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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.

Original poster

I'm on a rota to be in over the Easter 'holidays'

72 replies

pfrench · 27/03/2020 15:05

So it's not school is it, I can't really be doing academic activities with them beyond reading.

How the hell am I going to fill 5 hours with activities that enable children to be socially distanced?

I think we go for film afternoon every afternoon, but other than that?

I'm not a very good childminder.

OP posts:
Mistressiggi · 28/03/2020 14:24

My union have agreed to volunteers working at weekends or in the holidays. Is it different in England?

tinytemper66 · 28/03/2020 15:45

Sorry volunteers! Just re read guidelines. Although if we don't get enough volunteers we may be a rota! TBH I am not sure how we can be made to but as we are now seen as working in the public sector and not as teachers they ( so the LA) could argue that we can be deployed anywhere which was muted. I could be wrong and may be barking up the wrong tree. I hope I am.

Original poster
pfrench · 28/03/2020 20:54

Our speech and language therapist is waiting to be redeployed to bedpans. If we're now all just bods to be used by the government, I'd prefer to be available to go and do something 'nice' in a place I know well, looking after kids who know me!

Thanks for the scouting idea.

OP posts:
drspouse · 28/03/2020 22:14

At my DD school the usual holiday club leader told us she's running a skeleton holiday club, I don't think it's the teachers.

They usually do lots of crafts (sit them apart), games like musical statues, in the playground they have an adult in charge running games, supervising trim trail etc.

It seems the transmission between children is low so it's less of a worry too.

Cathpot · 29/03/2020 12:04

I’m going in next week to a as yet unconfirmed number of pupils from variety of secondary year groups . No school work set in holiday. Myself and a TA
So far I’ve got
Ding bats
Watching a film
Alphabet/ categories game
Grown up colouring in
Pictionary
Some sort of set of questions eg what super power would you want

Any other ideas would be very welcome

XelaM · 29/03/2020 15:34

For secondary kids maybe a question like where do you want to be in 10/15 years? Make them write it down in detail and then seal the envelope and keep it to open in 10 years'. We used to do that when I was in school and looking back - mine was scary accurate (now I'm thinking "be careful what you wish for..")

Cathpot · 29/03/2020 16:43

Thanks , I’ll add that.

SansaSnark · 29/03/2020 16:47

Joe Wicks PE in the mornings? No equipment needed and could be done socially distanced in the hall if you have a projector?

If the weather stays nice, I think it would be possible to do a socially distanced version of cricket/rounders? Tennis is probably a good option too. Obviously the equipment will need to be disinfected afterwards, but this wouldn't be too much stuff?

Origami could be good as a craft option, as there would be no need to share things like scissors and glue?

Write a letter or make a card to send to a relative?

Socially distanced easter egg hunt (each child gets their own area to "hunt" in)?

I think watching a film and having a story time every afternoon is fine, given the circumstances!

Geraniumblue · 31/03/2020 19:10

Keeping them socially distanced is really hard. Our lot used the school iPads to make some stop motion animations on an app - that was popular. Also we did a lot of cartoon strips and story boarding and made pop up cards.

ScorpionQueen · 31/03/2020 19:29

Are staff being paid to work in the holidays? The term volunteer suggests not, but that doesn't seem right.

Geraniumblue · 31/03/2020 19:32

No. No pay. It is literally voluntary. Ours are only doing half a day each.

IlsaLund · 31/03/2020 20:04

In my LA it is volunteer in its loosest form as in if you are well the expectation is you will 'volunteer'
Teachers won't be paid support staff will.

Its a catch 22 situation, if everyone volunteers 2/3 of the staff have to do half a day each during what would have been the holidays which is actually very little.

If very few volunteer those people end up doing lots more hours.

ineedaholidaynow · 31/03/2020 20:10

Teachers in local schools are getting time off in lieu. Friends of mine who are going in are quite happy going in as it is something to do!

ExhaustedPigeon · 31/03/2020 20:18

Our school is open 8-5 Monday to friday Inc the 'holiday' and bank Holidays. We have a 6 week rolling rota where we do a week each. If you can't do the week you are assigned you can swap but unless ill or vulnerable it's expected that you do it. I'm going to have to take my children in with me as DH is ambulance crew and their school is only open 9-3.30 so not long enough. I would offer anyway though. We're at risk though DH's job anyway and it's the least I can do to help out. There's little expectation for teaching - I think time given to do work set by teachers online but mostly it's child care. Thanks for the ideas here. I'll definitely use some of them.

poshme · 31/03/2020 20:21

How about games like boggle- projecting the letters onto the whiteboard? Or sussed? Discussion type game.
Other board games- with teacher I/c the board, and pupils spread out round the room.

Some kind of Pictionary on the whiteboard.

CouldBeOuting · 01/04/2020 11:42

We aren’t volunteering. We’ve been given a rota and told which days to work. No swapping unless there’s an emergency. I am down to work on Good Friday! Not really an issue though is it....

CouldBeOuting · 01/04/2020 11:45

..and there’s no pay or days off in lieu as we aren’t working every day so effectively actually getting paid time off. It’s not totally fair as people who usually work part time are doing the same rota hours as someone who is full time. I enjoy my “duty days” as it is nice to get out if the house and see a few colleagues.

Troels · 01/04/2020 12:30

If it's a huge age range, can the older kids take turns doing a story time for littles.
I'd do Joe Wickes, Art, dodgeball, Ping pong if you have tables or something similar, Yoga,

Cathpot · 02/04/2020 22:47

Thanks all I feel like I have a list now! All good

GemmeFatale · 03/04/2020 10:32

The older ones could document what’s going on. It’s social history and they’re a part of it

Purpletigers · 03/04/2020 12:33

Just dance on the IWB from YouTube ?
We sat down as a staff and worked out a general daily timetable of activities and ideas . We leave blank timetables for the each day to be completed. These are then available ( in a file ) so we can see what’s already been done / watched etc

Purpletigers · 03/04/2020 12:34

Our children have their own labelled laptop on their desks for the duration .

Rosieposy4 · 06/04/2020 12:51

echt the unions won’t cover themselves in glory if they are getting arsey over holiday rotas. I will admit I have not read all their emails that carefully but when many/most other key workers are under incredible stress, strain and working many more hours than normal, the morally correct thing to do, if you are able with your own circumstances, is to stick your hand up and say “ yes, I can join the holiday rota”.
I have done so.

PenOrPencil · 06/04/2020 20:14

I’m in one day on the holiday rota, I volunteered and everybody on the holiday rota will get a day off in lieu.

I like the stop motion with an iPad idea. Might have to bring in props, though. Any other ideas for secondary school? I suppose we could play charades. Or do some kahoots.

Onceateacher · 06/04/2020 20:47

Rosieposy you should maybe read the union advice linked to before assuming it's all about refusing to get involved!

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