Combining classes for cover

[donquixotedelamancha]

I have been directed (by email) to teach both my class and another colleague's class at the same time, to cover for her sickness absence. This is long term absence and the first instance is next week. She will likely be absent until summer.

Both classes are small because they are extremely challenging, which means I will have a class of 30 very, very difficult kids. Obviously no useful work will get done (my class is fairly well trained but will not cope with this).

Can anyone link to guidance which supports me saying no? Any assistance appreciated.

It was actually the advice of a goverment task force that classes should be combined and taught in the hall to reduce cover costs so I’m betting that there’s no guidance that will help you here.

I guess you could beg for TA support, report incidents, call out SLT every lesson and make it very clear it’s not working.

Yeah, sadly after a bit more reading I'm coming to that conclusion. Thanks for the reply.

call out SLT every lesson

ELT don't come to lessons or involve themselves with behaviour management. Not even for seriously violent incidents where they are the nearest person.

Do you have any system for removing kids?

Can you ask your union for advice? This sounds unacceptable to me.

Do you have any system for removing kids?

We do. I'll have to use it, along with a battery of other strategies. It's just frustrating- there are too many classes where I'm having to reduce the challenge/ambition/quality because behaviour is problematic.

I did this a few years ago. My colleague's father was terminal and she went home to spend time with him, then support her mum when he died. Ended up being 3/4 weeks.
I had 2 TAs (one from each class) so carefully organised my seating and then did the input together and sent some off with the 2 TAs to the other classroom. This enabled the more difficult children to be split (as usual) and reduced the friction.
Sadly it sounds as though your SLT aren't helpful. (Mine weren't either!) But definitely follow any behaviour policy to the letter.
I was primary so although had the problems for longer, a system began to develop and I managed to teach. (Absolutely right about not being able to teach the correct standard, but mine weren't coping with that anyway as it was a mix of behavioural and ability problems.)
I'm guessing you're secondary?