Reality of Primary Schools

[LadyPenelope68]

Read to the end if you can...

Government to primary school staff in September: Yes, we know you can't safely distance due to the nature of primary classrooms, oh and don't wear PPE please as it negatively impacts on teaching, but you're fine, crack on...
Staff: Errrrr okay then, whatever is best for the children
Government: Keep going until Friday 18th December, it's fine
Staff (many of which have now contracted the virus from asymptomatic children): Okay, if you say so, we would actually rather be fully open, we need to teach, feed and look after the physical and mental wellbeing of these children we care about
Government on 19th December: Oh bugger, there's a new variant, children are in fact super spreaders, we know you've been mixing with people from 31 other bubbles all day every day for 4 months, but you're now in tier 4, stay home, don't see anyone for the whole holidays.
Staff: Hmmmm, funny how that happened the day after schools closed, but okay we'll continue to be compliant
Government: Right primary staff back to it on 4th Jan, you'll be fine, but still no PPE, no Covid or anti-body testing, no vaccine for staff who want it. Did we say children are super spreaders and this new variant spreads really easily? Nah, we didn't really mean it, put those invisible shields back up, you'll be fine
Staff: We would rather be back in school, but how about 1 week of remote learning to allow all the Covid that will have been spread round on Christmas day (due to everyone ignoring your tier 4 rules) to surface and clear before we welcome 31 bubbles back into each room. We know children don't seem to be affected by the virus, but we are! We have remote learning sussed now, 1 week is doable, we've got this!
Government: Nah, just crack on
Staff: Maybe put us as priority on the vaccine list then (please?) so we can protect ourselves as we still have no PPE. It will help to stop schools closing due to lack of staff - which is what we all want
Government: Sorry, what did you say? We were busy slagging you off in the press again, just crack on
Staff: Sod You! We'll get jobs as a delivery drivers (except you know full well we won't because we are passionate about what we do. In fact the Government are solely relying on this detail). Good luck recruiting primary school staff in the future though!
**It seems primary and nursery staff are the only key workers still working with no PPE, yet are in close contact with at least 31 contacts from 31 different bubbles on a daily basis. They have continued to willingly work from day 1 of lockdown back in March (not sat at home doing chuff all which the media may have made you believe) and have successfully juggled face to face and remote learning throughout (whilst also being classroom cleaners), sometimes while being ill with Covid themselves. They have just cracked on and not complained once about the vulnerable position they are in. We all prefer the children to be in school rather than at home. However, it's time to offer them some protection in some way, especially if things are as bad as they are reported to be - or are they? Time to cut them some slack and show a bit of respect too...
Where are the figures which show how many primary school staff have now contracted the virus, how many have been hospitalised by it and how many now have 'Long Covid' yet continue to work despite their exhaustion. All the talk around primary schools is that the children won't suffer if they do contract it, no mention of the millions of unprotected staff who crack on regardless. We do our jobs because we care and we are grateful to still have jobs, but it's time for the government to listen...
#TimeForTheTruth
#TimeForProtection
#StopTheContradictions

I don't think people outside of the sector have any idea how much bodily fluid and just general bodies you come in to contact with ALL teaching , but especially in primary, reception and nursery. I have taught across both sectors and the crush in corridors is awful in secondary plus the huge mix of classes and the possibility of having to handle (fights etc).

When I moved to primary though I was initially gobsmacked. I did stints from yr 2 to 6 in supply and honestly - parents who taught their kids to dress- I LOVE you! So much zipping, tying and handling. A year 6 teacher for years now.

Then there's the snot, sneezing (on books, on hands, on tables - yes even year 6) and coming UP TO YOU to show you and ask for a tissue. Coughing on faces. Sorting out injuries. Weeping all over you. Bleeding on you. Being sick on you / the table and omg - the book corner. Once they were about to spew in front of me and for lack of anything else I held my mug up. It overflowed. The year 2 child that said "Here you are!" and handed me a massive bogie. The one that threw up on my bed at residential. The one that weed in my bag when he was caught short rather than walk to the loo. Then there was the memorable time I had to tell year 6 boys to stop playing a game that involved them wiping their fingers up their bum cracks and holding it under a friends nose for a "joke".

