The Forty Second Republic - Lockdown 3 online learning struggles continue

[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

I don't mind the lateral flow tests being used if kids are under no pressure to do them and are old enough to give an opinion. Don't like the concept for primary at all. But they should never be used to replace isolation, they just aren't reliable enough.

@TheHoneyBadger I think you’ve done the right thing. Even if they aren’t happy with the time the facts are there.

I have found over the years (I am 0.6) saying things like “great idea, can you just let me know when you know how the time will be allocated to me/where the time will be out in my timetable/what of my responsibilities I will be dropping/passing to someone else” type thing. Or “so just to check as I’m 0.6 shall I do this part and who will be doing the rest so I can liaise directly with them’ and name 3/5 of the job. So for a scheme of work I’d probably offer to do about 2 out of 3 terms.

It’s early and I’m tired so those might not make full sense but I’ve found it very effective when things are shared out equally on a team where I’m the only one that is PT.

It's replacing isolation that gets me. We have been able to prevent most spread by shutting down a bubble. This would get rid of the one effective tool in our arsenal.

I just read how the morgues are full in my county so, now would be a great time to not get it.

I also don't want the testing to extend to primary kids, mine sobbed when they got the flu vaccine nasal spray. I had half a class crying as I handed them over to the nurses one by one. My 1:1 does not do well with any physical discomfort, as a result of her SEN, any day she would need a test would be a complete write-off for learning, and she would spend the whole day crying and clinging to me. KS1.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot turtle doves have a seconds sale at the moment. I can't quite believe how effectively warm wrists keep me warm... but they're good. It's just my toes now!

@TheHoneyBadger if your trainee doesn't do what they've been asked, they're not meeting the standards. Send them to my office for a whatforing.
I'm that way out today 😂

[quote MrsHerculePoirot]@TheHoneyBadger I think you’ve done the right thing. Even if they aren’t happy with the time the facts are there.

I have found over the years (I am 0.6) saying things like “great idea, can you just let me know when you know how the time will be allocated to me/where the time will be out in my timetable/what of my responsibilities I will be dropping/passing to someone else” type thing. Or “so just to check as I’m 0.6 shall I do this part and who will be doing the rest so I can liaise directly with them’ and name 3/5 of the job. So for a scheme of work I’d probably offer to do about 2 out of 3 terms.

It’s early and I’m tired so those might not make full sense but I’ve found it very effective when things are shared out equally on a team where I’m the only one that is PT.[/quote]
This is excellent advice for even full timers to stop this culture of working unhealthy hours for free, to be honest. Spot on!

I don’t get the way that some articles in the DM get 5k comments in a few hours, yet others-like that one about testing, gets 100!

I don’t think many people actually give a shit about schools or children, they just really hate teachers!

"I don’t get the way that some articles in the DM get 5k comments in a few hours, yet others-like that one about testing, gets 100!"

I always assumed that it's because they've just updated/over-written a previous articel and so they're counting those comments too.

Yes, I think teachers are just hated. Bad experiences with schools in the 70s and 80s.

@CallmeAngelina

"I don’t get the way that some articles in the DM get 5k comments in a few hours, yet others-like that one about testing, gets 100!"

I always assumed that it's because they've just updated/over-written a previous articel and so they're counting those comments too.

Yes, I hadn’t thought of that.

I think I need to get off t’internet and stop reading things today. Even the Guardian article has annoyed me

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/experts-remain-divided-mass-covid-tests-schools

It suggests that even experts are divided about the LF tests in schools which is very misleading. It cites Indie Sage (who stem probably horrified) as saying LF tests are ok (though NOT for replacing SI) which is what the entire bloody debate is about?!

Are there ANY experts who think using LF tests to replace self/isolation is a good idea?? If no, then experts aren’t divided!

Who are probably horrified.

DH has just had TWO speeding fines. he ahs been out about three times.

Pillock.

My school somehow procured some LFTs in September. They were described to us as 99.something accurate, and were offered throughout last term to staff with symptoms to avoid absence while getting a proper test. Staff were tested first thing in the morning and got their negative results in time for registration.

