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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Classes of 45 anyone?

131 replies

fedup21 · 29/02/2020 09:58

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-emergency-laws-health-safety-boris-johnson-uk-latest-a9366031.html%3famp

Emergency measures to increase class sizes to cope with the Coronavirus crisis.

What’s the betting that they’ll say it worked so well, it needs to continue!

OP posts:
crazycatgal · 03/03/2020 11:26

If several of your colleagues are off with coronavirus, why should the rest be expecting to go in to a clearly contaminated school? I wouldn't be going in.

NeurotrashWarrior · 03/03/2020 11:45

This was just published and seems to indicate school closures rather than increased class sizes.

We had a huge outbreak of the norovirus in our area which left many staff and pupils off work; many schools closed then rather than double up classes as they needed to both deep clean and prevent further infection.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/869827/Coronavirussactionplann-aaguidetoowhatyouucanexpecttacrossthee_UK.pdf

noblegiraffe · 03/03/2020 12:55

Matt Hancock on radio 4 this morning said schools shouldn’t be closing if they don’t have a positive case,

Which suggests that it’s ok to close if they do.

Aragog · 03/03/2020 13:02

I know that children seem to have been much less affected,

Some reports are suggesting that although younger children don't seem to be affected to the same extent it is likely they can carry it and spread it.

So you put classes of 45 together with one teacher and maybe a TA - well those school staff are going to be at increasing risk. Many teaching staff are also in the venerable groups remember as well - older, low immune, etc.

What school parents could be doing as well at the moment is trying to form small support groups where, incase of a school closure but not self isolation, they could get together and share the childcare. They may still need to miss some work, but if the share it out enough they could make it so that everyone only needs to miss one day a week, or even less. Then if they want the children to be contained and still learning, they can follow the planning, suggestions and worksheets which school staff could be sending home via online sites or email.

Like some others I am also sceptical that once the class restrictions are removed temporarily there will be some people high-up considering "well it worked for that time period' " so lets get rid altogether.

Aragog · 03/03/2020 13:12

Do I dare to admit the only thing I’ve planned today is my to do list for a potential 2 week self isolation at home

I was off timetable yesterday. Although I had lots of other stuff to do really, my job from management was to look at some contingency pans for having to self isolate at home, whilst well, and also the best options for providing home based distance learning for pupils.

We have an ex colleague (same school phase) who has been doing this for a month - she teaches in China but her school is closed and she hasn't yet been able to return back to China after her visit home a month or so ago anyway. So she has sent us some suggestions of what they have done and what would have helped them if they'd had some time to prepare before it happened. My job yesterday was to go through it all and set us up with some online accounts, start transferring specific moments onto online web based storage, changing the access for our class blogs, etc to open it out a bit, writing 'how to guides' for certain jobs, etc.

phlebasconsidered · 03/03/2020 18:30

The more I've thought about this today the more I would like some union guidance. I already struggle with 35 kids and no TA. 3 of my class have risk reduction plans which I am wholly responsible for. Just another 5 kids would tip the balance for me, I reckon. I already have kids doubling up on desks in my classroom as it is.

I'd also like union guidance on possible risk factors. I'm in the older age bracket at 49. I have asthma and 2 autoimmune diseases, although i'm super healthy normally as I work hard at controlling it. One of my children is high risk with asthma, and one parent lives with us at aged 83. Plus my husband has a heart disorder. They are definitely high risk. I'm really not keen on working in those conditions and possibly bringing home infection to vulnerable people. But equally, I can't afford to not work.

The unions need to step up and give guidance.

fedup21 · 03/03/2020 18:52

The unions need to step up and give guidance

Definitely.

Though I would imagine anything they say will be guidance whereas anything the DfE says will be law Angry

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 03/03/2020 20:37

The NEU are apparently on the case to the DfE about the report this morning, asking questions like ‘WTF large class sizes???’, ‘Should we cancel school trips?’ And ‘What the hell will happen with exams?’.

Y’know, the stuff that teachers actually need to know.

www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-dfe-quizzed-over-potential-exam-disruption

The DfE’s response will no doubt be ‘teaching remains a more attractive profession than ever’, because that’s all they know how to say.

fedup21 · 03/03/2020 20:54

The DfE’s response will no doubt be ‘teaching remains a more attractive profession than ever’, because that’s all they know how to say.

