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Original poster

Staff to make decision whether they will travel or not?

86 replies

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:02

What do we think of this ?

All the schools round here are shut : but not DH's (private) school.

Mine announced it was shut just now which was annoying enough after all other schools called it yesterday afternoon . But his staff have just had an email saying they 'intend to remain open. More snow is forecast at 4 pm when his school finishes.

The email says 'they will understand if staff decide they cannot make the journey' Really?? How many kids do they think will turn up??! How is he supposed to know what the journey is like exactly?

What does anyone think union stance would be on forcing staff (and parents...) to make decisions about their own safe journey?
I reckon they will frown upon people who don't try and that he will go in and end up doing lots of cover. What really even is the point. (we all know it's so they don't have to issue refunds...)

Not sure who will be handing out the medals...

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BunchOfYellowTulips · 02/03/2018 07:56

We were asked to come in yesterday if we could - amber warning but just a bit of light dusting in the morning. Staff were asked to make a sensible decision about whether it’s safe for them. About 60% of staff and 50% of pupils were there. We collapsed classes etc. Did activities etc. It was all very jolly and manageable. SMT kept an eye on the weather and when we were upgraded to red, the school was closed and everyone still had time to go home (or to the pub Grin). School closed today.

I really don’t understand the issue with letting people decide for themselves.

LadyPenelope68 · 02/03/2018 08:09

I really don’t understand why you are making such a fuss. Staff have been told to go in if they can, but not if it’s going to be difficult/risky, they’re allowing supposedly intelligent adults to use their own judgement as to whether it’s safe for them to go. They don’t need spoon feeding and have the decision made for them!! Get a grip.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 08:11

gendarme some do . And certainly , parents aren't slow to ask.

I do understand the childcare pain that is a snow day.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 08:15

I do know what you mean Penelope although there's no need to be rude.

I am not sure why a school that doesn't have to (no one would juged them for closing today given all other schools are and there are no school buses) wants to start a competitive driving situation amongst staff.

I do remember one time my school didn't shut and lots of staff didn't leave , or turned round and then some staff started the 'well I live three roads form you and I got in' stuff and it all became a bit nasty. And then, about 9.30 am , they shut the school (while I was stuck at the bottom of the hill...)

It'll all be gone by Monday!

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Brokenbiscuit · 02/03/2018 08:16

Sometimes decisions do need to be taken out of employees' (and parents') hands.

But why? Surely teachers are responsible adults like the rest of us, and are therefore capable of making a sensible decision?

Obviously, I get that there is pressure on people to go in, but I think that's true of many, many workplaces. And lots of us will get complaints if we are not there for our clients/customers, but that's just the way it isn

Why is it that you feel schools are so different? (Genuine question, not just trying to make a point!)

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 08:41

I guess schools are different (perfectly happy for you to ask!) because they also have the safety of children to consider. Staff and students don't stay in offices and do need to move around a lot ( I know that not all jobs are office based) and often the actual sites are not safe and nor are floors and stairwells with rambunctious teenagers bringing a lot of wet stuff in.

I think teachers are quite unique in not generally being allowed to make adult decisions for themselves but that's another thread!

We also are not able to work from home, of course. Again not unique. The uniqueness comes form having to take such responsibility for the safety of so many people, some of whom are vulnerable. Hospitals cancel non emergency treatment in severe weather, for example.

There was just something on the news about people wanting more clarity on what is an 'essential' journey.

I do also think that if kids just head in to school to watch videos today with the small number who have turned up and be sent outside to play in snow, then they could have done all this at home. DH won't be able to teach anything that really matters. It'll be a day of watching'hilarious' YouTube videos or doing 'private study' no doubt!

I imagine most of the students who are there live locally or have parents who have gone to work today and work in the same town as the school.

I a full of admiration of course for the NHS staff who have had to labour in. But anyone cane see that many of their jobs are ultra essential. Holiday threads on here always suggest lots on MNers think a few days or even weeks off here or there do no damage.when it has been their choice of course!

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parrotonmyshoulder · 02/03/2018 09:16

I have been instructed to ‘work from home’ (teacher). PPA cancelled until Easter!

PlanNumber · 02/03/2018 09:25

Ooh, that's a good idea parrot Grin I might suggest that.

I think asking staff to travel if it's safe and sensible for them to do so is perfectly reasonable. Why on earth would/should those that are able to travel stay home? If they run on a skeleton staff then they can accommodate children who can make it in.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 10:32

DH has reported in. Fewer than 1/3 of the children there. No collapse of timetables or anything sensible. His classroom is 12 degrees...

We don't do cover at my school so the PPA thing wouldn't work... Not sure how I would work form home as all my marking is at school (although I could start writing reports). I wasn't due any frees today so am working on the assumption that I wouldn't have started reports anyway!

