The Eighteenth Republic - More U Turns On The Horizon? - INSET Days and travel problems

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

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No DfE muppets allowed

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 goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom. Close the door quietly on your way out

Oh FFS. It seems like a member of staff who is also a parent at school has been slipping other parents information we haven't released yet, but phrased in a way that has made at least one think she's been missing official communications.

Like 'oh, is your child moving tutor groups?' when we haven't given parents any information at all on classes for next year.

Obviously muggings here helpfully replied to her first (reasonable) request about where the information on return could be found, and now I'm down the rabbit hole of 'but wearing PE kit all day is unhygienic' when that isn't something we've decided is actually happening as far as I know.

Why do I try to be helpful?

I feel so bereft of information. No timetable until Tuesday, no idea about marking until Thursday. Why don't they want to share this info? It's making me anxious that they won't.

Wtf is wrong with wearing PE kit all day?! I have my kids (and me) out and running around and doing all sorts right now, and we dont get changrd just because we might have broken a sweat!

Maybe they haven't decided yet?
Or they're thinking that if they do tell everyone the plan, then they'll have to rethink it all when (if) the Gov't do another U-turn, so they may as well wait until the last moment.
It's a pain for trying to get ahead of yourself with planning/at least thinking.

Mind you, for KS1 (and Reception in particular) they might at least get some actual PE done this term, instead of spending 2/3 of the lesson getting changed.

They have made it clear they know the plans, they just aren't sharing them yet. I need some time to process new ideas and it feels so rushed. At least it doesn't need to be perfect from day one.

I feel so bereft of information. No timetable until Tuesday, no idea about marking until Thursday. Why don't they want to share this info

I’m guessing they don’t know yet. seriously hoping my school has low expectations for the first few week.

Iamnot - it's my understanding it's to do with the size of the pupils . I'm in year 6, will have 32 kids, and they're all either the same size or bigger than me and an ideal height to be breathing at me. Lots of them will hit or have already hit puberty.

I think the line has been drawn there simply because that means primaries are "safe".

They have made it clear they know the plans, they just aren't sharing them yet

Sorry herc I posted before seeing your update. That’s really poor.

Is it that they don’t trust the staff to keep it to themselves or do they just not value their staff?

Kevin Courtney now emphasising the second part of the WHO guidance that vulnerable staff should be wearing medical masks. I am sure it also says they should be surrounded by people in masks.

I thought the governments own research was dividing pupils into under and over 10 year olds? (Brain is fried so could be wrong...)

The one on their website that I think piggy (?) knows of children who were involved?

@Piggywaspushed

Kevin Courtney now emphasising the second part of the WHO guidance that vulnerable staff should be wearing medical masks. I am sure it also says they should be surrounded by people in masks.

Where is this?

Does he mean ECV or CV?

instead of spending 2/3 of the lesson getting changed.

That's why I don't teach ks1!

Mind you it's often not far off like that in sen, but fewer children. Except when we go swimming. Getting 30 changed was a nightmare!

WHO doesn't differentiate : that's a UK thing.

No value probably. I think they also hugely underestimate the pressure of teaching FT timetable and the limited work time when you have kids at home.

I think they said the age was a sliding scale
I guess depends on why children 'might' be different.
Size/puberty/ace receptors/ ethnicity/breathing smaller volumes/more asymptomatic/have other infections at the same time/even higher vit d levels than adults

@Hercwasonaroll We have had no guidance on activities we can/can’t do in lessons. No updated risk assessment. I do know my timetable and rooming though.

@Medra That's the bit I'm struggling with. We've been told no textbooks but nothing beyond that. Moving to 2 hour mixed ability lessons which is a huge change. With no actual idea of how to implement it. I hate SLT for assuming we all want a break. Actually I'd be more relaxed if I knew I what was coming.

nltimes.nl/2020/08/11/covid-19-high-school-teachers-worried-full-classrooms-masks

Sounds familiar.

This is a giggle but given he is our ‘top’ muppet it makes me want to cry in places

Though I am not a Julia fan and she doesn’t like teachers

Interesting . JH-B not normally on our side but she doesn't suffer fools.

What does Tulip mean here??

@Appuskidu - I guess she means with students sitting in fixed seats, the only person moving around the class is the teacher/any assistants and therefore the onus is on them to distance accordingly.

I asked yesterday what the plan was if we have to go back online. The reply was essentially "what do you think we should do?". Since I'm paid to follow rather than to lead, how about you tell me?
In general, we're not trusted or treated as colleagues or professionals. My school isn't horrific by any stretch - and I know because my last one was - but it's hard to feel so unvalued.
Dealing with breakdowns was covered on new staff induction in July, but I'll be repeating it on Tuesday and every week after for anyone who needs it. Not sure who will help me when I have mine, though.