Anyone else who organises staff cover in schools want to come and cry with me about how hard this Autumn Term is going to be?

[Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear]

I organise staff cover in a large secondary school. October half term to Christmas is always crazy for me due to high sickness levels but it's just dawning on me how much worse this Autumn Term is going to be with self isolating, track and trace contacts, staff not forcing themselves in with colds etc (not in anyway suggesting they should it's just going to mean a lot more staff off).

Anyone want to join me in crying, eating chocolate and drinking wine?

I just don't see how schools can make it to the end of term. Even if things go well in terms of numbers of staff with the actual illness, the self isolation because of symptoms will destroy us. And you're nicer than I am, I do think there will be some who see the opportunity for extra time off.

Me! We have a cover supervisor who comes in at 7 and starts the process but as HR I will have it pick it up when she heads to class.

I only started in June, so September is going to be an eye opener!

I won't be remotely surprised if the school closes for some of the term Pizza. Last Autumn Term we closed for three days due to norovirus!

The fact that the Council aren't recording Covid related absence against people's sickness records could lead to it being misused I agree. The vast majority will I think act correctly but there are always some of course as there are in any large group of people.

I only hope these new tests can help people return quickly if they or an household member were showing symptoms but test negative
(Presuming they are well enough). Still will have the self isolation for positive tests though and the added issue of childcare problems if their kids school bubble has to isolate....

Oh gosh Daisy that's a tough start for you, I really hope it isn't too bad for you and you have lots of support.

I spent 12 years as a teacher. In general, if teachers aren't actually vomiting, they're in work.* The number of staff who will have to stay at home now due to Covid symptoms, which most likely won't be Covid, will be insane. I don't know how schools will cope.

Unfortunately, I think there'll be a lot of behind the scenes pressure to come in anyway.

• Yes, some are piss takers, you get that everywhere. But in general, most teachers drag themselves into work when ill.

I reckon I can tell you now which staff's (only a few) tests will take ages to do and have delayed results....

Yes the childcare issues are only going to make things worse Daisy.

I might invest in nice bath stuff and other little treats to use in the evenings to help me relax a bit once we are back!

I am absolutely dreading the utterly manic 7-8am slot when all the calls come in and I have to organise the cover. Normally things then calm down for the rest of the day but not sure that will happen this term.

I agree Samuel that the majority drag themselves in and as Pizza says you usually know exactly which ones don't.

I'm half considering signing up to do supply again. Do you reckon I'll be able to ask for danger money if I'm covering a teacher who's off with Covid?!

I do wonder if the agencies will be increasing their prices Samuel. I also expect that it will be harder to get supply staff which is going to compound the issues. I suspect that we might have to just put any available member of staff in classrooms not just teachers!

I can’t see it being any more or less difficult than normal in my school.

What's your reasoning behind that Trinity?

Worse than you can imagine, a lot in our school are retired teachers doing supply or parents mums who do it to fit around childcare. Retired teachers are obviously older so statically more at risk and often not reliant on supply money, and young parents will be juggling their kids constant time off for sickness/school closure etc.

I'm not sure there is enough wine in the world to get me through the next few months.

With the new 90 min tests can just send home any pupil who had symptoms who then tests positive / no need for anyone else to isolate unless they also HAVE SYMPTOMS and then subsequently test positive.

Not in charge of cover, but I agree it’s going to be a nightmare. Most of us are used to working through colds because we don’t want to shaft colleagues or let down exam classes etc - this won’t be possible this year. Staff with their own kids will also have to stay off if their kids are sick.

At certain times subs are hard enough to get as it is, I was wondering whether it’ll be even harder this year. Some subs will be shielding, lots have kids of their own, some may (understandably) choose to only work for 1 or perhaps 2 schools rather than working in loads.

And yes, I can already predict 2 or 3 colleagues who will absolutely take the piss. I think the culture in teaching to martyr yourself for the kids is often unhelpful (and I know I’m guilty of it myself) however there are a couple of teachers in every school who take advantage of our pretty good sick pay/ conditions.

I've never envied the dark magics of organising secondary time tables or cover.

I used to be a supply teacher waiting with bated breath by the phone until 9am when I was between long term placements. I'd get up, breakfast, get dressed and if the phone call came in, grab my sandwiches from the freezer and packed lunch from the cupboard and set off who knows where in the region.

I would return to it when my children no longer require childcare, but now is not the time for it around family life. The lack of demand over the past decade made it far too unreliable even without an autistic child in the mix.

Don't forget that you may have to cover the start and end lessons for those teachers who rely on wraparound care for their own children at primary school. It's all been cancelled at my DCs school! There are also going to be variations in start and end times which will play havoc with being able to get to work on time.

@SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito 😂 at the coming in unless they’re actually vomiting - so accurate re teachers. We must be one of the only professions where a sick day is infinitely harder work than just coming in ill.

I have previously been found at 6.30am sitting on the toilet typing detailed instructions out for supply cover, when forced to take a day off due to norovirus.....

Hadn't thought of that hydrobate

I have had to have the conversation with the Headteacher about the lack of wrap round care as my kids school are not running it..... Only 2 months into a job and I have had to ask about dropping some hours. My husband is doing the bulk fortunately as he can work from home for the foreseeable.

So I have raised the issue already, as I am sure I will not be the only one.

Plus teachers with kids at different schools which have staggered start and finish times, and which are insisting that only immediate household members can do drop off and pick-up...

I have had to ask to finish half an hour earlier for three days at the start of term as my DS' school are doing shorter days to begin with. The key thing for me is if the school transport will be running or not.

I have previously been found at 6.30am sitting on the toilet typing detailed instructions out for supply cover, when forced to take a day off due to norovirus.....

Ha, yes! I've previous dictated cover work to my DH to type up while I vomit into the toilet. So glad I'm not in it any more!

I used to do some supply TA/CS and I wouldn’t be going into secondary at the moment. It’s the only time I’d consider my kids school/classes as at least it would be less contacts.