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.

"Not allowed to wear masks?"
What is the rationale behind that?
Our HT sent us a draft of what she was intending to send out (pretty much similar to yours minus the masks, which we are allowed if we like) and we were invited to comment. I may have ranted on a bit!!
But the final result is quite measured and sensible, I think. Bottom line is, if the Government says we're opening, we're opening!
I have to say though, that I suspect it won't happen - yet. I think the numbers won't come down sufficiently; in fact, by June 1st, all those VE Day infections will be showing up in the stats, followed by all those people cramming onto public transport this week (with no masks!)

CallMeAngelina it’s because SLT are sticking rigidly to the DofE advice. Masks only for intimate care. Risk very low, etc.

We’ve been told we’re not allowed to wear masks either, for the reasons stated above.

My school seem to have got round the “Don’t engage with meetings about planning for a return” by not telling us what the meeting is about prior to our Teams summons.

They’ve set out a plan, which I don’t think is good enough really in terms of safety. I’m waiting to hear what the MAT will decree and whether it looks likely to actually happen before I create a “fuss” though.

Just wanted to say hi to *flumposie", welcome!

We’re phoning all our class families for a chat w parents and children, just to keep the contact going (primary). So lovely to talk to the kids (surprisingly chatty!), and mums.
Lots of positive feedback about the learning provision, and children all handling the situation really well, according to parents.
I must get off MN - it had me believe that I’d be bombarded with complaints about the teaching and reports of children in meltdown from the stress. Not the case at all, happily.
And not one question about live lessons or getting back to school.

OK, long and irrelevant post coming up but I need a brainstorm on this. I put this post in travel but unlike staffroom it gets no traffic which is surprising given the amount of people who must be experiencing issues!

Any thoughts or advice welcome!
*I am in such a dilemma wrt our summer holiday and would appreciate a kind of WWYD!

We booked a holiday back in January and paid a £1000 deposit . This is to Spain with Villa plus. It is a package so flights (Ryanair klaxon!!) included.

The remaining balance is due in two days and takes the whole spend to nearly £4000.

I was supposed to be awaiting a call from them but they did not call and I got an email today after I emailed them in a strop.

This basically says:
a) lose your deposit. We will not hold it for you and are not taking bookings yet for 2021 so, unlike prior emails, they are not even mentioning transferring payments to holiday credits.
b) pay whole amount. IF the holiday is cancelled you will get a refund
BUT
the holiday will be cancelled only if travel becomes impossible because of government actions, or Ryanair cancels the flight (fat chance) or the villa owner cancels the booking (also unlikely I reckon)

I know at the moment Spain is really Not Open but I just don't trust Ryanair or travel companies to not force people to travel just because they can fly people out.

For some further context, DH is medically vulnerable (not shielded) should they even care about that detail and is supposed to observe stringent social distancing to the extent that his workplace don't want him in.

The full amount is looming.

DH does not want to lose £1000 but even less do we want to lose £4000!*

The ONS has just said children age 0-19 are carriers and just as likely to get it.

2-19 sorry.

I don't know what I'd do in your situation, Piggy. My gut says I'd probably lose the £1000. I also don't trust Ryanair at all. You also may not get the holiday you want, changes to accommodation, restrictions on dates etc.

It's painful though. We had holiday insurance so dh has put in a claim for the holiday we booked for Easter, but still waiting to hear.

Phleb - you beat me to it!

0.27% infected and:

no evidence was found of differences in the proportions testing positive between the age categories 2 to 19, 20 to 49, 50 to 69 and 70 years and over.

Looking forward to 0.27% being described as miniscule

@Piggywaspushed when is the holiday can you negotiate paying 6 weeks in advance rather than 12 I think which is the norm. Did you pay the deposit by credit card could you get charge back? Do you have travel insurance could you get gp to write a letter to say no travel due to medical issues?
Our travel issue is a flight to Ireland a route which Ryanair are currently flying but no point if I can't see my mum!

Hello. Dipping in. I love these threads and take great solace in them.

My Head sent out an email to parents today briefing outlining our plans, and the advice we've had from the LEA, on how we're going about opening for the YR, Y1 and Y6, the measures we're taking etc He asked parents to let us know their thoughts, and to say, if they've already decided, if they'll be sending in their children. We've had a few definitely 'no' answers already. We'll see what happens.

No negotiation over dates of payments, no...

We had not sorted travel insurance yet and we paid by debit card.

To be honest, I have yet to hear of a travel insurance company that covers pandemic anyway.

Our trip us mud August.

So maddening.

On a separate note did anyone hear about the 3 day old baby that died

@Piggywaspushed oh god that is awful that poor family

Ok so next question - would anything be open if you went, have Spain published a plan (unlike the UK) with clear stages of when restaurants/ beaches/ holiday attractions would open? would you actually enjoy the holiday if you went? Only bonus is Ryanair would sit you together!

We have travel insurance via our bank and they said holidays booked after March 18th would not be covered for COVID.

I have no idea what will be open . Not much. We are going to a villa so maybe not as terrible as a hotel. But I would worry for the whole trip. Currently, we would have to quarantine upon arrival but that doesn't seem to mean Ryan air are cancelling flights

Piggy I have not too dissimilar situation with Ryannair. Have 1k flights booked and paid for with Ryannair to Portugal. Accommodation I can cancel but the thought of losing 1k on flights sticks in my throat. They charge for changes and calendar only goes to March.

Yours is extra complicated with having to pay the balance. I just don't know

@Piggywaspushed I think I would have to take the hit. We are in a similar situation but a much smaller deposit and later in the summer but don't think we will be going.

Money saving expert has a lot of good advice about holidays.

My hol is a package so in theory more protected. We'll see. DH wants to pay full amount which is what MSE says ...

Oh well. It's a distraction from Teacher bash woes !

Has anyone heard of Electa?

Another day in the hub done. Exhausted. They’ve basically picked the 12 worst behaved children in the surrounding 4 schools and put them in a hall.

However all that pales into insignificance when you read a baby has died. Truly truly horrendous. A little baby :( Their poor mum and dad.

www.cambois.northumberland.sch.uk/website

Reading how this school is doing it. Sounds grim.

I’ve been reading stuff via the NAHT-it looks like the DfE aren’t happy about primary schools planning to have multiple year groups in (like they were told) as it won’t help anyone go back to work. They are apparently releasing clarification on rotas later today and want schools to have whole year groups in full time NOT on part time rotas.

I note how much cleaning teachers ate going to do in that school, including toilets...

Yes, I imagine the unions are going to have something to say about that.

Personally I might do some light cleaning given the extraordinaries circumstances (I already clean my own desk/computer equipment at work due to the shit level of cleaning) BUT I would expect the time for it to be taken out of my teaching day, not on top of it, to be provided with the correct equipment etc, and I think doing toilets is completely out of order) in other words, it wouldn’t happen and I doubt very much they could compel staff to do it.