Any one else’s school

[User5827372728]

Starting the term tomorrow with all staff ( about 250) in the school hall for INSET?

Isle of Man restrictions lifted in June (26th I think)
No masks no social distancing no isolation regardless of vaccination status

Here’s the numbers

So looks like numbers high whilst kids in school
In July then gradually decreasing over the summer hols. Will be interesting to see what happens in sept-Oct.

Out of interest can I ask if you have a view on how things should be at this time in schools? Keeping with the same bubbles from before July perhaps?

@Window1 'out of interest' can I ask how meetings of large numbers of staff are managed in your workplace?

User5827372728

It’s a perfect example of ‘children don’t spread the virus’ and ‘schools are safe’

We’ll see!

@HelloMissus

Is it up to each school how they proceed then? The school DD is working in (private secondary) is testing everyone prior to return. Staggered return of pupils to accommodate this.

I believe so. Some schools are trying to keep things normal, but not go bonkers on the back to normal thing. My school are going to trial a hepa filter and install more if happy with it, asked all kids to lft before went back (primary), still staggering drop off and pick up, staggered break and lunch, no mixed class assemblies, minimising visitors to school, zoom parent evenings etc. They know some kids and teachers will be or have close contact with vulnerable and pregnant, want to protect school community, want to reduce risk of long covid etc. I'm sure they would support household isolation unofficially in order to protect health of others and keep schools open longer. Other schools have hepa filters in all classrooms, others are full school indoor assemblies etc. It's a mixed bag. I know of people that are struggling to get schools to accept HEPA filters etc - schools are allowed to go beyond school guidance - one parent had to get this confirmed by DfE, PHE and HSE, along with L.A. infection control, so if schools want to put Co2 monitors in, HEPA filters, mask mandates, I believe they are allowed to.

No. We're still doing meetings on Teams. Or I did a team meeting yesterday in person, 12 windows open, 2m distancing and masks on. Today the staff room was rammed so I left.

So, if a member of my household tests positive, but my primary Dd does not, do I need phone the school and let them know the situation?

If I test positive, but my Dd does not, do I inform the school that I will be driving her to school and could they meet her from the car, so she can attend?

It feels like madness, but I guess those are the rules. I'm not sure how comfortable staff would be with that scenario?!

@ConstanceFloss

I think it’s advised that those in the family who don’t have covid still get a negative pcr test before they go back to school/work.

And no you can’t drive your kid to school if you have covid. But someone else could collect and take them!

I think it’s advised that those in the family who don’t have covid still get a negative pcr test before they go back to school/work.

No, they are advised to get a PCR but can still go to work whether they have or not, and can go to work while waiting on results. Or they could not bother to have a PCR at all.

100 staff in our hall on Wednesday sitting round small tables; luckily windows open. Shared lunch in staffroom for those who could fit. Absolute madness. So many staff could be wiped out for 10 days right at the start of the year - teachers, TAs, dinner staff, office staff from 2 schools.

@lonelyplanet

Yes even our finance team, maintenance team , HR the whole lot sat through an hour of a breakdown of our results… did they really need to hear that? And in person!

@noblegiraffe
Oh that’s even worse than I thought!

So many staff could be wiped out for 10 days right at the start of the year - teachers, TAs, dinner staff, office staff from 2 schools.

Yup! So short sighted and pointless risk

[quote User5827372728]@ConstanceFloss

I think it’s advised that those in the family who don’t have covid still get a negative pcr test before they go back to school/work.

And no you can’t drive your kid to school if you have covid. But someone else could collect and take them![/quote]

Yes, so if the child has a negative PCR and can attend school - do the positive parents then ask around if anyone would be willing to take that child to school for them? Or can they drive them to the gate (and not get out of the car) or is that not allowed?

@User5827372728

So many staff could be wiped out for 10 days right at the start of the year - teachers, TAs, dinner staff, office staff from 2 schools.

Yup! So short sighted and pointless risk

Did anyone raise it and if so what does SLT have to say about it?

Or is the culture put up and shut up?

@Window1

The Head said we are cautiously going back to normal and the guidelines say we can meet at a whole school…! I’m very much a put up and shut up person whilst secretly hoping someone else will speak up!!!

@ConstanceFloss

You have to find someone to take the child. You can’t go out in your car if you have covid.

Plus you are supposed to be isolating away from your child not in a car!

AND I know for a lot of people that’s impossible - but I think it’s something that should be looked at -

If you can’t isolate from your child then they need to isolate with you! Poor government thinking there.

We had inset with 150 staff today, doors closed, very few masks. Some (maskless) staff chatting about how their husband/child/ wife was currently at home with Covid. In the inset we were told to be prepared to teach from home while they supervise children in school, as we were likely to get Covid this term…..

DCs entire primary packed into school hall for assembly today! 👀

@FoxandFeathers

We had inset with 150 staff today, doors closed, very few masks. Some (maskless) staff chatting about how their husband/child/ wife was currently at home with Covid. In the inset we were told to be prepared to teach from home while they supervise children in school, as we were likely to get Covid this term…..

How lovely . They're expecting you to be well enough to teach then?

The problem is, like last time... Nos will probably be just about ok, because we will have the usual warm Sept.. Window open, outdoors... And like last time it's going to build up and up and up... Our setting has quite wreak suggestions and not much will to carry them out