Headteacher unions begin legal proceedings against DfE

[Makingnumber2]

www.naht.org.uk/news-and-opinion/news/leadership-news/update-regarding-start-of-term-sent-to-members-on-2-jan-2021/?fbclid=IwAR3WFugSo-KsSToWAvbteMs8HspeXZTMBd9VaiOlAVxOeL0FM1wDRzqbviA

NAHT and ASCL start legal proceedings against DfE

The government are telling everyone they know better than the scientists.

The unions are saying we should be following the scientists advice.

Get off I may be wrong and I'm sure someone will correct me but from what I understand.....

Back in April unions and Labour wanted to discuss plans for return to school.
BJ and co ignored.
Decided to announce return for yr R and 6 (?) after half term.
Wouldn't listen to concerns about high levels still in some areas and didn't issue guidance etc until 12th hour.
The numbers in the north were much higher and people did say they were looking at London which was way past its peak.
Then unions and HT continued asking for safety plans for September but government continued their mantra that Labour, unions and teachers wanted schools closed and ignored the fact they wanted them open - but safely.

Refused all discussions on rotas and blended learning and wrote guidance to say no rotas, no blended learning, no funding and no face masks allowed.

It was very hit and miss nationally re cases because regionally it varied massively.

As it became clear things were out of control heading towards end of term schools tried again to have discussions. The DFE took over track and trace in schools from PHE and they threatened schools with legal action if they went online.

Then they announced the new variant etc.

Still refusal to accept 1500-4000 students all in school together could possibly be anything other than safe. Then they announced school closures in London.

NEU then for involved under section 44. And here we are!

What gives teachers/teachers unions the right to lecture others on pandemic control, infection and public safety measures?

The fucking government aren't listening to the scientists. Do you really think schools are safe as they are?

but they would of been in school but I don't think it would be so easy for primary to do blended learning

Government wouldn't want to admit schools aren't safe with all students in. So instead ignored any option that wasn't all students in all of the time.

I do agree that primary is trickier online.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Tableflowers.Ignorant comment.

Secondary school staff face up to 150 different students a day in groups of 30 or more squashed into tiny rooms. No masks, no distancing. This government has let down school staff AND students. They have no voice, but now they do.

What important key worker position do you hold?

I’m a key worker and deal with many people each day. Some wear masks some say ‘ohh I’ve forgotten’. I touch stuff directly from their hands, paper work, money and the like.

So don’t give me your shight about not knowing what it’s like!! I face the public every day!!!

At my kids school, the teacher is in a perspective box and kids aren’t allowed anywhere near them. The teachers there are more protected than the supermarket checkout staff that deal with hundreds of people everyday!!!

The country would grind to a halt, literally if everyone jumped in the bandwagon.

@Flaxmeadow

Do I think they are experts in teaching? No. Do I think they any idea what it’s like teaching? No. Do I think they understand what teaching in a pandemic is like? No

What gives teachers/teachers unions the right to lecture others on pandemic control, infection and public safety measures?

We have union bods telling anyone who will listen that they know better than scientists and the government

This kind of bossiness, and holding the country to ransom, is not going to go down well

Not quite.

Lots of scientists have said to close schools.

At my kids school, the teacher is in a perspective box and kids aren’t allowed anywhere near them.
This is not like any school I know of. Good on them.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'Sure, dude. Of course they have.'

Yes indeed and I could certainly manage a flask if the staff room was off limits and to tell kids to stay seated. 'Oh but we must walk round the class'. No, you mustn't!' it isn’t rocket science.

Have you ever actually met any five year olds?

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation i think even of only secondary it could of made a difference though

The issue is I have 2DC's so would need to have to lie about them both. My current plan is to tell them we are self isolating but not testing. They already know how hard it would be to test DD as she has sen and hospital trauma. I don't know what else to do. Will they even be closed in two weeks? How bad do things need to get!?

