). It sounds a bit to me like you don't want the parent in the classroom and you are trying to find excuses for her not to be there because you feel your child will be disadvantaged and you are paying for an education for your child to make sure they are not - I am not trying to be offensive in saying that, so please don't be offended. I am just trying to understand what it is you want out of this situation because unless you can articulate what it is that you want, it will be very hard for you to work out which solutions you will be satisfied with. 
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JustMe, you are quite correct, I'm not entirely sure of my biggest issue either! Perhaps that's why my post's are so long and I feel like my brain is split in two!
I had not considered your point that the mother from overseas will have undergone a criminal history check as part of her visa application (I think so, anyway?). I agree, the school community is a great social outlet for someone who has recently moved here from overseas. I also admire her willingness to volunteer her time to assist although, as I previously stated, I'm not sure she knew what she was getting into in terms of the time commitment! I was present when she said 'Oh, I could help out' and the mother has run with it and now has her scheduled for several hours a day! Anyway, I assume that the mother who volunteered can speak up for herself if the commitment is too great.
Perhaps one of this issues is that we have been spoilt this year with a full time aide who is excellent. She is amazing with the child who has additional needs and also with all of the other children. The idea of losing this aide half time and replacing her with a volunteer who doesn't appear to have much insight into the child's needs is... disappointing. I guess I would like the school to cough up for the aide full time next year. But I understand why that is not viable. But then, that's where the fees come into it... we're all paying expensive fees, if the aide is required I expect the school to provide it. But I understand the funding is not available. And around and around it goes!!
I hear what you are saying about paying an aide not ensuring that they are the best person to fill the position and by even offering her time the volunteer has shown that she possesses both an interest and an empathy, which is a good place to start. But the way she deals with the child (loud and slow) concerns me. Whilst I recognise that she will have the classroom teacher available for guidance, the classroom teacher is not qualified in special education either. The school has never had a student before with such a high level of additional needs and I know from the mother of the child that many of the primary staff members have expressed concern at whether they are able to cater adequately to the child's needs. I fear it will be a case of the blind leading the blind.
If I am honest, my other issue is that I am tired of being manipulated by the mother of the child with additional needs. I have known her for three years and in that time I have nodded and smiled and tried to understand her motivation, although I don't think I can truly understand what it is like for her. When I questioned having an aide replaced with a volunteer her response was 'well, that's how it's gonna be, so you'll all just have to deal with it' (yes, this was her literal response, I believe word for word!). Part of me thinks 'no, my child and I have rights here too'... and part of me thinks 'bloody hell, this must be incredibly hard for you, I'm not going to make it any harder'. I am aware that my own motivation, if I do decide to act on this matter, shouldn't be that the mother pi**ed me off!!
I do honestly believe that my child will be affected. I assume that the volunteer, like the aide, will work with small groups including my child. It is important to me that the aide sets the correct example for my child. For the kids, there is no distinction between the aide and the teaching staff and if an adult will be in the classroom 'teaching' my child (as the aide does) I want to know that the adult knows what they are doing and they are qualified for the job! The aide takes the children and is not supervised by any other staff. I have always assumed that this is permissible and that direct supervision is not required because the aide is qualified and has all the appropriate checks? I have always been happy for the aide to teach my child unsupervised as she is excellent. Is this how it is supposed to work? I have never questioned before whether an aide can work unsupervised with the children? In doing this, the aide manages not only the behaviour of the child with additional needs, but also the behaviour of all of the children in the group, including mine. I am happy for the aide to be responsible for managing my kid at school, not so happy for a volunteer to teach my kid what is ok and what is not. How can a volunteer know what is acceptable and what isn't (in general not just in relation to one child) and how can that volunteer be expected to know how to appropriately manage and direct the behaviour of the kids? She is a volunteer, not a teacher, not an aide.
In the middle of all of this is a lovely little girl who seems to have settled reasonably well into the group. Initially, many of the kids were frightened of the child as her behaviour can be quite confronting. Now, the rest of the kids have, for the most part, accepted her as one of their peers and are keen to assist her. Most of the children are kind and caring and are inclusive of the child in their learning and their play. I believe this is partly due to the nature of the children, but also due to the example set by the aide and the way in which she has taught the kids to interact with a child who is very obviously different to themselves. Perhaps the kids could train the volunteer!
No offense taken, JustMe. I'm still not entirely clear on why this situation sits so uncomfortably with me. One of the things I have realised over the course of typing this post is that I need to clarify exactly what role the volunteer will take in the classroom - how much responsibility she will have and whether she will work with the children independently. I'm not sure how to do that when the school has not formally informed the parents of the plan? It is very valuable for me to hear from Lulu as a parent of a child with additional needs and from yourself and others as educator's working with kids. I'm also very interested in how other parent's would feel and whether they would be concerned. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
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