Would you go to work on Monday if you were a teacher?

[HibiscusCotton]

I take calls for a school, been a few emails tonight saying people need to self-isolate. It’s a tight knit community and I wouldn’t say anything but I know they are scared in some cases and there are no symptoms in the house fairly reliably. I’m not going to challenge anyone on this! We already have allowed those with vulnerability or family vulnerability to be off, this is people with healthy families now calling.

I understand to be honest people are scared right now with the news about young fit people getting very ill.

I do praise NHS staff who will work crazy hours and be very frontline, but to some degree it’s some expected level of the job- but massively intensified. If you are a teacher, nursery work, retail worker etc you didn’t sign up with the idea of any risk. You’re probably not much of a hero. You have no protection at all, no more cleaning available at work and you’re exposed to exactly the same risk as NHS parents due to mixing with their children. You also have people being negative if they see you out and you still can’t access the supermarket if you have kids (friend is a single parent teacher, no online slots,small shops won’t let kids in here, supermarket empty post work and she brings her daughter back home with her from the same building. She’s actually said she’s scared of getting photographed out on the bus home with her dd and being put on the local fb group where people are shaming those who go out quite viciously.) In most cases you are also exposing your family to risk, maybe parents who live with you, partners or children. I have to admit personally I’m getting more and more worried with all the news that DH is on London transport daily and working with high contact with young kids. He will work while he can, but I am getting worried for our children and him.

So, with all the news around you right now, if you worked in retail/ teaching etc would you:
YABU- go to work as usual, out of duty or confidence you’ll be ok
YANBU- self isolate your family and yourself to protect. Either calling in saying your child had a cough or you couldn’t work due to family/ personal vulnerabilities

I’m just wondering what the general feeling is. I’m a bit on the fence personally. We are both working, but I don’t judge those who don’t feel able to for mental health or physical health reasons. I understand how staff with anxiety have felt overwhelmed in particular.

No choice. It's our job

I’m in retail - I’ve gone in as usual, up to and including today, but all our shops closed at lunchtime for the foreseeable future. Did a deep clean afterwards. Strangely emotional day not knowing when we’ll be able to go back. Shocked and disturbed at the people not respecting social distancing tho, both in and out of the shop (not a supermarket)

School caretaker here. I cannot fault our SLT, they've organised the school so our attending pupils are contained in one area (with enough distancing space, access to toilets, playground, dining hall) and my team can lock off and deep clean the other areas, then do an end of day clean and disinfect in the used section.
There's a rota in place, so we have the safest bare minimum of teaching/support staff. If your name's not down, you're not coming in! Also, everyone- pupils and staff members- will have their temperature taken, and hands sanitised, before being allowed into the main body of the building.
It's being taken very seriously, as it should be.

DH will be in school. He sees it as his duty and part of his job. He is a mild asthmatic. I do worry for him....

I'm a HLTA and going in along with the rest of our staff as it is an SEN school. I'm really, really worried. I'm not sending my kids in as they are just about old enough to manage with DH going home at lunch but I wish I had the option to work from home.

@NeutralJanet Why until lock down. Will we shut then? I thought schools were in it for the long run? Including lock down, Is this not correct? I have no idea.

Realistically in my special school it will be the support staff mist at risk. They will be closest contact to the students, playing, doing restraints etc.
The teachers will get to do remote learning with students staying at home and planning for next term.
I’m not sure it’s not better than being retail staff who have to take on all comers.
If anything I hope the kids pass on a diluted version rather than some gopping adult sneezing over me.

Can we remember it's not just children of key workers, it's vulnerable children too. You know, those kids with EHCPs that society usually ignores?

@Asuitablecat the worst I’ve heard here is the under 5s, some private nurseries are closed but asking for fees whilst their key worker parent finds another open setting (also with fees). Double fees.

The question was worth asking, it seems about 25% of people would not work, 1 in 4 is fairly high

As for knowing, nothing is conclusive and I’m not out to investigate, but it’s a tight knit community. Friends, relatives and workmates in a few cases so although I don’t know for sure, and I’m not judging or prying for the truth, I’m reasonably sure why some are off.

