I'm a teacher and Boris you have failed us

[NewnameNelly]

My school has no ppe, we have a cleaner wiping touch points all through the day. We have antibacterial hand-wash and sanitiser, but it still isn't compulsory for us to wear masks/face shields. Two weeks in to us starting back and I'm off sick waiting for a home test and I've been trying to get hold of one for the past 2 days and all I am getting is this. Come back later, what when I'm calling an ambulance or dead. So much for having key workers as a priority. University lecturers are making students wear masks and so are they but us teachers are being completely forgotten. If you want your children to have an education, you need to protect and look after the teachers! Boris you have failed me!

@Bluelinings

Sorry Carpe that was got Ivebeen not you.

No probs 😉

My bubble burst, positive child in the class, now I've got to isolate for 14 days waiting to see if I get sick.

We've been provided with ppe too, mostly lots of hand gel and wipes everywhere. But there are still hot spots that I've never seen another staff member clean, like the kettle handle, fridge door etc. Handles in and out, and windows still remain closed.
I think over all they are very good though and they have thinned us out with part time in and out.
However, the students do not understand covid, they think they are safe in their bubbles, etc etc and some staff don't get it either.
We've been so lucky with the warm weather, I'm dreading the cold..

This is what Thailand a developing country with seemingly no COVID looks like in the schools. You are being betrayed by a laisse-faire government.

That class in Thailand is what we should be doing here.

That class in Thailand looks grim.

@WalesAppearsToBeSlightlySaner

That class in Thailand looks grim.

So does seeing a child or parent on a ventilator.

@WalesAppearsToBeSlightlySaner

That class in Thailand looks grim.

It looks spacious and like they are making some effort to limit spread. UK schools don't look any better tbh, kids facing forward in rows, exceptmore crowded.

What seems crazy to me, looking at the UK from abroad is the message being sent that it’s still okay to send kids to schools with colds and that the testing criteria is so narrow. Here in Australia the message is blunt. If you’re sick with any respiratory symptoms please stay home and isolate until you get tested. None of this ‘you’ll know the difference between Covid and a cold’ nonsense.

Besides, while some people won’t get a fever or continuous cough with a cold I often get both so everyone with colds still mingling will cause others to have to get tested anyway.

Besides, while some people won’t get a fever or continuous cough with a cold I often get both so everyone with colds still mingling will cause others to have to get tested anyway.

Another problem being that I tested negative with a cough and a temperature earlier this week but was expected to get back in. Now, if I do get Covid symptoms, I'm run down anyway and I might not notice early because I already feel like shit.

Let's not forget that workload is greater than ever and there's no let up with marking policies, learning walks and new sodding initiatives.

@bluetongue

What seems crazy to me, looking at the UK from abroad is the message being sent that it’s still okay to send kids to schools with colds and that the testing criteria is so narrow. Here in Australia the message is blunt. If you’re sick with any respiratory symptoms please stay home and isolate until you get tested. None of this ‘you’ll know the difference between Covid and a cold’ nonsense.

Besides, while some people won’t get a fever or continuous cough with a cold I often get both so everyone with colds still mingling will cause others to have to get tested anyway.

Yes this, ithink here in the UK we are really not being cautious enough.

The trouble with not being cautious is it just makes it more likely the situation will spiral put of control.

The whole UK approach from the start has been to gamble on getting lucky

I think Johnson & co have failed many more people than just teachers. Try: the nation?

I work in a great primary school and feel well supported by head and teachers. But I'm exhausted and stressed out after 3 weeks back!! I'm at school virtually non-stop 5am - 6.30pm and I'm a midday supervisor too. Kids/teachers in bubbles but I am in EVERYONE'S bubble!!!!!!!!!! We already have several supply teachers in covering for teachers sick/self isolating which seems to me to be a HUGE infection risk (though to give credit of school management and use of limited space/resources we have had NO positive cases in school). But I am totally exhausted, we have 6 months of this to come and no talk of ANY extra help!!!!!! Teachers are dedicated but seem stressed out and exhausted too. How long can we possibly go on like this? I can't emphasise enough that head and alt could not do more to support staff and are do I g a superb job. There's just not enough staff to keep this up for much longer. Reading teachers comments here has made me feel better cos I now know I'm not alone.

