The Forty First Republic - Gav encourages parents to report schools to OFSTED

[SantaAssociationRepresentitve]

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

www.gov.uk/government/news/ofsted-inspections-to-be-done-remotely-until-half-term?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=72f19b3b-cddb-45b6-8ed0-538a22895efb&utm_content=immediately

Goodness-the Ofsted union are fast working! I notice they aren’t called out for being militant workshy lefties!

Goodness

@Piggywaspushed

I have no idea how to use a spreadsheet or why I would want to

Same here

This is so shocking.

Someone is literally cutting a pepper and onion so that the poor don't get too much!!?!?

schoolsweek.co.uk/childrens-minister-vows-urgent-action-on-pitiful-food-parcels/

As to IT skills... Personally, and I'm willing to be slated by ICT teachers, I think they should just do a basic qualification in microsoft package similar to what used to be called the european IT driving license or some such OR they should do what I had to do (born 1975)

We used to but because it doesn’t count in league tables (thanks Gove) and Computing timetables have been decimated to very little in most schools, it is just not possible for the majority of them.

I agree with you but it’s just so hard to fit in the Computer Science material enough as it is, in just 50 minutes per week at KS3 and 2 50 minutes per week for the CS GCSE

This is not on current Computing teachers that’s for sure!

We protested at the time but nobody wanted to hear

@Cracklefraggle if you set up your teams meeting as a channel meeting from within your class team the recording should automatically appear in the chat for that meeting I think and stays there for 19 days or something.no it will be saved on share point but not to your personal bit of stream so don’t know if you have access to it.

@Piggywaspushed you can use class notebook option in Teams to watch them working ‘live’ if they can type it 1 if that helps?

I’ve used Desmos to monitor work, also whiteboard.fi and quizziz and they have all be great!

I love spreadsheets!!! ... but I am a complete nerd

Piggy, the Schoolsweek article about the attendance stats which you posted on Data, I can't make the link work nor get to Schoolsweek via google, what does it say, any valuable analysis ??

Ah don't worry I made it work. Sensible article. Only 74% in primaries outside the contingency framework area on Mon 4th. I wonder how many were positive or self isolating and how many were kept off by worried parents?

go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-absence-due-to-school-closures-almost-trebled-in-last-week-of-term/

@TheHoneyBadger

I have no heating or hot water still and the engineer can't fix it so we have to wait for the manufacturers to come because it's still under warranty and the landlady seems to think it's fine that we haven't been able to have a shower etc for two days during a lockdown that means we can't access washing facilities elsewhere. Not all that amused currently.

I thought landlords had to provide alternative accommodation if there was no hot water? I guess that might be impossible, right now, though.

Anyone have any whole school ideas for monitoring effort on teams?

We can see if assignments are being turned in but some students are turning them in with nothing attached....! Also some work is obviously far better than others

Honey that's not on at all. It's a basic right. What a nightmare.

@Piggywaspushed

Goodness

That looks completely unsustainable, especially for heads.

I know it's easy to criticise SLT, but if even 25% of heads across the country decided it was all too much, I think a lot of schools would end up in a lot of trouble.

And I bet it's the ones that care the most with the most anxiety.

Oh my gosh. How do you all do this? I've taught the key worker bubble for 2 days now and I'm shattered. Absolutely done. And my throat has gone. Not even been a full class and I've had a TA. And when I say taught I mostly mean watching a little video, explaining it some more, modeling what I'd like them to do and then going round live marking. Not teaching from scratch.

No idea how you do it? It's only Tuesday and I'm ready for bed!!! My mum thinks I've gone back too soon but I'm really conscious of falling behind, especially with covid around.

[quote Piggywaspushed]This is so shocking.

Someone is literally cutting a pepper and onion so that the poor don't get too much!!?!?

schoolsweek.co.uk/childrens-minister-vows-urgent-action-on-pitiful-food-parcels/[/quote]
This has really pissed me off today and last night as well.

The only reason a lot of councils/schools are not doing the voucher schemes this term is because of lobbying from companies like Chartwells, who clearly saw a chance to line their pockets at the expense of the poor.

Apparently, the Chartwells CEO is a tory donor, too.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation

Anyone have any whole school ideas for monitoring effort on teams?

