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?

You sound refreshingly lovely OP. We too want to be teaching and supporting children, ideally in school but equally at home if we have to.

Some great suggestions here. If you’re keeping your children at home, please don’t expect a full online education programme; we’ll still be planning, teaching and assessing in school full time and don’t ave lunch breaks or time after school like we used to due to bubble supervision and cleaning.

Additionally, maybe ask the PTA if they could raise money for cleaning supplies? The government won’t reimburse us a penny for these, despite the huge increase in what has to be done and when, and most schools have exceeded their cleaning and supply budgets for the year already.

Mainly though, we’d just like the public to be a bit kinder to us. We are not responsible for any of the decisions taken, and are literally just doing what we’re told by the DFE.