Email from DfE to Headteachers. Schools prepped to shut again?

[AntiMaskersAreTwats]

Do you think this means it likely schools will shut again?

@Piggyinblankets

If we shut, we don't get paid, whereas teachers do

Presumably, though, that is because you can't carry on with your work?

Exactly. And even though schools were physically shut last January, following the Government's decision to do so, teachers carried on teaching/providing work for their classes all through. So why would they not have been paid?

If we shut, we don't get paid, whereas teachers do

Did you miss teachers working from home?

Out of sight, out of mind, @PurpleDaisies

@Piggyinblankets yes that is very tough. My DP is in the same situation. And most people in this situation are not as well paid as teachers.

I do think we need better mitigations including isolating close contacts. But I know it causes real hardship as well that is easy to dismiss if you are economically better off.

It is easy to dismiss teachers as being well off but no one knows each person's financial situation. Not all teachers are in a financially sound position or getting well paid.

Why does every single one of these threads turn into a “teachers get covid more than anyone else” “no they don’t” thing?!

@Awalkintime hey are still not in the same financial situation as low paid staff like TAs or cleaners. And many low paid staff only get statutory sick pay. Covid really affected us financially when we were both off ill. I don't know any teachers who had a few weeks off ill with covid who suffered financially. It really is not the same.

I know a few who suffered financially who don't get sick pay and suffered financially but then I don't view all teachers as being full time in permanent roles on an upper pay scale and in a stable position.

Ventilation might have been worthwhile at one point. Against that level of transmission, you are pissing in the wind.

I just can't get my head around calls for it at this point. That ship has sailed. Omicron is a game changer is many respects.

That may be true but we were told about the importance of adequate ventilation with alpha and beta and the government did nothing in respect of our schools. Other than a handful of monitors. We are supposed to be learning to live with covid as it's not going away yet the buildings that 12 million or so children occupy for at least 6 hours a day are allowed to remain as covid breading grounds. It's close to two years now so when are they going to address this? The next variant will be along and will we still be arguing about safer schools?

@PurpleDaisies

If we shut, we don't get paid, whereas teachers do

Did you miss teachers working from home?

Yes, that's the point I was making. Teachers have the ability to work from home if necessary, but we can't, so we can't make a fuss, or it's no pay.

@Piggyinblankets

If we shut, we don't get paid, whereas teachers do

Presumably, though, that is because you can't carry on with your work?

Yes, which is why we just have to get on with it and not make a fuss.

I wasn't suggesting teachers shouldn't get paid, I was saying that teachers can work from home and get paid, so they can be more vocal about working conditions, whereas those of us who can't work from home in any way, can't really do much about it, so we stay quiet and are largely forgotten about.

Do you agree that teachers are right and justified in being vocal about their current working conditions?

It's not just teachers though, all schools staff, office staff, cleaners, catering staff, ta's etc.

I think the notion that teachers were vocal about their working conditions because they didn’t mind the possibility of schools closing as they’d still be paid is exactly wrong. Teachers were (and are) vocal about their working conditions to try to prevent schools closing. Teachers absolutely don’t want schools closed. That’s the point.

There was that thread during lockdown 3 asking teachers if they were happier because schools had closed and all the answers were ‘no, this is horrendously shit’.

@Baxterbear

Schools will not be closing.....

Schools have to close if there aren't enough staff fit enough to supervise the children in them. It's a basic safeguarding requirement.

That’s not quite the same as blanket closures though, and that will be for short periods of time. Not ideal of course, but no doubt what’s in store for January/Feb.

Blanket closures took out two terms here

Other disruption was one case closing about six classes last summer and actual Covid positive

[quote mumsneedwine]@HariboMaroon just a quick thing. How many of your colleagues died of Covid last year ? Or your parents ? Or your students parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles ? How many kids have you had to counsel over grief because there are not enough services available to help ?
I'm beyond tired of the 'I'm all right' attitude. [/quote]
Well said, mumsneedwine. I'm sick of the I'm alright Jack attitude too.

@Izzypuss

Oh have a day off I’ve spent the day in an early years class, I’m allowed an opinion! If you don’t like the way it is - leave. You’re not going to change the world.

Telling teachers to quit again.

Please - pretty please - can people NOT tell teachers to leave?

I really, really want there to be teachers. I have valued them even more than normal this year. I have even tried to be nice to PE teachers.

@rrhuth

Please - pretty please - can people NOT tell teachers to leave?

I really, really want there to be teachers. I have valued them even more than normal this year. I have even tried to be nice to PE teachers.

Schools will not be closing
I hope not.

But

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/13/no-guarantee-schools-will-not-close-wake-omicron-says-sajid/