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

Oh, I could be being really dim - with more than 3 confirmed cases in a school maybe PHE advice is to isolate the whole class in primary?

We've been closing with one case, either teacher or child. But sen is low distancing. Phe letter same for all.

Might depend on your area? I think the NE were being very sharp from September as we clearly had quickly rising cases.

So yes if more cases in a school they may react more sharply?

We also don’t let our trainees teach with approving their lesson /plan 48 hours in advance. Different trainees we might do slightly differently- but it’s been really effective before. We have collaborative planning meetings so involve them in one of those groups so they can see the discussions and thought that goes into the lessons and all the ‘why’ behind it.

Could be a Tier 3 thing, Neurotrash. The whole region is being treated as an experiment so schools probably part of that! Not that the data that proves it is being transmitted swiftly and effectively in schools will ever see the light of day 🙄

I'm getting ready to do my Covid antibody test. So far, drinking water and watching a training video! It looks harder than the actual Covid test.

(Or I may be a wimp)

I've had the antibody test Mistress - it's a small sharp pain when you create the pin prick of blood but it's not too bad.

Thanks Herdy that is reassuring. It's the little bottle you are supposed to fill that's worrying me, looks like your finger has to keep bleeding for a while! (I inject myself with a pen type thing daily so I shouldn't be such a wuss!)

It’s no worse than cutting your finger slicing veg or sticking yourself with a pin, but the more you think about it the worse it gets!

Ah I see saucery. We were a sort of 0.5 version of tier 3 too till last week so maybe no comparison.

Confirmed case in my kids school :( my son was shielding. I hate this

DS's school has had second bubble close now (staff member positive). Special school. Tier 1. DH's old workplace the Headteacher has tested positive already another year out but not sure if they are going to hate close a lot more as Head said in press that he goes everywhere and mixes with everyone😳

Monkey and hedgehogger

I've now heard of 4 sen schools with bubbles sent home in the last few days.

The sarcasm on the v2.0 data thread has me in stitches.

Fingers crossed for you monkey & hedgehogger.

Got my first ‘you’ve been in contact with someone but no further action needed’ message from the app today. That didn’t take long.

Apparently Boris was supposed to be visiting a school today but cancelled at the last minute. Too many awkward questions about school meals I guess.

Posted on the Data thread - Israeli study concludes that "children are the engine of the outbreak" - some are even superspreaders. Because so many are asymptomatic they are not detected most of the time.

Their "presence in educational settings" may be a problem .... that's fine then, let's just ban them all, sorted!

Thanks guys I got it done. It's not sore, but the collecting was hard

Student here- I would love for my class teacher to read my lesson plans and give me feedback! To be fair, they may well read them, but I wouldn't mind knowing.

@Mistressiggi

Thanks guys I got it done. It's not sore, but the collecting was hard

But jab yourself cooking or pick a spot and the damn thing would fill 2 vials

@13luckyblackcats that’s rubbish you’re not getting feedback! What subject are you?

Primary...I do get it, everyone's so busy at the moment and I'm fairly sure I would hear if my plans were awful. I just want to do my best and make the most of this year.

I've done the feedback from and included that it is not appropriate for her to teach a whole lesson at this time. I've given her explicit instructions for her next slot complete with timings and have given her really clear targets and a list of questions to reflect upon when planning and when assessing how well a lesson has gone.

Massively time consuming but necessary and gives evidence of how much extra support and guidance she's been given in the event of the worst.

I'm seriously knackered. Have attended two meetings outside of my working hours this week so far and still have another whole set of assessments to mark and record by tomorrow. One day to go!

More year 11s have tested positive since being sent home to isolate which extends the isolation time for others.

Hoping and praying it doesn't show up in other year groups at least till after half term. I need to rest not be panicking about recording lessons etc

Watching the new briefing....Feel like starting off a thread entitled "Hospitality being thrown under the bus, massive economic burdens for future generations to protect the 8% of working adults who have school age children".

I won't though.

Currently only one year left in full. 2 isolating for 1st time, 1 second time, 1 3rd time. Half of 12 & 13 too.