if my child shouted in someone’s face and made them cry she’d get wrong so what kind of example is the silly woman showing

OP posts:
Original poster
HHN · 22/02/2024 16:57

Countrygirlxo · 22/02/2024 16:51

Have you ever tried to reach a class of 4 and 5 year olds?
This is an age where boundaries are set and at this age if there are no boundaries kids will walk all over you so big voices sometimes need to be used.

Yeah Is there not a better way of dealing with this than shouting and scaring half of the class? The normal class teacher & teaching assistant manage this fine

OP posts:
Countrygirlxo · 22/02/2024 17:03

The normal teacher and TA will have authority over the kids they will know how to behave with the familiar faces, the kids tend to play up for cover teachers and try push buttons and test boundaries.

fedupandstuck · 22/02/2024 17:03

The point is that you as a parent cannot know about or interfere in the professional development of a teacher.

If you think there is a continuing issue for your child in this teacher's class then you take it up with that teacher. If you aren't happy with the outcome of that then you take it up with the Head. If you're not happy with the way the Head deals with it, then you can take it to the governors. At that point, you could think about changing schools if you are unhappy with how they are dealing with your child and it hasn't yet been resolved.

Meadowy · 22/02/2024 17:05

OP - different teachers have different personalities, this is something children gave to get used to. Children’s perception of shouting may just be that the other teacher has a naturally louder voice, or is a bit stricter. Maybe she had to speak sternly to your child once, or your child overheard her speaking very firmly to a child who was doing something dangerous? Who knows? It’s very unlikely that they ‘scream and shout’ at the children, though. Maybe they aren’t a warm and cuddly sort of person? Anyway your child has got used to them now so it’s a non issue.

SingsongSu · 22/02/2024 17:11

If this teacher were inadequate then she would have been fired by now. Schools cannot afford to have rubbish teachers on their books and a one/two day a week job would be sought after so easily replaceable. If a teacher was really screaming, shouting and scaring children then they would not be there.

You should give the school and the HT the benefit of the doubt. I’m thinking the usual teacher is perhaps quieter in personality which makes the difference in teaching style noticeable to the children perhaps. They may be a little more strict, perhaps they do raise their voice. Hardly an offence that deserves getting the sack which seems to be what you want to happen. If you don’t want to accept the HTs decision then you’ll have to choose a different school.

LittleBrenda · 22/02/2024 17:14

You are being quite frantic on this thread.

You've said you have spoken to people in the playground then you said you overheard one woman but then you said you haven't listened to playground conversations.

Your own daughter is completely fine with the teacher now.

Original poster
HHN · 22/02/2024 17:19

fedupandstuck · 22/02/2024 17:03

The point is that you as a parent cannot know about or interfere in the professional development of a teacher.

If you think there is a continuing issue for your child in this teacher's class then you take it up with that teacher. If you aren't happy with the outcome of that then you take it up with the Head. If you're not happy with the way the Head deals with it, then you can take it to the governors. At that point, you could think about changing schools if you are unhappy with how they are dealing with your child and it hasn't yet been resolved.

Could you not have just said that in the first place instead of all your awkward replies. I don’t gossip in the yard or tell anyone my business I also don’t send my child to school to be unhappy a whole day once a week just because a teacher can’t do her job properly and control her class. She had these same 18 children in her care once a week for over a year now and still has to shout in their faces and make them cry. Somethings not right

OP posts:
CwmYoy · 22/02/2024 17:20

Playground gossip. Get a grip.

No wonder teachers are leaving in droves.

fedupandstuck · 22/02/2024 17:23

So, is your child still unhappy or are they now ok?

weefella · 22/02/2024 17:27

I'm not entirely sure what you want people to say.

You've said that your son has never had a problem with this particular teacher

The Head is already aware that your daughter felt scared. They have spoken to the teacher and now she is always very nice to your child.

And now you want to take further action because you overheard a conversation with another parent? I suppose you could go back to the Head and say that you've heard someone else talking in the playground. I'm not sure what the Head would be able to do with that information though.

SingsongSu · 22/02/2024 17:38

HHN · 22/02/2024 17:19

Could you not have just said that in the first place instead of all your awkward replies. I don’t gossip in the yard or tell anyone my business I also don’t send my child to school to be unhappy a whole day once a week just because a teacher can’t do her job properly and control her class. She had these same 18 children in her care once a week for over a year now and still has to shout in their faces and make them cry. Somethings not right

Show quote history

Gaaah!! Shout in their faces?!
OP you’re not listening to anyone. Something’s not right here - Yep your reaction.

Nightblindness · 22/02/2024 17:45

Here's an idea for you. How about volunteering to help out in the classroom? Then you can observe the teacher first hand. You may find that, in fact, she is not shouting in the children's faces. Or you may find that she is struggling a bit with unruly behaviour, in which case, as an extra pair of hands, you will undoubtedly be able to help out. One way or another, you will doubtless gain a new appreciation of what it is to be a teacher these days.

Original poster
HHN · 22/02/2024 17:46

Nightblindness · 22/02/2024 17:45

Here's an idea for you. How about volunteering to help out in the classroom? Then you can observe the teacher first hand. You may find that, in fact, she is not shouting in the children's faces. Or you may find that she is struggling a bit with unruly behaviour, in which case, as an extra pair of hands, you will undoubtedly be able to help out. One way or another, you will doubtless gain a new appreciation of what it is to be a teacher these days.

Or I might find she’s a bully

OP posts:
Original poster
HHN · 22/02/2024 17:46

CwmYoy · 22/02/2024 17:20

Playground gossip. Get a grip.

No wonder teachers are leaving in droves.

Very helpful thanks

OP posts:
Nightblindness · 22/02/2024 17:47

HHN · 22/02/2024 17:46

Or I might find she’s a bully

Show quote history

Yes, but at least then you will be able to go to the head with your eye witness experience, rather than relying on a child's perception (which can be unreliable) or playground gossip.

Shinyandnew1 · 22/02/2024 17:48

She was lovely and ever since that nasty teacher has been nothing but overly nice to my DD

What else could we do about this situation

Nothing. Your issue has been brought to the attention of the head and resolved. The head is aware and they will choose to manage staff appropriately. If other parents are not happy and want to speak to the teacher/head, they can do so if they wish.