Are school staff exempt from the rules?

[FestiveFannyGallops]

I live near some of my dc's' school staff and was a little surprised to see one had visited the other for a few hours today. They blocked my drive and I didn't know who it was til I saw them come out and get in the car. Are they exempt from the rules because of working together? On one hand it does seem crazy to keep those who work together apart in the holidays but at the same time how are people supposed to have faith that staff are doing all they can to stop the spread. They did the same in the summer when we were tier 3. We are now in tier 4 and rates have doubled in a week.

Yeah, it's great. It's the only reason I'm in teaching. Well, that and the holidays, the short hours and easy work!

[quote 2021hasalowbenchmarktobebetter]@RizzleDrizzle

Was my sarcasm too subtle?[/quote]
Oh sorry - tbf though I’ve seen so many threads that seem to think that teachers are some how superhuman that none of those situations apply to them

If they aren't teachers (or TAs) as the OP says there's nothing for her to worry about as they are the only school staff likely to have contact with your child.

@RizzleDrizzle

I know - think teachers/ NHS staff are expected to make all the sacrifices in work and also be paragons of extra virtue outside of it too

I would imagine they are working ..school buildings are closed. You know they have to plan don't you?

@myhobbyisouting

Can you tell us what other work places, except education (including nurseries) demand that staff work in enclosed spaces, with thirty other individuals, with no masks or ventilation?

I’d be fascinated to find out.

If they arent teacheds they may be responsible for an aspect of testing that schools have been told to organise. Work meetings are legitimate and school premises are not open this week.
Parking across your drive is out of order but otherwise I would say you are being unfair to criticise without knowing the circumstances of their meeting.

Maybe they're sick of being told they cannot have any form of social life but are expected to:

• spend the next 6 months whilst waiting for the magical vaccine around upto 1400 teenagers who don't give a shit about distancing
• be given no appropriate PPE or support
• teach in freezing conditions because opening all the windows apparently solves the issues
• provide remote learning, teach vulnerable/ key worker kids whilst administering tests
• be abused daily by parents who have no intention of telling their little darlings to follow the rules

If you are worried they have broken the rules then phone the police.

@2021hasalowbenchmarktobebetter

Oh exactly and I think each other’s situation is often used to bash the other.

But there we go, honestly I wouldn’t want to work in a school or front line health care right now

Especially with threads like this!

I think if they work together, ignore it. They are in a work bubble, like children are in a class bubble.

I agree it crazy I couldn't sit with my colleague for a cup of tea in their house but on Monday we will in a classroom together and probably inches away if we have to restrain a particular child if they are attacking us or others. Can't wait to go back!

I know people are talking about how they work together so they may as well but id think at a very basic they'd be social distancing from each other within school. Adult to adult so no it's not acceptable unless they have a support bubble going on.

Maybe they were meeting to discuss how to organise the mass testing of students.

You know full well that they aren't exempt from the rules, don't bother with wide-eyed innocence.

You know, if I'd seen that, I'd have thought. "Poor things, I bet they're having an awful lot of stuff to sort out. They needed a holiday, hope they've managed to make the most of what they did have. It's not fair on them."
And then forgotten about it.

@Armi

"Can you tell us what other work places, except education (including nurseries) demand that staff work in enclosed spaces, with thirty other individuals, with no masks or ventilation?

I’d be fascinated to find out."

You can drop the tone. There are workplaces that are dangerous 24/7 without covid. With covid they have to continue working as you've described above.

They are the forgotten service. The prison service. Hope your eyeballs don't fall off their stalks with all that fascinating you're doing

And just 30? Pah, is that all?

😂😂

@myhobbyisouting

I sympathise with you if you are also working in these conditions and apologise for saying it was only schools. Don't know why the unpleasant tone though or why you didn't just remind us straight away about the conditions in prisons.

You'd know if you'd been ignored as a service in the way we have for years, we're all a bit screwed up no doubt.

But no, I shouldn't take a tone...it's just difficult that on every other thread people are insistent that no other workplace has to do this when it was an horrific environment before covid.

You can drop the tone. There are workplaces that are dangerous 24/7 without covid. With covid they have to continue working as you've described above.

But not significantly more dangerous than before in terms of Covid. Prisoners are not grouped up in small rooms without masks are they? I don't disagree that its a job with its dangers, but the ones related to covid have been mitigated because prison life has been changed to stop gathering in groups. It isn't relevant to this discussion.

[quote myhobbyisouting]@Armi

"Can you tell us what other work places, except education (including nurseries) demand that staff work in enclosed spaces, with thirty other individuals, with no masks or ventilation?

I’d be fascinated to find out."

You can drop the tone. There are workplaces that are dangerous 24/7 without covid. With covid they have to continue working as you've described above.

They are the forgotten service. The prison service. Hope your eyeballs don't fall off their stalks with all that fascinating you're doing [/quote]
I’d say I felt sorry for you, if you actually work in a prison, but as you’re being unpleasant I don’t think I’ll bother.

@Barbie222 of course they are grouped in small rooms. They live in them. They learn in them. They rehabilitate in them. They exercise in them. They eat in them.

And new prisoners transfer in from the community each day.

There have been measures taken in schools too, just like there have in prisons. They aren't enough but otherwise we wouldn't be able to operate. Like schools.

You think the job isn't worse?! Of course it is, it's dreadful. It's more dangerous. What do you think goes on in there? In the minds of prisoners having their family links taken away. To the officers having to deal with the outburst and the anger and the fact that there is zero way they can social distance.

And it became relevant when posters insisted that schools are the only workplace expected to get on with it with minimal adjustments.....Or should I just ignore that because the prison service doesn't matter to you?

Teachers are meant to follow the guidance and law the same as everyone else.

They can be together in support bubble if single people but not just because they are 'teachers'.

Seriously @Armi I wouldn't want you to with the head tilt fascination stuff. Too fake and patronising for my liking tbh

SLT in my school have had to meet to sort out a variety of things this holiday. They are in the same ‘bubble’ so can have meetings together etc.

@myhobbyisouting

You sound in need of a change of career. There are teaching training places available if you want an easier life.