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!

Thats why its do tricky to balance isnt it. I am terrified of getting it (vulnerable) so would rather schools did something but can also see how benefiicial it is for me and my children to have them in.

There's so many families where taking it home might mean killing mum or gran, if it speesda like wildfire.

@Snailsetssail

I’ve taught 120 children today in a classroom with no windows at all. The ventilation I was offered when I complained was a fan!

I’ve touched the same door handle and stair banister as probably 500 children.

We all wear masks on the corridors but nothing in the classroom. It is very much business as usual and just waiting to catch it. I’ve already had 2 days off while I waited on test results for my DD. We had 4 off today pending results. Once we got 8 we have to close the school or send years home as we don’t have enough staff to open without doubling classes which doubles our risk.

And Boris passed law allowing class sizes to be doubled back in March.

Please speak again to your head/governors. In my school we are all wearing masks in indoor communal areas and doors and windows are expected to be open. Visors are available for those who prefer them. State school.
The decision on masks has been left up to heads. Secondary age children are not made anxious by wearing masks.

Teachers should be able to wear ppe plus if we had a working test and trace system, there would be less anxiety and stress.

I am so sorry. The signed letter with which the CMO states schools could open safely is null and void. It stated clearly that there needed to be adequate track and trace and surveillance and this has crumbled. The WHO states schools can only operate safely if test positivity

Communal areas at most schools here too.but 30 in a classroom is where its happening isnt it? For prologed exposure.

Visors only protect others not yourself.

What was he law about doubling class size!?!?!? 😲

Yep. I am at home with what I think is just a dreadful cold but could also be Covid and can’t get a test. Am teaching online today, between the coughing.

OP I feel exactly the same. DH and I are secondary teachers. We buy PPE for ourselves. I can count on one hand the amount of masks being worn out of around 2000 people in our schools. Kids definitely moan about windows being open (if you can get them open and even then to about 4/5 centimetres) and even try to close them and doors when you are not looking. Absolutely no consideration to teacher's personal space or space for each other. Some kids are worried but most aren't fussed at all. If you have a coughing child or one that says they are ill you send them to medical and most times they get sent straight back to you. Attendance is falling (well durrr no shit Sherlock) but pressure is on to keep attendance rates high even though many subjects can't currently be taught in their usual way and it's largely babysitting really for KS3. Kids have told me they were happier at home than now. We feel like sitting ducks, Russian roulette with each class we go into.

@pentaplanet

Most independent schools have continued to carry on as usual with all "normal" educational activities since 23 March 2020.

State schools should learn from the independent sector, to see how they do it.

Funding, mainly.

I'm also a teacher and completely agree. I've also just found out I'm pregnant so I'm now slightly more anxious about it all.

No clear guidance from the government as to what is expected PPA wise for adults in primary schools, our school has provided it but left it as optional - the different standards between staff members is quite frankly shocking.

We have 30 children and 3 adults in a classroom, we are not providing the best education we can as the children are stuck in the same seat in rows for the whole day - not the dynamic, group work based learning they are used to. Had 2 children off in my class for a fortnight with symptoms but the parents can't be bothered to get a test (their own words) so we don't actually know if positive or not. Our headteacher is trying her best with what she's been given but it's difficult. Should have done half time at school with blended learning to reduce class sizes, 2 days a week proper education is better than 5 days childcare and stressed out teachers.

I’m relieved that the children we are worried about are in school where we can support them. Children benefit from the routine and social aspects of school as well as educationally.

Within individual classes where I work, school is back to normal just open windows, hand gel and desks facing the front as the only mitigations in place. There is also a longer day (extended by an hour due to staggered drop offs and collections) and huge targets for catch up (children must make accelerated progress not just good progress), book looks, observations and learning walks and mock subject deep dives are all in place for this term. This adds additional stress to the job which has a knock on effect to immune systems of staff.

Whilst school being relatively ‘normal’ is great for the children’s well-being and education, I think it’s a risky business for staff and the ECV children.

I don’t think schools under the current guidance will be able to remain open to all unless community levels drop to low levels and testing is sorted. I think we’ve missed this window of opportunity and schools will limp on until they can’t be staffed safely.

@Oaktree55 the childcare comment is not helpful. I don’t need childcare, my children need an education though. There was a missed opportunity to get parents on board with home/blended learning.
I do think parents want safe conditions for all.

@Pegase

I would really like to see the results of any study whatsoever that has shown an impact to children's psychological health from seeing people wearing face masks. What utter rubbish. The things children have to adapt to around the world and you really think seeing floral face masks is going to scar them. Perfectly possible to explain to even very young children.

Totally agree.

Fingers crossed your test us negative, OP.

