Government reportedly considering schools going back in 3 weeks

[FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue]

On BBC News 24 now, article in tomorrow's Sunday Times says that ministers are considering schools going back in three weeks time. Plus allowing some shops and social gatherings, but not pubs and clubs.

@Piggywaspushed

Totally agree. Who appointed them head girl?

Let’s get this term started.

On your marks, get set, teach.

Piggywaspushed
To be honest clav there has been so much guidance, the heads may not be able to keep up.

That's an evasive answer - you should be an MP.

Good idea! Education secretary perhaps?

I pointed out on another thread that I had been given one day a week back this half term for the 6 days I worked in school in the holidays.

I think you may be the only teacher on these threads to admit to getting the time back - albeit spread over 6 weeks.

Quite a few people have said that on various threads.

Teachers should not be expected to work and risk their lives without any PPE etc, nor children to risk getting the virus and potentially spreading it to their families.

This is a real risk.

I can see economic arguments for reopening some businesses but schools should be in a later wave. By definition, children don't live on their own, they live in families and even if they only catch it mildly are likely to spread it to their parents and/or siblings or other relatives, who may not have it mildly.

Sending your child to school can kill - it might not kill them but could kill eg their friend's parent.

If schools do start, they should start with primary schools to allow parents to work where necessary, as secondary aged pupils are better able to cope on their own if need be while parents are at work. Attendance should be voluntary only and only with very small numbers per class and only if sufficient staff can be found, for whom coming in should be voluntary too.

I see no need for mass reopenings till Sept, apart from that - the summer term is short and mainly taken up with exams anyway. Little formal learning will be lost if pupils are off and this will be amply replaced by real life learning eg a great opportunity for children to learn real life skills like how to cook or plant veg to eat.

Quite a few people have said that on various threads.

Not on these threads - I've seen at least 20 posts where teachers have posted that they worked over Easter for free.

I genuinely do not know anyone who worked over the holidays who is getting paid extra or getting the time back.

[flower] [flower]

The posts usually get lost in the bashing that follows where teachers get accused of not going above and beyond and everyone else does unpaid overtime so why shouldn't they etc

Whoops

A post from last night on this thread;

"I've explained countless times (as have others) that teachers have worked happily for free during Easter and will do the next half term if needed but no, it's simply not good enough"

I worked for free I’ll give my self some

I genuinely do not know anyone who worked over the holidays who is getting paid extra or getting the time back.

Our head told us we will get our holiday time back however it will not all be in blocks - I worked 6 days, I'm getting 5 back as it's a short half term and I fully expect I will be in school during half term.

I'm still hopeful we will go back in June for the last half term. I want to see my class - I miss them.

PicsInRedI’m so sorry about your stressful experience. The following I have pasted from Facebook and has some small comfort to you during this time

Thank you Chloe, yes I had felt a lot better seeing this, and it makes perfect sense - only became more concerned when it seemed that formal learning would be expected to recommence and to occur in the home. This doesn't work for full time keyworkers.

FrippEnos
I'm not "blaming" teachers, I'm expressing an opinion about State policy and how that is actually impacting actual families like mine.

TOIL is a bit shit anyway. We have been told in the past to take TOIL when we have a free afternoon anyway , which means our TOIL has to be our PPA time.

I actually have no idea whether my colleagues are being paid or taking TOIL as it's not really my business. Since they're mainly SLT, I doubt it.

Of course the colleagues making visors etc are doing that entirely for free.

only became more concerned when it seemed that formal learning would be expected to recommence and to occur in the home. This doesn't work for full time keyworkers.

Please don’t be concerned and of course it doesn’t work for those working. You do what you have to, to keep going for your family. We’ll make it right when we get to go back to school

Clavinova

They could well be the only teacher that has received TOIL or pay.

All I can tell you is that where I work it was done on the basis of being free.

It could well be that the head will decide to pay for those days but we haven't been offered TOIL.

Piggy was pushed I know exactly what I will be doing with my free day - working!! I'm in school 3 days a week so if I only wfh Monday I won't get everything done - a week of differentiated planning plus resources x 3 will take up 1 of those days and I have school reports to write.

That's an evasive answer - you should be an MP.

She learnt from the best, Clav! you

If a headteacher cannot arrange time off in lieu (or extra payment - which has been sanctioned by the DfE) when many schools are not teaching live lessons - then I would suggest that they are being very unreasonable or pretty rubbish at management.

Surely some teachers would have had their time off in lieu before the Easter break when many schools didn't really know what they were doing?

ChloeDecker

Thank you Chloe, that's very kind. 🤗

Is that a joke? You mean the busiest week in education whilst teachers were trying to teach, prepare home learning packs, plan online lessons and look after the welfare of children. Whilst massively understaffed? I’m not sure if you’re clueless or deliberately antagonistic.