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Original poster

Safe space for school staff to talk about how they are feeling for next term…

287 replies

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 31/12/2021 07:34

I’m quite anxious about going back, although luckily managed to get the booster jab before Christmas. Lots of our families live hand to mouth so won’t regular test and can’t miss a week of work, which I do understand.

I’m also worried about exam classes having to sit exams as if nothing has happened.

I’m worried about lack of staff, week before Christmas hols our whole learning support team were off, with no cover.

I’m worried about getting ill and the hospitals are full.

I worry about having to send my kids into nursery where there’s a huge outbreak, but don’t have the option to keep them home.

I worry about bad behaviour as the SLT aren’t ‘policing’ the corridors at lesson change around sl behaviour is going to pot.

I also worry about school closures and kids mental health.

OP posts:
JohnSmithDrive · 02/01/2022 16:29

Our head is currently positive, as is most of her extended family. Managed to avoid it for almost two years in school (and she was in and leading the on site effort all the way through) but the Christmas mixing got her

doorornottodoor · 02/01/2022 16:51

@OnceuponaRainbow18

I wear the M&S ones- they’re great. I have 10. I’m in Scotland and we’ve been in masks throughout. I still need to get close to the kids/get them to pull down their masks sometimes to hear them. And ditto for my non English as a first language students. It’s impossible to communicate effectively or maybe I’ve previously lip read a lot. I’m over it, I do what I can. Ventilate, distance where I can but not obsessively, wear a mask but try to mitigate communication issues. I give younger students mask breaks as my classroom is directly outside. And also for anyone who asks. My students are pretty good and respectful though.

Didiusfalco · 02/01/2022 20:12

@doorornottodoor @OnceuponaRainbow18. Sorry to hear that ‘safe space’ means my personal experience is not welcome. I was actually responding to a poster further up who said she had heard this had happened in some schools - I was confirming that it had.

doorornottodoor · 02/01/2022 20:27

@Didiusfalco that’s unfair of you. It was the wording and implied criticism in your post I was objecting to. You obviously resent teachers “safely at home”. I’m not getting into oneupmanship here as that would be hypocritical of me but please believe me that many times I would rather have been amongst my pupils, that juggling a million balls (professionally) at home. I don’t feel the need to bring others down to say this. The resentment in your post is clear and I’m not the only one who saw it (maybe reread your words) We should be supporting others here not bringing each other down. On that note I hope that next term goes well for you. Flowers

Meadowblossom · 02/01/2022 20:34

I am extremely worried I will catch it at school and not be able to go to my dad’s funeral. It will break me.

alphabetsoup1980 · 02/01/2022 20:55

I've had horrid covid most of the christmas holiday, as did my husband. We also had to look after two children under 3. I've just found that my TA has tested positive so I will be on my own with my reception class (30 children) until any cover is sorted... which is unlikely as three other members of staff have tested positive 😒 Absolutely dreading it. I'm going into school tomorrow (even though I should be spending bank holiday with my children ) to try and sort out the provision as I tidied everything away for a deep clean at the end of term..... Euugghhhhhhhhh xxx

chocolateisavegetable · 02/01/2022 21:28

Meadow I am so sorry for your loss, and I can completely understand your concern. I would be exactly the same if I lost my Dad Flowers

blameitonthecaffeine · 02/01/2022 22:50

We don't have any staff currently positive but our supply teacher who has been covering for a teacher off with long term mental illness has now decided it's too risky for her to return. Presumably no notice required.

Piggywaspushed · 03/01/2022 07:53

Does anyone else teach in a school where they keep staff completely in the dark about covid cases and numbers? (staff and children). Always amazed by how many on here know what's going on!

MrsHamlet · 03/01/2022 07:55

We're not told.
I often know because of my role.

Pinkflask · 03/01/2022 07:56

We get some information but it’s definitely not the full picture and it’s when they decide to share it. To be fair when we do get an update it’s quite transparent but it’s how often that happens. Not a tiny clue how many people have had it over Christmas! Couldn’t even begin to guess.

Piggywaspushed · 03/01/2022 07:59

Good, glad it isn't just me.

Our head agreed with union reps that we would get fortnightly state of play emails. But it hasn't happened. Unfortunately, I work in one of those schools where the kids wouldn't recognise the headteacher or most of SLT.