That sounds amazing Twernip.
Our caretaker is self isolating, so it's down to me and another cleaner. Would love to do a deep clean but sadly won't be possible

I’m sorry though but I do agree with asthmatic teachers working, the NHS is stretched enough already without those likely to get ill going in. We have asked all those with risk factors to stay away. Duty is a nice intent, but we also have a duty to stay as healthy as possible and not be a strain on healthcare if we can avoid it.

@corlan. That’s exactly what is happening at my school tomorrow morning - all staff in the Hall for a briefing . No common sense (or understanding of the medical advice for that matter)

We've got a rota including support staff in school. I'm currently self-isolating for another 10 days. Any excess staff on the rota will be sent home if less pupils arrive.

We're lucky, I'm being paid. I probably will only need to be in one day a week, if that and I will be mitigating the risk as much as possible (planning to get changed at school, drive home and then shower as soon as I get in to avoid any cross contamination). No face masks or anything but if I had one, I would wear it. DH has asthma so I really don't want to bring this home.

See new union guidance. Should be skeleton staff NOT any more than required for ratios. Not other jobs eg displays

I'm a Ana in a secondary school - only s1 pupils (11-12 ish) who have parents of key workers will be in tomorrow. I'm in a large school, with a lot of support staff . I've currently got permission to wfh tomorrow so I don't have to send my two dc, 5 and 7, into school. I'm prepared to go in if necessary though, if staffing is required.

I’m on maternity until 18th May then I’ll be back full time. My baby doesn’t get settling days due to current crisis and I want nothing more than to carry on socially distancing - more actually self isolating, with my three children. But I work with vulnerable children and they deserve us to pretend that the world isn’t crumbling around us and that we’re all going to be massively impacted by corona. I’m dreading going back but I will and I’ll pretend I’m not worried at all.

Yes

I'm a teacher and I'm working from home from tomorrow. I'm in a vulnerable group, so I don't think it's sensible for me to volunteer to be in. My school asked for volunteers, and those of us with underlying health conditions were told not to even think about offering. Out of a secondary school staff of about 80 teachers there are 40 teacher volunteers and 12 non teaching volunteers. That's more than enough to look after the 10 kids we're expecting (although more may come to collect the free school meals packed lunch available). They've set up a rota with 2 of SMT in every day along with 4 classroom teachers. The SMT staff will be there all day and the classroom teachers will be doing half days.

I would actually like to be more helpful in volunteering to look after key worker children but I would quite possibly be adding to the workload of frontline staff if I did. I'll do my bit by staying at home and attempting to teach some maths via email and online worksheets.

I’m a science technician. I’m expected to go in and do some tidying etc. There are no science lessons going on. My actual job isn’t needed. I’m happy to go on a rota to help with essential support tasks, like reception and first aid but I don’t think I should be in to ‘tidy’ and do displays etc.

It's our job. We have no choice.

I don't know of a single teacher in Scotland who is going in tomorrow. All closed for a week.

I should have added I would go in if asked because:
I am not in an at risk group and nor is anyone in my household.
DP and I are in our 60s, and still fit and healthy. I don't have the understandable deep fear that many do have. Just a few minor worries.
My "children" are young adults and not living at home. I don't have the childcare headache that many of you have.
As adults we can follow the very strict hygiene routines necessary without too much difficulty. The downstairs loo has washing facilities and somewhere to hang fresh clothes to change when I get in and easy access to a washer for the used garments.
I can totally isolate after returning from work if necessary (apart from needing to use the kitchen, but then only one of us needs to do that and used plates etc exchanged after being put through hot water and soap in a bowl in the isolation room.)
Its a grim situation, a major crisis. I am in a better position to weather this at the moment, I realise this and I want to help those who are not.
Not because I am not scared, or because I'm foolish or brave, but because I can.
Until I am asked I'll just do my bit by staying indoors apart from the occasional grocery shop for us and our isolating neighbour.
Look after yourselves and stay safe.

@Mistressiggi Lots of teachers in Scotland are being asked to attend tomorrow.The problem is that every council is doing different things.

I'd agree with that Downton until earlier this evening. With the latest announcements today one other region I know of has told staff to stay at home, and any asking staff to come in tomorrow should really be reconsidering.