As a teacher of ..30 years I have approximately 100 kids a day pass through my class . I have only one window that opens and social distancing is impossible.
Obviously no PPE. Then I look at HoC and their social
Distancing and my blood boils!!

But I desperately want to teach my kids. However ...it seems obvious to me that with 1 in 500 people with the virus we will be going for another lockdown.

For those kids at Primary there are many ways to learn.. BBC bite size.. YouTube.. a walk in the woods.. board games. Remember on the continent kids don't even start school until 7 .

But those doing GCSE and A level need more support and can learn virtually if given the equipment... where did the laptops go?? I bet they are not being sourced now...

As for the vulnerable kids.. we were open and teaching them and key worker children anyway.. as well as online. Sadly many more of those kids will be in danger and we need to be open safely as soon as possible.

The issue of mental health I think is a red herring.. yes kids miss their peers.. but most have access to a phone and the various methods of contact.

The number of kids with mental health issues because of school and the pressure etc is huge and we don't ever hear about these kids. These kids don't ever get the education they need and are left out ... online learning has really benefited them at last.

Kids will and do adapt.. I think the poor messaging and slow reaction to Covid has cause stress in us all.

For me they only way to go forward is an effective test and trace system we are all confident in and Johnson has let the country down on this.

He needs to stop tinkering on the side lines and throw everything at it and we need a short lockdown to get back some control.

I’ve got 2 colleagues in my dept who have relatives that died from covid during lockdown.

Within the school there are lots of children who have relatives that died from covid.

We’ve got lots of extended families in our school - the fear that many children have is that they will be the one to bring covid home to a relative who then becomes seriously ill or dies. They’ve seen extended family and friends go through this.

My MAT has mandated visors at all times for staff and masks as well in communal area and when we are less that 2m from children/each other. Any time I’m out of my “teacher box” I’m in a mask and visor. I’m grateful that the MAT are prioritising staff/student health - whilst simultaneously feeling that it makes my job extremely hard.

My MAT have gone against DfE guidance in their approach, which they should not have to do.

Even so, we have had one year group sent home because of a positive case. We have many, many children absent waiting for tests or self isolating because a household member has symptoms.

It’s a total shitshow.

Secondary HLTA here, been back for three weeks.
Huge High School - about 1700 students, 200 staff.

Four teachers off for a week, waiting to book tests and then waiting for results - all negative.
Lots of staff/students with streaming colds, despite more cleaning, spacing, hand gel, masks in corridors, bubble zones, staggered starts/breaks/lunch times/end of day leaving. Despite all this, we have the usual uptake of colds typical at the start of Autumn term.

I am in no doubt that when (not if) when we get a positive case, it will spread despite the 'safety' measures.

In March, our school closed a couple of days earlier than lock down because of staff shortages - I, as HLTA, am used as emergency teacher cover, and was asked to cover a combined Maths class (not my faculty) of 60 kids, due to the Maths department being depleted. In the end we simply couldn't get supply in, so had to close.

In an average week, I mix with/teach over 150 different students, across KS3 and 4. I teach in classrooms with windows that have been sealed.

I've lost count of the amount of year 7s (in particular) who drop wet snot ridden paper masks in corridors, of older students who think it's fun to deliberately run through younger students waiting zones, and who constantly flout the guidelines. Our behaviour management leaves a lot to be desired!

I think schools will close at half term for an extended period, 2 - 3 weeks which will be when Boris does a 'circuit break' national lockdown. I then think that we will return to blended learning, with KS3 in school and KS4 at home, or the other way around.

Staff shortages will dictate this - as they did in March - Boris didn't want to close schools when he did, but his hand was forced by staff absences across education.

When, in April/May Boris said that the five criteria needed to start to ease lockdown (and re-open schools) included adequate testing, he obviously lied. Because we don't have adequate testing, or anything close to it, but we have opened schools. Testing (or lack of it) and poor turnaround of results (often inaccurate) will result in staff being off school for much longer than they need to be. This will obviously lead to shortages which will result in school closures.

