Children of self-isolating teachers

[SaltyAndFresh]

It stands to reason that with no social distancing, huge bubbles and limited access to hand-washing, swathes of secondary schools in particular are going to end up with groups self isolating. I can't think of a other sector where so many people are in close contact and in confined spaces for so long, but please correct me if I'm wrong (I'll have around 180 per day and 300 different students per week).

If teachers have to self isolate, their own children will have to stay at home too, thus disadvantaging them more than ever. While our children's teachers remain in the classroom, there will be no provision for online learning. I know there will be plenty turning up here insisting that children don't transmit the virus but we know, even if we choose to ignore the elephant in the room, that over 10s very much can. But where do teachers' children stand in all this? Presumably if we're self isolating we're still delivering teaching online, so couldn't home educate even if we tried (I have no experience of KS2 so would struggle anyway).

another sector

No, they'd only isolate if you or they showed symptoms.

I have worked through this entire crisis.. 100% front line.. exposed to potential infection every single day .. providing essential travel to hundreds of key workers essential suppliers of freight and cargo farmers gas and electrical supplies medical supplies emergency medi-vac transfers ... masks were not compulsory until recently... we have all been at risk every single day along with every other key workers still working throughout this entire chain of events ... whilst everyone else either shielded or worked from home ... so please explain to me what is so different to your day in class to everyone else's who have been out here since the rate of infection peaked and dropped ... because Im really not getting it 🤔

whilst everyone else either shielded or worked from home

Well, teachers went to school.

@BumbleBeee69

I have worked through this entire crisis.. 100% front line.. exposed to potential infection every single day .. providing essential travel to hundreds of key workers essential suppliers of freight and cargo farmers gas and electrical supplies medical supplies emergency medi-vac transfers ... masks were not compulsory until recently... we have all been at risk every single day along with every other key workers still working throughout this entire chain of events ... whilst everyone else either shielded or worked from home ... so please explain to me what is so different to your day in class to everyone else's who have been out here since the rate of infection peaked and dropped ... because Im really not getting it 🤔

What is it you actually do? I'm reading driver of some kind?

Either schools are high risk, in which case your children will be sent home constantly anyway regardless of your job, or they aren’t in which case you won’t be either. Yes, it’s possible you will catch the virus from school resulting in your child having to isolate because you are ill, but in that scenario so will loads of other children (not least the primary siblings of all the secondary children who presumably gave you the virus). If other families don’t have covid or come into close contact with it then neither will you. Lots of other parents will also be working while isolating and be unable to homeschool, just like lots of parents have struggled throughout lockdown to balance those things. I’m really not convinced that teacher’s children can really be described as “disadvantaged” solely on the basis of their parent’s job.

I am more worried about what happens if my DC's classes have to self-isolate and I have to take time off! No money for supply makes any time off a complete headache.

I guess we just have to get started and see how it goes. There is always going to be this issue. I also worked throughout. As did many others. Lots of teachers went in to schools but many i know worked at home. Just get started and take each scenario as it comes. I agree it isn't perfect but I honestly dont know what the alternative is? Do you?

@BumbleBeee69 ok, I'll bite... did you have to sit in an unventilated, 50 sq m. room with 30+ people a day facing you and breathing on you for 24+ hours a week? Did you have to come into sustained, regular contact with 300 different people a week 🤔 I see you did at least have the option to wear a mask, which is more than most teachers are being given. A huge number of teachers also worked on the 'frontline' - as you put it- through this 'entire' crisis teaching key workers children.

You can also find the answer to your goady question on the hundreds of other threads where teachers (and other professionals) have painfully and repeatedly explained why being in a school is such high risk.

@yetiyoga I agree that we do need to see how this goes. We don't know with any certainty what is going to happen. However, it makes more sense for students and staff to go back safely in a way which ensures schools actually STAY open than the current proposals (which are to go back and just 'see what happens' with no ppe or realistic social distancing). If you look through the other threads on this topic, people much more eloquent than me have repeatedly outlined safer and more realistic alternatives to the current plan. As it stands, school staff are being asked to do something which hasn't been asked of any other profession. Why is that? Vulnerable staff members will die.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-53680331
Only a few days in and closed already!

The school isn't closed.

If the school isn't closed are they testing those in contact with those children?
My dc need to go back to school but are secondary so a huge bubble and we are high risk of complications....
Not sure fingers crossed is the right approach which is what it seems to be

They tested positive before the school returned.

If you are self isolating because you were in contact with a positive person your family don't have to stay at home unless you get symptoms. As technically you are just at home as a precaution.

So usual contact tracing.

I'm dreading the kids having to self isolate as I doubt I will be paid to be off with them. Usually I don't get paid if I'm off for my children.

@IndiaPlace

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-53680331 Only a few days in and closed already!

I don't understand your point? They caught it before school restarted... there will inevitably be short-term closures here and there but that's not an argument to not even try to open schools, thousands of other schools are open across the country today and children benefiting already.

If teachers have to self isolate, their own children will have to stay at home too, thus disadvantaging them more than ever.

Where is the guidance that says this? It has never been the case that contacts of contacts have to self-isolate.

Are you just scare mongering?

They dont need to isolate. But if you usually have to drive them. Or if they are primary age they are likely to be off.
However our policy of not keeping family members off is a bit silly. Say op did catch from students and continue asymptomatic as does the rest of her class until the second positive. Then op is SI but if she is still asymptomatic then the other family members could also be 5d after op. Straight into another school or more via op children.

What kids definitely do is catch cold and flu i doubt many kids will make a term without needing a swab

They won't have to isolate, unless you show symptoms the rest of your family can just go about life as normal.

@BumbleBeee69 I guess the answer is no then!

@BumbleBeee69

Me too, but apparently working in schools is different. I had to mask and wear other ppe and go into homes. I caught Covid.

Yes I agree.... thousands of us have already been through this 'work' exposure for all of these months... being exposed daily ... being tested weekly... its unpleasant but necessary side to my job.. its an ugly infection but we must get through this ... I will continue in my job regardless ... others may not fare so well I fear 🌺