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

Oh monkey and mother for both of you. It's such a completely shit situation for anyone with loved ones who are shut away in a care home. I'm so sorry you can't see them, it's heartbreaking. Huge hugs from me.

@monkeytennis97 Thank you. Time for game face on now and off to work. I know I’m a faceless internet voice but Im thinking of you and will be here anytime you need a pick me up 💓

@motherrunner

@MsAwesomeDragon thank you

for motherrunner and monkeytennis

And 🐨, though they have huge claws and are in no way as cuddly as their PR suggests.

But you get the idea.

Thanks Echt Need to go and do some exercise to cheer me up. On the positive I've almost hit 4.5 stone weight loss since March.

Oh @motherrunner and @monkeytennis97 more hugs and .

I hope you manage to get through today.

This is just so horrid. theres similar experiences on the NE thread and it's just heartbreaking.

The idea of a lockdown to coincide with half term... but we can't afford to wait that long! I can see why it's appealing schools could be "closed" (good for health) but "open" (good for Boris and Gav.). We've just (pre-covid) moved to a fortnight long half term, I wondered how widespread that is?

Ours is 5d but an extra inset day
I agree it's too long away.
But it's hard to know the actual situation without the tests
Dc2 coughing more today. and
It is all really unfair. Kids missing school because another kid have it to them and other kid is fine.
Gov won't allow masks, my kid's will literally never be in. The tests are largely irrelevant as even if we get the test the next one goes down with it.
sensibly ordering one each would be the best option. But anyway I don't want to send them in already coughing to go get the next bug

Lockdowns in Victoria, except the latest emergency one, have worked around school holidays. It's flexible and the state can shift them start/finish around to fit. It gives them time to assess the latest data, though TBH the holiday weeks are a fortnight, so a longer assessment period.

Which starts right now!!

Happy restricted holidays Ect!

The north east lockdown is affecting a lot of teaching assistants who are more likely to use extended family for some or all childcare.

It's possible some will be wfh which of course impacts staffing.

We've changed ours luckily; the in-laws did one day for us.

@Augustbreeze I bet the current restrictions in the NE are more widely rolled out tbh before then.

@monkeytennis97 and @motherrunner thinking of you. I was unable to see my elderly mum over lockdown and then when it was lifted she broke her knee so was in hospital. I was beside myself when I finally did get to see her. It's just crap.

I’ve name changed to be on the safe side - we’ve eight positive staff tests in school and one is the head!! Some bubbles closed and some still open, it’s so stressful, parents are angry and the school’s not functioning, we’re anxious and panicking, dreading it could be picked up by the press and blamed on staff, most have been doing their best to work within ridiculous guidance. Head has said we can’t tell anyone but I needed to vent, not fair to ask colleagues as we’re all just trying not to keep our heads above water atm

I sent out another cougher. They've been signed out with the parental comment 'Bad cough - NOT Covid symptoms'. Erm?

So sorry monkeytennis and motherrunner, it sounds so horribly tough for you both at the moment . I went to see my parents the weekend before school started, and have no plans to see them in the near future. It's so hard.

I'm SI at the moment, waiting for a test result for one of my family. Feel so guilty about putting extra work onto my colleagues and hoping that the result comes back negative before Monday.

@Frlrlrubert

I sent out another cougher. They've been signed out with the parental comment 'Bad cough - NOT Covid symptoms'. Erm?

Unbelievable

@DreamingofBrie @flumposie thank you

This is dammed Interesting.

Primary age kids can't spread it my arse.

Logged onto BBC to see my area is now under local lockdown. I’m not surprised. In the city there are 14 schools with closures, including my own.

Will be in the gin tonight!

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. September has felt odd so far not being in school, PGCE has started but not in school for another week or so. Though I'm not exactly sure how that will work out as things seem to be getting worse covid wise.

I also haven't seen my gran since March. She was 95 last week, we weren't allowed to see her. She's already very frail and has dementia. Also now cant see my parents as we are a 5. Some birthday weekend

AnaisNinja hope you are ok!
It's not your fault or really the school it's the government. It was obvious from a mile off.

Neuro. Thanks for that hasn't realised it was out yet.
That is truly disgusting to see.
And worse that care homes have shot up too. Who do they think works in these places, the parents that insist they need childcare.
I notice Thurs has shot up. I think that's what dc had.
Interesting that nursery is very low. I wonder if that is just that the symptoms are so mild

@AnaisNinja

I’ve name changed to be on the safe side - we’ve eight positive staff tests in school and one is the head!! Some bubbles closed and some still open, it’s so stressful, parents are angry and the school’s not functioning, we’re anxious and panicking, dreading it could be picked up by the press and blamed on staff, most have been doing their best to work within ridiculous guidance. Head has said we can’t tell anyone but I needed to vent, not fair to ask colleagues as we’re all just trying not to keep our heads above water atm

Hope you are ok

The college/university chunk on that graph is very interesting given that many universities haven’t even started the term yet and comparing the number of colleges to the number of secondary/primary schools there are. The area I teach in has gone on the “watch list” so that’ll be fun to keep an eye on over the next couple of weeks. I get so frustrated that we have the highest amount of the population currently most at risk, from a much wider area than any school in the area, with still little social distancing going on.