So how is all this ‘open only for key workers’ thing going to work then?

[FlamingoAndJohn]

Really is doesn’t seem to mean anything.

I can’t really teach a random selection of children.

There are 4days to sort this out , not 2 . Overtime is a bummer, but it's supporting the NHS

Do children have to go or do we not know yet? My ds is 15 so capable of looking after himself. If it’s childcare rather than teaching he would probably be better off at home.

@TimeforanotherChange
I do feel for you and do understand your worry but every single person in every profession could say the same. The delivery driver, the nurse, the cashier, the cleaner etc. We are all in the same boat.

Well done all of you with the 'Blitz spirit'. As I said, I have vulnerable family members I am concerned about - and whilst I could be allowing other people to help others I could also be putting my own loved ones in significant danger. Clearly I'm not as altruistic as you, but I don't actually want to be the person responsible for killing one of my family by bringing back a virus they can't cope with. Given the choice between propping up Britain and keeping my own family safe, sadly I would prefer to prioritise my family.

I'm having to go into school every day, dealing with children - maybe strange children by the look of it - who may or may not be carrying a virus

I hear what you are saying, I am a lone parent, no family for 300 miles, no partner (not my fault) and I have just toldmy DD6 that she will probably be going to a new school soon.

I have to go to work in a hospital 5 days a week, I haveto risk taking it home everyday.

Im currentlyself isolating as my symptoms started on Friday. I have no idea if I have it.

Last night I layed in bed, with the worst chest pain I have ever had, while DD slept.
I cried, hoping I would be o.k.

When I told her about going to a new school, she said "O.k mum"

We need to help eachother out right now.

I look after sick relatives, while someone looks after my child please.

Going to be difficult to do that if the vast majority of the First Aid Trained staff (who are essential - a legal requirement) - are not there because they're not super fit/young/etc.

Suppose you could get a couple of PE teachers in, as they usually have to do the course, but they aren't School First Aiders or the Designated Person responsible for maintaining the Medical Room. There's a distinct difference between the two - they certainly wouldn't have knowledge or experience of supervising medication, dealing with illnesses, anxiety and the like or of the legal requirements for Medical Room operations/allowing emergency inhaler use/administering emergency EpiPens, etc.

I have no idea if secondary schools will be opening, I assume we will because we do have vulnerable students and year 7/8 would need "childcare" and potentially even older students with sen.

TimeforanotherChange if there comes a time in the future when you pick up the phone for an ambulance or another of the emergency services I want you to remember this moment. Let’s be grateful that some people are considerable more altruistic than you. We all have vulnerable people in our family - you are not unique.

I work in a clerical role in the NHS, if I'm asked to fulfil another role at work emptying buns, cleaning, admitting patients, then I will despite being trained and qualified for a very different role. It's not about individuals. We have to pull together. And be adaptable.

Also wondering as a parent whether as a teacher I am a 'key worker'.

Obviously we don't know yet if/when as teachers we will be required on site, but would my (primary age) children be able to attend their school if I am required to work in mine?

I work for a MAT about 45 mins away. As DH and I are both home working now from Friday I'm going to volunteer some hours at my two local schools. I'll be available online for my own Y11 and 13 students in the mornings We need to pull together. I can do creative writing, drama, story telling and maybe organize some games outside. Key workers need me in the same way I might need them.

@TimeforanotherChange I do hope you're not one of my DC's teachers.

You should have gone into banking, rather than teaching, with your 'me, me, me' attitude.

It might be that one or two schools stay open per city / town but not sure how that would work.

in austria they have 2 staff at the (primary) school building to watch the children on the playground/school hall.
the teachers tutor via video app and give out work via email.

I do think it will be childcare not education, which makes it easier. And it might be that teachers are less relied upon for this than support staff, who are there predominantly to support and are generally the lower paid amongst staff.

Or maybe schools will put everyone on a rota in case of illness. So even if twenty people volunteer, if some come down with an illness there will be others to take over, for a while at least.

Ultimately an employee of an educational establishment will be required to make themselves available at least during their normal contracted hours.

@SoShere 🤗🤗

It would make more sense to open a handful of schools per area than all of them. Just thinking about the logistics of opening every building and the cost of turning on the lighting and heating.

I'm a special school so all of my kids will be in but I'm worried about my staffing. I was 48 staff down today and that was before staff have to stay off to look after their own kids.
I'm really hoping we count as key workers, I have a 1 year old and a 10 year old.

I think it's great we're staying open for key workers' children; those of us who don't have health conditions or people at homr with one, will be volunteering and prob sorting a rota. What I'm more concerned about is the addition of vulnerable/EHCP children as this is a whole different scenario; behaviour/learning/medical issues will have a massive impact on the number/type of staff needed.

TimeforanotherChange

So when your vulnerable loved one needs me as a doctor to provide care, treatment,etc.. Are you going to be happy for me say "sorry no, I am not going to see, treat, help people because I might take the virus home to my vulnerable step child"

It is likely we will all have to do things we that aren't 'our job' or 'what we signed up'. Today, instead of my well paid, professional job I spent doing basic admin because that was what needed to be done and my own work can wait. If I end up having to be trained to do cleaning then that is what I will do.

I think this is exceptionally unfair on teachers. They are not healthcare workers. There is no tacit contract to put themselves at risk of infection. What about teachers who have their own vulnerable people to think about. One of my soldiers (key worker) is married to a teacher & their son has cystic fibrosis. Who takes precedence here.

What about everyone volunteers to take a dozen extra random kids into their home each day... not so appetising now is it.

Teachers are allowed to be scared for themselves and their families.

It would make more sense to open a handful of schools per area than all of them. Just thinking about the logistics of opening every building and the cost of turning on the lighting and heating.

Boris did say that all schools will be open on Monday, then also said not all schools will be open all the way through.

I assume that'll be when they work out how many kids there are actually needing to come in and then they can do one or two schools in an area.

For transport reasons I also expect they'll try and get the kids all going into the school nearest their house. My teens, for example, get bussed to school, but there's a RC high school at the end of our road. If they were going (they won't be as I'm home) it would make far more sense for them to walk to that school than be bussed to their school. The same applies to primary age children in reverse here.

Those of you who think it will be a bit of light childcare in a combined school haven't factored in my children with EHCPs for autism and challenging behaviour. They HATE change and are more than happy to express their anxiety through violence.

Good luck babysitting them. But I don't have enough staff left standing to keep them in their regular setting either.

plenty of NHS staff who normally do other things will be drafted in to help in hospitals

@TimeforanotherChange

I hear your frustrations & understand where you are coming from here.

Teachers have been dealing with growing class numbers, inadequate classrooms and resources, no real pay increases for a long time. In addition they are treated like they are responsible for 'curing' all of societies social problems and are treated with little respect by plenty of parents and pupils despite the incredible hard work and care they put into providing education.

Is it any wonder teachers aren't jumping up and down at the prospect continuing to work and be exposed to the virus without any protective gear when their own families are at risk too?