Primary school teachers: what can I do to support you if schools are open?

[DownRightAmazing]

Obviously primary schools should be closed, but they aren't and I don't control that - what can I do that is in my control?

Obvious ones to me are:
*Keeping my children off if they are ill, or have contact with a positive case is a given.
*Following the rules outside of school to minimise risks for all
*Supporting any school-instigated measures (masks at drop off, social distancing from other parents, not approaching staff in person)

But those are all so minor - is they anything else? Do primary staff want us to keep our children home (against the rules) at this point?

Strange post. The bullets you have written are ample (thank you!) but no, don’t keep your kids off for the sake of the staff.

I supppse others might disagree, but this is my opinion.

Thanks Brutus. I just feel for staff - I don't want to keep my kids off, they are thriving at school and I'm not worried about them on a personal level. But I hear the worry and fear from school staff on here (and understand it) and wish I could help.

What a lovely post. Thank you.

For me I'd love to have all my class back but with 32 large year 6 children in the room there is no space to move about without bumping into each other. I'm terrified of going back next week. I don't know the answer as having fewer children in does mean we can distance more but the home learning won't be as good because it is difficult to do well when teaching full time in school too.

Following the rules out if school would definitely make staff feel safer. At the end of term children were still having sleep overs and parents weren't observing social distancing rules at drop off and puck up.

Thank you again. There are so many horrible threads at the moment that it is making me feel really low.

Our primary school have asked for donations of liquid soap and alcohol and gel. I hope that by donating these items it will free up a little bit of the budget for something else

Alcohol and gel @choosername1234 or alcohol hand gel?

Thank you for this post OP. There is so much hatred directed towards school staff on MN at the moment, when really we just follow the direction of the higher powers. I'm considering deleting the app. Thanks for wanting to support schools x

Your bullet point list is spot on. The only thing I would add is send your child in with extra layers. We're trying to be outside as much as possible, and even inside can be cold with a few windows open. I know some children don't feel it, but we've had several complain of being cold and they can always take off a jumper or jacket if they're too warm.

@SquirtleSquad

Alcohol and gel *@choosername1234 or alcohol hand* gel?

Oops! I'm typing whilst breastfeeding.... They can have whatever they like!

Great, thanks. Without name checking (because that takes me forever on the app):

Layers: I've been sending my two in with vests on for the last month or so but will switch to long sleeve thermals and even long johns for January I think. Will (quietly) mention same to other parents.

Soap etc donations: our school haven't asked for this but they do periodically ask for boxes of tissues which I'm happy to donate - I am on the 'parents forum' which is supposed to offer feedback to school so might suggest this actually.

Alcohol for staff 😂 I considered this at Christmas - didn't want to offend any non-drinkers but I would!!

Thank you for asking!
The main thing you can do for me please is to keep following the distancing and mixing rules. I really want to stay teaching in class and not online (to 5 year olds! 😮)

@MrsLJ2014

Thank you for asking! The main thing you can do for me please is to keep following the distancing and mixing rules. I really want to stay teaching in class and not online (to 5 year olds! 😮)

My DD is in reception. She has to isolate for the last 10 days of term due to a case in her bubble - I was feeling bad about how homeschool was going until I read the class WhatsApp honestly teachers are miracle workers IMO

My wishlist matches very much with yours.

1. Keep your children off it they are ill.
2. Do not argue with school about a dry or wet cough or a temperature that was only up high for a few hours. Symptoms are symptoms.
3. Don’t just look at the official 3 symptoms. Children often present with just headaches, stomach aches and cold symptoms.
4. Absolutely do not arrange or attend any sleepovers or play dates and speak up against other parents trying to organise these.
5. Observe social distancing at all times and especially with other school parents. No chatting and hanging around at the gate!
6. When we ask you to email us instead of shouting to us at the gate, do it. Don’t try to talk to the staff face to face about a lost school cardigan or water bottle.
7. Wear a mask at the gate. It might not do much to protect anyone when you’re outside but it shows us that you care and respect our safety.
8. Other people should only pick up or drop off your children if it is for essential childcare that otherwise would mean you could not attend work. It is not because it’s easier to get Sarah’s mum to do it for you while you stay at home with the younger sibling.
9. Dress your child properly and don’t complain to us that the classroom is cold. Ventilation is literally our only protection (with handwashing.....).

10. If your child has to isolate but the class is still in school please remember that the teacher is still teaching the other 29 children in the classroom and is only human. There is only so good that remote learning, feedback and contact can be when the teacher is still doing their normal job.

My husband is a teacher and I'm scared stiff he'll catch it. My young kids need/want their dad and I need/want my husband

DownRightAmazing
Thank you!
My own child is year 2 now so I know all about the 'fun' of homeschooling with young ones as he was year 1 in the first lockdown - your own child doesn't listen to you the same as your class do / as they do to their teacher!
I really want to stay in school for my sanity, for my class and I want my own child to be able to go so please, please everyone - follow the rules!!

