Thinking of handing my notice in

[Jessie40]

Hello, I am a LSA in year 1 and after the Pm's latest statement regarding R, Y1/6 to be going back to school I am seriously thinking about handing my notice in.
It terrifies me the thought of having that many people in such a small area. The younger ones will not understand distancing.
I love my job so I feel torn.
I can't decide whether I'm overacting or not.

I feel the same way, I’m a TA in reception. The TA’s have been doing all the contact with the KW children so far. The teachers and SLT have been “WFH” or hidden away in the office/staff room. It’s causing a bit of resentment and a feeling of them and us. (The excuse being that teachers can WFH but TA’s and LSA can’t. Although I very much doubt the teachers are working 8-5 five days a week). We were very much a team before all this started.
I imagine the teachers are bricking it now they will have to come back on June 1st.

@FeltCarrot -that's awful - we've had one Teacher and one TA/first aider with KW children.

I actually think the risk of catching CV now is much, much lower than before lock down so yes, I do think you are over reacting a bit OP

I was very nervous about being at work in March (I was told I was being neurotic by colleagues) but I'm not too concerned about going back in June. However, from what I can tell the area I live in now has an infection rate of 0.4 of the population which is a lot lower than other areas.

What’s your notice period?

@ReceptionTA
Am interested to know how we find out the R rate of our local area. Is this information available?
I am a Reception Teacher and very very worried.

4 weeks.
I keep thinking wait as it might not happen, but realistically I need to hand my notice in now. I am getting very anxious.

I did. I had to give a month's notice. I wasn't happy with my HT attitude towards social distancing. It seems that the writing was already on the wall given yesterday's guidelines. My overriding feeling is relief that I'm not expected to take unnecessary risks for what is a very low wage. I loved my job but I needed to put my own family first.

Can you afford to love without your salary?

Live

OP If I could still pay my mortgage I would resign without a second thought.

totally your decision op.
Could you survive on the lower pay?
i think children are safe, or safer than others.

are you vulnerable at all?

I think half the problem for me is after listening to the government yesterday about literally opening everything by the beginning of July although slowly (slight exaggeration).
I think Im over reacting but then I read the info set out and I feel its being done just for the economy.
I agree my family is more important to me but I also enjoy my job. I have friends who are in school/work for the NHS and they are nervous but coping with their job. But I'm stressing!

I’ve handed in my notice. Part time primary teacher, PPA. DH vulnerable but not shielded. Can’t handle the anxiety. Like you, I enjoy my job and love my colleagues and the children, and was in tears trying to decide what to do, but just can’t handle balancing everything in my head.

@SleepingMummy

The self report app (Zoe?) now has data you can look at. It tells me today in area they estimate 0.5 % of the population have COVID 19. Nearby cities are much higher though.

I though almost everyone was using the app, but it turns out very few people are.

Although our HT can think again if she wants to go back to daily morning meetings of all staff in the staff room.

@Cyberworrier I bet we won't be the only ones. So much disregard for our safety and our loved ones. I have three sets of elderly relatives I am caring for plus my own children. I can't afford to pass it on to them. It is sad because I loved my job and I was good at it but I couldn't continue to take the risk. Good luck I hope you and your DH stay well.

No I'm not in the vunerable group and we can survive without my money but obviously it helps for the extra things.
Such a tough decision as I probably will regret it when all this is over.
I understand that very few children will get it but they are carriers so potentially can pass it on. I couldn't stand by if a child was crying in school which after all this time there's going to be a few off them on the first day back. Plus I do my elderly parents shopping for them as there's no one else.
I need a crystal ball!

@HorsesDoovers thank you, you too. A few people have said they’re considering it on here, or have said they would if they could. It is such an awful situation. I know my head really cares about staff well being and I think would be quite supportive of following union guidelines... but she will be in between a rock and a hard place. I am so concerned about our school, most of staff and pupils are BAME with lots of multi-generation households living in crowded conditions, I just feel like from what has been on the news so many of our school community will be especially vulnerable :(

I just don’t understand when Hancock said schools would only go back when it’s safe and we would be given time.
Now it’s two weeks and 4 year groups are returning. In groups of 15 so we split each class and use tas to teach.
What happens two weeks later when the whole school is due back.
Too much to soon. We need time to make all the changes they are asking. Never mind the no need for protection at all in a school other than washing hands in a none existing sink in your class.

There will be jobs out there when this is all over OP. I am hoping to go back to work at some point in the future.
@Cyberworrier it is so hard, we do the job because we care and so there's always that emotional pull. Unfortunately my HT was very blunt with me and told me it wasn't good for me to be around the children if I was anxious, that I should give them a cuddle if they needed it, that we are all going to get it anyway! I couldn't work there with that attitude, if she'd been a bit more understanding maybe I would have stayed.

Go for it

There are a lot of people who are going to be desperate for a job very soon. It will be good for a few opportunities to be there alongside all the redundancies

I'm a TA in Year 1. I'm also on the shielding list! I've currently been furloughed ( private school), but should I be called back I won't hesitate to resign. My life is worth far more than my very small salary!
All the new gov doc says for the shielded is that we will need to continue beyond the end of June, but nothing about what that means for our jobs or what we'll do for money.
I love my job, I love the children, but it's a complete no brainer for me.

@starrynight19 its beyond my comprehension how this is supposed to work, I really do feel for all teachers and support staff out there taking risks they never signed up for, and I read so many posters on MN saying just get in with it, plenty of people work without PPE. Erm yes but not with children who will sneeze and cough in your face, or want to hold your hand when they've just had their fingers in their mouth or up their nose.

@Pebble21uk snap. I feel exactly the same. Not worth it for my tiny salary.

@HorsesDoovers
Your HT has an appalling attitude.
You have definitely done the right thing.
She will be losing an awful lot of staff.
Best wishes to you.