The Eleventh Republic - countdown to summer holidays

[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.

If you are fed up with cakes and biscuits there is now a cheeseboard on offer

If you come with a stick to beat us with then please do so elsewhere and not in the staffroom

Lots of TAs are doing a job around childcare, and often (around here) just don't really need to work. Partners earn big money, they are working for the enjoyment of it. If that was me I'd be leaving. £500 a month isn't worth it for the risk if you're in any way vulnerable, or even just anxious.

Love the fact that the TES article has a picture of kids sitting at spaced out desks wearing masks!!

No matter how hard I try I still can't make this sentence makes sense:

No face coverings for pupils or teachers, on Public Health England advice, as they "interfere" with teaching and learning.

The sub clause doesn't go with the rest of the sentence, surely??

Where’s the evidence they interfere? Is what the unions should be asking. People always say ‘deaf pupils and teaching phonics’ but I don’t teach phonics and a visor would work for deaf pupils.

Yes, most of the TAs I know don't really "need" the money (big earning husbands) or would rather get a "safer" job elsewhere. Some also close to retirement so just leaving earlier.

All the male TAs I work/have worked with with are older, ex-RAF or ex-engineers who are already drawing private pensions. They'll leave.

Yes, just siding up to a student and touching their book/removing a tapping pen etcetc is all part of behaviour mgmt.

That last comment posted an hour after I sent it!

Re whole sixth for being a bubble... That's at least 550-600 students (all adults, biologically) in two schools I'm familiar with!

In France they're all wearing masks in schools!

@Piggywaspushed

No matter how hard I try I still can't make this sentence makes sense:

No face coverings for pupils or teachers, on Public Health England advice, as they "interfere" with teaching and learning.

The sub clause doesn't go with the rest of the sentence, surely??

Exactly. Why on Earth would PHE be commenting on effective learning? I’d like to hear PHEs take on the safety of being packed into enclosed spaces with 30 teenagers at a time. Couldn’t give a fig for their views on learning

@NeurotrashWarrior

In France they're all wearing masks in schools!

Maybe this is what the unions will focus on as a priority.

If it’s happening in other countries..?!

Wow, I wish simply standing next to ours worked for behaviour management...

I expect there will be different guidance for Sen schools.

I'm not even fully sure I can trust this guidance.

Whole 6th form being a bubble at DDs old college would be 3000+ in the bubble.

Obviously not for them all, Neurotrash

The thing is, face masks are pretty much mandatory for leaving the house in many countries. I know they must wear them out and about more in France than in the U.K.

Japan are very used to mask wearing; as soon as they heard about the virus everyone automatically upped mask usage.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-leaked-dfe-school-opening-plan-undoable-fantasy%3Famp

Lol I know dangling.

It's fairly normal for me to have to run after some of ours or allow them to drape across my lap or any number of sensory pressure holds - all very hands on.

Undoable fantasy love it!

Well... we are open for the 2nd day for groups of kids... to be met with one parent dropping their child off then complaining to the head teacher that the teachers in our school are lazy... because we didn't do days full of online live lessons. Her children are in reception and year 2.

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

Regulation 4 requires every employer to ensure that such suitable personal protective equipment is provided to employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health & safety while at work unless the risk is adequately controlled by other means that are equally or more effective.

^ I wasn’t aware of this

I'm not shielding, but CV, I can't imagine how it must feel if you're shielding and going to be returning to work in sept with rumours like this. I'm finding it hard enough. I find it hard when I hear non clinically vulnerable people worrying about it actually. It makes me much less confident.

Home bargains is selling visors and masks at the moment so I don't think they are in short supply right now.

What they mean is:

Masks interfere with teaching and learning because we say so
PHE have said they don't give a shit about schools as they need some data on transmission in children so have said' yeah, OK, they might be OK without masks and anyway we aren't procuring them'

And put hem together in one super senetence mash up.

My school has a joint sixth form with a school over the road. Most of my year current year 12s are from the other school. They are currently keeping kids at their own sites. Problem we had is that my subject isnt currently taught over there in year 12 so I had to prepare work for another teacher to teach them. I'll be gutted if I cant teach them in September .

Apparently Cineworld staff have started a petition asking for the public to required to wear masks in foyers. They feel they are not being protected. Much public support.