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Please give suggestions- work adjustments/drop ins

NAS79108

Hello, I am a primary school teacher and my head has begun doing weekly drop ins. This is where she comes in the classroom for 5-15 minutes and watches how the children are and how the classroom is running.

These drop ins are at no set time or day and could be any moment in the week. I asked for notice of the drop ins and was told no as it would impact how my boss did her job and be impractical/not possible to give notice of a day it would be on incase my boss needed to do something else on that day to keep children safe within school (depending on what comes up in a day that is unpredictable). 

I really struggle with not knowing when a drop in would be, it's in the back of my mind all week. The first time a drop in happened I had a big melt down. 

I'm open to any suggestions, someway for me and my boss to communicate these drop ins (I've asked for five days notice, or notice on the morning of the day but neither is possible school says). I'm also open to any techniques that may help prevent a melt down or may help me cope with not knowing when the drop ins are, particularly in the moment it happens. I have to keep teaching and can't stop to regulate properly during a drop in.

I currently meditate, use like a scale to check in with myself, would use a mint to calm myself down, I've ordered a travel sickness band so I can feel my pulse. I can also focus on what is in my control and what hasn't changed. I've done lots of research online but can't find any solutions.

Please any advice is very welcome

  • in reply to NAS79108

    No, we have scheduled observations called triads, where 3 teachers observe and advise each other. I think that's how it works anyway.  I'm on the SEN support side of things.

    So their argument is that in order to not have you on edge for one day, they will have you on edge all the time?  That's absurd   I'm sorry they're not listening to your needs.  

  • in reply to Glitter

    Thank you for your reply. I had a meeting with her and clearly outlined the impact the drop in had and explained the effects and how long they lasted of the melt down. But she said no. 

    Then my deputy said to come up with a solution for my boss to do her job but me be ok still. So I reduced from 5 working days notice, to asking to drop an email in the morning of the drop in and no specified time and the reply was that they don't want me on edge all day for my boss to be needed and not be able to do the drop. 

    Thank you for your reply, much appreciated 

  • I'm sorry to say it, but your head is talking crap.

    I also work in a primary school, just for context.

    If the head is able to make and keep appointments with parents or governors or other outside agencies, then she can keep an appointment with you.  She may be the DSL, but there will be other members of staff capable of handling safeguarding issues in her absence, and if there aren't then that's an issue that needs to be addressed. 

    It sounds like she just wants the drop in to be surprise inspections and thinks that you would change what you're doing if you knew she was coming.  She doesn't realise that autistic people tend to work to the best of their ability even when they're not being watched! 

    The amount of anxiety and distress you have already experience over this should be evidence enough for reasonable adjustments.  I would write down all your reasoning and why it's important to you as a disabled person, and either send it in an email or request a meeting to discuss it.  This counts as indirect discrimination- a rule that applies to everyone but puts disabled people at a disadvantage. 

    I'm currently trying to get an adjustment at work because I believe one of their policies is a form of indirect discrimination. I've had my meeting with the head, written a letter to the governors which she presented to them and have been waiting 3 months for a response.  It's so demoralising.  And it's so hard to ask because of my communication issues!

    I wish you the best of luck.