The Fifth Republic - safe space? Solidarity Comrades!

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff. Baiters and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here only if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the toffee vodka is hidden.

In the other staffroom, there is rhubarb & ginger gin, along with tea and coffee.

Lauren Laverne is doing people's playlist for teachers today on radio. 6. It's been a different kw every week and it's our turn today. Not sure it's the right time, if mn is anything to go by.

Apologies if it's already been posted - here's the link to the joint statement made yesterday by all the unions - ALL of them.

neu.org.uk/press-releases/education-unions-statement-safe-reopening-schools

I can't remember a time when they have ever worked together like this. Thank God they are though.

@FrippEnos

I posted that about the MPs not being allowed to return to the HoC yet last night-I am still fuming about it.

Why is that not front page news? It isn’t even mentioned on my app. I hope the unions pick up on it.

Our press is a bunch of Tory propaganda.

I feel Long Bailey nailed it pretty well yesterday in her speech. She basically said "It's impossible you massive cock" and gave him.the reasons why.

But Gav just keeps replying ‘I’ve worked with the unions’ and that’s what the papers report, even though the unions say the opposite.

I do agree that If it’s safe for kids to go back to school, mps - grown adults- should be back in the HOC. Or are they suggesting that politicians can be trusted less than small children...

Our local fb groups have exploded with ‘send the kids back and tell the teachers to shut up or ship out’ type comments, with lots of comparison to danish schools.

I did a bit of research on their education system. If we were to apply the same logic, R and y1 wouldn’t go back as they don’t exist, which makes things easier straight off. their younger years finish at noon and, as has been said, while they can have up to 28 in a class, they average 19. Plus they are spreading out in schools which have an additional 7 year groups worth of classrooms. Why are people using this as a comparison? The equivalent would be putting an infants only school in an 8 form intake secondary.

Shit yet essential

This should be our advertising slogan

I just wanted to reassure some of you that a lot of cleaning contractors are expecting to have increased work. In the office i get emails from companies offereing deep cleans with availability. It is possible - it just needs money to pay for. The same with gloves, aprons, visors, face masks and wipes etc. The main school suppliers are beginning to be able to give dates for supplying these items as they come back in stock. And some of the suppliers had been asked to prioritise care homes/nhs are now adding schools to their priority lists.
As teachers you probably dont get involvrdd with chatting to the cleaning contractors or ringing face mask suppliers.
But do speak to your slt and governors about prioritising spending on staff safety. It is the start of the financial year for many schools. I know some trusts are rubbish - but government has indicated funding will be available for things needed so it might be time to spend now sort it out later
Before this crisis 75% of schools were about to post a deficit budget anyway !

Staff, for the bingo, you forgot:

It's very low risk for those under 45.

Being fat and old I'm apparently expendable.

I reckon lockdown has saved our school a fortune in photocopying alone!

Lot of love on the radio today. Watch mn explode.

Love? @asuitablecat?

Checking in, although today is an unpaid day .

I've had the luck of the draw this year, 60% of my classes are Y13 so only two lower school classes to teach at the mo. I've offered to step in for any colleagues if they need to go off though.

Today I'm planning on doing a food shop and dealing with my disgusting bathrooms, oh, and finishing yesterday's marking!

@TheHoneyBadger, have you got what you need regarding maths for your ds now? I posted links to the CIMT on TES for you, can message the password for answers to you if you need it.

Yep. Playing songs for teachers and reading out dedications to teacgers across al bbc stations.

It's a strange experience after being on here all week.

I think most people genuinely accept everyone on different jobs are doing their best. It's just a loud minority of miserable complainers who like to get everything off their chests online.

Our local area has been lovely during lockdown. Most people are being really considerate. If you went on the Facebook group you'd think the whole place was overwhelmed by reckless youths, wild out of control dogs, runners and cyclists targeting people with their breath and general lawlessness.

Naturally, those complaining also make a point of noting which streets have people out on Thursday for the clap.

Thanks for the extra info mini, they do need to stop comparing with Denmark.

famly.co/blog/covid-19/denmark-reopening-child-care-corona/

This is what they are doing in Denmark’s nurseries. Groups of 3 compared to our 15 for the youngest children!

Appuskidu

they do seem to have successfully buried it.

@Beawillalwaysbetopdog I feel the same. Just under 50, fat (both DH and I- both sec teachers). Petrified.

Monkey, realistically we will still probably be ok if we get it, so please don't be terrified. It's just all the othering that makes me sad/cross - that and the assumption that underlying health conditions = will die in the next few months anyway which is far from the truth.

@FrippEnos

If I knew how to tweet, I’d put it on the NEU page!

I did my stint in school this week.

10 secondary school age children in my care and I had to ask them at least a dozen times to move away from each other or me.

Came back from lunch to find them huddled round a phone watching a video waiting to start the next lesson.

They are most definitely at an age where they understand what 2m is but it's not natural to them to keep the space. It was also hard for me to try and check what they were doing and give help and encouragement at such a distance.

I really feel for primary teachers and the pressure of getting reception, 1s and 6s back. If 10 can't manage it in secondary they certainly won't manage in primary.

@Grasspigeons - some schools have been using budget to provide free school meals as the government managed to screw up the voucher system

There is no give in our budgets which is why staff often buy their own resources

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools/school-funding-exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19-for-the-period-march-to-july-2020

The Government published this early on. I wonder if it will get amended now the schools are hoping to reopen. Can’t see them adding on the costs of additional staff and classrooms to enable schools to reduce class sizes!

Morning all.

Loving that Kent head teacher. I wish more were like him.