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

It is like being on a lifeboat at the mo...

I had fit-as-a-fiddle ds with me in a cafe today, when he choked on his croissant and coughed several times in quick succession - I wanted to disappear! He is not sick, honest!

@Piggywaspushed

The thing that annoys me about the coughers though is they got sent in !!

I know!!!

I feel there's many people who've decided it's just not their issue.

I am currently WFH as we're self-isolating again (only came out of iso 2 weeks ago as youngest DC had a fever and now eldest has a bloody cough) but have got next to no work done due to the farce that is our "world beating" testing system. Spent all morning trying to secure a test, finally got one 40 minute drive away but got turned away from test centre as no confirmation email. I had a confirmation text but these are apparently completely meaningless! Why send them out then?? So back hom for more continually refreshing the bloody testing website. Finally managed to book another slot for this evening at a different location but this involves dragging a poorly, whinging child out at what would usually be her bedtime to drive her to a test centre an hour away so if there's another balls up and they turn us away again I might scream! Pass me the virtual gin

I’m getting a bit worried. I felt sick and dizzy and awful in a lesson today and the room was spinning. Throat is horrible again and I have a throbbing headache.

No temperature or persistent cough but several of the non core symptoms. Don’t know what to do.

Running from one of the school to the other was too much today when feeling so rotten

Oh no @Washimal. I'm off again but for me not DS this time. Because it's me it's been a little easier to get hold of a test bit there was nothing whatsoever on the official website earlier.

TheHoneyBadger covid or no covid, you definitely don't sound well enough to be at work.

@SaltyAndFresh

Oh no *@Washimal*. I'm off again but for me not DS this time. Because it's me it's been a little easier to get hold of a test bit there was nothing whatsoever on the official website earlier.

Keyworker priority testing is for household members too - although only seems to work if there are actually any tests left, iyswim!

I had so much time off last year though due to surgery and it’s repercussions. Don’t want another lesson where I keep forgetting what I am saying and am incapable of explaining tasks though

I don't work Mondays but my colleague has just reported 5 kids off, all of whom sit next to/in front of each other!

Thank you CallMeAngelina August and Rafa!for reassuring me, it really does help massively. I was so close to just handing in my notice on Friday as I just felt like I was getting every judgement completely wrong, and trying to work around the new rules while being busier than ever this term is so hard and I just felt utterly incapable. It doesn’t usually hit me like that.

But I’m sure I’m really overthinking everything. I used to have anxiety quite badly but it’s been controlled for ages until now. It’s like having all the teaching responsibilities, pastoral responsibilities plus the responsibility of trying to keep the kids healthy (and rationally I know a lot of that is out of my hands!) has just overloaded my circuits.

Still do want to hand in my notice tbh but luckily for my school I’m far too poor to consider that!

Theres now a thread about the priority for testing.

Piggy One magical week last year we got the shingles alert a mere two days before the scabies alert. I hope you remain corona, shingles (and scabies) free.

Keyworker priority testing is for household members too - although only seems to work if there are actually any tests left, iyswim!

When I called 119 they did ask me if I was an essential worker, which made me hopeful for a moment as I thought they were about to say they could sort me out with a test but then they said the nearest available slot was a 2.5 hour drive away

2.5 hours with a sick child is ridiculous washimal It’s awful that you and others are having to deal with ill children and the worry that brings and trying to track down a non existent test.

Remember back in the day when one condition of schools opening was having a well functioning test, track and trace system? It’s ridiculous.

I've just read the newly published keyworker testing document and this is the sum total of what is says re schools:

"As we look towards winter, we have set out below those who we intend to test, as well as how and why we will test them. The exact allocation of tests across these key areas is dynamic and may change, as it is based on the latest evidence on risk and demand.....

Testing for teaching staff with symptoms where it is needed to keep schools and classes open

We are continuing to improve the testing system to ensure teaching staff can get priority access when they have symptoms.

Those who test negative can return to work, ensuring our schools can remain open."

Do you think it's significant that it says teaching staff not school staff?

They probably don't realise schools have non teaching staff. Sigh.

It’s a government document so who knows.

It’s either
a) significant and does mean just teaching staff
b) they’ve forgotten people other than teachers work in schools.

I’m not sure which is more likely.

I’ll match your shingles and add scarlet fever. Both confirmed in our school today.

X posts MrsHamlet

Social distancing clearly going well with all these colds, shingles and scarlet fever going round. Didn’t Australia manage to have a much lower level of typical winter illnesses this year?

It seemed to be saying they will prioritise by risky regions. Which isnt good news for the r est of the country or schools.

Or if there are already a critical number of staff isolating and you’re the one who’ll make or break school closure they’ll give you a test to keep the school open.

I’ve confirmed with head that I can have a test from school if I can’t get one and need one. Had a bout of dry coughing but an hours worth. If I have repeat bouts or a temperature after my headache tablets wear off I’m going to need to test.

Hate that they’d think badly of me being off again if I need to.

NOT an hours worth!

I think they do mean teaching staff. Admin people are excluded deliberately as are cooks etc. TAs too I bet. Unless they teach. They are only concerned about children being taught.