Things I have said in year 6 this year - "Don't lick his ruler", "Stop wiping your tissues on the desk", "Just leave it alone" , "Either eat it or bin it, stop fiddling with it" , "Take your fingers out of his ears", "No, you can't swap pants". These are 11 year olds. I refuse to go below year 5 now. And that's not even counting the way they can't but help play and touch each other or you. Even sitting next to them reading they'll clutch you to point something out and that's lovely and not their fault. They are kids and that - and all the above- is the way they are.

People have no idea. None. I'm fine with all the above in normal circumstances but right now? A mask at least, please. And at least a two week firebreak.

[quote DBML]@Scottishgirl85

They were largely ‘redeployed’ by the govt and put into primary schools (often not even their own) caring for the vulnerable and key worker children. Hours were often extended to 5pm.
You wouldn’t expect a member of staff to do that all week and then try to also remote educate, mark and phone children’s parents?

There will be no redeployment going forward. TAs and support staff to man the hubs in future.[/quote]
DMBL I didn't know this about teachers not manning hubs in the event of another school closure. Is that a national decision or your LEA? Interesting. To be honest though as an under 40 healthy teacher I'd rather do it that a 50+ TA being paid a pittance :(

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot
Thanks for this post, and thanks for responses that get it. I agree with the entire original post. It would be nice if this just stays understanding rather than 'however' or 'twinkl' being posted in response.

You are welcome and I too hope it remains understanding.

Totally agree, @LadyPenelope68.

Most of us just want some safety measures in school and I’m fed up of being compared unfavourably to NHS staff (who are angels) who clearly deserve PPE whereas we don’t, just because their experience of a teacher during lockdown wasn’t what they wanted.

I think there are some parents who would rather their child’s teacher ended up in ITU, than their child have to wear mask or an additional penny was spent into making schools safer.

@phlebasconsidered

I don't think people outside of the sector have any idea how much bodily fluid and just general bodies you come in to contact with ALL teaching , but especially in primary, reception and nursery. I have taught across both sectors and the crush in corridors is awful in secondary plus the huge mix of classes and the possibility of having to handle (fights etc).

When I moved to primary though I was initially gobsmacked. I did stints from yr 2 to 6 in supply and honestly - parents who taught their kids to dress- I LOVE you! So much zipping, tying and handling. A year 6 teacher for years now.

Then there's the snot, sneezing (on books, on hands, on tables - yes even year 6) and coming UP TO YOU to show you and ask for a tissue. Coughing on faces. Sorting out injuries. Weeping all over you. Bleeding on you. Being sick on you / the table and omg - the book corner. Once they were about to spew in front of me and for lack of anything else I held my mug up. It overflowed. The year 2 child that said "Here you are!" and handed me a massive bogie. The one that threw up on my bed at residential. The one that weed in my bag when he was caught short rather than walk to the loo. Then there was the memorable time I had to tell year 6 boys to stop playing a game that involved them wiping their fingers up their bum cracks and holding it under a friends nose for a "joke".

Things I have said in year 6 this year - "Don't lick his ruler", "Stop wiping your tissues on the desk", "Just leave it alone" , "Either eat it or bin it, stop fiddling with it" , "Take your fingers out of his ears", "No, you can't swap pants". These are 11 year olds. I refuse to go below year 5 now. And that's not even counting the way they can't but help play and touch each other or you. Even sitting next to them reading they'll clutch you to point something out and that's lovely and not their fault. They are kids and that - and all the above- is the way they are.

People have no idea. None. I'm fine with all the above in normal circumstances but right now? A mask at least, please. And at least a two week firebreak.

