Schools guidance released

[Orangeblossom78]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53253722

No dropping of subjects at GCSE then. Posting for info

I don't think some of the comments on here really encourages the public to view teachers positively.

Thankfully the teachers I know in real life aren't as aggressive and dismissive as some on here.

I have a lot of respect for teachers, Christ, we need them hence why we want our kids back to school.

I don't have a lot of respect for anyone who talks about children and parents in an awful and offensive way and there's been quite a bit of that on here as of late.

"No more risk than any other profession". What a nonsense statement. If I were an architect I assume I'd still be working from home, then returning to site sometimes with SD and mostly outdoors. If I were the solicitor who arranged my house sale I would be wfh or in my own small office, within a larger office of half a dozen staff and some members of the public coming in who could be made to SD. If I were an accountant, similar. There are lots of less risky professions in Covid terms.

I am a PPA teacher in a large primary school, usually teaching 4 different year groups for half a day each. What will happen to my role?

Crack on as normal and wash your hands, according to the guidance.

But the guidance says that the bubbles should be constant at primary, so is this 'allowed' - to just ignore the rules and increase potential risk. Our SLT, at present, are really clear on ensuring the bubbles aren't changed, and no one enters a room if to in that bubble, etc. That is what our guidance, inc that from the LEA, have told us.

But come September is that then just ignored?

This is my role also, so I am somewhat concerned, especially as someone who is clinically (not shielded) vulnerable. I can't wait to be back not doing remote learning all day every day. Im working increasingly long hours all the time right now, so being back in a classroom will be lovely. But it has to be safe for all too.

The timeline for testing doesn't work for it either. It will be a week from symptoms to getting that result back. By which point the closing of any sort of bubble is too slow, its too late.
Our track and trace is laughable.

I was one of the first to send my year 6 back, they've enjoyed it, I knew the school would keep them safe. It was to their school, their teacher, the guidance was clear and concise.

Yet the secondary guidance is woeful and i do not feel comfortable and happy about sending her to a school she doesn't know, to teachers she doesn't know. Where there is no trust built and the government are doing nothing to help reassure.

Our school have just sent an email saying that they are discussing the new guidelines and will update in the coming weeks

Are the government paying for Oak Academy in the autumn term?

I meet a lot of parents just as entitled as some of the ones on here. One the other day asked me if I would be continuing giving her son the one on one time I do each week currently through the summer holiday. She was very sniffy when I said I would not. I wondered if she was on Mumsnet.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

I don't think some of the comments on here really encourages the public to view teachers positively.

Thankfully the teachers I know in real life aren't as aggressive and dismissive as some on here.

I have a lot of respect for teachers, Christ, we need them hence why we want our kids back to school.

I don't have a lot of respect for anyone who talks about children and parents in an awful and offensive way and there's been quite a bit of that on here as of late.

I have zero respect for those who think that teachers should go back to schools without the protections in place afforded to everyone else.

I have zero respect for those who think that teachers should go back to schools without the protections in place afforded to everyone else

What protections are afforded to everyone else?

@EvilPea

The timeline for testing doesn't work for it either. It will be a week from symptoms to getting that result back. By which point the closing of any sort of bubble is too slow, its too late. Our track and trace is laughable.

I was one of the first to send my year 6 back, they've enjoyed it, I knew the school would keep them safe. It was to their school, their teacher, the guidance was clear and concise.

Yet the secondary guidance is woeful and i do not feel comfortable and happy about sending her to a school she doesn't know, to teachers she doesn't know. Where there is no trust built and the government are doing nothing to help reassure.

Why do you think that? My ds had a test a couple of weeks back, and the results were back in about 18 hours. There is a thread on here today with someone asking for how long people's results took, and the vast majority of answers were less than 24 hours.

@user1471530109

Maybe then the alternative is that teachers work part time or get furloughed and all our kids just do one day a week. Would some teachers be ok with being furloughed do you think? Losing some salary like millions of others have had to? Or lose their job if they dont work? Again, like millions of others? Many millions have had to make the choice - risk their health or lose their jobs...why are teachers different?

It is this kind of attitude and comment that makes me want to scream! Where has anyone on here said we don't want to go back? All my colleagues are desperate to be back doing our jobs in a classroom rather than at the dining table at home. I want my own kids back.
But. We deserve more than this useless so called guidance. We need someone who is getting paid a fortune to think of these things, to come up with a plan. A plan that keeps everyone as safe as possible given the circumstances. We know there is a risk! But we want that reduced by workable solutions!

This is exactly what I put in the original point - that we need can do and positivity not "oooh Im overweight so I cant possible go back to being in front of children"

Saying "We need someone who is getting paid a fortune to think of these things, to come up with a plan" deflects from the fact that head teachers most likely get paid more than MPs! and theyre "experts" in THEIR schools. Show some leadership! Get some ideas going and momentum moving behind it. The welsh have done this with marquees and using additional space where possible (there are outdoor heaters!) where are the great ideas? Instead of "ooh when will I get my afternoon off for PPA if I have to do a full 6 hours teaching a day".

1m+, PPE. Empty desking. Not having to move through THIS several times a day.

@nellodee

1m+, PPE. Empty desking. Not having to move through THIS several times a day.

staggered lesson times, one way systems, use of additional buildings/outdoor space. Lets see some solutions!