We can see if assignments are being turned in but some students are turning them in with nothing attached....! Also some work is obviously far better than others

You could try this link. Its not perfect but you don't have to sign up however you can see what everyone is doing at the same time. I mean a few of ours called themselves Ben Dover but you can kick them out and they are used to it now. It shows who is listening and who is asleep. Like my dd today on FaceTime to her mates with lesson on in the background perid 5. Normally I would be mad but I haven't got the energy. Oh is having a word.

whiteboard.fi/k2dhd

Very interesting from UNISON today (by self testing they appear to mean testing yourself/your child at home, as far as I can work out):

^Mass self testing in primaries and early years in England coming soon

UNISON has been calling for systematic testing in schools for many months, but has had some concerns about the system rushed into secondary schools. We have had further discussions with the government today.

A new programme of self testing is now going to be introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) for primaries and early years settings shortly.

It will initially be for primary school staff (and special schools for the same age pupils). The aim is to start getting materials into schools next week - support materials are due out later this week. This will include EY setting in schools and (we think and are checking) maintained nurseries - but Private/Independent nurseries will be asked to use the community testing schemes that are being set up

In the longer term they want to offer it to pupils – but want to pilot this to see how it works as parents would need to do the tests.

For the time being secondary age pupils (inc. special schools with pupils that age) will continue with the school based tests. In the longer term it is planned to move to self-testing for all settings.

It will be voluntary for staff to take the test. It is expected to be on general offer to all staff once or twice a week, but additional tests for those who have had contact with pupils/staff who become infected/test positive.

In the case of a positive test – pupils will self-isolate. However the DfE are suggesting that staff will be able to take daily tests for 7 days and can continue to go into schools as long as they test negative. UNISON has made it clear that we believe that isolation for staff should continue for now - whilst tests are being introduced and there remain issues about accuracy of the results. Nonetheless we recognise this is another measure that should help reduce infection rates in schools - although it needs to be in addition and not replace others measures.

The burden on schools of the self test scheme is much less than the school based tests in secondaries. UNISON has asked about the impact on staff and and what about additional funding will be available.

This is all we know at this stage. We will issue extra guidance as we learn more.^

name sorry but your mum is right!!!

You must must must look after your voice. You only get one.

Several U turns there, all welcome I think....

Can I ask for some advice? I have 16 children, KW and vulnerable, in my Primary class and I'm currently trying to do both teaching in school and home-learning as we are single form. With the 'new' guidance from Friday my Deputy tried to get numbers in school down, as we knew there were a few with one critical worker but the other parent at home. He phoned round and tried his best but there are 2 children in my class who have one Critical worker parent but the other is a stay at home parent (admittedly both have a toddler or baby) but both are definitely not working at all. Both refused to have child at home as too difficult to home school with younger siblings. Deputy says guidance says 'should' not 'must' so he can't do anything. Head agrees. I'm furious. Can he and should he insist?

Yes @RigaBalsam! That’s what is used above too. It’s been so good! One of mine today put his name as another student so I had two of the other boy. So at the end I kept him behind as because his name wasn’t there it looked like he had done nothing and told him he could choose to be in trouble for not using IT sensibly or for failing to do any work next time 🤣

Also glad you’re off btw.

Bookeater (love the name!) am no expert but surely we all should be following government guidance?

@thebookeatinggirl

Can I ask for some advice? I have 16 children, KW and vulnerable, in my Primary class and I'm currently trying to do both teaching in school and home-learning as we are single form. With the 'new' guidance from Friday my Deputy tried to get numbers in school down, as we knew there were a few with one critical worker but the other parent at home. He phoned round and tried his best but there are 2 children in my class who have one Critical worker parent but the other is a stay at home parent (admittedly both have a toddler or baby) but both are definitely not working at all. Both refused to have child at home as too difficult to home school with younger siblings. Deputy says guidance says 'should' not 'must' so he can't do anything. Head agrees. I'm furious. Can he and should he insist?

That’s really tricky. We are insisting at my school but now have parents threatening to go the the MP / local paper.

Surely anyone protesting will just be pointed in the direction of the new government guidance? And possibly a video of an ICU unit currently....

Well that's what I'd do!

My Year 2 child has a genuinely lovely teacher, I think she is an NQT but absolutely great and adored by all the children.

Today I got to see some of his live lessons whilst teaching from home myself and was shocked at the behaviour of other parents! Surely you keep yourself out of view and do not speak? One parent interrupted her as she was taking the register for some random unrelated question and another talked over her during the lesson input. Why are people like this?