Couldn’t have summed it up better myself. I am a year 6 TA, currently have covid, caught from school. We have kids in my class who still put things in their mouths (rubbers, pens., pencils). At the end of the day I am the one picking up equipment from the floor after they have all gone home. It’s no wonder I have caught it.

@cassgate I hope it's not too bad for you, I really do.

Thank you to each and everyone of you who works in a school. I’m so sorry the funding, resources and forward planning haven’t been put in place to keep you safer and to reduce the spread in schools. I’m a parent of a year one student and have been home schooling her while fighting to keep her on roll at her school and trying to avoid being fined. Like all of you I just don’t feel there is enough protection for students, staff or families of school aged children. I struggle to understand the use of ppe and / or social distancing in every other area of society yet sending staff and students to mix in large groups with no social distancing or ppe in schools. My heart goes out to all of you, you’ve all done an amazing job and I’m hoping our government will finally have to take action.

Thankyou @Bettydot it is nice to hear some have some sympathy.

@Bettydot
Thank you so much for your understanding and support 👍

I'm so glad you posted this thread @LadyPenelope68. Thankyou.

I am so sad and angry.

I was sad that so many people still refer to how shit Lockdown was back in March / April. Yeah, Ok, I get that your school didn't provide daily lessons but dyou know what?? They were TOLD to suspend the curriculum. To NOT teach. To provide essential care for keyworker children. And they did. They looked after vulnerable children (at my school, even going as far to collect one every single day whose social worker decided that they could only provide online support. The irony, eh?)

They provided learning packs and meal vouchers. They DID provide online learning and yes, I know some schools were better than others...my own school was brilliant, my Dcs, not so much.

But it was Ok. Because there was a pandemic.

I then became angry. Because I was told that schools were safe. That the measures to distance, hand wash and protect would be enough. We all knew it was flannel. But no-one listened. Or cared as long as kids went to school.

Except pretty soon they couldn't because people were getting sick. Teachers mainly but children too.

I made it to Friday 18th Dec before I got sick. There is no other place I could've caught the virus. I took every precaution as my DH is asthmatic. But I still got sick and tested positive.

Frankly, I'm now fucking furious. Livid that absolutely nothing has changed. Except the goodwill of school staff has run out and we have DS sadly learned how powerful the narrative spun by Government and media is in this country, despite what the actual truth is.

Bang on phleb Smearing is also a common thing we deal with in sen. And sadly excitable incontinence. We have showers for a reason. And a worms protocol.

I know of a large number of local Sen schools that had to completely close at least once last term due to high staff and pupil cases.

There are fifty children in our room. Five adults. There is no hot water for us to wash our hands as the staff toilet is also the disabled toilet and the hot water has been turned off so the dc can't burn themselves. So we are going from changing wet knickers to handing out fruit and milk without being able to wash our hands properly. It's almost if not actually impossible to make sure the children are washing their hands. You would need a full time hand washing monitor.

We can't have the external doors open as one of the children runs away. Only into the playground but we haven't the staff to make sure she is safe with the doors open. The windows don't open.

When the gates open at three for the parents to come in and wait in the playground, the caretaker comes over in a mask and a visor and ostensibly wipes the door handles on the instructions of the head teacher. It really gets on my nerves as it's giving a completely false impression of what's happening.

It's that contradicting mix of I want to be at school doing my job but I am scared. My class and colleagues distract me and I get on with my job but as soon as the day is ended then reality and death figures and beeps from the COVID app bring everything back.

I know today that it's going to be loads of hurrah for the new vaccine, everything is fine, primaries can open as normal see..... let's just ignore the high death figures, high hospital capacity and the fact we are running out of oxygen. That is nothing for you in primaries to worry your little heads about. Now off you go and wipe your classroom down with the anti bac spray you have bought, wipe your hands with the 5litres of sanitiser gel you have bought or wash your hands with the Carex soap you have bought. Stop complaining and be grateful you have a job.

