To sod SD as when I return to teaching in Sept it isn’t possible?

[motherrunner]

I’m a secondary school teacher. Despite all the ‘guidance’ my desk will be less than 1m from the classes I teach (Yr 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13). I will not be wearing protection as the guidance tells me my workplace in ‘Covid secure’. Come Sept I will have one 20 minute break a day as I am required to do a pre-school duty, a morning break duty, a lunch duty and an after school duty it’s every day. I can wash my hands once a day in those times. 5 times a day a class of 30 will be breathing at me.

Up until now I have followed the ‘rules’ religiously. I haven’t seen my mum (who is in a nursing home) since early March. I have turned down play dates for my children.

AIBU to think sod the SD and enjoy myself for the rest of the summer break? I was hoping for a sliver of hope from the dfe today with the promised revised guidance that hasn’t materialised. Come Sept I’ll be faced with over 200+ over 11s in close, unventilated spaces in 3 week so shall I just sod it?

[Looneytune253]

Just because masks aren't advised tho doesn't mean you can't wear them and the school are gonna have to have some sort of provision for everyone to wash their hands. I'm surprised they haven't already. It's pretty basic Pre covid

[Mistressiggi]

Who are the thousands and thousands of people, in what sort of jobs?
Please don't say superrmarkets!

[EmbarrassingAdmissions]

So many days in teaching are go go go from 8.30am til after half three with no time for self care of even the most basic self care.

TMI but one of my teaching aunts was so busy from the time she left the house (06:25am) until she reached home in time to start dinner/cope with family etc. that she was known to have conditioned herself to void her bowels once a week (during the weekend) because she literally didn't have the time.

[Stripesgalore]

Surely many people have been at work throughout, not just retail, police, social workers, prison officers, care workers.

[Iamnotthe1]

@Looneytune253

Just because masks aren't advised tho doesn't mean you can't wear them and the school are gonna have to have some sort of provision for everyone to wash their hands. I'm surprised they haven't already. It's pretty basic Pre covid

The guidance actively states not to wear masks and that schools should have procedures in place to get all staff and students to remove them when they arrive at school.

The Government line is that schools are safe because children don't transmit the virus, despite this being demonstratively untrue. As a result, very few additional safety precautions are required. Ant SLT worth their salt will be putting measures in place and supporting staff but they don't have to. Some just... won't.

[Teacher12345]

I work in a college and am deating whether or not I want to wear a mask as students like to take the piss so will pretend they cannot hear me etc. I feel fortunate we have the choice but it seems to be almost discouraged which frustrates me.
Look into Bio armour which is like a 24 hour sanitiser. I will be using it as I too will have few opportunities to wash my hands.

[Dougt]

What are the arrangements for the children washing their hands? Is this supposed to happen a set number of times/at set points?

I fail to see how you can return without staff and students doing extra hand washing which is the most basic of measures and probably more important than the two metre rule!

[frazzledquaver]

I'm sorry that you are going to be having such a difficult time when you return to teaching, and you are entitled to do whatever you like within the government guidance. I expect you know that thinking "sod it" is not a good attitude though. If you are tempted to do things which aren't within the guidelines, you are increasing your own risk and you risk transmitting the virus to others when you go back to your workplace. Also, posting like this reinforces the idea (I'm sure untrue) that teachers are only worried about themselves in this situation, rather than the broader school community. I'm sure that's not the impression you intended to give, but this attitude is a bit counterproductive if you want people on your side.

[NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite]

Bloody hell. Not being able to go to the loo is ridiculous. How do all you teachers manage it?

The 20 minutes minimum break for anyone working over 6 hours is the law under the working time directive. Did teachers used to have longer breaks than this then and they have now been reduced? (Not that I think it's a long enough break for anyone).

[Iamnotthe1]

@Dougt

What are the arrangements for the children washing their hands? Is this supposed to happen a set number of times/at set points?

I fail to see how you can return without staff and students doing extra hand washing which is the most basic of measures and probably more important than the two metre rule!

There are no set arrangements: it varies school by school. I'm relatively lucky as my classroom has a sink so my class will wash their hands in the classroom in the same way that I will. However, most of the time it's just going to be hand sanitiser for all because effectively washing hands for a whole class would take 30 minutes. Having them lined up outside waiting to come in and wash their hands one-by-one at three points during the day would waste an hour and a half of learning time.

And the two metre rule has been scrapped for primary schools. There is no expectation for any distancing whatsoever. In fact, children will be sat within 25cm of each other at the same table.

[PrivateD00r]

I cannot believe a secondary school teacher cannot leave their class for a minute to pop to the loo! What about those few minutes when a class is leaving and your next one hasn't arrived yet? Absolutely shocking!!!! Hell, I would be useless as I pee loads!

The 6 hour thing makes no sense either, surely you work a lot more than 6 hours a day? Also, why are you having to do playground duty 3 times a day every single day, surely that can't be fair? Does it not usually go on a rota basis??

Sounds like you are getting a ridiculously rough time.

And of course you should still follow the rules. I was working with patients all through lockdown, I still was very careful to follow all the rules. We all must play our part.

