The Twenty-second Republic - the DfE have no idea, Gav MIA, bubbles in and out

[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, especially if you have not used the hand gel. Close the door quietly on your way out and put your mask on

Eugh. So irked. Irksome irksome bothersome botheration. Grrrr

colourofblue

@colourofblue do not start maternity a day earlier than you legally have to, even if that is baby's birth date. The reason you are signed off is NOT maternity related. Your illness is NOT maternity related so do not make them force you. Once you've been signed off, keep renewing the sick note until the due date.

Yes you'll feel guilty for the kids/other staff but your really shouldn't.

Take care of yourself

You really don’t have to suck it up and call yourself if you don’t want to. I was signed off with stress and the union divisional secretary (who was also a personal friend, but would have done it for anyone) did all the phone calls and fielded all the emails on my behalf. Which was great because that was the bit that caused me the most stress.

Colourofblue, tell yourself it's just a job, because it is. No guilt. Health first

[quote Hercwasonaroll]@colourofblue do not start maternity a day earlier than you legally have to, even if that is baby's birth date. The reason you are signed off is NOT maternity related. Your illness is NOT maternity related so do not make them force you. Once you've been signed off, keep renewing the sick note until the due date.

Yes you'll feel guilty for the kids/other staff but your really shouldn't.

Take care of yourself [/quote]
I needed to hear this. Thank you.

I know what you mean gravity but I actually like the Head. The HOD now ...

@GravityFalls

You really don’t have to suck it up and call yourself if you don’t want to. I was signed off with stress and the union divisional secretary (who was also a personal friend, but would have done it for anyone) did all the phone calls and fielded all the emails on my behalf. Which was great because that was the bit that caused me the most stress.

This. My union rep reprimanded the head the first time because he was hounding me and my friends from work. If you can make the call, do. But you don't have to.

@colourofblue, PLEASE do not feel guilty. It is part of a teacher's DNA, I know, but trust me, from the other end of my teaching career (early retirement is looming temptingly ahead) I GUARANTEE that the people you're worrying about "letting down," you won't even remember their names in a few years' time. Your baby and your own health is 100 times more important.
If we don't put ourselves first, please believe me that no one else will!

I always say to my colleague, if you dropped dead at your desk your stuff would be in the bin and someone else in your job before the next holiday. So don’t feel bad about inconveniencing them. At the end of the day it’s a job, not a life.

That’s so true callme I look back on worries I had from years gone by which seem so stupid now. But just this minute it seems so overwhelming!

colourofblue you are allowed to have someone else make the phone call for you, or send a message (I always email the cover person if I need to be off). It doesn't have to be a personal phone call. And if you're I'll, you're ill!!! It doesn't sound pregnancy related to me, so don't let them force you to start maternity early. I started my maternity leave at 39 weeks, and even then I got bored/fed up in the 2 weeks waiting for the baby to arrive. You don't want to be feeling like that and also be getting very little money for it.

We have to ring the head ... I could get my husband to do it but it feels wrong. As I say I do like the headteacher.

It’s exhaustion which I think IS pregnancy related and stress due to some pretty unpleasant stuff this afternoon which I’m really very upset about. I was ploughing on but now I feel I just can’t.

Don't mention the exhaustion being linked to pregnancy. Make sure it's work related stress you're signed off with. Especially if you aren't going back. Don't get screwed over!!

I’m not sure what to say on the phone though.

‘I can’t come in because I am in tears and stressed and highly anxious because of YOUR school’ is true but not very professional!

I can't come in because I am stressed and Highly anxious as a result of the thing which happened

colour

I will not be in today due to stress and anxiety, caused by incident A.

@colourofblue

I’m not sure what to say on the phone though.

‘I can’t come in because I am in tears and stressed and highly anxious because of YOUR school’ is true but not very professional!

Actually, I think that about covers it! Sod being professional. You've already said you're not going back.

@MrsHamlet

I can't come in because I am stressed and Highly anxious as a result of the thing which happened

This.

And then once you’ve done that, ring the GP, if you haven’t already. Depending on your GP’s system you might be able to do econsult. That should allow you to create a new fit note for the GP to sort.

There’s no reason for them not to sign you off straight away. I just phoned and asked for one the other day and they did it and e-mailed it to me.

Can I confess something? I emailed the 'letter' school. The head is as rude one-to-one as you'd expect from the letter and has a lot of time on his hands. I genuinely think he's set a dangerous precedent, hence the email. I'd rather clean rancid festival toilets for a living than work with him.

I know I'm way over-invested

That letter was awful and surely broke confidentiality re medical conditions. I mean imagine if nine staff had the runs after a night out and that was announced?

Saltyandfresh wow really 😮 , seen it’s made national news now.

As someone on another thread said, a lot of the parents probably don't have any right to be angry (and probably weren't until he kicked the hornets' nest) since all summer long there have been kids' parties and sleepovers going on: including amongst many self righteous MNers...

@Danglingmod - that's fair enough. Our 'nurse' is titled medical welfare or some such but is a qualified rgn. We have a number of students who have significant medical needs over the course of the day so assume that's why we have someone qualified. I'm aware that the previous person was not qualified at all.

They have a steady stream outside their office and have 2 quarantine rooms at present!

Hey, I notice that a certain poster - bluebloodedamphibian - is back on any thread that involves schools and the possibility to mention just how important and vital her husband is. I had to come over here before I say something that gets me banned.

colourofblue - I got signed off with anxiety in my previous career. I was in a right state, bawling for hours etc. The minute I made the call, I was fine. Well, I wasn't - but I also was. It was specific and situational, and was resolved once I was taken out of the situation.

@minisoksmakehardwork the child in question has just come back from two days off sick. Child wasn't coughing on purpose- I can tell the difference, been doing this gig long enough.