The welsh have done this with marquees and using additional space where possible (there are outdoor heaters!) where are the great ideas?
(a) space heaters are an eco crime
(b) what about the schools with no outside space
(c) where will the money come from to pay for it?
(d) how will you get the kids to the schools under the daft bubble systems

I still don't understand why teachers can't wear PPE if they want to.
Why don't they just buy a mask or whatever makes them feel safer?
have the schools actually banned the wearing of PPE/

And before anyone says the guidance says to avoid that kind of crush, the guidance is unworkable.

We are supposed to keep year groups separate. This would mean moving them around at staggered lesson start and finish times. But if the lessons are staggered, then this does not work for teachers teaching multiple year groups. You cannot start one lesson before you finish another. You cannot have gaps between lessons because we don't have enough teachers to cover the gaps. You cannot leave the children in the rooms unattended. You cannot keep year KS4 in groups because they are all doing different options. None of the guidance works, so yes, we will get the crowded corridors above. Not for 15 minutes at a time, but for 2-10 minutes, several times a day.

@ListeningQuietly

The welsh have done this with marquees and using additional space where possible (there are outdoor heaters!) where are the great ideas? (a) space heaters are an eco crime (b) what about the schools with no outside space (c) where will the money come from to pay for it? (d) how will you get the kids to the schools under the daft bubble systems

1) Kids with no education is neglectful and damaging to their mental health. Get them planting some trees when its over 2) Look at other buildings not in use. Loads of them. Libraries, Universities, Concert venues etc etc 3)Lobby the Gov for more funding, get the Unions on THAT 4)Parents have to be responsible for getting their kids there. That one is on them.

@hashtagbollocks

I still don't understand why teachers can't wear PPE if they want to. Why don't they just buy a mask or whatever makes them feel safer? have the schools actually banned the wearing of PPE/

Some have yes. But for a teacher to stay safe the kids have to wear masks. Unless it's surgical grade, masks protect other people.

What protections are afforded to everyone else?

DH's solicitors firm - mask provided for facing any customers, contacts and clients. Portable shields for sitting opposite said people if they must meet indoors.Most meetings are arranged outdoors in gardens during home visits at present, rather than in the offices - staff being given allowances (re time and targets, as can see less people in person if having to travel to them) for travel needed to allow for this. Sanitiser and gloves if dealing with lots of documents, etc.
One way system round the office, regular cleaning with increased staff employed to ensure this, social distancing within the building for all members of staff, new laptops and devices to ensure work from home is possible, new hands free telephone systems, new hot water taps for reducing risk when making hot drinks in the 'staff room', new filter system for the air con, only 50% of staff in the building at any one time to reduce risk of transmission, so many staff are working from home 2-3 days a week minimum, but can increase this to wfh full time so long as their work rate/targets don't drop when doing so. And more.

This is the same for pretty much all the people I know who work in these kind of occupations.

In our local supermarkets staff at tills are behind shields. Those on the shop floor are wearing gloves and masks. The one way systems and restricted number of people in the sore at any one time is being maintained.

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Re tests - mine came back after about 48 hours from collection, which I thought was good. Not within the 24 hour target though.

listeningcrime
outdoor heaters are nowhere near as big an ecocrime as the billions of pieces of disposable plastic this will generate.
as for the "what about schools with no outside space", well indeed, but that doesn't stop the schools WITH outdoor space from utilising it, does it?
Kids are being encouraged to not use public transport but if they do, then face mask are worn.
as for the money, I would think money would be diverted from the winding down furlough scheme, though TBH introducing measures such as staggered start times doesn't cost money

Are the government paying for Oak Academy in the autumn term?

Exclusive: DfE to fund Oak National Academy next year.
schoolsweek.co.uk/exclusive-dfe-to-fund-oak-national-academy-next-year/

have the schools actually banned the wearing of PPE

The guidance says it shouldn't be worn.

@havefunpeleton

I honestly think some people have lost all perspective during lockdown. There has been a huge amount of scaremongering so it's understandable. But to consider working in a school a high risk job. It's really really not...

I think anyone considering quitting should give it a few weeks as I'm almost sure you'll feel differently when you get used to things again.

I think if you look at death rates prior to lockdown, school staff were pretty high up the league table, so on what basis have you decided that schools aren't high risk?

Secondly, teachers can't give it a few weeks and then leave. They'll have to stay until Christmas.

Now you expect us to teach in tents throughout the winter? How does this help, exactly? Even if we could double the space, we won't have double the teachers. You could spread my class out over two rooms, but you can't spread me out over two rooms.

With all due respect palace I am not a primary teacher so don't have an 'afternoon off' (how insulting to those that need that time to plan decent lessons for your child).
I am also clinically vulnerable due to a chronic medical condition-nowhere have I said I'm fat!

All I want, and from what I can gather from most posts on here, is some PPE and a bit of creative thinking in terms of these stupid bubbles!

SLT (which I am not part of) are already and have been for many months, working on solutions. But the problem is, if we go massively against guidance then parent won't be happy! As is evident on here! I think Heads would have been more thankful for no 'guidance' and been told to think outside the box to keep the kids and staff safe.

You cannot start one lesson before you finish another
Nellodee where is your can-do attitude? All you need is one of those time-turner watch thingys like Hermione had.