@donewithitalltodayandxmas

I completely agree.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation

At my kids school, the teacher is in a perspective box and kids aren’t allowed anywhere near them. This is not like any school I know of. Good on them.

Wow, that’s fantastic. I wish my daughters school had that. Maybe she’d feel safe enough to go back in what is her final year.

beebity Just lie. Your head will prefer it too! It means they can code it as isolating.

Buy yourself some time.

What kind of 'perspective' box?

Can I hum myself into a chakra yoga mantra..

I an safe, the air is safe.. I'm in a special perspective box... Ommmmmm

@Flaxmeadow

Do I think they are experts in teaching? No. Do I think they any idea what it’s like teaching? No. Do I think they understand what teaching in a pandemic is like? No

What gives teachers/teachers unions the right to lecture others on pandemic control, infection and public safety measures?

We have union bods telling anyone who will listen that they know better than scientists and the government

This kind of bossiness, and holding the country to ransom, is not going to go down well

This is bollocks.

Fixed it for you:

We have union bods teachers telling anyone who will listen that they know better than trust the nation's top scientists and more than they trust the government.

This kind of bossiness care for everyone's health, and holding the country to ransom standing up to power, is not going to go down well be commended.

@donewithitalltodayandxmas Of course, we're allowed an opinion on anything, but I don't think having been to school affects the validity of the opinion.
My opinions on what the goverNment should or should not have done may well be totally unfeasible!

I just feel guilty about it and so shit but I am completely worn down by the constant, unrelenting anxiety about them bringing covid home and possibly growing up without me. I will not cope with the new strain out there now too. They love being at home but love school too. I don't want them to have to give up their places. They didn't ask to have a disabled mum .

‘Perspective box’ can you see the vanishing points?😂

I assume you mean Perspex?

Shight? What is this word?

Bee..

Don't you think it's likely that children catch bugs off each other?.
You are over thinking it, they can't challenge you, personally I wouldn't say isolation incase they ask for the text or something.. Just say stomach bug!. That will buy you at least a week!
It's a horrible situation that we have been shoved into and as a parent and as someone in education, I'm furious.

I'm keeping both dd off.

It's not rocket science, no. It's teaching.

I suspect rocket scientists may be wfh at the moment.

Just say one of them had a temp so instead of testing you're isolating. Honestly your head wi prefer an isolating excuse. They can't ask to see any proof.

Bee, they will not loose their place!

Take charge, make the decision now, along with myself and thousands of other parents up and down the UK, they won't go back!

Yes they love school but they have no understanding of life with you in hospital, you as the adult have that perspective.

Perspex 😂.

No one will care more about you probably your dc than YOU... Your head won't be coming to any hospital bed or helping you out!

Please don't over think it will or feel guilty.. This isn't for ever... Just a few weeks at most!

Children are incredibly resilient and we need to teach them resilience and how to cheer themselves up.

Yes going to try and buy ten days and hope it's long enough for common sense to prevail.

Thanks all for being so nice

*I’m a key worker and deal with many people each day. Some wear masks some say ‘ohh I’ve forgotten’. I touch stuff directly from their hands, paper work, money and the like.

So don’t give me your shight about not knowing what it’s like!! I face the public every day!!!

At my kids school, the teacher is in a perspective box and kids aren’t allowed anywhere near them. The teachers there are more protected than the supermarket checkout staff that deal with hundreds of people everyday!!!

The country would grind to a halt, literally if everyone jumped in the bandwagon.*

I do genuinely think it is different in schools- but equally I don't fully understand what it's like in supermarkets.

At this stage, I am really concerned about the new strain and I would like other groups to jump on the bandwagon and say things aren't safe- yes, the country would grind to a halt, but that's kind of the point, isn't it?

@Hercwasonasnowball do you not have to provide proof ? I had to send a copy if my negative test so ds could go back and was also told off by school secratary for keeping ds off for 48 hrs due to sickness bug and following nhs guidance