School bubbles disappearing after Christmas and worried.

[motherrunner]

At my secondary school the majority of our mitigation measures will disappear after Christmas. There will be no more staggered breaks, no more separating bubbles, no extra cleaning, we will just be protected by the ‘2m’ rule and masks in corridors. The reason why is that our budget only allowed for extra cleaning until Christmas and were only able to keep pupils separated by is taking on extra duties each day and our 1265 hours only could be spared until
Christmas. We won’t even be protected by SI anymore as contacts won’t be isolating, just taking a lateral flow test each day which aren’t very successful.

My anxiety is sky high. I am already on anti anxiety medication, run each day and try to practise mindfulness. Has anyone got any other tips to help me relax? I was so looking forward to this holiday and being a parent. My children have not had the best of me for so long but I just can’t ‘switch off’.

Have you written to your mp and contacted your union? This is awful.

I have written to my MP but receive the generic ‘children need to be in educational’ email. Despite what MN believes about teacher’s unions they haven’t been very helpful to me.

Why is your school so unprepared for after Christmas? That is ridiculous. Are you an academy? Truly shocking.

Yes it’s an academy.

Don't blame the school TheFootisDown - they don't have any more money for the limited measures that were in place last term.
Blame the government for dropping schools, teachers, students and families into this situation.

This breeches HSE expectations... you might need to think about whistleblowing.... write to governors?

I’m not sure it does breach any guidelines as the guidelines are just that, also the guidelines state measures are ‘where possible’.

Ask for (another) risk assessment before the children are back onsite.
See what measures they CAN put in place.

YANBU

I would take your concerns to the Academy Trust and the school's Governors and see where you go with that.
It's whistleblowing but unfair to expect you and others to work in an unsafe environment.

Oh op I feel for you.
I have also had mixed union responses. Might be worth contacting union head office and the ceo of the academy trust.

Oh my lord that sounds so unsafe for everyone involved. So frightening. No advice I am so sorry.

Thanks all. Glad to know I’m not over reacting. My anxiety is terrible at the moment and I’m not really trusting myself to act without emotion.

This will not be a popular opinion. Sorry to say this but as a teacher myself too I think maybe we just need to carry on doing the extra duties and cleaning for a bit? It’s not ideal I know but there are people in far worse positions economically.

It’s just awful. I strongly suspect schools will be closed after you’ve had a holiday with untenable stress. No advice, so cross for you x

@motherrunner I feel exactly the same. So does my DH. Both very worried about going back to school now without isolating contacts too. Schools are so unsafe.

OP, totally understand your anxiety. I'm feeling it as well alongside my immediate colleagues, even though we're carrying on along the same lines in the New Year - at the moment. We're an academy as well. At this very moment I can't imagine schools going back totally. I think they'll be smaller numbers with combined learning.

@starfish4 although unfortunately guidance today says this...

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak?utmsource=491fd3df-6426-4028-a8d8-135c0c778c28&utmmmedium=email&utmcampaign=govuk-notifications&utmmcontent=immediate

Interesting language there about schools opting into testing programme.
If a school didn't, then close contacts would still have to isolate.
If parents didn't consent, close contacts would still have to isolate.

I'm a parent, I'm not consenting to the lateral flow tests (as they are so unreliable).

I hear you re anxiety.

However - the bubbles are just an illusion anyway, especially as now only close contacts isolate - well maybe not even those now!
The bubbles and staggered breaks etc were just to help contact tracing, and if the whole bubble is not being sent home, then they are just extra work for nothing.

Sorry.

I genuinely think we are at the point we're we need a country wide section 44 walk out in education and childcare settings.

Bloody fucking hell OP get signed off, I would!

@EndoplasmicReticulum

Interesting language there about schools opting into testing programme. If a school didn't, then close contacts would still have to isolate. If parents didn't consent, close contacts would still have to isolate.

I'm a parent, I'm not consenting to the lateral flow tests (as they are so unreliable).

I will not be consenting to the lateral flow tests for my DC either.

It would be interesting to do a poll on here to see how many parents would.

Problem is, schools are following government guidance. Government guidance is what is making schools unsafe!
I'm CV and one course of steroids off shielding with multiple health problems. I'm terrified. But the only option is the government wake up, or we strike. And the unions aren't even suggesting that.

That’s crazy

Extra cleaning will make a minimal dent in an airborne pandemic.

I clean the door knobs, panels, try and keep windows open, wipe desks, try and encourage the students too.

But it's airborne it will not stop it coming from the students mouth...

Op I don't know what to say, it's hideous.
I'm repeating myself across many threads but how can jenny harries say that we must wear masks in crowded spaces but then say moments later, teachers are not at risk.

Infections have been surging in schools as I personally expected as weather gets colder.

Can you go off sick, ask doctor to sign you off..

I just don't feel I can send my children into this mess.

I want real evidence and real life situations discussed before I'll trust them. (scientists and the school mitigation measure)