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.

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

You can play here 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

Do not give ‘The Every twat for Themselves mob’ the staffroom password as a number of them are operating in an alternative reality.

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

Yesterday: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-home-test-kits-for-schools-and-fe-providers/coronavirus-covid-19-home-test-kits-for-schools-and-fe-providers

Sorry everyone. I was in two minds about posting that as I know that for a lot of us (including me!) being aware of that risk won’t change the fact that our classroom has no windows/poor ventilation.

If having this information convinces someone’s slt to change any procedures, especially for cv staff it could be a good thing. But with so many unchangeables (class size, classroom size, ventilation) there’s a limit to what we can change.

My school and dc1’s school have both “zoned” the year groups, so they don’t have to change area and only occasionally change room. Teachers move between rooms and I wonder if that would be some protection from the “prolonged contact” part? But even ten, then students are exposed to each other all day, and I know the evidence is that it’s usually mild in children, but I also know that my 11 year old is still suffering from fatigue and other problems 5 months after catching covid and I don’t want to see a bunch of my students suffering similar.

Argh.

Anyone up for quitting teaching and starting a pig farming initiative?

@CallmeAngelina

Wait, whaaaat? Ten tests per school? When did I miss that little nugget?

I presume those are the tests mentioned in the schools opening guidance which heads can give to parents to administer to this child at home if they can’t get to a test centre. They’re not for staff, are they?

Has anyone followed any of the info coming out about other countries going back? Is anyone else going back 30+ to a class with virtually no risk mitigation?

ickabog

Never too early for

Well, in the vague hope that alcohol kills the virus effectively, someone needs to test if taking a swig of gin/rum/vodka every 10 minutes provides adequate protection.

I volunteer as tribute.

"Home test kits should only be offered to individuals in the exceptional circumstance that you believe an individual may have barriers to accessing testing elsewhere. The best and fastest way for students or staff to access a test is to visit a testing site."

My nearest test centre is 30 minutes by car south of home. School is 45 minutes in the other direction. Our catchment easily goes 30-40 minutes further on. My nearest test centre is also the one nearest to school.
Is unwillingness to travel an acceptable barrier? How about lack of connected public transport?

I do actually love teaching. The teaching bit.
But I don't think I can do this. I'm happy to leave with no pay if I don't have to work my notice and never go back to teaching - I'm so unhappy at my safety and that of my family being taken as unimportant.
An old employer has tentatively offered me a maternity cover starting January back in finance - albeit at a much lower level as I'm 15 years out. And a horrible commute.
I actually prefer teaching, but if I walk I can never go back can I?
Why is this so shit?

I'm having a proper full on panic attack right now

Sorry for all of us who are feeling the panic and anxiety creeping in. For the first time in my life I’ve been prescribed antidepressants. Hoping the reality isn’t as bad as the catastrophising I have going on in my head.

SaltyAndFresh you don’t sound ridiculous, at all
I’m so sorry for my post (understandably) stressing you out

@WhyNotMe40 if you walk, of course you can go back. You wouldn't be the only one.

If we were in my office right now, I'd make you a cuppa, let you rifle through my biscuit stash, and give you a big hug. And if you're a burly rugby playing bloke from science, I'd still do that. It's just a job. You are more important.

for all those experiencing anxiety right now. Hope your panic attack subsides WhyNotMe40 . Horrible things.

Thanks MrsHamlet.

It's not that it's new information - it's just confirming what we've known all along. And I don't think I'd be so upset if it was acknowledged that we are taking a risk. But no, apparently schools are safe gaslighting bastards

I've got a new Fitbit and it has a breathing exercise calming feature.

I'm impressed. It actually works!

That's exactly the issue, isn't it... that no one is prepared to admit that actually it is a risk. And we have to plaster on a smile and convince the kids - because they trust us to always do right by them - that it's all going to be fine. It doesn't feel fine.

@MrsHamlet

That's exactly the issue, isn't it... that no one is prepared to admit that actually it is a risk. And we have to plaster on a smile and convince the kids - because they trust us to always do right by them - that it's all going to be fine. It doesn't feel fine.

Even plastering on a smile is a double edged sword. You smile and say you're looking forward to going back whilst inside you're shitting yourself and people say all the teachers I know are excited to go back.

@MrsHamlet they wouldn't be allowed to go on public transport to get to the test centre anyway.

Indeed. And many kids read us better than adults. I had a really shitty period last year when I just wasn't coping. No one noticed... except I came in one morning to a huge bar of chocolate and a bottle of wine on my desk, and a note from one of my y13 form which said "this won't make it better but it'll help for a while" - which is my standard brew and biscuit line.

Good point, hedgehogger1

@MrsHamlet

That's exactly the issue, isn't it... that no one is prepared to admit that actually it is a risk. And we have to plaster on a smile and convince the kids - because they trust us to always do right by them - that it's all going to be fine. It doesn't feel fine.

I’m seeing increasing posts on Facebook from parents (normal ones-not T4T) saying to other parents that they shouldn’t worry about schools going back as the teachers will make them safe! The gist is that as loads of plans have been put in place, it will ‘make’ it Covid secure.

To be fair, things are different for parents
-Wearing PE clothes all day on PE days.
-one way system
-staggers start and finishes
-desks in rows
-bubbles ()

None of those measures will stop Covid, obviously, but I think it’s reassuring some parents that ‘lots’ has been done.

I’m happy to smile, but I’m not lying to any parents about how safe it is, or not. I will direct them to the head.

I posted that about the kits yesterday

And many kids read us better than adults.

I agree. They're not blind, and we're often not as good at hiding things as we think we are. They'll know how we feel, despite what we say / do to convince them otherwise.

God, so as well as teaching them to apostrophe for the 35784th time, squishing Shakespeare into their brains, and making them write legibly, I now have to make them safe. I need gin.

@Piggywaspushed

I posted that about the kits yesterday

I knew I'd seen it somewhere!!! You always were the brains of the operation though, Piggy (That's made me feel all sad now. I don't like that bit)

Don't apologise @TaxTheRatFarms. If it isn't shared, the public can claim they didn't know. They're complicit in this. I've put it on my FB page.

Yes to the pig farm (I've watched my DM midwifing mugs many a time )

I meant pigs