Can I ask something from a teacher perspective? My ds (y1) is coughing no other symptoms he is his usual lively happy self. I've had him tested received a negative result today am I still OK to send him in school even though he's still coughing? I suspect he's got a chill from lying on the ground doing snow angels earlier in the week 🙄

@3littlewords

Can I ask something from a teacher perspective? My ds (y1) is coughing no other symptoms he is his usual lively happy self. I've had him tested received a negative result today am I still OK to send him in school even though he's still coughing? I suspect he's got a chill from lying on the ground doing snow angels earlier in the week 🙄

He’s had a negative test- absolutely send him in (unless he’s too poorly to attend for other reasons). Maybe drop the school a line with confirmation of the negative test so they’re not worrying...

@Firsttimecatlady thanks, hes most definitely not too poorly to attend hes full of beans and bouncing around like 6yo do. Its just his cough I worry what others will think, might get him a badge saying "I tested negative "

What a lovely post OP. Believe me , we want schools open and supportive parents like you make a difference. For me I’d like parents to collect their child when I ring to say they have a cough / temperature and not argue with me that it’s not covid!! Happy to be proved wrong with a negative test and we know children are ill with other things but we would all prefer the reassurance that it’s not covid

Some schools I know have set up Amazon wish lists for extra resources they would like for their classes. I know it doesn't help with COVID but does help with the budget constraints and stops teachers having to dip into their own pockets. Maybe liaise with the PTA to see if they can set one up for your school.

And yes avoid sleepovers, playdates etc. And avoid mixing at the school gate and if school ask you to wear masks during pick up, wear them.

Try and limit your communication with school, everyone is having to deal with so much changing guidance from the Government, they don't need to deal with emails from parents asking if they can find the jumper your DC left at school. If you haven't got one, maybe set up a class WhatsApp so those questions can be posted there.

Remember when the Government announce anything about schools it will be the first schools have heard about it too, so don't email them immediately after the announcement has been made to ask what the school will be doing about it. Wait for the school to tell you. Keep an eye out for newsletters or other methods of communication the schools use to keep up to date with everything they are telling you, again stops unnecessary communication with the teachers.

Give positive feedback to school.

That's a great list

I am a Reception teacher in a Tier 4 area and my school is scheduled to be open on Monday. Every teacher I know is happy that we are not closed!

I was amazed at how many poorly kids were sent to school in December. It worries me that employers are not as flexible with parents staying home anymore and that is going to have a knock on effect.

Donate sleeping bags so that teachers can move into the school.

@applesauce1

Donate sleeping bags so that teachers can move into the school.

I saw that thread I assumed it was a joke but

I imagine this one is very personal to me but I wish some of my parents would complain about the fact we have no opening windows in our classroom. I am just being ignored. I know if a parent said something though the head would listen.

I apologise for my first post- I did think it sounded like a bit of an odd request but I can see now that it wasn’t, from others’ responses!

I have bought my kids some thermal base layers and will also be sending in tissues.

I will add that it’s really important that the children know how to wash hands properly, and how to sneeze/cough in tissues or crook of arm and then wash hands. I do teach in special Ed but I find myself repeating this do often during the day!

As a teacher, I want to thank the vast majority of parents for how extra kind and supportive you have been during this. Like so many other jobs and aspects of life, school and teaching has been extra hard last year. Thank you.

I think the best things you can honestly do:

Wear a mask on site - especially if you have to approach the teachers or the office and think twice before having to step in the building (parents are only allowed in to the reception area at my school anyway, they can’t enter classrooms or corridors) - is it something that could be emailed or solved with a phone call?

• Be patient for responses to emails, the admin office are inundated more than usual, largely due to constant rule changes and having to change the daily routine and procedures in line with it.

• Follow the “no household mixing” rule, even though it does seem insane to mix at school but not outside. I have to say one of the things that is quite painful and hard to hear is when the children come in and blab about all the friends they saw at the weekend, the birthday party they went to etc. Hard because we then realise how even more exposed we are and hard on the other children who are following the rules who then ask why their friends have play dates and why they can’t. Children can’t keep secrets. Many a child has said “Mummy said not to tell you we stayed at her friends house” or such.

To be honest, the best thing is what everyone can do for everyone regardless of profession - be respectful. Understand it’a almost 100% out of everyone’s hands and everyone’s doing their best.

The amount of times I’ve seen my Head teacher cry this year (behind the scenes). The amount of times I’ve witnessed the Head, SLT, myself and my colleagues be screamed at “Why aren’t you closing????” “Why aren’t you opening???” “How can my job be excluded from the key worker list??” “Why is my child in a separate bubble from their best friend?” “My child can’t come in, it’s already 9:30 where is the days work?! Yes I know I only told you an hour ago!” - the majority of parents, I must say, have been extremely supportive but there’s definitely some who believe the schools have created this pandemic purely to inconvenience them.

Smile! And I still love a wee chat at the door at the end of the day / morning time about positive things - albeit a socially distanced one! One thing I’ve worked on this last term is to not let the pandemic cause a barrier between myself and the parents - I can’t bring you in the classroom but I’m still here and want to get to know you!

Currently preparing all my online lessons for the week ( you should see my reel of outtakes on my iPad) - Hope school, whatever form it’s taking for all your children, gets off to a positive start.