Schools' return unions publish joint 'checklist'

GinDaddyRedux · 21/07/2020 08:12

That's quite the document, and you've had the benefit of reading it. Could I therefore ask for an executive summary please? Might foster the debate you're looking for.

What in particular is not going to be a good environment for children?

DomDoesWotHeWants · 21/07/2020 08:19

Not sure why you think trying to keep staff and children safe is depressing.

TheDrsDocMartens · 21/07/2020 08:21

It’s a very detailed piece. It’s depressing that it has to be produced and it’s not automatic to the government to make things as safe as possible.

GinDaddyRedux · 21/07/2020 08:23

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IndecentFeminist · 21/07/2020 08:23

That all looks sensible. What makes you think it will be bad for children? I've been in school throughout and the kids have had a great time.

Borka · 21/07/2020 08:25

It all looks quite sensible to me, why do you think it's depressing?

wagtailred · 21/07/2020 08:27

It looks like a checklist tracking
government guidance very closely to support schools in opening safely. Lots of its just things like wash your hands, dont come in with a temperature.

LolaSmiles · 21/07/2020 08:27

They're talking schools through things to consider for their risk assessment. Many of them are impossible to do with full opening.

Eg. Half sized classes at secondary to have smaller bubbles isn't possible when the school is running above capacity and already has temporary classrooms. The reality is that 32 children will be in a normal classroom from September.

A number of secondary schools have had to go to whole year group bubbles of 200-250. So one Covid case could mean that 90 children and 10 teachers have to self isolate.

During the school closures many teachers on here explained the logistical issues of staggered pick ups and drop offs at primary. We were branded as lazy, not solutions focused, told to be more positive, stop looking for problems and get back to work. What have we had on MN for the last week? Several threads where people are complaining about changes to pick up and drop offs at primary.

I'm sure the purpose of this thread is to whip up more anti union/lazy teacher arguments again.

LemonTT · 21/07/2020 08:27

@TheDrsDocMartens

It’s a very detailed piece. It’s depressing that it has to be produced and it’s not automatic to the government to make things as safe as possible.

It’s just a rehash of the Dfe guidance in a fancy brochure. Hardly a quick check list for joe average teacher already on their knees and drowning in paperwork.

Teachers unions once again demonstrating their own ego and blinding lack of insight as to why they are bringing the profession down.

saraclara · 21/07/2020 08:27

Do you find this depressing because it's a union document? Or depressing because this is what covid means for schools?

I've only read half of it so far, and found nothing at all surprising or unnecessary there. It clarifies everything that is required to keep the school and its staff and children safe, and puts it into a simple check box form. There is absolutely nothing there that is unreasonable or trying to be difficult. It is simply a checklist to ensure that the school has done everything it should.

nether · 21/07/2020 08:28

Bit annoying that the shielded (ok by then newly deshielded) community aren't listed as an example in the 'more vulnerable' checklist on the first page. I know that people do not have to disclose health issues, but some will be happy to do so, and I would have thought knowing (as best as you can ascertain) who in the school population is exceptionally medically vulnerable would be worth it.

Especially as they are the first to be recalled to isolation if cases do start rising.

Or perhaps this was drawn up when shielded people were simply not expected to return at all?

LolaSmiles · 21/07/2020 08:31

It’s just a rehash of the Dfe guidance in a fancy brochure. Hardly a quick check list for joe average teacher already on their knees and drowning in paperwork

Your average Joe teacher won't be doing the risk assessments for opening a school. That's what senior leaders are doing because it's their job.

Teachers unions once again demonstrating their own ego and blinding lack of insight as to why they are bringing the profession down.
How is a union producing a document to support risk assessments for worker safety bringing the profession down?

And this is a JOINT document for several unions who represent workers in school, including TAs, technicians, admin staff, and so on.

nether · 21/07/2020 08:33

Ignore part of that - staff who are exceptionally medically vulnerable are mentioned on page 13

I cannot see anything about pupils though

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 21/07/2020 08:34

This is a version of the ever changing dfe guidance. We also have school risk assessments in place.

It will be out of date by September as Covid situation develops so there is no need to get excited yet.

