Another teacher worried

[Toastybutt]

I’m really lucky.
We are allowed to wear masks and cases have not been too bad in our area. But it’s really starting to get to me. I’m vulnerable- as are many of our staff. Not very very vulnerable, but enough that, now that cases are rising sharply in the area, I’m getting scared.
Not just for me. I’m worried about bringing it home to my family - I’m the only one who has to go out to work. I’m worried about passing it on to a colleague. I’m terrified that something I do (or forget to do) will put a child at risk of getting it and taking it home.
It’s really starting to drag me down.
It’s Sunday morning and I already feel sick about work tomorrow. I enjoy my job. But we are working extra hours because of staggered starts, doing extra break duties, doing various cleaning tasks too. Plus I need to get work ready for isolating children, prep and teach amazing lessons because my class deserve it and stay upbeat for the kids.
I know lots are in worse positions, I’m lucky to have a job etc. I have no idea how teachers in secondary are coping. I understand it’s worse for nurses. I know all that. But I’m stressed and sad and it’s only going to get worse now for at least the next few months.
Just needed a whinge. Thank you.

Borage forager what hope do we have when heads can't understand the guidance themselves?..

Everyone has to si if someone in the family is showing symptoms!!

I hope you didn't send the second one in..

Op it's awful, feeling so exposed... Like a sitting duck....
Nothing to add but unfortunately, the weather hasn't even started yet to be cold. I'm really worried for the next few weeks and this total blind spot over writing guidance but in reality it being utterly useless.

I know how you feel- stay well away from colleagues- in my experience in a school a minority of staff are very poor at social distancing, not hand washing as much as time goes on and lower their masks to talk!I have to put my hand up to stop them coming too close. Some get in a lift with colleagues, despite clear notices telling them not to! I think the advice from pombal is really worth remembering and I follow it and feel less anxious because I do. A vaccine is on the way and better times are ahead

NullcovoidNovember I said we would follow the guidelines & keep second child off school... I’ve mentioned it to a governor so she can suggest a refresher on the guidelines for staff...

Good luck this week everyone. May it be peaceful and no wet play

I know that teachers are getting a lot of shit on this site and in other media, but many parents, including me, think you're being absolutely amazing. You have enough crap to put up with when everything is normal, and now you have all that plus worries about Covid, understaffing, lack of government support etc.., and yet you're still heading into work and educating and caring for our children, at great personal risk.

It genuinely makes me tearful when I read some of the posts on here. Please know that there are thousands of parents who truly appreciate your hard work and personal sacrifice. And if I was in charge you'd all be getting a bloody massive pay rise.

Thank you @Vargas.
Appreciate that.

Thank you, Vargas.

Do you know what, though?

I would go to work for half the pay this year if it was just a bit safer

6 colleagues isolating, 2 tested positive yesterday. It's my day off today and I feel awful, fluey, headache, sinus pain. None of the 3 big symptoms though apart from a slight tickly cough so do I just go in tomorrow? Head says I don't need a test unless I have a main symptom.

Honestly? If I was you I’d develop a temp and get a test.

@IHeartKingThistle

6 colleagues isolating, 2 tested positive yesterday. It's my day off today and I feel awful, fluey, headache, sinus pain. None of the 3 big symptoms though apart from a slight tickly cough so do I just go in tomorrow? Head says I don't need a test unless I have a main symptom.

No, don't go in. I only got tested because the bubble collapsed. I was really surprised I was positive.

Main symptom was headache. Loose cough but only occasionally.

Get a test.

@IHeartKingThistle depends on availability where you live, but I had one Friday morning and got the result that night

OP and all other teachers you are being amazing. Please keep posting, we need to hear this. The TES seems to be reporting on how you're feeling and the real situation in schools but as yet not the mainstream media.

As a parent, I think you have been let down by the government and the unions and I'm angry about it.

To the poster upthread who said There is no easy answers thats the problem , closing schools causes problems as does having them open

There are SOME easy answers - masks is one. Worn from age 6 in Spain, France, Italy and many other countries. With no problems for the children - the children I know in other countries wearing masks in schools all day are proud to be protecting their families and teachers.

And it seems to be a no-brainer to fund schools rather than give Serco shareholders more profits.

The problem is, by having woefully inadequate mitigation, no distancing, large class sizes, non-functioning test and trace, schools are MORE LIKELY to close sooner or later. As teachers will be off with covid, stress or both.

You can't open schools without teachers.

Thank you to the teachers. You shouldn't have to teach in these conditions.

What a great thread, every parent should have to read this to understand what school staff are going through. I think a lot of us have just got a bit fed up with the hyperbolic threads, normally titled 'schools are f***' and the likes and it just shuts down conversation.

It has been very helpful to see the reality of what schools are like now.

I am currently off recovering from cv-19, the DCs schools have been absolutely fabulous at making sure my dc are kept up to speed. Clearly this is extra work on top of their already full workload. I sent them all emails to acknowledge this and thank them, unfortunately that is all I can do really.

