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School won’t open despite new 10 day self isolation rules

137 replies

WinstonmissesXmas · 12/12/2020 09:51

Just that, really! AIBU to expect school to reopen on Monday now that children who should have been isolating until the latter part of the week no longer have to? The school my friend’s children attend announced they would reopen Monday (similar situation) and yet ours sent out a message saying they won’t be open Monday. They also said the kids should continue to isolate. All the kids will have been isolating for over ten days as of tomorrow so they should be allowed back, shouldn’t they?

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 13/12/2020 09:27

@HikeForward but teachers have been posting on here since the first lockdown began about lack of funding etc in respect of COVID, mainly in response to posters asking why schools didn't just rent extra buildings like village halls, hire a few portacabins, hire more staff etc so more children could go back to school and SD.

Pre COVID there have been many posts about teachers having to buy their own resources, not because they like spending money on schools, but due to lack of funding.

People just say teachers are moaning.

I am not a teacher but when I became a school governor my eyes were well and truly opened in respect of education funding.

The Government have thrown huge amounts of money around in respect of COVID, but for some reason they have missed schools out.

MarshaBradyo · 13/12/2020 09:35

I had missed this change. Sounds reasonable

Danglingmod · 13/12/2020 09:38

I think most of us have given up now (a few notable exceptions).

Govt hates us, most of the press and the general public hate us, it feels like our parents hate us (they don't, but it feels like it sometimes.)

There is no money in schools at any time and there has been no extra Covid funding. Teachers buy sellotape and books and cleaning items and pritt stick and pay for courses and and and and... The govt announced last week that they would schools out with cleaning money if they were about to go bust.

I don't know why we bother. It's so depressing and grinding. I'm definitely looking to leave as are over half of my colleagues.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Mammyloveswine · 13/12/2020 10:16

Another teacher here... so many families in my school just haven't bothered to isolate even after testing positive!! Still sending kids in!!

It's infuriating!

I've escaped it so far but it's only a matter of time... no doubt in January after all the Christmas mixing...

HikeForward · 13/12/2020 10:57

HikeForward but teachers have been posting on here since the first lockdown began about lack of funding etc in respect of COVID, mainly in response to posters asking why schools didn't just rent extra buildings like village halls, hire a few portacabins, hire more staff etc so more children could go back to school and SD

Clearly I’ve missed or forgotten those posts (along with many other parents).

Parents don’t hate teachers IME they’re just confused and frustrated. The lack of funding isn’t well known outside of teaching staff.

Parents are too focused on trying to juggle their jobs, last minute home schooling, childcare, sudden pick ups and self isolation to enquire about how the school’s funding sources work.

Schools need to communicate better with parents about their lack of funding. All we get are texts and the odd email (no mention of funding) just informing us how many staff/pupils have tested positive and which bubbles need to be picked up instantly. Or telling us last thing on a Friday the school will be closed for 2 weeks. Of course that’s going to cause mass panic; some parents may lose their jobs or be forced to take unpaid leave.

I feel very sorry for teachers after reading this thread. But I don’t feel sorry for the HT who decided to hold a meeting for all her staff in a small unventilated room with no masks. In most workplaces that would lead to a disciplinary!

Danglingmod · 13/12/2020 11:01

Hikeforward - I don't mean to be awkward (and thought your earlier posts more reasonable than some have interpreted them)...

but you keep saying we just get an email telling us that bubbles need to isolate instantly or that school will be closed for two weeks last thing on Friday - the implication being you think your school is doing something wrong here or not doing enough...what else or different do you think they can/should do that would help you? This is the whole point that teachers have been warning about since September; that schooling is going to be chaotic and stressful for parents, staff and children BECAUSE there are virtually no mitigations in schools to stop the spread and no funding to help (unlike nearly every other sector of society).

GrammarTeacher · 13/12/2020 11:13

And we don't sit on that info waiting until it's the most irritating time for parents! And many of us ARE parents with children in other childcare settings.

How on earth can we communicate closures before know they're going to occur! Schools that have tried to plan ahead to make things easier for parents have been threatened with legal action by the DfE. We're damned whatever we do.
We're trying to do our best.
By all means be angry with ONE head that made a naff decision. But that's all. Most of us are just like everyone else tired and trying our best. I'm lucky to work in a school where the head has ignored the DfE and insisted on masks in lessons. We're still affected by year group closures.

TheRuleofStix · 13/12/2020 18:07

@HikeForward schools would have to be very careful sending out communications about lack of funds and lack of support from this government. It would be seen as very political and I would imagine would receive complaints from this Tory supporting parents who just think we’re all whinging lefties.

Why don’t parents and others just lay off constantly criticising us without any understanding of the situation. Even the HT’s meeting may have had a reason behind it. Who knows?

Let’s just be kind and give each other a break. I was an in patient in hospital recently and not everything I saw was Covid compliant but I didn’t feel the need to jump on social media and harangue the staff in question. I accepted they’re all desperately stressed and doing their best and people fuck up.

My heart goes out to all my teacher colleagues, especially those in SLT. I can see why so many are on their knees.

W00t · 14/12/2020 10:23

It's hardly a secret that schools in England are lacking funding Confused
Schools/unions/parents have been going on about it for years, at least since 2008/9 downturn. Even prior to covid schools have had to cut back in all areas, mostly resulting in the loss of support staff/extra teachers, leading to increased class sizes. There has been lots of media coverage about this, particularly as some schools switched to a 4.5 day week to afford to keep running which has an impact on parents directly- Jess Philips is an MP that was personally affected by this, and was interviewed at the time raising awareness of it.

I am guessing @HikeForward that in the NHS you have handsanitiser, masks, PPE, hand soap provided for you? Staff in my school have to provide that themselves- there is handsanitiser in classrooms but we are strongly encouraged to bring our own, as are the pupils, so school can minimise the cost, there is no soap in the staff loos (I have provided it since march, when it was publicised that soap can break down the virus' outer layer), we have to provide our own masks, and staff have overwhelmingly opted for washable, etc etc.

Schools can't just email parents outlining where we're struggling, expecting support- DfE would come down like a ton of bricks on any HTs that did that, and funnily enough many of the pupils' parents are also struggling for money, which we're more than aware of (hmm, do nurses provide clothes for patients that arrive in filthy, holey inadequate clothing?).

WinstonmissesXmas · 15/12/2020 10:54

A quick update. School open again today, should have been yesterday but they’re now claiming they were advised wrongly by the local council. As we’ve seen with Greenwich, the council can’t overrule the government...

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 15/12/2020 10:56

@WinstonmissesXmas

A quick update. School open again today, should have been yesterday but they’re now claiming they were advised wrongly by the local council. As we’ve seen with Greenwich, the council can’t overrule the government...
Interesting I wonder if Islington is the same
GrammarTeacher · 16/12/2020 06:23

Except several councils already have and haven't had government interference. For example, Basildon.

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