LemonTT · 21/07/2020 08:38

@LolaSmiles

It’s just a rehash of the Dfe guidance in a fancy brochure. Hardly a quick check list for joe average teacher already on their knees and drowning in paperwork

Your average Joe teacher won't be doing the risk assessments for opening a school. That's what senior leaders are doing because it's their job.

Teachers unions once again demonstrating their own ego and blinding lack of insight as to why they are bringing the profession down.
How is a union producing a document to support risk assessments for worker safety bringing the profession down?

And this is a JOINT document for several unions who represent workers in school, including TAs, technicians, admin staff, and so on.

If it’s not for teaching staff to basically do their own risk, overly detailed, assessment, then what is it for. Why publish this and spend money on it, if the risk assessment tools already exist and will be used.

Members of the profession can’t spend all your time complaining of teacher and union bashing and not conclude you have an image problem. You do, and from I perceive it is caused by your union leadership which is very poor and overly politicised.

LolaSmiles · 21/07/2020 08:39

StaffAssociationRepresentative
Isn't it 11th August that the new guidance for schools comes out?

People have already been moaning that their schools are waiting until after the government publishes the guidance before communicating the plan for September. Amusingly enough I'd put money that had their DC's school published a plan and then changed it after August 11th, they'd probably have a thread moaning about how schools and teachers have no idea how the real world of work works.

LolaSmiles · 21/07/2020 08:42

If it’s not for teaching staff to basically do their own risk, overly detailed, assessment, then what is it for
I've already said it's for senior leadership teams to use. They're the ones paid to manage the school.

Members of the profession can’t spend all your time complaining of teacher and union bashing and not conclude you have an image problem. You do, and from I perceive it is caused by your union leadership which is very poor and overly politicised.
Ah right. Yes, decades of media and government crap and it's the unions who are awful. Ok got it.

Areyouactuallyseriousrightnow · 21/07/2020 08:44

I see no problem whatsoever in the teaching union doing preparatory work to identify what a safe school environment looks like in September, when we will still have this virus circulating and possible winter spikes/waves to come. They want to reduce risk and keep our children and teachers, and vulnerable members of the community to be safe, this is inevitably going to look very different, how can it not.

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 21/07/2020 08:52

@LolaSmiles - yes next version in mid August.

Then we will see some tweaking to all published documents.

I think that is the reason some schools will not be issuing staff timetables until after that date in case there is a blended learning option or stretched school days.

There is no point in people getting excited until then. Though people may think it is depressing for children it is more important that it is a safe environment for all.

I think @lifeafter50 just saw schools and unions and automatically thought bloody teacher unions when it includes unison and unite. Actually the document is for all school staff including all of the support staff - Reception, admin, student services, grounds maintenance, cleaning

Appuskidu · 21/07/2020 08:58

No way is this going to be a good environment for children.

Can you be more specific about which bits you think aren’t going to be good for children, @lifeafter50?

saraclara · 21/07/2020 09:03

There are four union symbols at the bottom of the title page you linked @lifeafter50. Only one of them is a teaching union. Union, Unite and the GMB represent non-teaching staff, many of who may be more at risk than teachers, as they're the ones who will deal with sick children or be cleaning up. They're also the least well paid to be put at risk.

Your prejudice is showing.

saraclara · 21/07/2020 09:04

Actually, sorry OP. You didn't specifically pick out teachers as other posters have. While I suspect that you OP is goady, you've said nothing specific about teachers unions.

letsghostdance · 21/07/2020 09:06

It would probably be a worse environment for children when their teachers started being off due to being hospitalised with covid... I mean, that'll still happen any way, but fuck the teachers, right?

Enoughnowstop · 21/07/2020 09:09

The document is about the logistics of running a school in these difficult times. Nothing in it is surprising or unreasonable.

Why do you expect everything to be the same, OP? Does the health of school staff not matter to you? Or are we simply expendable?

labyrinthloafer · 21/07/2020 09:13

Unions play an important role in educating employees about issues in their workplace.

I can't see why a union wouldn't want to do this for teachers at this important time.

Thanks for sharing, I'll read it.