Should schools be using supply staff?

[Rhine]

I work on supply in schools and up until a fortnight ago had been at the same school since the begging of term and was part of a ‘bubble’ there. The head then decided it probably wasn’t wise to have outsiders coming in and the placement ended. Since then I’ve been here there and everywhere, usually day to day.

It just doesn’t sit right with me going from place to place like that at the moment, and whilst some schools are very hot on being ‘Covid safe’ others are shockingly lax. The one I went to on Monday being a case point. Staff not even wearing masks in the corridors, staff in out of each other’s bubbles and no social distancing etc. I doubt they even realise how lax they are, but I did because I’ve seen what’s going on elsewhere.

I also get the impression that I’m one of the ‘last ones standing’ at the agency. Either that or people are opting not to work, and they are becoming even pushier than normal.

What do others think of this as I’m really worried that I’m either going to get ill myself or am asymptomatic and am potentially spreading it anywhere I go.

@Barbie222

We have not used supply teachers since the half term. It's covered by TAs with the teacher zooming in if they're well enough. We are now down to less than one adult per class when you take away the 1:1s, so I am literally running in between two neighbouring classrooms at some points.

That is so flipping crap for you all! And what other job would expect you to be Zooming when unwell with covid?

Just shows the necessity of supply teachers if schools are to stay open

@Shieldingending

Ideally no we would not be using short term supply, but certainly in my school we would close if we didn’t ! I teach in a special school, where each class has about 6 teaching assistants. Each class could probably manage one adult short, but beyond that we either need to get supply staff in, or partially close the class. We recognise that it is not ideal, because obviously the staff could’ve been anywhere the day before but the majority of parents are just desperate for us to stay fully open plus we have a duty to be open as much as we can. We are very aware it’s not a good solution and does put people at risk ...

I hear ya! Fellow SEN teacher here & exactly the same situation. Not to mention the fact that in SEN social distancing from the students is absolutely impossible. This said I'm very happy to be at work but I'm absolutely exhausted at this point!

Supply teachers are keeping us afloat we would be lost i.e. closed without them.

We are down to no PPA, covering dinner duties, extra breaks and so on. We’re on our knees but whats the alternative?

It’s the going in and out of different places on an almost daily basis that bothers me, as opposed to being in the same place for a long run as then I’d be part of a proper bubble. I leave at the end of the day and am always worried if that school or class will have a positive case and if I’d be informed, and the answer is probably ‘no’. They won’t even think to inform me.

I also get the impression that I’m one of the ‘last ones standing’ at the agency
I was a supply teacher before Covid. It fitted better around looking after my DC. I stopped accepting assignments in February because I was concerned about having contact with such a large number of staff and pupils, especially when there was no PPE or social distancing. I understand that many of my fellow supply teachers have done the same and my agency is struggling.

I’ve had begging phone calls pleading for me to take classes and I’ve refused, especially because the reason a teacher is absent is usually due to illness which could turn out to be Covid, so I’d be exposing myself to a class of pupils they’ve been in contact with. Apparently the school has pretty much given up on getting supply teachers now; if a teacher is absent they just send the kids home. Even the agency admits it isn’t safe to do supply teaching - I said to the recruiter who was begging me to take the job “Would you do it under these circumstances?” and she said “No”.

I’m actually considering not returning to teaching at all because as long as Covid is an issue it will continue to be a high risk environment (even higher risk than hospitals because at least they wear PPE).

AnnnaBananna I worked right up until the first lockdown. Until the day the schools closed. With hindsight I can’t believe I did that now, but in the beginning I was one of those naysayers who thought Covid would blow over. I didn’t click how bad it was until they stopped all sporting events and etc.