A pp mentioned that vulnerable HCP's are not at work, sadly this isn't so and was never the case. I have asthma (so am CV, not CEV) and have worked as usual throughout, and as stated already, currently have CV-19. Unfortunately there are too many vulnerable staff to let them all stop working. Therefore the important thing is to bring in measures to enhance their safety, that is the issue really.

I heard on the radio this morning that emerging evidence is showing the spread in secondary schools to be significant and that schools are likely to close early for the Christmas break (I am not in England). Hopefully this will be home learning and not just an extra week off like we had at Halloween as I really do fear for my dc who is doing GCSEs this year. I am fully expecting secondary schools to move to blended learning in the new year and would fully support this move despite how difficult it would be for us as a family.

The safety of the school staff absolutely needs to be prioritised.

Teachers are doing an amazing job at the moment, I'm so great full that schools are open and I'll always remember that teachers put themselves on the front line during the pandemic. All the parents I know feel the same.

I understand your worries op. I work in a school part time and am a first aider as well as helping in other ways . I have underlying conditions. There is no social distancing because it is a primary school, I understand with the children, but even most of the staff don't seem to bother distancing from each other. Some rooms without windows. Some teachers choosing not to open windows. No masks. It's scary and feels like only a matter of time before catching it.
I'm not full time and really feel for teachers and staff shut in a room with so many children for so long. I find it hard enough going in each day for my own role.
Xx

Another teacher here. It's getting scary now. My Headteacher and Deputy Head have been amazing-they have done everything humanely possible to keep the children and staff safe and Covid Secure. They have been really strict about staff social distancing, creating zones, extra cleaning everywhere, policing parents to make sure they also socially distance at drop off and pick up. They couldn't have done more and have also had a lots of flack from both staff and parents in trying to keep the school safe.
However, despite all this a member of staff has still gone down with Covid literally overnight and a whole bubble is having to isolate. I am in that bubble and now have to isolate as well. It's really worrying sitting here waiting to see if I develop Covid. The Covid App popped up with a countdown which felt surreal and scary.

I just feel people aren't taken this seriously.I don't want school's to close. Lockdown was so damaging for my children, and I can saw how badly it affected children (and parents) everywhere. I taught throughout Lockdown.

I just don't know what the answer is though.

@PrivateD00r that was me about vulnerable HCPs - at my friends' trusts (2 diff ones) anyone with more than one vulnerability is on non clinical, as are pregnant women. It probably varies from trust to trust but they've both been very impressed with their trusts doing good risk assessments and getting the more vulnerable of the CV group in safer roles, iyswim.
Sorry to hear they aren't all doing that though, it sounds such a good idea given how big the CV group is and that the level of risk can vary so much for individuals' in it. It's just so variable I guess.

iheartkingthistle I would certainly get a test. We had a positive with a minor temp for a short time. Terrible your being asked not to get tested when so many of your colleagues are testing positive.

Funny how Boris gets to self isolate today after being in close contact at a meeting. Yet teachers don’t need to when they have positive cases in their class

Thanks @starrynight19, I got a test this afternoon. Fingers crossed for a quick negative!

"I think a lot of us have just got a bit fed up with the hyperbolic threads, normally titled 'schools are f*' and the likes and it just shuts down conversation."

Well, if you're referring to any particular thread there, it's just reached over 900 posts, so not much sign of the conversation being shut down. And there have been many contributions detailing exactly what it is like in schools at the moment, as this thread does too. It needs emphasising.

@CallmeAngelina

"I think a lot of us have just got a bit fed up with the hyperbolic threads, normally titled 'schools are f*' and the likes and it just shuts down conversation."

Well, if you're referring to any particular thread there, it's just reached over 900 posts, so not much sign of the conversation being shut down. And there have been many contributions detailing exactly what it is like in schools at the moment, as this thread does too. It needs emphasising.

This thread is very refreshing, no swearing necessary

I’m so grateful for the parents on here who know we are doing our best.
Loving the support on this thread thank you everyone.
Monday done.

Hi I am an early years practitioner and still working. I feel very vulnerable, we have no PPE. Coughing sneezing etc all session.
I am a single parent to 3 DD's who are all at school/ college.

I do feel a little sad by the comment of stop moaning about being cold because my DD 5 had purple lips a couple weeks ago at school because she was so cold. (she is very small and dainty and I now have thermals for her) but this makes me angry because it shouldnt be like this, the poor children and the staff.

Every single lesson I taught today had ill pupils that had been knowingly sent in ill.
2 persistent coughers, 2 pale feeling sick types.
We have pupils who have been sent in with "negative" from parents who cheerfully tell us they haven't had a test. Parents just kept them home for a few days.
I'm worried.

To all you teachers I can't thank you enough. I have an 8 and 11 year old and they are so so happy to be in school . I know things aren't anywhere close to normal for teachers but please know you are enabling normality for kids from the kids perspective and for that I'm truly grateful ❣️