Oh yes... A spokesperson for the DfE will state that ‘there has never been a better time to enter teaching!’

Like those class size caps will ever be reinstated...!

OP posts:
phlebasconsidered · 03/03/2020 20:57

The other thing I am pissed off about is that I'm working my butt off prepping for exams. If i'm still expected to be taking classes, i'll still be nominally "teaching" so i'll still be responsible for the results - and hence my pay progression.

But that's extra not fair with this sort of nonsense ( as opposed to the usual nonsense of having my pay held hostage to a child's propensity to make an effort / a child's life outside of school that impacts on them anyway leaving aside a bloody virus.)

I'm getting increasingly angry with what government are saying.
I cannot be a childminder and the sole responsibility holder for their exam.results at the same time. Fuck off.

noblegiraffe · 03/03/2020 23:53

Just saw that the government is planning to deploy teachers to work in different schools according to need (like we’re ‘supposed’ to turn up to our nearest school on a snow day).

It’s been pointed out that since academisation, the government doesn’t employ most teachers any more.

Some teachers in my school could be directed to work at other schools in the MAT but I’m not on a MAT contract.

All a bit of a mess.

NeurotrashWarrior · 04/03/2020 06:19

I'd like to see teachers from other schools rock up and teach in SEN.

We struggle enough to get staff and supply as it is.

AppleKatie · 04/03/2020 06:48

How exactly is mixing more people together at random going to help stop the virus spreading. You can expect teachers to do that- the chances are if their own school has shut they should be self isolating. Teachers aren’t robots.

I’m so glad I’m not employed by the govt.

dappledsky · 04/03/2020 09:29

I have friends who are teachers in Hong Kong. Schools have been closed since the end of January and this has now been extended to mid April at least. They are doing lessons via zoom:

zoom.us/

The shutting of schools before any children / staff caught the virus seems to have worked well and the spread of the virus in HK has been pretty well controlled.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2020 11:24

I am not sure that works with DBS either...

noblegiraffe · 04/03/2020 11:49

I’m not sure Boris ran his advice past any actual headteachers.

We’ve been sent an email from my kids’ primary school saying that schools can only close if directed to by PHE, even if there’s a case.

I suspect at the moment while they’re still in the containment phase, they’ll close individual schools, but when it becomes more widespread, they’ll just say that we all have to stay open and limp on.

OneOfTheGrundys · 04/03/2020 13:08

Parent of 2 children at DS’ school dxed. All of their friends and obv them are quarantined for 14 days. School carrying on as usual, no ‘deep clean’ etc. Seems as though each school is just acting as per ht. we were given out the education hotline number by the school to call with questions etc.

VenetoResident · 04/03/2020 13:16

So it seems our schools will be closed until mid-March (Italy, DC following UK curriculum and doing GCSEs).

Who will make the decision about whether the grades get adjusted?

noblegiraffe · 04/03/2020 13:40

For @Piggywaspushed

Classes of 45 anyone?
AppleKatie · 04/03/2020 14:44

@VenetoResident I would think adjusted grades is a matter for JCQ but I would be quite worried if it was my DC. Ensure they are working at home!

AppleKatie · 04/03/2020 14:49

I have this to add @Piggywaspushed @noblegiraffe

Classes of 45 anyone?
VenetoResident · 04/03/2020 15:18

Thanks - I will contact them and see if they've had any thoughts yet. Surely Chinese schools are even worse off.

Luckily I'm a teacher and don't work so I know how to help with some subjects and can be on his back. Imagine if I had to go to work and he was left to his own devices?!? 😬😬😬 That will be the reality for many kids if schools start closing.

For my DS2 class amalgamation would be terrible. SEN, requires particular handling, hates being out of routine.... and he's a relatively mild case.

Piggywaspushed · 04/03/2020 16:39

That's brilliant apple!

Where did you get it??

Wolfiefan · 04/03/2020 16:52
Grin
AppleKatie · 04/03/2020 20:57

I’ve seen several similar things knocking around the internet in the last couple of days and I just googled to see what I could find!
pbs.twimg.com/media/ESN6n-4WAAE49l5.jpg