Page 13 | Is covid ripping through your school?

whattodo2019 · 2021-09-19T19:06:22+00:00

Both schools my DC attend and the school I work at now have numerous covid cases for the first time!!! Is it just inevitable that under the current guidelines, all these kids are going to get covid? The staff feel like ticking times bombs despite being vaccinated. Like many establishments, we have newly of staff, vulnerable staff, staff with vulnerable family members, very anxious older staff.... It's nerve wracking waiting for it to hit!

SuperCaliFragalistic · 30/09/2021 05:02

Nope. Don't know of any cases although I presume there may be a few. Its a big school, 3 classes per year group. I don't mind anyway, just another virus.

Autumngoldleaf · 30/09/2021 07:32

I love bag puss.. That's one simple change that would mean a day or two off until the pcr comes back but really would have an impact!

ilovebagpuss · 30/09/2021 08:08

Oh yes I’m all for it, I just wonder why they don’t amend that rule countrywide it makes sense.

pommedeterre · 30/09/2021 09:34

Thats what is happening in our schools already. Everyone in household gets pcr, stays home until result in. If negative can return to school but do daily LFTs until positive case has finished their 10 day isolation.

I thought that was already the guidance!

Whatever9999 · 30/09/2021 12:03

Had a small cluster in local (small village school) of 7 centred around 1 class (plus 1 in wraparound). On advice from PHE that class didn't take part in whole school assembly and used a different entrance for 2 weeks. It's now fizzled out, with no more cases in 3 weeks.
No one was seriously ill, but up until the last 2 weeks of last term there had been no cases in the whole school, and then there were 2 in that fortnight.

HolyShort · 30/09/2021 12:15

I work in secondary. About 900 kids. In many classes I have about 8 kids off. However confirmed cases are only at about 40 for kids and 6 for staff at the moment. I think probably about 60kids and 10 staff over all have had it.

To be honest it's general illness ripping its way through the school, not just Covid!!

Emmelina · 30/09/2021 14:59

Another colleague called in with a positive test today, so I’m off home to take yet another LFT. I seem to be taking them daily at this point.

justasking111 · 30/09/2021 15:27

Question as a teacher with covid are you not allowed sick leave? My friend is rotten with covid but is still preparing lesson plans For someone else to teach plus Putting work on Google classroom for children at home. I do worry about her

cantkeepawayforever · 30/09/2021 15:47

@justasking111

Question as a teacher with covid are you not allowed sick leave? My friend is rotten with covid but is still preparing lesson plans For someone else to teach plus Putting work on Google classroom for children at home. I do worry about her

It is absolutely normal for a teacher on 'sick leave' to still provide planning for whoever covers them. it is why, in normal times, teachers drag themselves into work even when poorly, because setting work for someone else to do is at least as much hassle.

Providing online work is an 'obvious' extension of this, and yes, would be normal in most schools I imagine, unless the teacher is exceptionally poorly.

Flup · 30/09/2021 16:43

DD is a teacher in a large comp. Currently 200 DC off with covid.
@justasking111 It's appalling isn't it. Teachers who are too sick to go to work are still expected to work at home. DD drags herself in if ill because because setting work for someone else to deliver is harder.

middleager · 30/09/2021 16:50

One third of my child's secondary school class have had Covid now - and that's just confirmed cases.

Roomba · 30/09/2021 17:11

When my DC all caught Covid recently, DS2 got a positive LFT during routine testing - no symptoms at that point. It was with one of the newer branded LFT kits they are sending when you order online (Flowflex? You swab both nostrils and not your throat with these) - not the tests in the older blue and white NHS branded boxes. He tested negative with one of those!

My other DC had negative PCRs taken next day. By the time results came back, they were both getting positive LFTs too (later confirmed with PCR).

We were curious so tested again a couple of times with the new test kits and the old ones. They all continued to test positive with the new kits for several days - and they were all blindingly obvious bright pink lines positive. Finally they got a faint line after 5/6 days. At no point did any of my three DC test positive with one of the old style test kits. Not even a faint squinter of a line!

I am convinced the old LFTs are utterly crap (prob why the US banned their use!). If students/parents are using those and assuming they are fine, no wonder we have a big problem. Plus people are doing LFTs when their kids have a runny nose, when it should be a PCR.

