Schools to stay open during the holidays?

[DoubleAction]

First let me say I absolutely support schools and school staff being asked to do whatever is necessary.

I'm not sure why opening over Easter is necessary though. Staff are already on their knees from all the upheaval over the last couple of weeks and the next two will I'm sure be testing too. Society is already geared up for us to be closed for those two weeks. I would expect staff to go above and beyond in the coming weeks but I'm not sure what's to be gained by removing this valuable break, apart from perhaps losing a lot of goodwill.

What am I missing?

[perhapstomorrow]

Stumbled on this thread and just wanted to say thank you. The past few weeks must have been really tough and stressful for all you teachers. Thank you for explaing to our children what is going on during this time with compassion and understanding. Thank you for getting them all to wash their hands multiple times a day. Thank you for being patient with us parents - no doubt some of them have been taking out their own stresses on you. Thank you for putting together online learning and work packs to keep our children learning. Thank you for dealing with those students taking exams and the uncertainties surrounding them. Thank you for supporting the front line workers and keeping the schools open. We need you. I, like many other parents, appreciate the hard work you have done and continue to do in the coming weeks. 👏👏👏

[Stilllivinginazoo]

I'm with thankstommorow "just " a parent,not a teacher but I'd love a chance to say thank you.to see everyone working hard in such stressful,constantly changing situation has been something to cling on to in a world of selfish hoarding and scary headlines
In weeks ahead those who step up in whatever their proffesion to keep wheels turning are to be applauded.recognition matters

[bumblingbovine49]

Whyl can't teachers take their.children to.school.with them when they are on rota to be in school?

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

Why don’t they let childminders stay open? Smaller groups, we want to still work, and lots of children are usually with us anyway.

[Pluckedpencil]

Honestly what planet is this government on? What part of isolation do they not bloody get? Yes, leave the children at highest risk of contracting the illness (the children of health care workers) at school, keep them all together in a room to ensure they all get it, children pass it on to all the nurses and doctors who have managed to not get it in hospital, and pass it to the teachers, who take it home to their families. Genius fucking plan. Could they not just make a law that entitles healthcare workers to child minder money and that the other parent of a healthcare worker is entitled to work from home on full pay or if they can't work, is entitled to paid leave? It's not difficult.

[Hercwasonaroll]

Could they not just make a law that entitles healthcare workers to child minder money and that the other parent of a healthcare worker is entitled to work from home on full pay or if they can't work, is entitled to paid leave? It's not difficult.

1 million people work for the NHS. Lets estimate another million key workers in other trades. Then assume that 70% of them have children. There aren't enough child minders. At least schools are set up, they know the children. They can put children in small groups. Your idea is an administrative nightmare.

[CalleighDoodle]

@Pluckedpencil exactly. Ive sent so many sick kids home this week, one left in an ambulance, it has been ridiculous. How does keeping the children of health care workers lessen the spread?!

teachers can bring their own children with them Really? I wouldn't have thought the insurances covered this. Where does the gov guidance state this is now possible?

[IkeaSlave]

It's a stupid idea (spreading infection widely) and there's no point being a martyr (literal)

Equally, medics should not be (literally) working themselves to death. It takes 10 years to get a useful doctor. Take regular breaks, take a short holiday at home. Yes, patients will die. If you die, even more patients will die and it will take 10 years to train up someone to replace you. Stop fetishising the 'work til you drop heroism' Start being realistic and thinking long term.

There are plenty of holiday clubs whose staff need jobs. Hogging them and putting other people out of work is nothing to get excited about!

[DuckWillow]

I'm going to be in as a TA and will happily be deployed wherever I am needed. I know my class teacher will be the same.

[BelleSausage]

For something like this you cannot demand people go above and beyond. Many teachers live with elderly parents or have underlying health conditions.

However, I suspect the profession is about to show the country what it’s made of, which is compassion and caring.

My school is most likely going to have no more than 150 students out of 1500 at most. This can be covered by fewer than 10 staff. We won’t be teaching but monitoring kids doing the set lesson activities their class teachers have assigned. I suspect we will do this on an A and B rota system.

[Hercwasonaroll]

The holiday plan is to keep children away from grandparents. Lots of (especially primary aged) children will be looked after by the older population. Makes sense in a way.