Monkeytennis97 · 03/01/2022 08:05

Feeling nervous. Got FFP3 masks for DH and I to last up to half term (has cost a fortune!).

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 03/01/2022 08:06

The parents get sent a letter telling them if there is a positive case in their child’s year group and they should go for a PCR. This is sent via the Schoop app and teachers were told to download this app and turn on notifications for all year groups. We also have an excel spreadsheet that is updated with children off and isolating, their test status and the outcome of the test.

Obviously, we’re not told about staff positives but it usually becomes fairly obvious and we all know about it eventually because we all talk.

mrsdolittle · 03/01/2022 08:18

@Piggywaspushed

Does anyone else teach in a school where they keep staff completely in the dark about covid cases and numbers? (staff and children). Always amazed by how many on here know what's going on!
Admin in a large sixth form here. We are never told the covid figures. It's really odd - folks just disappear for a bit then hopefully reappear! I also have a child at the same college as equally as a parent I have absolutely no idea how many students are off with covid at any one time. There is an air of secrecy/mystery about the whole thing I find disconcerting.

Whilst obviously people's medical details are private and rightly shouldn't be announced to the whole college I find it very strange that SLT can't just come out and say we have x amount of staff/students currently off with covid. A little transparency would certainly make me feel more confident

ChloeDecker · 03/01/2022 08:28

Piggy-last term, we would be emailed a daily list of pupil names who had Covid/waiting on PCRs so that we would know to set work on Teams or live lesson at home but we never got a list of numbers of staff. Just Cover would appear on Sims if needed.
A lot of staff would tell us when they returned to school so I always had a rough idea of numbers. November last term was when it started to get really bad with numbers. I already know we have a few staff who will be off tomorrow as still recovering from having caught it over Christmas Sad

blameitonthecaffeine · 03/01/2022 09:22

Piggy Initially we didn't know but parents complained that work wasn't set and uploaded promptly for isolating children. So now we have a covid register on SharePoint which the office updates with children's names, covid status and isolation/return dates. It's so useful.

We know which staff are off when the daily cover sheet comes out. They don't give the reason for the absence of course but at least we know they aren't there. And the grapevine usually tells us if it's Covid.

Original poster
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 03/01/2022 11:13

So to keep schools open the great Gov plan is to …. Merge classes. Wonder which genius came up with that plan?

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 03/01/2022 11:37

@blameitonthecaffeine

Piggy Initially we didn't know but parents complained that work wasn't set and uploaded promptly for isolating children. So now we have a covid register on SharePoint which the office updates with children's names, covid status and isolation/return dates. It's so useful.

We know which staff are off when the daily cover sheet comes out. They don't give the reason for the absence of course but at least we know they aren't there. And the grapevine usually tells us if it's Covid.

Yes, one of our issues is setting work to absent children. We literally find out as they walk into the room, and sometimes even not then!

We only know staff absence from cover sheet too but of course that doesn't tell us about non teaching staff.

newbietoanxiety · 03/01/2022 11:39

@Piggywaspushed my team are responsible for covid test and trace at our place. We are told by SLT that we are not allowed to tell other staff members and if they are to ask we are only to say one or two when in reality it was in the hundreds before we left for Xmas.

They have said that they don't want panic breaking out

Piggywaspushed · 03/01/2022 11:41

Well, that's ridiculous! Schools are such bad places for trust and openness!

newbietoanxiety · 03/01/2022 11:42

@Piggywaspushed

Well, that's ridiculous! Schools are such bad places for trust and openness!
Completely agree. We've been told if we divulge that information then we would face a disciplinary
noblegiraffe · 03/01/2022 11:44

@OnceuponaRainbow18

So to keep schools open the great Gov plan is to …. Merge classes. Wonder which genius came up with that plan?
Which is quite funny as one of their contingency framework suggestions is that in the event of an outbreak schools should reintroduce bubbles.
Justrealised · 03/01/2022 11:47

Hi, I just want to say thank you to all of you that work in schools. Cake Wine

TheDrsDocMartens · 03/01/2022 12:50

twitter.com/josephkinnaird/status/1477662778643329026?s=21

It’s heading to a laugh or cry moment so get practicing your swagger for whole school lessons this week.

I’m betting on #33HoursTilTheUTurn