Student teacher taking my sons Reception class.........

[jess287]

My son is 4 and started Reception part time in September (mornings only) This suited him perfectly as he is a summer baby and will only turn 5 after the school year has ended.
His teacher was my daughters Reception teacher 2 years previously and she had just returned from her maternity leave when my son started school. I was very pleased about this as I have a lot of respect for her as a teacher and I knew that she would be good for my son as he is a handful (suspected ADHD) and he needs a firm hand
In January the class went full time but we were not informed that the class teacher was going part time (3 days a week) I have no problem with this arrangement and in fact I teach part time myself and so would prefer to have my sons class teacher to have a happy work/life balance. I am however quite angry that we were not told about this - we only found out because the TA let it slip to my husband during a conversation.
I am quite angry that the Monday and Friday that the teacher is not there the class are being led by an unsupervised student teacher. I feel that the school is trying to keep these facts from the parents and would just like anyones opinions especially if they know whether or not it is legal for the school to be using a student teacher in this way? I am concerned about the amount of teaching time my son is getting (especially as his class teacher is also the Deputy Head so her duties will be spread during the 3 days she is in school)
I really would like to know if anyone feels I am wrong to be concerned as we have a parents evening tomorrow and I feel it is an opportunity to bring it up with the class teacher, but I am worried that I wil be treated as a bit of a moaner
Any comments would be appreciated! Many thanks, Jess

I would ask the school for proper information. It is unlikely that they are making use of a student as cheap/free labour, cold it be that he/she is a scitt student on long placement? Or PGCE? Still, that is a heavy teaching load for someone learning about it and barely 2/3s through the yr!!
If the teacher is also the Deputy head (or in our school she is also acting head 3 days a week), then they will have adequate provision already in place surely? In DS's case (last yr when his teacher was still deputy head), the teacher did do a job share, but was around for the whole week (so doing dep duties). If this is so, then maybe they have another teacher for the times when his class teacher is not in, and the student is there at those times too.

I'd definitely mention your concerns. It isn't moaning, you just want to be sure your DS and the other children get consistency!

when you say student teacher what do you mean?

do you mean someone on a GTP? (graduate teacher program - train on the job course)

Do you mean the 2 days are being covered by a student who is at university but has been placed at the school to do their Teaching Practice?

Or do you mean someone who is a newly qualified teacher, sometimes called a probationer?

Or possibly someone who has finished thie rteacher training course but not officially graduated - I did lots of supply when my lectures were over and I was just writing my dissertation.

In each of these cases it is legal for that person to be taking the class.

The way the school have treated you by not telling you in advance what would be happening is wrong.

Thanks for your replies. To be honest I am unsure as to what the situation is with the trainee teacher. Thay always have a student teacher in Reception at the school, they are usually PGCE and I have never had a problem with it as they were usually taking the class for a session (morning or afternoon)and were observed by the class teacher.
I think I will just have to bite the bullet and ask exactly what the situation is! I really do resent having to ask though, I really feel that it is wrong to keep the parents in the dark.

unlikely that tp student would be doing two days for the rest of the school year?

just call and ask - or ask to meet with the other job-share teacher on a day she is in. do they have a handover day? (or a period when both are in for continuity purposes?) they should do - you could ask to meet up with them both briefly at this time so that you are reassured that the sn side is being monitored etc.

it shouldn't be a problem really. unlikely that a head would be using an unqualified stand-in. i do remember being a bit nervy with a couple of nqts, but it was all fine.

job share worked really well for ds actually - and in some situations it can be helpful for an sn child to get used to a firm hand from different people lol - that way there isn't such a problem with absences etc.

I honestly do not have a problem with a jobshare, my daughter is in Year 2 at the same school and her teachers jobshare perfectly well, they are both approachable and are both up to date with her progress whenever I speak to them, I feel she benefits from two different styles of teaching and areas of expertise.
I just feel uneasy that this situation seems to be being kept 'under wraps' and that worries me

It does sound like very bad communication from the school. We picked our school up on it at the start of the academic year when DD's designated teacher didn't materialise, but a supply teacher did. As a result a letter was sent out explaining the situation.

Since then, school have been pretty good at kkeeping us informed of things, and in fact, tthis afternoon I have been at a meeting for parents regarding staffing changes at Easter (which just happen to affect all 3 of my DC!).

I think in most things, I am less concerned about what people are doing (it's probably fine), but I do like to know what they are doing.

jess you just need to ask.

Sometimes schools feel that parents don't need to know every last detail of all the arrangements made by them and parnts will trust that the school and staff use their professional judgement.

Trainee teachers have to take over the teaching at some point, when I was doing my PGCE I had a 3 week placement in two schools (so 6 wks in total) where I had to do the majority of the teaching, and the teacher would make use of this time by leaving me to teach while he or she got on with planning, report writing, assesments etc.

Just talk to the school. No doubt they will put your mind at ease.

oh, quite - does sound a bit weird that they haven't sent a letter out explaining the plan (has always happened if there has been a mid-year change with our tribe) - was just wondering if a more pro-active stance with the school (ie arranging a meeting at an appropriate time) might get to the heart of the matter?

or just call the head or c of g and ask them to clarify for the year group, as there is parental concern in the playground... (always a winner lol)

Thanks Purpleturtle, I dont feel its unreasonable to know what the situation is! Ultimately my son is happy at school and for me that is the main thing, especially with him being so young.
Maybe the school just dont realise how frustrating it is for the parents not to know the staff they are handing their children over to each day. Im pretty sure that they arent doing anything legally wrong, but it would just be nice to know!! I suppose as I work in a school and see some of the sneaky things that go on from time to time I am quite cynical!!

ha ha I like the 'parental concern in the playground' line!!

Yes I will definitely ask tomorrow, thank you all for giving me the courage to speak up!!

Jess

You should definitely contact the school and ask - it's important that you are comfortable with how the school is dealing with this.

I'm actually on the other side of this sort of situation at the moment. I used to teach full time in a local secondary school, but stopped three years ago when I had my DTs. For the past half term, I've been doing part time supply (same days every week, same classes) covering for an English teacher who is off sick. I know that after Easter, I will no longer be doing that, as the Head of Performing Arts (my old job) is leaving, and so I'm going to be taking on that job instead, for the same days I currently teach English. So far, the school doesn't know who is going to be teaching the English classes, and so neither the students or their parents have been told about the change of staff. I feel very strongly that this is wrong, given that two of the classes I currently teach are exam classes. Thing is, it's not my place to tell the students, particularly given that I have very little concrete to tell them.

For this reason, OP, I think you must call someone senior at your DS's school and ask them to explain, rather than approach the class teacher - she may feel unsure about how to explain the situation, particularly if she is being asked to teach class unsupervised when she should be supported by a regular member of staff.