Have to say your school sounds better than ours. We don't have a cleaner, just ordinary soap no antibac, sanitizer only became available in every work space last week. Guess you've got no SD either I'm working very closely with 200 children from two year bubbles.

@Pomegranatepompom speaking as a secondary teacher I would say 40% of KS3 subjects are largely childcare now as they can't be taught as they would normally be (due to equipment and guidelines) and probably most of the more traditional classroom based ones (humanities, core subjects, languages) are also restricted to some extent- childcare is definitely a good description of my current role for KS3.

On the whole I think that we do just need to get on with it, gloves and face shields won’t do much, but I do think face coverings should be worn by pupils during lessons. I also think that teachers who were previously in the shielding groups could have delivered online to pupils who were also shielding/had vulnerable parents. These two things would have made a significant difference to how people felt I think.

@SIB109 fair point - however all retail/hospitality staff have to wear masks now as do hospital staff and other health care professionals.
Luckily my school have provided visors/screens etc and we can wear masks.
I’m certainly do not want school closures nor do I want children to be afraid, but staff do have to feel safe and be allowed to take the measures they see fit to protect themselves and those they care for.

Oaktree I hadn’t heard that the who state schools can’t operate safely unless test positivity is less than 5% that’s really not good, we are above that already in Scotland

@pentaplanet

Most independent schools have continued to carry on as usual with all "normal" educational activities since 23 March 2020.

State schools should learn from the independent sector, to see how they do it.

This surely must win the most stupidest, ridiculous, pathetic, post on Mumsnet. You have absolutely no idea about state education do you! Let them eat cake duh

I agree OP. It's really scary in school at the moment. As a parent I desperately want my DC to stay in school - I get that. But as a teacher I see the reality and it frightens me.

People are saying that children need an education and need to be in school, but the reality is that it's already disrupted. I've been receiving emails since yesterday afternoon (although first one was last week) and throughout the night. We now have 3 staff and 6 students who have tested positive. I'm isolating because I've been in close contact. Trying to teach from home when some of my class are sick, some are isolating and some are in school is absolute chaos.

My 2 hour year 13 lesson yesterday took over 4.5 hours of time. And some of the students still haven't engaged with it. We have over 120 kids off in different classes who are isolating. We are less than 3 weeks in.

Any more staff go off we will have to shut because of staff student ratio

And we are in an area which had zero cases 4 weeks ago.

If we switched to part time rotas, we could think about some kind of distancing and reduce the spread. And we could manage an online learning package effectively. This current halfway house serves only to disrupt education and spread the virus.

Also - most of our parents don't know we have cases (only those of students directly impacted) we haven't announced numbers and NO ONE outside of school knows there are staff infected. So this is oorbbskt much more widespread than it appears

Contact your local council for PPE, they have this available. where are in the country are you?

@Pomegranatepompom I think you’re too kind. I don’t think the majority think twice about school staff. Some do but not many.

Something has to change as this is unsustainable over winter. Unfortunately free childcare is what motivates the Government too. They don’t care about what standard of education is being delivered under these circumstances. If they did they’d have come up with a better plan.

we are not providing the best education we can as the children are stuck in the same seat in rows for the whole day - not the dynamic, group work based learning they are used to. For some children and teachers that will be a blessed relief.

@derxa

we are not providing the best education we can as the children are stuck in the same seat in rows for the whole day - not the dynamic, group work based learning they are used to. For some children and teachers that will be a blessed relief.

Normally you would have both types therefore pleasing most of not all. I can't speak for primary but my God I'm not used to this death by PowerPoint way of teaching.

@MiniTheMinx

NewnameNelly I hope you recover soon.

Bojos response to rising cases is to say pubs close at 10 and shop workers should wear masks. And yet teachers are expected to work 8hrs in poorly ventilated rooms and come into contact with anything between 30 and 300 children. Teachers were on MN in the lead up to the start of term telling us that this was insane. Parents shouting "open schools lest my DC drive me further insane and my employer fire me" with little regard to the safety of teaching staff. I'd rather be bored, I'd rather be poor, and I'd happily home school my DC if the resources for his GCSE syllabus can be be provided. But it can't. If I deregister no resources will be made available and I shall have to pay for his exams. I wish i could just take him out because I do not want to be complicit with this wholesale total disregard to the value of others lives.

My son is anxious and sad all the time now. He's worried about his teachers and he's worried about his parents.

I work in a role where similarly its all about the welfare of other individuals, and despite being at a greater than average risk of contracting Covid at least my employer is held accountable for providing for my safety.

I'm sorry this is happening to you. Get well soon.

CGP books ,approx £3.50 a book ,you need study book and work book for each subject .everything covered ,all up to date.im home schooling and it’s what we use ...