[Gogogadgetarms]

It’s a similar argument to those who say their children don’t have to SD in an EY care setting, so why should they make them try anywhere else.
I don’t agree with either position.
As someone said upthread it’s about managing risk and potential exposure. It’s give and take and a fine balance. We’ve already been told we are at the limit of what we can do so when people exceed what’s advised (allowed) it switches the balance and that’s when there’s an impact on everyone’s lives - namely a stricter lockdown for everyone.

[TheTurnOfTheScrew]

I think people need to remember that risk can be culmulative. DH and I have been working throughout the pandemic. I wear a mask, but the people I work with don't, and don't distance. DH is not permitted to wear a mask and deals with the public in their own homes. We are still distancing outside of work - why would we want to add to the risk we have to take?

Scrapping social distancing because you can't do so at work would be a bit like refusing to wear a seatbelt because you're a smoker, so already exposed to serious risk.

[spanieleyes]

I have a " difficult" digestive system so don't eat anything until I get home after work, no breakfast or lunch as I can't risk getting" caught short" !
Previously ( in primary) teachers would be on a break rota so might have 2/3 break or lunch duties across the week. Now we are with the children from the minute they arrive to the minute they leave to protect the bubble integrity. ( and then watch the children go off to play in the park or have sleepovers or some such)

[Iamnotthe1]

@NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite

Bloody hell. Not being able to go to the loo is ridiculous. How do all you teachers manage it?

The 20 minutes minimum break for anyone working over 6 hours is the law under the working time directive. Did teachers used to have longer breaks than this then and they have now been reduced? (Not that I think it's a long enough break for anyone).

The time your class is at lunch is unpaid. As such, you had however long your school's lunchtime was. Most of the time, teachers would work it anyway with marking, setting up afternoon lessons etc. but that's changed so that many will spend it supervising the children now.

[Iamnotthe1]

@spanieleyes

I have a " difficult" digestive system so don't eat anything until I get home after work, no breakfast or lunch as I can't risk getting" caught short" !
Previously ( in primary) teachers would be on a break rota so might have 2/3 break or lunch duties across the week. Now we are with the children from the minute they arrive to the minute they leave to protect the bubble integrity. ( and then watch the children go off to play in the park or have sleepovers or some such)

I genuinely lost count of the number of times my Year Six children said to me that they were off for sleepovers, little parties or just 'down the park' during the time that they were supposed to be distancing and the majority of people were still in lockdown.

[lazylinguist]

I cannot believe a secondary school teacher cannot leave their class for a minute to pop to the loo!

It's true. I've been a teacher for over 20 years and I have never once left a class to go to the loo. Not even when heavily pregnant.

[Alittleodd]

Bladders of steel. You get used to it. I gave myself a kidney infection in my NQT year but after that my body just adapted I guess. I was science so I really, really couldn't leave my classes unattended.

My friends call me a camel because when we're out for dinner I never need to get up to go to the loos. It's why I always get wedged in the corner seat.

When I was pregnant I was moved to a teaching room next to the department office and had a standing deal with my colleagues that someone if someone was free that lesson they would quickly stand in and supervise while I dashed off. Fun times.

[PrivateD00r]

This is absolutely disgraceful. Are the unions not tackling this? How the hell can they make you work through an unpaid break?? We often have to aswell due to staffing issues and stuff but we aren't actually told we have to in this way - it just kinda keeps happening if that makes sense.

[Iamnotthe1]

The routines become embedded. I've got teacher friends who will always go to the toilet at 12:05pm regardless of whether it's a school day or not. It's just become a learnt behaviour.

[PrivateD00r]

@lazylinguist

I cannot believe a secondary school teacher cannot leave their class for a minute to pop to the loo!

It's true. I've been a teacher for over 20 years and I have never once left a class to go to the loo. Not even when heavily pregnant.

Sorry I wasn't disbelieving, just shocked and horrified!!!!

[FrippEnos]

PrivateD00r
I cannot believe a secondary school teacher cannot leave their class for a minute to pop to the loo! What about those few minutes when a class is leaving and your next one hasn't arrived yet? Absolutely shocking!!!! Hell, I would be useless as I pee loads!

I have managed to go between lessons but I have a loo almost next door to my room, and the pupils are not allowed in the room without a teacher present. Due to this virus we are now having open classroom and the have to collect and drop off classes from their designated places.

[OverTheRainbow88]

Well I must admit I leave my secondary school classes to go for a wee... always have always will! Obviously there are a few class exceptions!

[lazylinguist]

Surely many people have been at work throughout, not just retail, police, social workers, prison officers, care workers.

Not in a small room with 30 other people for hours with no social distancing and no masks though, have they?

[Iamnotthe1]

@PrivateD00r

This is absolutely disgraceful. Are the unions not tackling this? How the hell can they make you work through an unpaid break?? We often have to aswell due to staffing issues and stuff but we aren't actually told we have to in this way - it just kinda keeps happening if that makes sense.

Because otherwise the integrity of your bubble is at risk. Given that bubbling is the only 'safety measure' we get, it has to be maintained.