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

I was that precocious kid who’d read war and peace. I’d also read a ton of 70’s feminist and transcendental meditation books. Strange the material available on the book stall of the church fete.

Honestly owe someone a massive thanks for their contributions to the book stall.

70’s remains imo the best decade for feminist texts and spiritual self help books ever.

Anyone have any ideas about when/if we will have to "pay back" any extra week given at October half term?

Literally home bought books were all the kids classics of C S Lewis and Tolkien plus Austin,Dickens etc but my fete finds were eastern philosophy and practice books plus Russian literature and 2nd wave feminism texts.

Luck

Does anyone think the support bubble thing will continue through any increase in restrictions? My kids are adults and live away from home, wondering if I'll be able to see the one who lives by themselves at half term if restrictions increase? I've resigned myself to not seeing the other one until things die down as they live in a shared house.

@CallmeAngelina

Anyone have any ideas about when/if we will have to "pay back" any extra week given at October half term?

Everything that I've seen suggests that schools will still be open in the event of a two-week lockdown. The link with half-term just makes it a little easier.

@CallmeAngelina

Anyone have any ideas about when/if we will have to "pay back" any extra week given at October half term?

Many worked through Easter so it would be beyond crass to try and claw it back surely?

Legend has it that my grandfather took the whole of the Second World War to read War and Peace!

Call, the summer I reckon. Considering we're all working extra hours I think it's pretty shitty if we have to repay it. I'm sure I won't be the only one working that extra week in order to get ahead and avoid burnout.

@CountDuckulasKetchup

Does anyone think the support bubble thing will continue through any increase in restrictions? My kids are adults and live away from home, wondering if I'll be able to see the one who lives by themselves at half term if restrictions increase? I've resigned myself to not seeing the other one until things die down as they live in a shared house.

Looks like it from what I’ve seen. I tend to be looking for that because I’m a lone parent of a 13yo and having my friends house in my support bubble has likely saved my sanity. Even areas under extra restrictions seem to read as no mixing between households except support bubbles 🤞

If they truly want a circuit-breaker, then it's just not going to work if schools are still open. Just think of the sheer numbers of people out and about and involved in the running of schools' premises.

Thanks Honey, I feel selfish asking as I know it's much worse for people like you, but it's literally the only thing I have to look forward to! Unless you count getting my hair dyed a ridiculous colour in half term, which also looks unlikely .
Literally cried myself to sleep on Friday with exhaustion. I can't remember being this tired since my pgce.

Yes I get the impression support bubbles are here to stay.

Yup, not much electricity is going to be impeded if schools are open and students all return to uni. Lockdown here we come....

I know they say "schools will remain open", but remember they've also said "the last thing to close would be schools" - that's somewhat different.

I've made fabric ones that I quite like. I've gone for 4 layers but light fabric. I used the circle pattern
I went for fine fabric but more layers. I feel ok in them, but then I've never worn one of the disposables so don't know how they compare. I like them better than the cheap fabric ones I bought from Morrison's, but still have the cheap ones in the car for emergencies, and dh prefers the cheap, stretchy kind.

@CallmeAngelina

If they truly want a circuit-breaker, then it's just not going to work if schools are still open. Just think of the sheer numbers of people out and about and involved in the running of schools' premises.

Then the only way to get it through parents without it being even more politically damaging than it would be anyway would be to reduce Easter or Summer by one week.

Given the national discourse about teachers, there's no way they'd be able to do anything that could be seen as an 'extra' week off.

We have 1400 kids and over 200 staff all told.
I actually think I'd cry if they stole a week. I've mainly been asleep this weekend and it's only week 3!

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm feeling panicky again tonight.
I've been coping up to now, but all of a sudden it has hit me again.

I'm having sympathy with the Swedish approach as well - I think part of our problem is the chopping and changing, different rules for different areas etc. When actually a consistent light touch would be less likely to have people go "fuck it".
I mean - who the hell can keep up with the rules unless you are a bit obsessed (like me)?

I have never ever been so grateful to be part time. The days I've worked (and even then they have not been full days due to my "reasonable accommodations") have let me exhausted. I really feel for all the full timers

@CountDuckulasKetchup

Thanks Honey, I feel selfish asking as I know it's much worse for people like you, but it's literally the only thing I have to look forward to! Unless you count getting my hair dyed a ridiculous colour in half term, which also looks unlikely . Literally cried myself to sleep on Friday with exhaustion. I can't remember being this tired since my pgce.

Not selfish at all. For context I honestly feel better off than women who have to contend with an ex, or frankly different a current in many cases. Def no offence taken to mums needing an outside of household friend!

Nothing sad or loaded about, ‘lone parent’ here. Basically all pretty chill and compatible between ds(13) and I. Being able to catch up with my best friend and let her dsd and my ds hang out and all stay over at either house has been lovely though and I’d hate to lose that.

I think part of our problem is the chopping and changing, different rules for different areas etc

Totally agree *whynot^ I met two friends this weekend. There’s a lot of confusion about what the rules do and don’t allow.

I’m just praying my school remain case free until a decent test and trace scheme is up and running. I work in a hot spot, people can’t access tests though. It’s infuriating

SaltyAndFresh after trying a range of masks in the corridors/communal areas, I have to say the best I’ve had are from ASOS. Easy to wash, a double layer material that ‘feels’ protective, but the way the mask is shaped means that it isn’t sticking around my nose/mouth.
I found that I kept ‘inhaling’ the thinner cotton masks if I spoke when wearing them, or breathed healthily when dashing around quickly from one classroom to another. The shape of these masks mean I get full nose/mouth coverage, without accidentally snorting the cotton up my nostrils

www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-3-pack-face-coverings-in-black-and-teal/prd/20803306?colourwayid=60089119&SearchQuery=face%20mask

Apparently Whitty and Vallance are addressing the public tomorrow, setting out various possible scenarios for the coming winter.....

Well, no email from my school as of yet....

Maybe they'll just wait till you're all in school tomorrow piggy. Wouldn't want to tell people too soon and risk all of you claiming to be close contacts 😉

Maybe! It'll just be a sidebar in the cover sheet email, perhaps!

Sorry some of you have cover , but someone has Covid. Not to worry! Just a tip : don't touch the doorhandles especially in rooms 73, 28 , 2 and 101.

piggy