The Twenty-fifth Republic - circuit breaker before/during/after half term

[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 and you will receive a detention

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

Is there any point in having a circuit breaker during half term?

[Augustbreeze]

Thanks @StaffAssociationRepresentative.
Why not? Or do you mean is there any point in having a partly termtime circuit breaker where schools remain open?

Have people seen this week's report on how many schools closed or some bubbles closed? 21% of secondaries I think, highest yet:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54524291

[RigaBalsam]

Thanks staff.

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

One of our kids was collected in day today...becasue a parent had got a positive test. They'd sent the child to school while the parent waited for the results! The mind boggles.

[NeurotrashWarrior]

Thanks staff

Yes muppets, Dr.

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

Parents are not following the rules which is why schools are struggling

[starrynight19]

So sorry your having to isolate phlebas

So the circuit breaker doesn’t include schools ?

Had the most ridiculous message from dd2 school yesterday/today after multiple cases on the school bus. Sending home back four rows , then middle , then downstairs certain rows

5 cases now in dd1 year group in just over a week. Me and dd now awaiting results as both showing symptoms.

My teacher friends worn out doing so much cover.

[MrsHamlet]

I've been mentoring in various guides for 18 years. I've seen some absolute shockers and on a few occasions had to ask a trainee to leave. But never have I pulled a trainee out for a bollocking. If I've needed to, it's been quietly in my office.
Regardless of the route, you should really have a subject or class mentor, and a senior one. I would suggest that you write down exactly what happened and contact your main link person to flag it in case this comes back to haunt you. It's not okay.

[CountDuckulasKetchup]

See I'd love to know the details of those figures. We're only sending close contacts, literally a handful of students in some cases. I would bet that we count as fully open because there's no year groups sent home.

[Piggywaspushed]

Checking in!

Good luck to everyone facing SI and tests...

I knew, just knew the first case at school would be to do with me! First case at DS's school was in his class. First case in my school in my class. Staff case at my school in my department. The sodding thing stalks me.

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

[quote Augustbreeze]Thanks @StaffAssociationRepresentative.
Why not? Or do you mean is there any point in having a partly termtime circuit breaker where schools remain open?

Have people seen this week's report on how many schools closed or some bubbles closed? 21% of secondaries I think, highest yet:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54524291[/quote]
Because a significant number of people are not following the rules anyway. They seem to think that rules apply to everyone else so I'm alright jack.

Only got to read about people moaning about missing Halloween ...

[Piggywaspushed]

Circuit breaker keeps schools open. Then includes half term. Because all parents will keep their kids in at half term....

[monkeytennis97]

@SaltyAndFresh well if getting tested once a week means I can see my son I'm happy about that but I have a feeling that it will be for elderly care home residents and not younger LD residents families. I'm absolutely fearful about not being able to see him. At the moment I am in a tier 1 zone and so is he but for how long god knows...

Agree about Kier Starmer though regarding circuit break and schools. Am getting the feeling on Twitter though about more support for remote learning at secondary level... possibly as a result of the bbc article this afternoon.

[TheHoneyBadger]

Phew. I was feeling quite bereft and homeless there for a few. Thanks Staff.

[SaltyAndFresh]

Very pissed off with Starmer.

We have a number of cases in a particular year group, but there is also now a group of non-teaching staff SI-ing. Don't want to say which as it could be outing I suppose. No sign of any mass testing. If I get it and pass it on to my MIL I won't forgive myself or the society that considered it fine to do this to us.

I heard the suggestion raised on PM this evening that increased rates have coincided with schools going back - no shit - but still insisting that young people's mental health and prospects trump all else.

[SaltyAndFresh]

Of course @monkeytennis97. How is he? It's strange that the assumption is that KW have access to tests and PPE in the first place though, isn't it?

[monkeytennis97]

He's ok... it's like he is aware things are changing again. Just about to call him actually (usually a 3 second one way conversation before he hangs up!).

[ChloeDecker]

Just coming in to sit down with a cup of tea after a loooong day. Just finished sorting out things in Teams (my god that platform is glitchy!)

Keir Starmer is just proving noblegiraffe’s point that there is something very odd about the lack of acknowledgement and facts from the gov and PHE about schools. It’s a national disgrace.

[Hercwasonaroll]

Checking in and going slightly insane.

Anyone noticed a huge workload disparity?

[DreamingofBrie]

Checking in. Day off today and although have planned one lesson, I spent most of the day in bed. The fatigue is overwhelming at the moment.

[Iamnotthe1]

@Piggywaspushed

From the previous thread, this is the guidance:
Close contact means:
direct close contacts - face to face contact with an infected individual for any length of time, within 1 metre, including being coughed on, a face to face conversation, or unprotected physical contact (skin-to-skin)

I'd imagine that, in a hug, some skin to skin contact happened and, therefore, that boy is a close contact and is being advised incorrectly.

[Danglingmod]

They don't get it, do they?

I was appalled listening to Starmer. I agree schools shouldn't close if possible for a long time BUT a circuit breaker, which he's calling for, SHOULD include schools because a) it's supposed to be short and surely an extra week either side of half term wouldn't be a big deal (except, maybe, for Yr 11) and b) there'll be no circuit break with schools open. They're the highest spreaders!

[ohthegoats]

11 staff off today, could only find 2 supplies, but somehow the deputy pulled every single string with putting base kids in mainstream and so on, to give me and my team our PPA together (not had PPA for 5 weeks!). Such a useful day, finally feel on top of things. It's not just me struggling with behaviour, we all are apparently.

[WhenSheWasBad]

Oh god I’m so tired (and behind on the thread).

Glad you are following up the threshold thing MrsH

The student teacher who is not being supported, so sorry that’s happening to you.

[MrsHamlet]

Our head has asked all the part timers to go full time for now. Three have said yes so that's sort of solved our cover issue. I still had two today though.