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Passportto · 02/03/2018 10:41

With the weather well forecast you didn't even bring any marking home? That's ridiculous. Even our admin staff were voluntarily sorting things just in case they had to work at home from the beginning of the week. Sometimes is it no wonder people accuse teachers of laziness?

With all this lovely extra time (that I assume you expect to be paid for) why wouldn't you start the reports, if you've nothing else you can do at home? I thought teachers were so pressed for time every second counts.

Our head has just sent an email with a list of things "I'm sure you'd like to take the opportunity to get up straight"

noblegiraffe · 02/03/2018 10:46

It's ridiculous to suggest that teachers should make their own decisions because 'that's what other workplaces do'. Schools are not the same as other workplaces and really a headteacher needs to know how many staff are going to be in school to safely look after the students.
Hardy headteachers who remain open when roads are genuinely bad are just encouraging staff and students to make unsafe journeys for what? A day when bog-all learning will happen because it will be chaos, thrown together at the last minute as they see which staff and kids make it in. And if more snow is forecast for later, you'll end up with parents turning up throughout the day to take their kids home before it gets worse (been there, you end up with office staff running around trying to find kids who aren't in timetabled classrooms to deliver them to parents), and staff anxiously looking out of the window wondering if they're going to get stuck and cursing the head for putting them in this position.

grasspigeons · 02/03/2018 10:47

I would take a school being open as a declaration that the road it is on is accessible and the grounds themselves are safe.

If it is safe, all the children and employees have to make a decision based on their end of the journey.

noblegiraffe · 02/03/2018 10:48

His classroom is 12 degrees...

He should go home on that basis! Below 16 is unreasonable isn't it?

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 10:49

I have never been one of those posters actually who says I am overworked. I left my marking at school because I can do it next week (as I said I wouldn't have done it today as I had no frees) and choose not to work at weekends; and I have DCs at home to look after. Hope that's OK with you. I didn't put my heavy marking in the car yesterday because it was snowing heavily at the time and it would have been ruined by the time I go tit to the car I might add.

The reports are due in a week and a half. I am sure I will get them done. I wouldn't have started them today. I am lucky not to work in a a school that doesn't appreciate that we could all maybe get on with a bit of reading, look after our won children or even put our feet up for a change. Or work if we choose to.

Thanks for the work life balance tips. Much appreciated.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 10:50

go tit to the car . Oops . I nearly did go arse over tit tbh.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 10:51

He should really noble yes. I have told him this. His head is aware (he was told yesterday, too) He could move rooms I guess, if he can find one would be their excuse. I told him they bloody well ought to sort that out for him.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 10:53

I agree grass but it would be interesting as to what would happen in terms of liability if someone fell and injured themselves. Not hat I want anyone to but unsafe sites is one of the main reason the schools close.

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sassy · 02/03/2018 10:53

Poor him, piggy. That's grim.

One thing that not everybody considers is the pressure that can be exerted upon headteachers by councils. When schools are open, there are thousands of additional vehicles on the roads - teachers, parents dropping/collecting their children; but also food suppliers, coaches etc. None of these are making essential journeys. From the councils' point of view, closing the schools gets all this traffic off the roads, reducing risk and freeing the roads for those who genuinely do have to travel.

sassy · 02/03/2018 10:55

I'm home today due to school closure. I don't have any marking with me to do as I went to work on the train yesterday to avoid getting stuck in my car getting home, so all I took home with me was planner and laptop. I will do some planning today instead.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 10:55

It was indeed actually the LA that cancelled all the buses of the state schools in my neighbouring LA yesterday thereby forcing early closure (which caused knock on chaos in my LA!)

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 10:57

I might do some light planning sassy although I was already all planned up for Monday.

I am supposed, oddly, to have an interview later and I shall also read a book and make food for my hungry starvelings. And fret about DH.

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MaisyPops · 02/03/2018 12:37

teachers can't delay arrival at work by a few hours...
Of course they can.
Our school tells us that they will have a decision by X time at the latest and for staff not to set off until after that time. If anyone is late then so be it. We all muck in and cover groups / supervise extended registrations.

If staff can't get in then we ask them to call sooner rather than later so we know to make the call.

All very common sense this week. We were open Mon/Tuesday on adapted days and closed the rest of the week. But then our school approach is common sense / staff and student safety comes first.

FluffyWuffy100 · 02/03/2018 12:40

I think it’s sensible.

You live 1 mike away in an urban environment? Walk in.

You love 10 miles on rural unfritted roads with 1 foot of snow? Don’t try and get in.

grasspigeons · 02/03/2018 13:32

Maisypops - I think out early years setting has to maintain certain ratios and all the children with one to one support really need their support. But I guess we could email to say shorter hours etc once we knew ratios could be met at a certain time

qew · 02/03/2018 13:40

DH's school never closes apparently Hmm. First lesson is cut short as staff and children arrive late. It's about 15 miles away on mainly rural roads. He has to drive past several schools en route that are all closed and has travelled with overnight bag and shovel every day since Tuesday.

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