The Thirty-ninth Republic - Covid Carnage continues and spring term is just about to start

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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 staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

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 booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

Have set up a remote learning support thread.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_staffroom/4124844-Remote-learning-support

We had a NEU virtual meeting today. One person is SLT who said that she couldn’t really say but our head supports the decision not to go in. East of England about 15 miles from Essex.

Yes, at least they don't just take Nathan away for a quiet word for 5 minutes, then bring him back in with an arch 'I'm sure Nathan's very sorry for his behaviour and is keen to carry on with his work now' - while Nathan smirks at you.

Hello all - had a day away from social media for DD1's birthday. What a lot to catch up on!

Awkward call from HT earlier asking if I planned to go in. I have agreed to go in for the Inset tomorrow - training is now on Zoom and I could do with fetching some books and things to help with remote teaching if and when it is needed.

I have said I am undecided after that but the NEU advise it's unsafe. I've said I would want to wear a mask and visor in class from Tuesday if I do decide to go in. HT (who is anti-mask) has agreed to the clear visor but not the mask, but says they will think it over and gauge other staff opinion.

Name changed to an old name for this as very outing to any colleagues, one of whom I know is def on mnet....

One of our 'Nathans' was heard to bellow at the new, bewildered HT "Where's my fucking cup of TEA?" upon being removed for trashing their classroom as that's what the previous HT had always done - taken him for a nice cuppa before bringing him back to class.

The DfE love pointing out that the tests have 90-whatever % specificity. This means the rate at which they wouldn't be fooled by another chemical into thinking you had Covid. So few false positives basically.

Of course, Joe and Jemima public presume it means the test gives the right result 90-whatever % of the time. It doesn't, that's nearer the rate of false negatives according to the Birmingham Univ trials!

And the "same as PCR rate" but is just someone being hopeful. No one claims that.

We are all in tomorrow still for a training day despite the school actually being remote learning for the week.

Inc wanting us all in the hall for a face to face staff meeting. We have been assured it is going to be short, but I will be wearing my mask nontheless.

Honestly, I really really want to know what is happening right now with Boris and Gavin. Have they spoken about what’s going on?

Is it a case of, ‘shit-let’s have a Zoom at 9pm and discuss what to do’ or do they just let minions make a plan and carry on watching Bake Off?

Or nothing?? Do they actually even give one iota of a shit?

@2kidsintow

Name changed to an old name for this as very outing to any colleagues, one of whom I know is def on mnet....

One of our 'Nathans' was heard to bellow at the new, bewildered HT "Where's my fucking cup of TEA?" upon being removed for trashing their classroom as that's what the previous HT had always done - taken him for a nice cuppa before bringing him back to class.

Pissing myself 🤣

Interesting article about what may be coming in terms of restrictions and what may be beefed up - I must actually start putting my filter paper in my mask pocket!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55524764

@2kidsintow

Name changed to an old name for this as very outing to any colleagues, one of whom I know is def on mnet....

One of our 'Nathans' was heard to bellow at the new, bewildered HT "Where's my fucking cup of TEA?" upon being removed for trashing their classroom as that's what the previous HT had always done - taken him for a nice cuppa before bringing him back to class.

Ha absolutely brilliant

Hurrah!

My dd primary sent a cheery email earlier saying they fully expected to open.
But 4 other schools in the immediate locality have closed!

Brave brave teachers! Thank you.

Also apparently our Councillor has said no one will be fined for non attendance.

Now I'm on line next week so will have to see what my place does!

Yes, at least they don't just take Nathan away for a quiet word for 5 minutes, then bring him back in with an arch 'I'm sure Nathan's very sorry for his behaviour and is keen to carry on with his work now' - while Nathan smirks at you.
I get A LOT of this - one of the reasons I was so stressed about going back. The issue has of course been postponed, but will be back with a vengeance whenever schools reopen.

@2kidsintow

Name changed to an old name for this as very outing to any colleagues, one of whom I know is def on mnet....

One of our 'Nathans' was heard to bellow at the new, bewildered HT "Where's my fucking cup of TEA?" upon being removed for trashing their classroom as that's what the previous HT had always done - taken him for a nice cuppa before bringing him back to class.

