DD teacher isolating

[OhFFSnotyouagain]

There has been a positive case in DD's primary school class but the children (bar affected child obviously), are attending class as usual. However the class teachers (two as both part time), are isolating at home and teaching the children on their allocated days on an app that was used during lockdown. It's a shit app with short pre recorded videos etc and DD was bored stiff, needing a lot of guidance from me when using it. Anyway the class TA is single handedly looking after the class. She is clearly stressed and been very shouty according to DD and I can't really blame her.

Parents were informed via a newsletter about the positive case in the class on Friday, but nothing was said about the teachers isolating and we found out from our children. When queried today by a parent at pick up, the TA told us both teachers are isolating as they haven't been vaccinated and therefore teaching from home. I understand it's an individual's choice whether they receive the vaccine or not, but the parents are unhappy as the children didn't learn much this way during lockdown so I doubt they are benefitting now. We have had A LOT of online learning, with bubbles repeatedly bursting most of last year and the local area remained in constant lockdown due to alot of cases. DD is very behind already due to this.

Is it right for the teachers to isolate but the (similarly unvaccinated) children are sent in? Why is it that they have to remain in isolation, can't they return after a negative test? Is it not the HT's job to ensure the children have a proper teacher as their education has suffered enough, and not leave the poor TA to handle a full class?

I don’t think anyone bloody knows what the rules are anymore. Especially if you’re unvaccinated. One of the TAs in my class is unvaccinated but has come back to work after a negative pcr. After being a contact of a kid with covid. So sorry I have no idea. They should deffo have a supply in and not leave to the TA.

I think they need a long term plan. The teacher will likely spend the whe term at home with repeated cases...

While I respect their right to chose vaccination or not its not exactly feasible is it?

It might be that they're not 2 weeks post second vaccine rather than not vaccinated at all?

Because the employer (school) has a duty to provide a safe working environment. You have no idea why this teacher hasn’t been vaccinated.

Children, on the other hand, have to still come unless they have a positive test. This is government guidelines, however nonsensical they are.

School should be really getting a supply in though, either way.

If they are unvaccinated that have to self isolate.

That’s their choice - and they are still working from home!

Could the TA have misunderstood? Perhaps they are isolating because the have developed symptoms, in addition to being unvaccinated.

It's law that unvaccinated people have to isolate isn't it?

I have one unvaccinated colleague who currently has Covid along with a couple of other teachers. So rules no different for her this time. But next time she'll just neca contact but still have isolate. It's her choice but it's not going to make her popular with other staff or parents

These are all questions you need to take up with your school. I would email the head.

I intend on speaking to the HT tomorrow, you are right they do need a longterm plan. Recording a few videos from home is not the same as being present in class and teaching 30 9 year olds. Even live lessons wouldn't be too bad. Covid is around and no doubt we will see more cases.

No the TA was very clear when she said both teachers are not coming in due to not being vaccinated, nothing about them developing symptoms. But I will clarify with the HT tomorrow.

I think it's kind of a mess, since teachers isolating doesn't mean they are positive, so it can repeat again when they are exposed to positive case again. That really sucks for children.

As far as I would be concerned then the teachers should get themselves jabbed pronto. If I didn't turn up for work I would be sacked!

gogohm could you legally be sacked? Vaccination isn't compulsory but isolation if not vaccinated is. Not sure what employers can do about it but its certainly going to cause problems.

Are they quite young? My colleagues in their 20s and even early 30s without underlying conditions in this area haven't been able to have their second jab yet because they didn't get their first until into the summer. Teachers weren't prioritised and that does mean younger teachers in many areas are still under isolation rules as they aren't yet fully vaccinated.

Unvaccinated people still have to isolate as per goverment guidelines
But yes the school need a policy going forward as realistically they could be isolating most of the year , not really a job to work in if not vaccinated and if in many other industrys they weren't paid if not in would probably think differently

Fair enough if they are still awaiting 2 nd jabs though as thats out of their control

Should the TA have disclosed that information?

This is why we need mandatory vaccination and vaccine passports.

(except for those who medically cannot be vaccinated)

It seems weird that there are two teachers in the same class that are both unvaccinated, and both either classed as ECV under the old rules which would be reasonable or crazy enough to think they get to isolate in this circumstance for no reason. That’s a lot of teacher issues for one class!

The TA is in the wrong for disclosing medical information of the teachers currently isolating.
I would not be impressed with this if I was the teacher currently off.

Well vaccines aren't mandatory for teaching staff who may also have good reason for not having the jab as LP's have said.

As such they will need to isolate everyone time is a case in the class.

Obviously children are exempt because they can't have the jab.

Frustrating as it is many people have argued against masks for pupils for mental health and health reasons, which was more important to them that the affect on the rest of the class or staff.

This thread shows it goes both ways I suppose.

I’d be angry at the fact the school was taking steps to protect the teachers but not the children! Ridiculous!
Either it’s a safe environment or it’s not.

I think the TA should be investigated for gross misconduct!
Also, the witch hunting parents need to consider that the teachers may have health conditions that mean they cannot be vaccinated.

"I’d be angry at the fact the school was taking steps to protect the teachers but not the children! Ridiculous!
Either it’s a safe environment or it’s not"

It's not up to the school is it? It is the law as decided by the government. In case you haven't noticed we are not really keeping people safe anymore. We are trusting the vaccines. Rules for the not fully vaccinated are stricter partly I suspect to encourage full vaccination not safety...

We have had the same problem at the school I teach at where unvaccinated staff do has to isolate if they have had contact with a case. Children do not. It is an absolute nightmare! We have tried to get cover but we are really struggling to get supply teacher so your children’s school may well be doing the very best they can… Schools are not allowed to insist that employees are vaccinated

@CyclingIsNotOuting

I’d be angry at the fact the school was taking steps to protect the teachers but not the children! Ridiculous! Either it’s a safe environment or it’s not.

The school are following government direction, Under 18s do not have to vaccinate following contact with a positive case, over 18s do have to isolate. It’s very simple, but frustrating!