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Original poster

I tried phoning the Department of Education but they're closed. Everyone is working from home.

133 replies

jomartin281271 · 27/08/2020 18:18

The Department of Education realise there is a pandemic sweeping the globe, so their staff are working from home. And before anyone says that's because of the nasty old unions, it's a bit more complicated than that. The government realise they have a duty of care to civil service workers, and if they force people to come into the office and they subsequently die or end up with long covid, the government could be sued. So why are our children being squashed into tiny classrooms?

OP posts:
notevenat20 · 27/08/2020 20:09

It's upsetting to read teachers on Mumsnet so strongly against reopening schools. There will of course be exceptional cases of very elderly and frail teachers but that isn't how people are describing themselves.

The elephant in the room is pay. If my employer wants me in the office and I refuse, I won't get paid. All teachers were paid a full wage no matter how little work they did from March to July as far as I know.

ineedaholidaynow · 27/08/2020 20:12

Yet again there is the assertion that teachers are saying schools shouldn’t open. Some posters must have not listened much at school themselves as teachers are not saying they want schools not to open, they are saying they want them to open in a way that means that they stay open.

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 27/08/2020 20:15

@notevenat20

It's upsetting to read teachers on Mumsnet so strongly against reopening schools. There will of course be exceptional cases of very elderly and frail teachers but that isn't how people are describing themselves.

The elephant in the room is pay. If my employer wants me in the office and I refuse, I won't get paid. All teachers were paid a full wage no matter how little work they did from March to July as far as I know.

Which teacher said that? Where is your evidence?

We probably have the DfE muppets trying to de-rail this now. Hope about the DfE finally own up and agree the department is no longer fit for purpose.

yeOldeTrout · 27/08/2020 20:16

Phone calls are being diverted to civil service staff working at home (when they work at home, many are not WFH). I wonder who OP tried to ring. Can you tell us which number it was, OP? Just what happened OP, did you get a "Our reply will be delayed" msg or no answer at all? Claim in thread title doesn't make sense.

notevenat20 · 27/08/2020 20:20

Which teacher said that? Where is your evidence?. All the ones on MN talking about the extreme risk, the impossibility of social distancing etc

herecomesthsun · 27/08/2020 20:21

Can I just say that my DC's teachers have been working very hard (I am not a teacher, state schools) to re-organise timetables and support children, have worked through their normal holidays and are facing a crowded indoor environment with an insistence from their employer that they shouldn't have PPE.

I am baffled at all the attacks on teachers,it is bonkers.

Thank you.

ineedaholidaynow · 27/08/2020 20:23

But @notevenat20 that is not saying they don’t want schools to open, they are just voicing their concerns on how schools are opening. And their concerns aren’t just for themselves but for the pupils too

latticechaos · 27/08/2020 20:24

@Uhoh2020

All I've said is social distancing should be in place in secondary schools to reduce transmission

We've done a thousand threads already why social distancing isnt in school which theres no point going over again. If the rest of the community can do some things at home though even if its a small percentage its still lowering the transmission which in turn mean a lower transmission going into schools.

Id be more than happy for other social things to be restricted so there's even less transmission going into schools, but i also realise that then has an adverse affect on the economy and people's livelihoods for those who work in that area.
In my opinion schools should be the first thing to get back as close to normal and all other things restricted or amended in whatever way possible to achieve that.

That's your opinion, but not mine. I have older children and would prefer blended learning. I believe that gives a better chance of keeping schools open for longer with less disruption.

I understand there have been lots of threads, but it's the biggest issue for many parents now so it will get discussed a lot.

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 27/08/2020 20:27

They are not against reopening of schools - just pointing out SD is not feasible in most schools - which the DfE should know. There are not enough washbasin - which the DfE should know. The idea of bubbles in secondary is ridiculous - which the DfE should know. The idea of communal and non-communal areas in secondary is also ridiculous - which the DfE should know!

The DfE keep sending out missives saying do this do that when the last time most of them were in a school was to do their A Levels. All these little guidance changes cost money which we are not getting because they too busy spending it on communication campaigns.

notevenat20 · 27/08/2020 20:27

But @notevenat20 that is not saying they don’t want schools to open, they are just voicing their concerns on how schools are opening. And their concerns aren’t just for themselves but for the pupils too

Oh ok. That's good.

They can't really be worried for the pupils as there is almost no risk to them.

