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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

School is closed to my year 7 son on strike day but will I be expected to work

11 replies

paul2louise · 29/01/2023 20:17

I am fairly new to a role in support at secondary school where my son started this September. The school is closing to all pupils expect year 11 and vulnerable. I am not in any union. So if I am expected to work what do I do with my son. Would I be expected to leave an 11 year old at home. Dad can't have time off. Could I bring him into school with me. Is that more acceptable at secondary school especially as it's his school too. I want to be flexible and help but feel uneasy if I had to leave him at home. How long is reasonable to leave an 11 year old. I have only ever left him half an hour when I popped to shop.
Thanks

OP posts:
good96 · 29/01/2023 20:34

Speak to your line manager and see what you can do? As they are a pupil at the school, they should be ok coming in with you as long as they are under your supervision but I would check first.

With regards to leaving them at home, it depends how dependent they are and maturity? I know you’re ‘not supposed to’ but I think 11 YO is reasonable age to be left alone - just set the rules of not leaving the house whilst you are at work and keep the door locked and don’t answer the door to strangers etc…
You could get him to message you ever so often to let you know that everything is ok.

minisoksmakehardwork · 29/01/2023 21:38

According to the nspcc there is no legal minimum age at which a child can be left, it's very much based on how capable you know them to be. So yes, an 11yo year 7 can be left home alone. Whether you want to or not...

Ask your manager. Nothing lost by it. A colleague is having a similar problem. They cannot be home with their older brother as they will fight. The younger one is coming in to school and will work out of our staff room.

Original poster
paul2louise · 29/01/2023 23:30

Thanks. I will see what happens tomorrow. I want to be helpful and do the right thing. I feel for all the teachers in the union and not. It must be stressful time. I hope they get the results they need.

OP posts:
niclw · 29/01/2023 23:50

The government advice to schools is that places should be made available at schools for key worker children. Your son is in this category so the school should be offering to accommodate him.

Original poster
paul2louise · 30/01/2023 11:15

Thanks @niclw I wasn't sure if this still applies to secondary aged children. I know primary make this sort of provision. Other friends I know are taking their kids into school with them

OP posts:
Anothernameanother · 30/01/2023 19:26

niclw · 29/01/2023 23:50

The government advice to schools is that places should be made available at schools for key worker children. Your son is in this category so the school should be offering to accommodate him.

The government can advise this but schools aren't obliged to do it.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 30/01/2023 20:37

niclw · 29/01/2023 23:50

The government advice to schools is that places should be made available at schools for key worker children. Your son is in this category so the school should be offering to accommodate him.

Although this is the government guidance, it is not statutory- it sounds like OP's school have chosen to prioritise Y11 over vulnerable/key worker children. The head has presumably risk assessed and decided they can't accommodate all key worker children.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 30/01/2023 20:45

paul2louise · 29/01/2023 20:17

I am fairly new to a role in support at secondary school where my son started this September. The school is closing to all pupils expect year 11 and vulnerable. I am not in any union. So if I am expected to work what do I do with my son. Would I be expected to leave an 11 year old at home. Dad can't have time off. Could I bring him into school with me. Is that more acceptable at secondary school especially as it's his school too. I want to be flexible and help but feel uneasy if I had to leave him at home. How long is reasonable to leave an 11 year old. I have only ever left him half an hour when I popped to shop.
Thanks

Firstly, if you work in education in any capacity, you really, really should be in a union. NEU and Unison both represent support staff. You need the protection in case a child makes an accusation of any kind against you OR a child has an accident whilst under your supervision. It's also useful to be in a union in case your role is made redundant etc.

Secondly, I agree with others it is reasonable to ask if you can bring your son in. However, you may be told no because a) the head has risk assessed for the exact number of children coming in and can't accommodate children of staff or b) because the head etc feels this might create bad feeling among parents, many of whom will be in the same position as you. Or for some other reason.

You are entitled to emergency leave to look after dependents, or unpaid parental leave. If you aren't comfortable leaving your son home alone I would look into this. Could any parts of your role be done from home on the day?

Final option is to try to arrange some child care for all or part of the day. Would any of your friends/parents of his friends/any of your relatives be able to have him for even part of the day?

In my opinion, it's fine to leave a sensible 11yo alone for the day BUT I don't think it's reasonable to go from leaving them alone for 30 minutes only, to leaving them alone for a whole day- presumably you won't be able to check your phone much at work or leave if there is an emergency.

BTW, you are very unlikely to be the only member of staff in this position so please don't worry about "looking bad" if you have to stay home on the day.

Original poster
paul2louise · 30/01/2023 20:50

I have been given the option of special leave. I am.going to.look into option of other parents or friends for future days when I know what's expected of my son in terms of work that day. I am only part time so don't need a whole days cover.

OP posts:
Fprince · 30/01/2023 20:59

What would you do if he was sick and you needed to go to work? Do the same as in those circumstances.

Original poster
paul2louise · 30/01/2023 22:35

Fortunately my son has only been sick once in his 7 years at school when he was in year 2. He had the Friday off and was fine. Neither of us had covid that I know of. But if he was truly sick I would ask for time off. Anyway I have the special leave sorted now so that's ok. I haven't been in the job that long and previous to this role I was at primary school so that is quite different. I have friends who still work in primary and if there are inset days they often bring their children into school with them.

OP posts:
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