Opinions please regarding teacher absent at pre prep school

[classic62]

Just wanted to ask opinion of others regarding my little one's school. About five weeks before Easter we were told teacher was going to have operation and would be off for three weeks plus Easter hols. The day we broke up we were told that they were now unsure as to when she would return. The supply teacher it now appears spent only one day with the children prior to her working fulltime and obviously is not the same as the permanent teacher. We know find out that this teacher is away and they will have someone else next week. My little one seems to be fine but handful of mothers have been to complain....I guess the main thing is that the children are safe,happy and developing but I can't help feeling unsettled as to lack of communication by the school....little one is five so in fulltime education...what are your opinions!

I think the teacher is quite ill (obviously, as she wouldn't have been off work for 5 weeks) and she can't say for sure when she's going to be better.

And the school can only relay information to you if they get it from her.

Illness is not a predicable science unfortunately.

I think these things happen and tbh the school seems to be covering her absence as best they can. It is not unheard of to have different teacher everyday so I think you should consider yourselves lucky to have had a supply who could cover for so long.

If she was in state school she would get a supply teacher in probably at least once a fortnight, it would be a different person each time and sometimes if the school was being cheap they would be covered by a Higher Level Teaching Assistant instead.

I think she'll probably be fine. And it is not possible to have her normal teacher as she's ill, and it can't be helped. These things happen.

Thanks for opinion....teacher had foot operation which is taking longer to heal than originally thought...and the end of day there is nothing I can do about it...just didn't quite understand why mothers were so upset!

The ideal is for the school to know exactly how long the permanent teacher will be off and to get an experienced teacher in to cover the absence.

Without knowing the reason for the second teacher's departure, it is hard to make a comment.

Is the replacement teacher coming back, or is she gone for good?

If they can't get a replacement for any length of time, then they should rejig the current staff, eg the head of school should take the class as much as possible.

When I was returning to teaching, I did cover in a prep school for a long-term absence. This was after a few weeks of their regular supply teacher, and lessons prepped and marked by the absent teacher. When I came for my first week, I still had committments elsewhere, so was stop and start for a couple of weeks. The headmaster kept the parents fully informed of the situation.

The supply teacher had a pre arranged holiday and I believe she will be back but some parents seem to think she lacks people skills and the children are not as enthusiastic as they had been previously . I also believe that are not happy with the general discipline in the class.....how they are so aware of this I am not sure....but it has just given me food for thought!

The supply teacher may well have had a prebooked holiday arranged before taking on the cover work, which has to be honoured. Similarly if she had already had a week's supply already booked in elsewhere.

The thing about the proper teacher is unfortunate but not much anyone can do about it. A early and half ago I had an operation and told work I'd be away for a week - I was off for 7 weeks, and had to also tell work I would have another 3 weeks after that and a similar time off again (was actually 9 weeks the next time). These things happen. It is no one's fault.

Sadly some parents are very quick to complain, rather than just seeking further clarification from school. Not sure what they exect toa chieve from school witht heir compaints, or what they want school to do about it. At least school have provided one consistent supply teacher thus far - more than happens in some schools.

Perhaps the Headteacher could do more to reassure the parents.

All it takes is a letter saying what they are doing is 'best practice' according to their professional body (eg IAPS). No one can really argue with that.