That's hilarious! Better than one of ours who looked the AHT and down and said "come with you? I don't fucking think so" AHT in question is a bit pointless

@HarrietDVane I didn’t ask, I just wear my mask. I’m pretty sure they can’t say you are not allowed. I’d like to see them try to legally do something about that.

I sometimes take it off if at the front full flow speaking but for as short as possible and then wear it rest of time.

I can’t remember if you are primary or secondary? Although not sure it should make a difference? You could ask your union if they can refuse you - I’m sure they can’t and I absolutely would be going section 44 if that were the case....

Can i ask some opinions from you lovely lot. I'm in a union. I am admin in a school but its a small school so i do playground duties and help in the hall at lunch. I dont do any classroom support. So i dont set foot in a classroom unless I am unblocking the loo or cleaning up vomit! I'm attached to a year group bubble for these duties so Im not cross contaminating anything.
My union emailed and said that the advice for support staff was not to do this section 44 walk out because unlike teaching staff our work could not be done from home and we could be disciplined.
Im not exposed like a teacher apart from when i get sick children to look after or first aid (maybe 6-8 close contacts a day but if i am quick enough i can get PPE on) But i was a bit surprised. I thought the section 44 was based on your workplace being unsafe not that you could work elswhere.

Better than one of ours who looked the AHT and down and said "come with you? I don't fucking think so"

We have quite a number who do this as a matter of course.

I'm sorry but who is going to check the number of layers on your mask??

@MillieEpple

Can i ask some opinions from you lovely lot. I'm in a union. I am admin in a school but its a small school so i do playground duties and help in the hall at lunch. I dont do any classroom support. So i dont set foot in a classroom unless I am unblocking the loo or cleaning up vomit! I'm attached to a year group bubble for these duties so Im not cross contaminating anything. My union emailed and said that the advice for support staff was not to do this section 44 walk out because unlike teaching staff our work could not be done from home and we could be disciplined. Im not exposed like a teacher apart from when i get sick children to look after or first aid (maybe 6-8 close contacts a day but if i am quick enough i can get PPE on) But i was a bit surprised. I thought the section 44 was based on your workplace being unsafe not that you could work elswhere.

Yes, the NEU line is that workplaces are unsafe, and you should not go into the workplace just because you can't work from home.

Their line is that schools are unsafe for the wider community, and the aim is to reduce school opening.

I'd suggest switching unions.

Millie I personally would say anyone exposed to other people in close quarters and bodily fluids would be unsafe.

Our council have tried to claw back some of control by saying schools are allowed to close for 2 days!!

I don't know if anyone else was just on the SW region NEU call, but they addressed the NASUWT advice, and said that the solicitors working with the NEU had drafted the letter very carefully, and they are prepared for any legal challenges.

They said they had invited NASUWT to join the action, and NASUWT had refused- and that NASUWT are apparently losing members to the NEU, hence the communication.

They also said the advice to NAHT and ASCL members is not to discipline those using section 44 letters.

They also pointed out that unison would not have joined the action if they weren't sure about it.

NAS (autistic society) say that parents or carers of autistic children/ adults can be pushed up the vax priority list. I think it's still only group 6, not sure though.

[quote JanuaryChill]Interesting article about what may be coming in terms of restrictions and what may be beefed up - I must actually start putting my filter paper in my mask pocket!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55524764[/quote]
I’ve just read that.

The advisers also say many people still do not recognise the key symptoms of Covid-19 - so ministers need to spell them out and help people understand why they should self-isolate

Is that really true? Do people not recognise a cough/temperature/loss of taste as symptoms?! Even now?

And do they only need to self-isolate if they DON’T go to a secondary school

Thanks you - it just seemed odd advice and is different from the NEU then. We are open tomorrow in tier 4 with 3 active covid cases amongst staff (who obviously wont be in)

Great story @2kidsintow
If i ever get to the stage of asking for a kid to be removed ( rare ) i always say to the remover “ I don’t want them back”
I have literally never had that go well, where a kid behaves so badly they need to go, yet are capable of reintegration without disruption within the same lesson.