It is a joy but like many others I will go into school on Monday and wait for my class to arrive so I can try to forget about it all for a while.

@TheLuckiest

It this that isn’t heard enough.

I was sad that so many people still refer to how shit Lockdown was back in March / April. Yeah, Ok, I get that your school didn't provide daily lessons but dyou know what?? They were TOLD to suspend the curriculum. To NOT teach. To provide essential care for keyworker children. And they did. They looked after vulnerable children (at my school, even going as far to collect one every single day whose social worker decided that they could only provide online support. The irony, eh?)

We were the same, fetching children in our own cars because their social workers and CAMHS and family support workers couldn’t. And we were TOLD TO SUSPEND THE CURRICULUM, to not teach any new material and to provide ‘educate’ - so any school providing anything for children at home was doing okay! For every parent who hates a printed and band delivered Twinkl worksheet there is another who hasn’t got a laptop or WiFi, or their 3 kids are trying to use one phone to access work.

[quote phlebasconsidered]@Abraxan, I do hope you feel better soon. Don't go back until you are! I'm an older and CV teacher and I can see long Covid if I am lucky! Stay home and get signed off / do a staged return via occupational health.I really feel for you.[/quote]
Thank you.
I had 7 weeks off but returned for the final 3 weeks or so. It was very hard work. I actually feel like I've gone backwards over the holidays, though mainly down to catching a cold and the joy that brings! Still struggling with it all, plus my defences are right down and after a horrible year (3 family deaths, too many changes and issues building up, too much going in and then being ill) my emotions are all over the place, but hopefully by next Monday I'll be ready to drag myself back in again.

Teachers should go up the vaccine priority list IMO.
Get care homes, healthcare and over 70s done and then teachers next.

Totally get it but a question more - in tier 4 we have effectively been in lockdown since 19th - dc has not been to a shop - we couldn’t see anyone on Christmas Day - even in park only one other house hold. Dc have basically been isolated for a fortnight why should we in tier 4 particularly need another week off. Just confused by specifics of tier 4 esp London and Se where we have been shut in for the whole Christmas holiday

Also agree teachers need to be up there with essential staff for vaccination

And one person not house hold.

Primary school staff here. Told to isolate from the last day of term then tested positive on Christmas Eve. I have never been to ill in my life. One week in and I am still in bed, barely able to walk down the stairs. My poor children have been completely neglected this holiday as I struggle to just get through the day. Husband ill aswell now. He is livid as his private sector company is required to jump through hundreds of hoops to be “covid secure” and allowed to operate yet a bottle of shared hand gel and a smile is all I was given to help keep me safe. I am a healthy and relatively young mum of 5. This was my dream job that I worked hard to get but now I am done. I don’t want to work in a profession who is thrown to the wolves, I would like to see my children grow up. That might sound dramatic but currently, one week in with no respite covid has broken me

Attic troll your experience is the minority. In tier 4 here our parks are full of multiple households, our high streets are full of people shopping with their children and my neighbourhood is full of visitors cars. My neighbour had 3 guests for Christmas and apparently it’s allowed because they are all single so each other’s support bubble. Madness, people just don’t get the rules or make them up! 2 of them seen their grandchildren too as they are in a childcare bubble with them. I live next to the M1 and it is still as busy and noisy as it always has been.

@Attictroll

Totally get it but a question more - in tier 4 we have effectively been in lockdown since 19th - dc has not been to a shop - we couldn’t see anyone on Christmas Day - even in park only one other house hold. Dc have basically been isolated for a fortnight why should we in tier 4 particularly need another week off. Just confused by specifics of tier 4 esp London and Se where we have been shut in for the whole Christmas holiday

It depends on how many people have actually followed the advice. Unfortunately as the announcements came so late many just ignored them.

From class and street what’s app looks like round here every one cancelled Christmas- partly as many relatives were too far away not to stay overnight. Parks also don’t seem to have many non family groups. It is so sad people breaking rules don’t just jeopardise others health but education too.