User5827372728 · 30/09/2021 18:02

5 members of my team have all been off this week and off next week… no ones even told me officially they have covid, we share an office; desk, computer, work facing each other with tiny windows… if I hadn’t have messaged them I wouldn’t even know they have covid

BlackAlys · 30/09/2021 22:32

We have so many staff off with covid at the moment and close to 70 pupils.

We are giving up our PPA's to cover as we are in real danger of not having enough staff:pupil ratio. Supply agencies are already fully sttetches. If we lose another member of staff, we might have to close down another year group again.

BlackeyedSusan · 01/10/2021 03:50

I only know of one case as DD has been told she is a contact. We are all ill with a "cold" waiting PCR results

Woolysock · 01/10/2021 07:14

Loads in my DC's secondary (London) DC2 has it, only found out from another parent as her DC (who sits next to my dc in some classes) tested positive on the Saturday, had my dc wear masks in class Monday and Tuesday but was too late for dc2 as they came home Tuesday feeling rough!

Unsure why our school is not informing us of confirmed COVID cases? Are they expecting all 12-15 year olds who live with high risk adults are already vaccinated?

I'm hearing about double jabbed parents now testing positive.

Woolysock · 01/10/2021 07:25

@Roomba, that is really interesting.

"When my DC all caught Covid recently, DS2 got a positive LFT during routine testing - no symptoms at that point. It was with one of the newer branded LFT kits they are sending when you order online (Flowflex? You swab both nostrils and not your throat with these) - not the tests in the older blue and white NHS branded boxes. He tested negative with one of those!

My other DC had negative PCRs taken next day. By the time results came back, they were both getting positive LFTs too (later confirmed with PCR).

We were curious so tested again a couple of times with the new test kits and the old ones. They all continued to test positive with the new kits for several days - and they were all blindingly obvious bright pink lines positive. Finally they got a faint line after 5/6 days. At no point did any of my three DC test positive with one of the old style test kits. Not even a faint squinter of a line!

I am convinced the old LFTs are utterly crap (prob why the US banned their use!). If students/parents are using those and assuming they are fine, no wonder we have a big problem. Plus people are doing LFTs when their kids have a runny nose, when it should be a PCR."

a8mint · 01/10/2021 15:32

I run childrens classes and despite double az jab i have still got it. A few parents in the preceding week told me their kids had tested positive. I have had it pretty bad my temp was around 103f fr a week and now t is down but i am scared to stand up and walk a few steps because im so weak and breathless and my lungs burn

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 01/10/2021 19:32

No.

10 cases, 1000 pupils. I’m surprised it’s so low as numbers here are pretty high.

cabbageking · 04/10/2021 19:47

Covid cases and isolation etc are recorded on SIMS

Jenster03 · 04/10/2021 23:47

@justasking111

Question as a teacher with covid are you not allowed sick leave? My friend is rotten with covid but is still preparing lesson plans For someone else to teach plus Putting work on Google classroom for children at home. I do worry about her

Of course you are. Your friend should not be setting work if ill. No it isn't normal, and I'd be very concerned if schools are getting away with this.

motherrunner · 05/10/2021 06:48

Are you a teacher @Jenster03? I’ve taught for 22 years and worked with hundreds of teachers - we set work when we’re ill. It’s expected. I’m not paid if my children are ill. I’m still expected to set work - now that really does annoy me!

User5827372728 · 05/10/2021 07:08

@Jenster03

We have to set work off we are off ill, I remember trying to look at my laptop with the worst migraine to get some work sent it.

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 05/10/2021 07:40

We have to set work for our classes. Never a shadow of a doubt. You’d have to be in intensive care before you’d be excused (and would be told to have cover work available and ready to go in the future).

We had half the school off last week (and staff). It’s down to a third this week but getting going in different year group.

Jenster03 · 05/10/2021 07:44

@motherrunner

Are you a teacher *@Jenster03*? I’ve taught for 22 years and worked with hundreds of teachers - we set work when we’re ill. It’s expected. I’m not paid if my children are ill. I’m still expected to set work - now that really does annoy me!

Yes I'm a teacher. I've never been expected to set work when ill. Outrageous if you are expected to.