'Parent volunteer' - Working with Children check??

[*Ali*]

I would think that if a parent is working in the school on a regular basis they would need to have a working with children check. I have had parents come along with my class on school excursions as 1 off events, and we have a special stat dec type form they have to sign before they are allowed to attend.

As for the aide time, special needs students are allocated teacher assistant time based on their level of needs, it is VERY VERY VERY difficult to get full time teacher assitant time for a special need students, basically for a student to be allocated a full time assistant, they need to have such a severe disability that they need to be toileted and fed, as well as all of their other needs. I am not sure of the state you are in or the system (ie public, private) but I have recently completed an application for a teachers assistant for a student in my class, and it is a long and lengthy process, and I think (his assistant time was only granted after I started my maternity leave) he was only entitled to 0.6 or the equivalent of 3 days per weeek.

Looking at this from the perspective of being a teacher, It would be better to have a parent in the classroom to assist, than no one at all. A high special needs students who does not have an assistant, takes alot of time away from the learning of other students, it is unfortunate, but that is the way it is. So to have an extra pair of hands is invaluable, believe me I have been in many classrooms with special needs kids (although probably not as high level) and no assitant and it is hard work for everyone.

As a parent I too would like to know who was in the classroom with my children, however I would trust that the teacher would be in the room at all times- as the teacher is the one who has duty of care of the students. I would take any concerns you have to the principal, hopefully the parent who does take on the roll, gets some training or proffessional development to ensure they know what they are doing.

[luna moth]

It depends on the state. In Qld, parents are OK, but grandparents, aunts and uncles need the check. Go figure.

I would be a little apprehensive about it also, but Ali makes some good points about the positives of it. And I guess that if I'd just moved to a new country a few weeks ago and wasn't in a routine yet, I could see how volunteering for that kind of role might help to settle in.

Suggest that the volunteer gets checks - if the person involved has nothing to hide, there won't be any issues.

[AnyDream]

We're in SA, our school requires *every volunteer* to have current police background clearance. Without it, no sausage sizzles, no reading, nothing. I don't know if that's legislated but that's the policy at our school.

[Astrolady]

I am in SA too, and same as Marydean. We can't even be on a council that runs after school without police clearance. Technically any parent that comes into the class to read to their own child in the mornings should have police clearance.

[nickle730]

OMG... I just typed a long response explaining a bit more about the situation and it has been lost!!!

Thank you all so much for your advice and information (Kazbah, how did you find that info so quickly?!). I am in Vic, so all relevant. The kids are at a private school which has previously offered an exceedingly generous funding policy for aides. The policy was not sustainable and has been changed as of next year, it is for this reason that the funding is not available for the aide for the hours required.

The parent who 'volunteered' has no experience with education or children (apart from her own!). The child has a full time aide this year (under the old funding policy) who is excellent and she does a good job of managing the child's behaviour which often is disruptive. Most of the kids seem to cope well with the disruptive behaviour although I am concerned that next year requires a lot more focussed learning and an untrained volunteer may not be able to adequately or appropriately deal with the situation. The child has a GDD and is not expected to learn the class curriculum (this is information from her mother, not my own expectations!) and her mother states that she will attend school for the social integration. The mother has stated that she therefore believes a volunteer will 'be fine' and a qualified aide is not required full time.

Having the child at the school has been an ongoing negotiation between the parents, the Head of Campus and the Principal. The principal believes that the school cannot adequately accommodate the child's level of needs. The HoC believes that as a caring community we should set the children a good example and do whatever necessary to accommodate a child who has additional needs. He has on several occasions 'bent the rules' to accommodate the child. I should clarify that I know all of this because both the parents of the child and the mother who has volunteered to assist have older children in my daughter's class. I am privvy to a lot more information than most of the other parents with children moving into prep next year. I have been aware of all the negotiations over the past couple of years between the school and the parents. The information given to me by the mother has in the past proven to be accurate. She has kept me well informed as she has tried to use me as a conduit to garner support amongst the parents of the class. I have tried to stay out of it as I feel it is not really appropriate for me to be involved unless my own child is directly affected.

When the mother informed me that the aide would be replaced by a 'parent volunteer' and told me that I needed to 'get all the other parents on side' (yes, really) I told her I thought it was not appropriate and questioned the legality of the plan. This is when she informed me that a WWC was not required. She also informed me that if 'anyone kicks up a fuss' and the volunteer is not allowed to replace the aide then the child will have to leave the school as the parents cannot afford to pay the aide for the additional hours. I want to do what I think is right for my own child, but I don't want to be the cause of another child leaving the school.

