WTAF schools...

[SoberCurious]

My friend who works for the DfE says they are planning for kids to go back to school in December 😭😭😭

Shielding
From what ?

I hope that all those who areshielding
NEVER go to a park
NEVER go to the beach
NEVER go to a shop
NEVER go collect a takeaway
DO NOT go to any shops from next week
DO NOT go to any zoos or leisure facilities from next

Whoever posted thos do you have any idea what shielding is about.
My shielding dh has not left the house since lockdown. Yes he can go on a daily walk but that is it. Social distancing in the home. No hugs with kids.
Yet he is still working usual hours from home. It is not a joke. If he catches the virus he will get very ill and could die.

Bold fail

I don't want my 5 year old in over the summer unless it's for transition to the next year group and even then I'd say she only needs 1-2 mornings or afternoons in her new classroom with her new teacher and I'd be happy to contribute towards that if it meant the amazing teachers at her school got paid for doing so. She needs break the lockdown has been hard on her, and we need to start seeing medical professionals again before I can consider full time schooling in September as she's in pain with a condition she has and all therapies have stopped.

I personally think that if schools open and parents decide not to send their children back, that is fine. But if they are not shielding or vulnerable, then they need to deregister their child from school and homeschool themselves, without school support. As and when they want to return their child to school, they will need to apply for a place and may not get the school that they want. So many schools are oversubscribed with waiting lists. Not fair to have a place kept open for you that you aren't using.

The Daily Telegraph has, finally, got the bit between their teeth about the school issue. I hope other media follow suit.

We don't need to be discussing teacher salary, holidays, whether some will or won't leave, the relative merits of it's a vocational job or not, as we could swap the word 'teacher' with several other professions and jobs who are all facing risk and not paid enough for their contribution to society.

That's ALL a distraction to the main issue which is:

WTAF is the govt plan to get the majority of students back at school. What are the thresholds that will trigger different plans.

Come on Gavin, tell us.

Agree @KeepWashingThoseHands

KeepWashingThoseHands
The contracts and holidays matter when there are posters across a range of threads suggesting that teachers should be directed to work outside their contracts and lose their summer holidays.

Gavin won't have a proper plan. He'll throw some soundbites, publish some guidance full of issues and then blame schools if they can't meet some unrealistic outcome.

@LolaSmiles

That's the point - as long as anyone tolerates a debate about teacher contracts and holidays etc. (which is unreasonable in my view), it detracts from putting the pressure on Gav.

I've posted this exact comment several times. No teachers should feel they have to answer or get into a debate with anyone about what they're doing during lockdown. That is between them and their SLT, as it is for all of us. Anyone asking more is silly and should be ignored. You can't argue with stupid.

Parents are allowed to be frustrated at the situation but the ONLY focus here should be the govt and their plan.

I see your point. I thought you meant people shouldn't mention contracts at all. I agree with you in that it's not up for debate.

It's concerning how many people are falling for the government deflection tactics. Mean unions and teachers who don't want to open schools, people protesting human rights are the cause of a second wave, blame the public for not staying at home whilst going to the beach at home with family and friends but totally alone.

Although remember loads of people in the private sector have been told 20% pay cut and for some 20% pay cut plus 20% extra hours for no extra pay and it is that or you are out the door. Teachers do not seem currently to be subject to the same pressures because tax payers are funding them at full wages even though the country probably cannot afford it.

Teaching doesn't have high starting salaries. If you cut pay you will just lose young teachers to other jobs and more lucrative positions abroad. Others will retire.

There is already a shortage of good teachers.

Teachers do not seem currently to be subject to the same pressures because tax payers are funding them at full wages even though the country probably cannot afford it.

Teachers are also taxpayers. And have been working fulltime since lockdown started.

My friend is a school governor and all their kids will be back part-time before summer.

It will depend on the school and area. But I put money on most being back part-time from sept with blended learning.

There does seem to be a total lack of awareness that teachers have worked throughout. It might not be in the way you want, but they have been directed by their schools, academy chain and LA's (who are at the whim of ever changing central government announcements) so redirect your ire.

There is also little understanding that teachers mostly work extra hours and fund many resources out of their own pockets.

I’ve not read this thread. I’m guessing it descended into some version of teachers being at fault.

Am I right?

Er no? Why bother posting? Suggest you RTFT?

Rinoachicken

Testing a theory. So there is no blaming of teachers on this thread?

@Xenia

It sounds an awful lot like you are having a dig at teachers again.

I am not a teacher and work private sector. I have taken a pay cut to save people being laid off at my work and could say I am paying for all those on furlough/benefits etc. the same as teachers are paying for those on furlough as they also pay taxes.

I'm not thrilled about my pay cut but sleep at night that others have a job if I have a bit less, cos most days I like to think I'm not a total dick. You understand how the economy works right and in particular now?

Can you PLEASE direct your irritation to the govt and not people who education the next generation.

Xenia

Lets not forget all those that are doing no work and being funded at 80% of their wages by the tax payer.

Or doesn't that count?

@FrippEnos

Xenia

Lets not forget all those that are doing no work and being funded at 80% of their wages by the tax payer.

Or doesn't that count?

Let's not forget those funded at 80% are tax payers and are still paying tax.

Blackbear19 Xenia

Er, teachers pay taxes too.

And unlike private sector workers, they don't receive holiday pay. Their salary is calculated for term-time only, which equates to ten months of the year. This is then spread across 12 months so they don't go without income during the summer months. So, comparatively, they're no better off than someone on 80% furlough – but they've worked throughout the crisis.