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

The rules for household isolation if one person has symptoms came in a few days after isolate for symptoms. Think isolate for symptoms was 12th March, household isolation as well was 16th March. So yes it's been the rule for ages.

School in Liverpool shuts after 31 staff have to self isolate.

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/school-no-choice-close-after-18968410

Salty, your symptoms sound like my dc's, it took her a good 5 days to be well enough to return to school. She was tested a day after she started feeling rough, which came back negative. She's still coughing but her temperature is back to normal and her throat doesn't hurt anymore.

Sorry to hear of so many of us feeling rough. I've just finished a course of antibiotics for an infection and wondering how I'm going to make it to half term.

and get well soon to all feeling ill.

I think even a normal cold will be worse for many people due to following Distancing etc over the summer and added stress on those in unsafe workplaces like schools.
But as a pp said, we didn't cause this, we didn't make the rules about staying off so we need to stop feeling guilty. When we're in we're giving it all our reserves so No Guilt

I'm so sorry so many are poorly. Sending therapeutic and hot toddys.

Honey, how are you today? I know it's a pain but I would seriously consider getting a test. Can you get one through school so that it has minimal impact?

How are you salty?

I feel I've missed some people so more hugs and best wishes to all having a shite poorly time.

Bit annoyed as I was planning a picnic with my two year old but someone is coming to fit a smart meter. As Dh reckons we are spending way more than anyone else on electricity. I've tried to point out it's due to lockdown but he's not getting it! Going out in the sun with a happy 2 year old is therapy at the mo!

Sorry to hear that so many are having symptoms and kids with symptoms and stressful times. to all that need it!

Today my youngest has woken up with a persistent cough and really painful sounding sore throat, and feels hot. I’m right in thinking that I can’t go to work then as the family have to self isolate if he has symptoms? That’s what the NHS website is telling me anyway.

Predictably, when I’ve gone online to book a test for him there’s absolutely nothing available. Not even postal.

To summarise: absolute shitshow

Yes Tax you need to isolate. Can you try booking a test for yourself? When we did one test we could add family members on.
I'm waiting for the news today to see whether my October holiday is basically down the drain or not.

(Hope you all feel better soon!)

I'm feeling a bit better thanks. Temp is still over 38 and I have no voice but no shivers or anything at the moment.

The way I see it, if we go in because we feel guilty but we have any of the symptoms, we risk being fired for gross misconduct if we later test positive and have to state when the symptoms began.

Got negative result so I'm going in.

You have a temperature of 38 and you are going in?

Rest!!

Salty. If you are still shivery with a temperature you should not go in. Even if it isn't Covid, just think of all the others you could infect who will then have to self isolate until they can get a test. It will be far less disruptive to your school if you stay off until well.

I personally know a woman who tested negative one day and positive the next (this was in a hospital)
If you give whatever you've got to other staff and students, they will also need to stay off and get tests.

(I know it's really hard to be off)

Thanks @Mistressiggi No luck with a test yet but then I have only tried about 50 times

Work said to come in if his symptoms weren’t that bad, but recommended calling 111 to check. So I described his symptoms to 111 (as his cough is very on and off - when he coughs it goes on for quite a long bout, then no cough for a while, then another long bout and so on) and they said as it was dry cough and a temperature we must self isolate.

Just keeping my fingers crossed that we get a test sooner rather than later.

@SaltyAndFresh

Got negative result so I'm going in.

No, you need to rest at home!!!!

In addition to EducatingArti’s point about infecting everyone else, this term is going to be hard enough without pushing yourself to go in and teach when you really aren’t well.

I know there’s a temptation to go in not to let everyone else down but there’s a lot more chance of everyone making it through in one piece if you take that pressure off yourself.

or to all those who need it this morning.

This year of all years will be the proverbial marathon.

We absolutely have to look after ourselves.

My head said she would rather have one person off 2 days with a flu type thing than 5 off a week later so if I feel like I might endanger others (we have staff in school on chemo) I stay well away now.

FFS Boris.

He's just answered a question about by talking about how the problem is that people are quite reasonably unable to tell the difference between Covid and a seasonal cough or cold but it's reassuring that children don't seem to suffer as badly or transmit it as much. He did then add 'seemingly' to the end of that bit about transmission, but he just can't help himself.

So we are now back to WFH is you can, weddings limited to 15 etc etc but schools still full time?

How does anyone know which 'tier' schools are in??!

Temperature up. Have informed head I need a test and can’t book one online. Have emailed cover manager and have emailed head of department begging help with what to set for cover. Have also called student services who are sending ds home. Nightmare.

I need a test or poor ds will have to have 2 weeks off just in case. Website just repeatedly tells me to try again later. Sweaty and my chest hurts now. Feels really similar but less extreme to what I had in January that I thought was covid.

Worried work will hate me. Keep remembering what I think was 50s gem about schools know who the malingerers are I had tons of time off last year due to not my fault surgery and complications and I know the cover supervisor hates me.

Lifeafter50, eh? The gift that keeps on giving!
You are NOT a malingerer, you are ILL!
Try to stop worrying about school. I suspect they're not wasting much time worrying about you. You didn't make these rules and nor did you ask to be ill.

HoneyBadger you’ve done the right thing, but I know how awful it feels. I’ve been that person needing hospital appointments and wondering if the head has my photo on a dartboard on the back of their door, but he’s always been really supportive. Was very nerve wracking explaining I’d need to self isolate but they said rather that than come in and infect other staff and kids who would all then need time off. I’m sure your slt feel the same way

(If it helps with the being-off-sick nerves, once my line manger was querying why I couldn’t come to work immediately following a small operation and I was trying to explain that both sitting and walking were incredibly painful because of the location of the part that was operated on. He asked if it was my foot and couldn’t I just teach with my foot raised, or my leg and didn’t I just need crutches, and I just growled “It’s my vagina.” So your cover supervisor might not hate you as much as that man hates me!

Good luck with the test, it took me about 6 hours to get one. Managed to get a postal test, although I was offered a testing centre a mere 209 mile drive away

TaxTheRat - I'm sorry, that genuinely made me laugh

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/confirmed-cases-covid-19-bournville-primary-school

4 teachers in 1 primary.

Honey hope y ou feel better and manage to get a test.