Today in a high school not far away

[triedandtestedteacher]

For those saying schools should be open I just thought I'd offer this insight into today. I work at a high school in a deprived area. We had at least 20 staff absent or who left during the course of the day. Very limited supply teachers. We were just told nobody was available. The children were very difficult, desperate for school to close to the point behaviour was the worst I've ever seen in sixteen years of teaching. We do not have any hand sanitiser at all nor has any deep cleaning taken place. We do not have sinks in classrooms like primaries and Some children took this opportunity to vandalise the toilets ripping the soap dispenser open and pouring the soap all over the floor. I've also had my own hand sanitiser stolen from my private cupboard. Staff are trying to teach their normal lessons, cover other people's lessons, manage behaviour, answer the phones to parents demanding their child be sent home because little Johnny has rang them at lunchtime to say someone was coughing in their face. Not to mention simultaneously produce online resources and home learning packs.

So sorry OP. Sounds like it’s becoming hugely difficult to keep schools open. Look after yourself x

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this.

I didn't send my kids in today and won't be sending them back until after Easter, but I doubt it will be better then.

I have no idea how to teach but am trying to get some worksheets and stuff together

Shocking, why don't you tell them you have a cough and are self isolating from tomorrow.

So true.

Sounds awful, I'm on the side of thinking the high schools should close. My DS has GCSEs this year, I've no idea what will happen.

I teach primary, I'm happy to stay in (our big inner city) school for as long as needed. Some a lot of our kids have shocking home lives, I hate the thought of them cooped up with their dysfunctional families with no regular meals, or a reliable adult around 😢

All they ask is when will we shut? Corona is every other word

This could be my school. It's nice to know i'm not alone, but sympathies that others are also experiencing it. Parents gossiping, children scaring themselves and others silly, Corona is the essence of every conversation. We're asked 100s of times a day when we'll close, and as each day goes by the staff feel more and more like sitting ducks.

Yep, chaos. Primary here, we've been sending children home with coughs and temperatures all day. Then dealing with angry parents who are annoyed they have to self isolate. Then there's the children who haven't been in for a week already because parents are worried. High risk staff have been sent home and classes split as no external visitors allowed on site so no supply. Teaching obviously being interrupted. We have almost run out of soap and there is no sanitiser. I'm dreading tomorrow.

Sorry if it’s cheesy but thank you @triedandtestedteacher and all the teachers and school staff on this thread. I work in the NHS and O wouldn’t trade jobs with you!!!

Chaos in my school too. I had my two nicest classes today who are usually an absolute pleasure, they were both nuts. Not unpleasant just silly, distracted, kids who would normally be fine doing daft things or not getting on. My worst class were a nightmare. Even my sixth formers who are lovely are struggling to concentrate as they normally would. It’s just a horrid situation and they’re anxious I guess.

I teach primary, I'm happy to stay in (our big inner city) school for as long as needed. Some a lot of our kids have shocking home lives, I hate the thought of them cooped up with their dysfunctional families with no regular meals, or a reliable adult around 😢

That's the sad bit.

We have put TAs in contact with our vulnerable and showed them how to use kooth. Not that its enough

This is a shocking thread.

We are in lock down which has its challenges and I’ve spent every day, all day managing the DCs emotions. I can’t imagine trying to do this for a class of 30.

4 High schools by me have told anyone that is not year 7 or 11 to stay at home till told otherwise.
Short staffed

And cleaners/caretakers needing to self isolate - schools are not being cleaned.
It is ALWAYS difficult to find school caretakers and cleaners ( my Polish cleaning staff left because of Brexit....)so no bank/supply staff to cover or capacity in the system.
Just when we really need clean schools....

Schools do need to close to keep children safe.

It's surreal in school. My lovely Year 7s were awful today. My awful Year 10s were weirdly quiet - some of them will be going home to horrendous situations if we close. Year 11 are terrified about missing their exams. Staff are a bit too cheerful. Confusing and contradictory emails throughout the day. I feel wiped.

That could have been my last school.

On any given day.

Get a job somewhere else when this dies down a bit.

My school are the opposite. Year 9 even just quietly got on with their maths work. It's like they get that it's serious and seem unnerved. Their usual routine is being messed with and we keep having to send their classmates (and pregnant teachers) home. Plus the kids we have had to remove from class to be picked up cos their sibling / parent is now ill and they all have to isolate. It's unsettling and the fact nobody can give them any clarity on what is going to happen tomorrow is really not helping.

It's not surprising the kids are playing up: it feels unsafe and the older ones will be aware of how serious the virus is.

I wish I knew the answer for children with chaotic home lives. :-(

DS's school has already cancelled trips and events. He is already in self-isolation at home and judging by the parents WhatsApp Group over a quarter of his classmates are off too.

Just had an email from the school. Telling us to keep the kids off if needed especially if you have an at risk person at home. Also added that they may have to close the school soon due to no staff. I’m relieved

Just want to send my support and thanks to all you teachers out there.

@Austriana thank you

As a teacher in secondary I feel for you.
12 teachers out at our school with their own children who cannot go to school or have symptoms themselves. All teachers covering lots of lessons.
We then have people saying we have to go to school to provide childcare for frontline workers .... yet they seem to not understand that teachers have children and can get ill themselves. Our school will not be able to function soon.
How teachers can provide childcare when we ourselves are going to get this or have it , it is madness.... how can we sustain it ?!. Yr8 upwards sensible yr 7 coughing at us and on friends 😑😐

So many people under more strain all around. Hopefully they will close early for Easter.

That sounds so hard OP.

I've kept mine home. Partly to help the school. I'm a SAHM so I've been home schooling.

Bloody awful what your going through. I hope they close schools this week.

💐 For you xx

The situation wouldn't be as bad if they'd just test people. For the sake of a test, I'm at home for 2 weeks, probably without coronavirus as theres only 1 known case in my area and not teaching my classes, supporting year 11s, assisting and relieving some of the burden on my colleagues... too teach in a deprived area. Many of my kids (the ones i didnt give birth to!) need school to stay as normal as possible for as long as possible.

As it is, I'm at home, trying to sort out as much home learning as possible, which is nigh on impossible with a 1 and 3 year old to look after, as I'm meant to be working from home.... then you see "oh, when the schools are off, the teachers will be off"