If schools shut, do staff still get paid?

[Plastictattoo]

Looking increasingly likely that schools will shut next week in my opinion. BBC reporting that mass gatherings over 100 are likely to be banned from next week which leads me to think they will have to close schools.
I am a lone parent TA and worried that as we don't get paid for holidays, they won't pay us if schools are shut. No guidance from my school on this. Does anyone know?? Thanks

We have no idea. If I had to take my kids in, that's fine by me. I work in SEN and there's more to do at school than there is at home, they'd have a great time tbh. I can work - we have an enormous project coming up and no time to do it whilst the kids are in- and they'll play. My DH fortunately WFH so he's around to help too supervising at home if the kids are on devices or doing school work. If I'm not paid it's going to be disastrous for our family. I started a new job fairly recently and since I moved councils I'm under the 6 months required to get full sick pay, so it's SSP if I have to isolate I'm hoping they treat it like a snow day or other closure, when we are paid, but I don't think the council actually know yet what they will do.

I've just been reading that part of the laws they are going to bring in to ban mass gatherings will also include laws to keep schools open even if heads want to close. So doesn't look like we will be worrying about whether we get paid just whether we get Ill

According to The Times, police and immigration officers will be able to detain people "for a limited period" if they're suspected of being infected - while the new laws will also allow the government to force schools and nurseries to stay open if they're closed by teachers or staff during the pandemic.

They clearly have no intention of closing schools- the total opposite in fact. Heads will no longer have the capacity to decide that their school is dangerously understaffed and close. Who do 'the Government' think will go in and run a school if it's staff are decimated?

People who have got to work from home will be expected to volunteer

What? Why is it fair to close every other work place but keep schools open? Doesn't make sense that teachers go in yet everyone else working from home. Do you mean teachers still go in if the kids are not in? What would be the point in that? Surely work from home and emailing out work to parents would work better

Surely work from home and emailing out work to parents would work better

That's what the chair of governors at my DCs academy has advised the head to do if they are told to close.

Sorry I'm half asleep.
Thinking of my teacher friend, single mum to 3. If she has to stay at home with children who have slight cough will she loose pay? Obviously care for dependents isn't usually a full week. She could be doing it at lot.

The latter could see entire households told to self-isolate even if just one person falls ill.

From bbc.

There's going to be massive staff absences

There's going to be massive staff absences

And this is what will happen.
Huge staff absences will force schools to close. That way Johnson can blame the left wing pinko teachers for being lightweights while he is making Churchillian efforts to keep calm and carry on.

I don’t know if I’m missing something but mass gatherings will be banned but hundreds of children together in a school is ok? Genuine question because I’m not an expert , completely understand the issues closing schools would cause so agree it is a last resort but just quite confused by the strategy !

Sadly flamingo I believe you are right on that

I don’t know if I’m missing something but mass gatherings will be banned but hundreds of children together in a school is ok?

Quite. If we have a whole school assembly that’s 500 people including adults.
But rather than 500 theatre goers who have been sensible and washed their hands, it’s 500 children who are all picking their noses, sucking their fingers, chewing their jumpers and licking their shoes.

TAs will be covering classes, children's absences will make planning and work continuity difficult etc but I think teachers will be with the NHS like the band on the Titanic

Our academy has said the school will run with a skeleton staff for the children who need to be in, either for childcare or due to issues at home.

The rest of us will be expected to work from home, setting assignments and marking online.

If they shut the schools now we could make it work. In two weeks when teachers and children start getting sick, no chance.

A lot of our TAs are single parents themselves.