[PerfectParrot]

Many teachers live with elderly parents or have underlying health conditions.

Those at risk or who have family members at risk should be staying far away from school. There are lots of us who don't have those issues and many will be willing to step up and take care of children of key workers so that the whole country can continue to get food and medical treatment.

[BelleSausage]

@PerfectParrot

I am making the same point. I’ve already volunteered. I suspect a lot of other teachers will too. That’s my point. Teachers’ dedication is about to become apparent. Despite the regular shit kickings we receive.

[midnightstar66]

I'm not sure how they will do it but I can't imagine council will pay supply staff additionally to have staff on full pay sitting at home. I'm a TA but have DC of my own as do most of my colleagues both teaching and support staff.

[DoubleAction]

Our PRU is 100% vulnerable children, as are special schools. Our LA has said staff from other schools will support us. We'll see how that works out.

School insurance covers all visitors of any age, who are there for any reason Calleigh, you'll have to think of a better excuse than that! Plus our LA plans to add Education to the key workers list so your school age children will be at school.

Teachers need to step up here. Please don't let schools be the only place where the emergency powers are required to force staff to do what's needed.

DS works for minimum wage in a customer facing role that is still required (I.e. sees 100s of people per day). He and his colleagues are working harder than they've ever been asked to before and are just getting on with it.

[wonderstuff]

I'm not in a risk group so I'm happy to go in, I think that at risk teachers must stay home, I was appalled at how many were in school this week, it won't help the nhs if teachers put themselves in harm's way. I'm secondary mainstream, I can't imagine we'll have many children. I think special schools are going to really struggle.
I'm gutted that we're in this situation, but willing to do whatever. I'm sure everyone with leave cancelled is upset about it.

[PerfectParrot]

Sorry bellesausage, that came across as accusatory - I wanted to agree with you while making the point that those who are at risk shouldn't feel guilty about staying home. DSis is threatening to go in cos so many of her pupils are vulnerable, but she is too!

[Monstermummymum]

What about the poor people who work in supermarkets? I believe they've been working extra shifts and have had holidays cancelled. My Tesco delivery driver the other day was so exhausted. It is impacting everyone. The receptionist in the hospital I went to last week said her two colleagues were sick so she was doing three times the work. Caretakers and cleaners are decontaminating first aid rooms at risk to themselves, NHS workers are decontaminating ambulances and rooms. Job roles have temporarily shifted and we all have to do our part. I'm not sure what my school are planning yet but I will do what I can to help.

[JudyCoolibar]

They are worried, though, that the rota when released, will be difficult to juggle alongside their own childcare commitments

Isn't the the general view that the children of working teachers will be on the priority lists?

[IkeaSlave]

Would you want your kids mixing with all the healthcare staffs kids?

[Hercwasonaroll]

I'll take my chances @IkeaSlave because I want those health care staff to be able to work.

[IkeaSlave]

I probably wouldn't mind either to be fair. Kids don't get seriously ill with it so I don't suppose it matters.

I don't think it's a great plan but it dwarfs in comparison to the great idea of telling Londoners in advance that they are going to be on lockdown so it doesn't really matter.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

I work in a school and have already told the SLT that not being at risk myself, with no small DC, and no elderly parents/ILs, I'm happy to rostered whenever. It's a national emergency. We haven't the time to sit around concocting the perfect plan and putting all the safeguards in place.

Obviously schools need to be considerate towards staff who are at risk or who have family who are.

My uni student DD has also volunteered herself for childcare work for free

And while we're at it, please be aware that there is likely to be a shortfall of 70,000 workers on the land this summer as the usual East European labour force is stuck at home. So if you are the parent of a bored student whose cafe job has ceased to exist and you live rurally, let them know.

[Sotiredofthislife]

Whyl can't teachers take their.children to.school.with them when they are on rota to be in school?

Because the children of teachers may be in vulnerable groups?

Because frankly, if I am having to care for children of frontline workers, that means mixing in a ‘high risk’ environment and I am not putting my vulnerable child into that situation?

[tootiredtoconga]

Why can't teachers take their.children to.school.with them when they are on rota to be in school?

My youngest is 18 months old. He's not going to sit quietly in the corner with some colouring while I crack on with my work, he's still at the stage where I need to have eyes in the back of my head.