@EmpressoftheMundane it is not the Head teachers decision to impose fines or refuse holiday. My head has family abroad and would love to approve extended family visits that are cheaper in term time. But he is not legally allowed and the absence goes down as unauthorised. It is the government that mandates this.
And to other posters, please read previous posts! So many things that are being complained about are not within a teacher's power to change,sometimes not even the leadership team's! Most of what is being discussed here has been dictated by government guidance and then some local authorities. Yes some schools have said no to pupils going back but they have to state reasons and cleaning resources and space are probably the reasons. No extra money has been allocated for cleaning supplies, pipe, soap or sanitizer, this is coming out of existing budgets that have been dessimated by this government. Most schools already run in a deficit and that is after losing many much needed support staff, cutting essential supplies and having to ignore vital repair work. To the PP who complained about teachers demanding too much money... teaching is amongst one of the lowest paid professional roles in this country we deserve fair pay and fair pay increases which we haven't properly received for many years. Our pay is nothing to do with this crisis and how it should be dealt with or funded. It really is confusing to me how many people on here do not blame the government for the shit situation schools are in and come here to have a go at the teachers with no real understanding about how schools work and no interest in listening to those that do know.
With regards to those who are vulnerable, shame on PP for saying they should suck it up and work or get fired! How inhumane and frankly disgusting. For those who dont bother to read the official government advice or who believe people are shielding for the fun of it, here is the list of groups that are clinically extremely vulnerable:
Clinically extremely vulnerable people may include:
Clinically extremely vulnerable people may include:
Solid organ transplant recipients.
People with specific cancers:
people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
People with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell).
People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
Other people have also been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs. GPs and hospital clinicians have been provided with guidance to support these decisions.
I don't see how any of those conditions would usually stop someone from working in a school in normal circumstances and I fully believe that no one should risk their loves or their family's for anyone or anything, let alone some of you posters on here who seem downright arrogant, entitled and nasty. I'm so glad I clearly dont teach any of your children as the parents in my school are so much nicer, more rational and clearly smarter. That point is not directed at all parents who want their kids to go back, just the ones who dont give a shit about themselves and their own darling children.
The list of clinically vulnerable from the government guidance is here:
aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (that is, anyone instructed to get a flu jab each year on medical grounds):
chronic (long-term) mild to moderate respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
chronic kidney disease
chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy
diabetes
a weakened immune system as the result of certain conditions or medicines they are taking (such as steroid tablets)
being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
pregnant women
This category if individuals has been given this guidance: Education and childcare settings should endeavour to support this, for example by asking staff to support remote education, carry out lesson planning or other roles which can be done from home. If clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) individuals cannot work from home, they should be offered the safest available on-site roles, staying 2 metres away from others wherever possible, although the individual may choose to take on a role that does not allow for this distance if they prefer to do so. If they have to spend time within 2 metres of other people, settings must carefully assess and discuss with them whether this involves an acceptable level of risk.
No one is staying at home 'vulnerable' for fun. I am desperate to get back to work and see my class, not just a bubble, my whole class as a group, but my head wont let me in, probably to cover the schools back from a health and safety legal point of view if anything were to happen to me, and I fully support that as much as I hate it!
Just leave teachers alone! We've had to teach and care for your children for many years with cuts to services and funding and less support in school, whether that is adults for children, training or otherwise, and we have managed. It's been brutal but we are here and we have coped, although some haven't and rightly left the professional as it has changed beyond recognition during this government. Children are clearly not the focus of this government's agenda and they haven't been for many many years and I wish those who are complaining now would have supported us in our battle with this over the years. BLAME THE GOVERNMENT not the schools! Yes there are shitty schools and maybe all of mumsnet happen to send their kids to these schools and the good schools are reserved for non-mumsnet users? Blame the government, complain to them but leave us alone please!