We teach our students that it's fine to make mistakes, because we learn from them. This is something that Boris obviously missed during his time at school: he dithered about locking down in March, and he's dithering again now.

I hope you're ok OP, I totally understand how you and other teaching staff feel. It's a shambles.

I can't imagine what you teachers are going through .... It's hard enough being support staff. There seems to be no money to help ... no extra cleaners, no PPE etc. I'm just doing my best cos I know the children's parents can't go to work if our school has to shut, and the teachers don't get a proper lunchbreak unless midday so a proper job. You are all brilliant and I admire you so much xx

I hear you OP. I feel so sorry for teachers and other school staff. You are being massively let down by the very people who are meant to be looking after you. This will clearly have a knock on affect on the children.
I work for the NHS and have full access to PPE as I work within close proximity to the public. I fail to see why you shouldn't be getting the same.

@onanotherday

As a teacher of ..30 years I have approximately 100 kids a day pass through my class . I have only one window that opens and social distancing is impossible. Obviously no PPE. Then I look at HoC and their social Distancing and my blood boils!!

But I desperately want to teach my kids. However ...it seems obvious to me that with 1 in 500 people with the virus we will be going for another lockdown.

For those kids at Primary there are many ways to learn.. BBC bite size.. YouTube.. a walk in the woods.. board games. Remember on the continent kids don't even start school until 7 .

But those doing GCSE and A level need more support and can learn virtually if given the equipment... where did the laptops go?? I bet they are not being sourced now...

As for the vulnerable kids.. we were open and teaching them and key worker children anyway.. as well as online. Sadly many more of those kids will be in danger and we need to be open safely as soon as possible.

The issue of mental health I think is a red herring.. yes kids miss their peers.. but most have access to a phone and the various methods of contact.

The number of kids with mental health issues because of school and the pressure etc is huge and we don't ever hear about these kids. These kids don't ever get the education they need and are left out ... online learning has really benefited them at last.

Kids will and do adapt.. I think the poor messaging and slow reaction to Covid has cause stress in us all.

For me they only way to go forward is an effective test and trace system we are all confident in and Johnson has let the country down on this.

He needs to stop tinkering on the side lines and throw everything at it and we need a short lockdown to get back some control.

Totally agree with everything you say. Spot on.

I’m personally absolutely loving being back at work. I feel like I’m not worrying enough - I’m being careful, windows open, hand washing etc everything I do is abiding by the risk assessment which I felt was very thorough.
But the thing is that ultimately the rest is out of my control. I can honestly say I’m so busy that stress about Covid at school doesn’t enter my brain. I am incredibly lucky to be able to think this as I am young and not vulnerable and I would feel differently if this was not the case.
My job does mean I can’t see my parents much which is the hard part. I wonder if anyone else feels the same?

This is what Thailand a developing country with seemingly no COVID looks like in the schools. You are being betrayed by a laisse-faire government.

And this school in Bangkok?

vietnamtimes.org.vn/how-nursery-children-in-thailand-keep-strictest-social-distancing-during-covid-19-23332.html

I should stress I’m taking every precaution to keep myself, the kids and their families etc safe but it’s almost like... I’m doing everything I can so there’s no point stressing beyond that. And I don’t even have time to think about stressing.

From your article, Clav "According to Worldometers, a total of 58 people in Thailand have died with coronavirus and there have been 3,351 infections - a low toll despite becoming the first country outside China to detect an infection in mid-January."

Maybe there's something in it.

That said, there's an awful lot of options between that school and English schools where the kids are basically all over each other.

My dds school is great, they have lovely teachers, and I am worrying about the huge risk they are being exposed to. I have a life-long friend who is also a teacher who I am concerned about. Surely things could be organised to make things safer in schools, to protect teachers, parents, the community? At the moment it seems more cross your fingers and hope for the best rather than a UK wide plan .

noblegiraffe
Maybe there's something in it.

Indeed. The average class size in Thailand is 40-50 students per class - teachers move from room to room. Sounds like a plan if we put the pupils in boxes - fewer teachers required if some teachers are self isolating.