Uhoh2020 · 27/08/2020 20:28

@latticechaos I also have a child doing GCSES, I'd prefer him to be taught fully in the classroom I believe he will do better being in school full time, thats my opinion

mumonedge · 27/08/2020 20:31

Some of us are unable to work from home..therefore unable to work...therefore homeless and no way of paying bills!

ineedaholidaynow · 27/08/2020 20:31

They are partly worried that school will be disruptive this term and the Government have not put in place a Plan B if schools are continually closing when bubbles burst or teachers go off sick. And the Government haven’t given schools any funding for them to be able to put an effective Plan B in place

latticechaos · 27/08/2020 20:33

[quote Uhoh2020]@latticechaos I also have a child doing GCSES, I'd prefer him to be taught fully in the classroom I believe he will do better being in school full time, thats my opinion[/quote]
And that's fine. You've got what you want (unless there's another last minute u turn Shock).

The issue is, for all of us, how long it lasts.

I am by nature quite cautious, so it is just the way I think to prefer 50% school more guaranteed.

BackforGood · 27/08/2020 20:33

What Uhoh2020 and Ted27 said on P1

This is one of the most ridiculous OPs in a long while Hmm

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 27/08/2020 20:34

@notevenat20

But @notevenat20 that is not saying they don’t want schools to open, they are just voicing their concerns on how schools are opening. And their concerns aren’t just for themselves but for the pupils too

Oh ok. That's good.

They can't really be worried for the pupils as there is almost no risk to them.

Happy teacher = happy child = good results

Pissed off and annoyed teacher = bored child = not so good results

ineedaholidaynow · 27/08/2020 20:34

I also have a Y11 DC I would prefer blended learning

Haskell · 27/08/2020 20:35

middleager I'm in the same position, in fact I bet we do the same job Thanks
It's crap, isn't it? At least my manager is letting me out of school to do the school run each way so my own children don't have to get four buses each day. Our HT has already issued a request for pupils and staff to wear masks in school following the DfE guidance change, so that's positive.

boys3 · 27/08/2020 20:35

@StaffAssociationRepresentative

They are not against reopening of schools - just pointing out SD is not feasible in most schools - which the DfE should know. There are not enough washbasin - which the DfE should know. The idea of bubbles in secondary is ridiculous - which the DfE should know. The idea of communal and non-communal areas in secondary is also ridiculous - which the DfE should know!

The DfE keep sending out missives saying do this do that when the last time most of them were in a school was to do their A Levels. All these little guidance changes cost money which we are not getting because they too busy spending it on communication campaigns.

@StaffAssociationRepresentative am I right in thinking that the frequently updated / revised guidance does not come with any version control identifying what has changed / stayed the same / reverted back to the position n versions earlier?

Thankless task for all half a million plus of you. I'm grateful for all your efforts.

notevenat20 · 27/08/2020 20:37

I have two children at school and I definitely want then there full time receiving a full education. I don't think it's hard, we just have to be ready to sacrifice other parts of our lives. E.g. the right to socialise, meet friends etc.

ineedaholidaynow · 27/08/2020 20:38

@notevenat20 have you seen all the threads where posters are saying that if their children are going back to school they are giving up on social distancing with friends and family

jewel1968 · 27/08/2020 20:40

Teachers/Education experts - do you think it is possible for children (perhaps older children) to do at least some of their learning at home. In this scenario imagine money was found to ensure all kids had decent equipment. I can see issues with space in the home even if they had the kit. Can you see any SD solutions that might involve home learning and on site learning. If not now is that something we could aspire to for the next pandemic?

Haskell · 27/08/2020 20:40

@notevenat20 There is no social distancing in schools. There isn't the space! Why don't people understand this? For results days, we had people lined up down the street to collect. That was one year group at a time, obviously. All 7 year groups back, not a chance. We can fit about one year group in the canteen at a time with no social distancing. The corridors are only 2m wide. Even with a one way system it's going to be tricky. There are 32 children in each classroom, with no space to separate desks (they're all tables of 2 in any case).

NeverTwerkNaked · 27/08/2020 20:41

Surely most teachers are bright enough to realise that by office workers working from home that reduces the spread of the virus making it safer for those who can't work from home.

Also, teachers and schools had a chance to prove they could deliver education remotely last term but didn't take the opportunity. I said at the time that that was a short sighted approach to take.
If teachers had all thrown everything at teaching remotely last term maybe different options would be on the table now. It was a major error of judgement by the unions to resist online teaching for so long.

notevenat20 · 27/08/2020 20:42

have you seen all the threads where posters are saying that if their children are going back to school they are giving up on social distancing with friends and family

I have but that won't be enough I fear. The govt may have to restrict everyone to keep the general infection down.