The mother has told me that the plan to use a volunteer has the full support of the HoC, although the principal has not yet been informed (the mother told me that we, being herself and the HoC, 'are going to try to slip this one past the bastard'). I don't feel I can discuss the issue with the HoC or the principal as the only information I currently have comes from the mother and not through official channels, but the year is almost over and if it is not dealt with soon then I fear it will be too late. There is also a part of me that simply doesn't want to become involved and I would feel terribly guilty if the outcome was that the child had to leave the school because I complained. But I really think that it is not ok to have a 'volunteer' in place of a qualified and experienced aide and I am horrified that the laws would be ignored in terms of a WWC check.

I'm sorry... it's long again! But it feels good to get it all out and written down! Thank you again for all your advice. Please keep it coming, even if it is to tell me that you disagree with me. (But be gentle, I'm hormonal and I cry easily right now...!)

ETA - Thanks for your response Lulu, I was typing when you posted. I would love to hear more from the perspective of a parent who has a child who requires and aide in the classroom. The parent who has volunteered to 'help out' (I'm not sure she knew what she was volunteering for!) has no experience or qualifications. Her own children do not have additional needs. How long is the course for a teaching aide, do you know? I did wonder if she could be given some training prior to be placed in the classroom. I agree, the issue needs to be formally addressed by the school, but I fear there might be a bit more 'rule bending' happening!

[Lulu]

Looking at this from the perspective of being a teacher, It would be better to have a parent in the classroom to assist, than no one at all. A high special needs students who does not have an assistant, takes alot of time away from the learning of other students, it is unfortunate, but that is the way it is. So to have an extra pair of hands is invaluable, believe me I have been in many classrooms with special needs kids (although probably not as high level) and no assitant and it is hard work for everyone.

As a parent as a high needs child, currently going through the insane guidelines of funding, I can totally agree. There are many classroom aides at DS's school and each one is amazing in their understanding and generosity of spirit. I have found that many of these aides have special needs children themselves, have completed a short course (and police checks etc) to give back iykwim?

Do you know exactly how 'unqualified' this woman is? I TOTALLY understand your concerns - but it might just be a matter of her volunteering her time as she gets her quals. I would imagine she is attracted to this position because she would like to help kids.....and in a world that most parents can't spare the time to help in the classroom, ANY help is wonderful.

I think it would be a better idea that the school sends a letter home to the parents formally introducing this woman rather that just sticking her in the classroom and leaving you all to wonder!

[mrsmac]

Every parent who does anything at our school has to do a Working with children check- even if its man a stall at the fete.
I agree with Ali- its very very hard to get a trained teachers aid even in a paid position- I have an untrained paid one 2 hours per week. It would be awesome to have one FT even untrained as they free up the teacher to help the rest of the class. I would be pleased if it was my child's class.

[Lulu]

Ok - firstly I'm not an expert on the world so I'm just going to give you my experience and knowledge thus far.

1) - If you swapped roles with the mother of this child I can assure you that you would be fighting just as hard as she. I imagine that paying private school fees would maybe make this woman feel she should get her moneys worth (I know that probably sounds wrong I can expand if you need - but maybe tomorrow!)
2) I also bet the school started off with the best intentions in regard to funding aides - but the govt changes the goal posts on this sort of funding often. So at the start the school may have felt they could offer this but have been stuffed up a bit.
3) Private schools get 7 - 13% of aide funding, compared to what public schools get.
4) no matter how much funding any school gets it will never cover the expenses of an aide, no matter what level.
5) I hear the school when they say they cannot cater to this child - because they can't access the level of funding needed.


On the experience...as long as the person aiding the child understands them, it should be ok. Lots of times they just need distraction or a quiet place to regroup. I can't speak for everyone though

My son is the highest need level. YEP. But you wouldn't know it thanks to the aides at his school. He has plenty of friends, is a barrel of laughs and all the teachers love him to death. Proud mummy moment, I can't help it All he needs is time out when he might freak out.

I don't know the ins and outs but you seem very caught in the middle. Maybe you could let this mother know that in a different school her child would be funded for a full time aide....and there would be not so much need for the constant meetings and bunfights?

bbl - happy to clarify any points...in the morning!