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

[OnceuponaRainbow18]

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.

Loads of staff absence puts multiple strains on multiple people but behaviour seems to be suffering the most.

Yes - that's the main issue for us. Those 10% of children who take up 90% of 'someone's' time. If that someone isn't there, a lot of stuff gets fucked up. November 2020 was the worst - I felt physically unsafe in school - nothing to do with covid, just the children. I'm in a primary school.

Just another thank you to the teachers and school staff reading from me. Our year closed a few days early in December because of staff shortages. Our teacher magicked up a Christmas party for the (EY) kids on about an hour’s notice so they wouldn’t miss out.

I find it helpful to see the progress my class have already made this year, in spite of disruptions. Yes they aren't where they should be but progress is being made.

Great idea motherrunner One useful thing I learnt in therapy many years ago was to tell my anxious subconscious mind "I hear you - and I understand why you're anxious. We're not going to worry about all those things right now, though, because we need some time to rest. I promise that we will spend some time thinking about it tomorrow / next week / whatever timescale works better." It has often worked for me, especially to help me get some sleep!

But this isn't an opinion thread. And sometimes opinions could be kept to oneself.

I haven't looked, because it's too stressful, but I am sure there are other schools threads for you to opine on.

If sats were cancelled and ofsted paused I honestly think the majority of my stress would evaporate.

@TheWayTheLightFalls

Just another thank you to the teachers and school staff reading from me. Our year closed a few days early in December because of staff shortages. Our teacher magicked up a Christmas party for the (EY) kids on about an hour’s notice so they wouldn’t miss out.

It’s always lovely to read posts like these.

My own children had a wonderful December in school and I know that’s down to the staff making it all look so easy.

Are supply staff really paid £95 per day?!!!!!

@chocolateisavegetable

Great idea motherrunner One useful thing I learnt in therapy many years ago was to tell my anxious subconscious mind "I hear you - and I understand why you're anxious. We're not going to worry about all those things right now, though, because we need some time to rest. I promise that we will spend some time thinking about it tomorrow / next week / whatever timescale works better." It has often worked for me, especially to help me get some sleep!

I like that.

I’ve never been a great sleeper and often wake in the middle of the night for a couple of hours. Usually I can fall back to asleep then but sometimes, if the mind is too alert, I just stay awake although I know a tired teacher isn’t the best for anyone.

I do wish Ofsted visits would be cancelled this academic year. Every meeting etc is about being ‘Ofsted ready’. Our inset on Weds will be geared towards Ofsted planning.

How about helpful suggestions to start term less anxiously?

So, what I've done - this is KS2 primary specific.

We have simplified our curriculum - luckily I'm in a decision making position, so I could do it. For example, we've moved our maths units around so that we are doing the 'easier' stuff this coming term. This way if children are absent they don't miss vital number coverage, but also there is work that parents can support more easily. Our writing has been much more simplified. I've bought online kindle versions of whole class reading books and chosen texts that have lots of external resources available to reduce our planning time.

I've mapped out all foundation stuff against Oak National - we won't be trying to teach online and in class. If a child is off but well, it's Oak.

We've shown the children in computer lessons how to find these resources, where we'll put them and so on.

We are 4 form entry, we are all going to teach exactly the same stuff every day to all classes. Reduces impact of having to resource different lessons for classes being covered by supply.

By simplifying things for 7 weeks, we'll hopefully be able to bring all the SEND children along with us, instead of needing to rely on support to get them through lessons.

We've had a big discussion about consistency of timings and school behaviour policy. Make sure that the children get continuity, even if we're spinning out a bit.

TAs have been given a lot of information in advance - all lessons have been made available to them online, and they have school issued laptops so they know what's going on day-to-day in a much more detailed way than usual. They will be moved to support supply teachers (if we can get them) as a priority. This might be controversial, but it's about consistency of behaviour management if nothing else.

I'm going to the gym every day - this has been fundamental to maintaining my mental health. I go at 6.30am.

I must be better at sleeping more. Taking Nytol if required to get to sleep.

I agree. All of the things I need to do for ofsted are always in my head, but I never seem to have time to tick things off my list.

By the time the vaccine team came to my school, a lot of the kids had just had covid so we’re ineligible.

It’s so shit when covid is going around the classes, impossible to teach a sequence of lessons when 10 of them are off.

I’m worried about my exam classes, particularly Y11. If it goes to TAGs, the evidence for them is not looking good. They actually have a better chance of good grades if exams go ahead because I think the grade boundaries would be lower than anyone would dare go for TAGs. Y11 have been the worst hit by covid nationally, I think.

We’ve also got teachers two years into their career who have not taught an exam class who have actually sat exams. How can they assess?

I’ve done almost nothing this holiday in terms of socialising. In contrast to lots of you, being constantly exposed to covid has made me more aware of the risks and having miraculously not caught it despite three different schools in our household and dd having it from a school residential outbreak, I’m wary of crowded spaces and unnecessary risk exposure (my dm does not get the risk at all but she’s around unvaccinated far less than me). I’m angry a lot of the time with people who belittle my concern whilst not risking anything themselves. I’m very very hard hearted about the mental health card being played by people who found wfh difficult whilst looking after their own kids and now catastrophising over any tiny mitigation in schools. This upsets me as it’s really not who I am but constant sniping and disrespect from social media and vocal posters here have badly affected my patience and empathy. And all of that is way behind my concern for my properly vulnerable SEN classes.

I have no goodwill left, and that’s a horrible place to be.

I’m primary SLT, not worried about catching Covid currently as I tested positive on the last day of term. I’m just starting to feel better now.

I’m mainly worried about staff absence. I’m sure I was more ill with Covid as I was absolutely burned out after a few weeks of covering breakfast club / classes / break and lunch duties / after school clubs etc in December. We are in London and had many staff isolating with omicron; everyone pitched in and we didn’t have to send any children home but it was a close call. I don’t think many people outside of education realise just how tight things are with staffing on a good day when everyone is in and well, let alone in an Omicron surge. We’re in a deprived area and there’s little testing, when you are on a zero hour contract you can’t afford to be at home with an isolating child. It was absolutely spreading person to person in school.

We’re also expecting OFSTED so that will be a massive energy drain.

I worry about my GCSE and Alevel classes. Although we haven’t suffered closures, I haven’t had a full class for over half a term. There isn’t the time to ‘catch’ these pupils up. Some were well enough to join live but others weren’t. I worry exams won’t be a level playing field. I know this is our I’d my control but I will be judged against it.

@noblegiraffe Do you think grade boundaries will be lower? That’s made me feel a bit better.

Tillsforthrills I actually thought it was a bit higher, tbh. Seems a lot but they don't get paid in the holidays so it has to last. I imagine it's pretty lucrative atm (for schools that can afford them!)

We had an NQT last term who only came into school for the first 2 weeks and then a week and a bit a few weeks later. Mental health grounds. We had one supply teacher the whole time - she must have made a fortune!

Ofsted should 100% be cancelled this academic year. It is absolutely insane that they are still inspecting schools when staff absence is through the roof and the focus for headteachers needs to be enabling children to catch up, not absolute nonsense about preparing for deep dives etc.

Grade boundaries will be lower anyway, because they've pegged the results to be midway between 2019 and 2021 so higher than normal results = lower than normal grade boundaries even before you take into account the impact of the school closures and covid isolations which for Y11 has been massive.

They won't be as low as they could be in subjects where the exam focus that will be provided in Feb will be actually useful, but the maths release looks like it won't be particularly helpful as the exams basically cover everything anyway.

I'm worried. I'm thinking of buying my own air filter too. Are they worth having? I keep all windows and doors wide open and the monitor thing reads good most of the times, but if the air filters make a difference then it might be worth the expense.

I’m worried about so much.

I currently have Covid and am feeling shit (triple jabbed). I’m worried that people are going to call teachers work shy and lazy when we self isolate with Covid.
People seem to equate “mild” with “virtually no symptoms”
Mild just means you don’t have to go to the hospital. I want people to understand that when teachers are off they are sick, they need to rest and recuperate.

Cover is going to be a nightmare next term. I’m honestly not sure we’ll keep the school open for all year groups.

Thank you @Unescorted

I’m apprehensive about my Year 11 and 13 exam classes. OCR have already released information that basically says Computer Science is getting to extra assistance and to basically revise everything for both papers. I’m worried this will disadvantage my students and my SLT will still judge our results alongside other subjects that have had assistance (looking at you Art-very jealous!)

However I am more apprehensive that exams will have to be cancelled again-I just don’t think I have it in me to do TAGs again and put up with the flack from students and parents on results day.

It’s already so much extra work to mark additional assessments each term ‘just in case’.

I’m also simultaneously worried about absences-from myself, or colleagues (and working extra hard to cover for them) or my own kid being absent and having to deal with parental leave/cover and also pupil absence and having to still do dual lessons at the same time on Teams and in the classroom.

It’s NYE and it doesn’t feel like it!

Thanks for the thread @OnceuponaRainbow18 Nice to be able to write these down with people who ‘get it’.

Completely resigned to getting it. Rates in the school’s area are incredibly high and our parents give zero fucks about sending in ill children. I’ll be staying off until 100% well when I do get it.
Planning exit from working in a school this year. I never thought I would be working in an environment where my health and well-being were held in so little regard.

Sorry you have it @WhenSheWasBad get better soon