Anyone pointing out the obvious flaws in this approach was of course regarded as obstructive and a bit of a fusspot.

We have over 20 y7s down to come into school next week- which is fine, but SLT are being weird about spreading them out between rooms.

We currently have an unused computer room, and only about 5 Y8 students in, so could easily distribute them to have about 12 to a room (our safe limits when Y10 were in).

SLT's argument is "What if more of the older years want to come in later?". Well, surely we reassess then? SLT obviously hide in their offices all day, so won't be spending the day with 20 kids who will be unable to social distance.

I could understand it if we didn't have the space, but, like... we do?

hedgehog Oh don't go out there! Stay in here where it's safe. I'll even let you have one of my chocolate biscuits (but don't tell the others)

I'm being good today chocolate
I'm heating soup rather than my attacking the secret biscuit stash

@PumpkinPie2016

Thank you!

Didn't get much chance to catch up with the last thread- one of those weeks!

Apologies if this has already been linked amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/regulator-refuses-to-approve-mass-covid-testing-schools-in-england?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&__twitter_impression=true

Basically, the medicines and healthcare regulator have refused to approve the use of lateral flow tests in schools due to risks of people who should be self isolating remaining in school, and therefore potentially spreading the virus.

I am glad they have refused to approve it. Obviously we will see what happens in the coming days but it does rather rain on Boris and Gavin's parade doesn't it.

Apologies, I'm new here so I hope I have used the 'quote previous message' facility correctly.

I read this article (about lateral flow testing in schools) yesterday and immediately dismissed it as a non-story. The reason? Well it has be overtaken by events, hasn't it?

The mass testing of (secondary pupils in particular) was planned to allow schools to re-start from the 11th January, but once the new lockdown came into play, surely that whole scheme became history?

Or have I missed something?

Thank you MrsHP. Frankly I feel like a right wanker saying things like that but I'm reaching the point where I'd rather feel like a wanker than feel totally taken the piss out of. My language is a bit colourful for daytime viewing. 2 days alcohol free and 5 days without heating and hot water are to blame.

I didn't do google meet. I've played this game before with people who manage to avoid addressing anything awkward in writing. She can put it in an email.

I need to learn to be a bit less friendly as counterintuitive as that sounds to me and a lot more to the point with no fluff and let people deal with it.

I'm talking a good wall here - just need to stick to it

No one in their right mind would think lft replacing isolating is a good idea which tells us everything we already knew about this lot of tossers.

Prof Michael Mina of Harvard is very pro LFTs, anti lockdowns. But can't remember if he addressed "instead of SI".

Our KW kids are now considered a new bubble, but I've asked for clarification on what they can and can't do (Covid, behaviour) as there's no consistency between supervising staff atm.....

And I appear to have inadvertently uncovered a serious safeguarding issue because of the relaxed way Y11 girls are chatting to each other about 3m from me in here...

@manchestermyself

Or have I missed something?
Many secondary schools have set up testing centres and have already started using them on staff/Kw children who are in and primaries were going to start soon as well. Schools would also be (have been?!) expected to use them on reopening as that’s Gav’s big plan for making them safe and obviously to replace SI. It’s not old news as such, but it had largely just been put on hold until a wider school reopening.

I can’t see any LEAs going for it now though-not without MHRA approval. It’s a huge gaping door of litigation waiting to happen.

I've just looked at how many schools within our county council have reported cases within the last 10 days. It seems like a lot, but what I find really interesting is that less than 10% are secondary. I realise that it could be staff - but why would staff in primary be more likely to get it than secondary. I also realise that there are less secondary schools than primary, but that ratio does seem particularly low.

@chocolateisavegetable

I've just looked at how many schools within our county council have reported cases within the last 10 days. It seems like a lot, but what I find really interesting is that less than 10% are secondary. I realise that it could be staff - but why would staff in primary be more likely to get it than secondary. I also realise that there are less secondary schools than primary, but that ratio does seem particularly low.

Are there a lot more people going into primaries? Staff/KW?

but why would staff in primary be more likely to get it than secondary

Far fewer (less?) students in at secondary. For example secondary I have contact with 6 students for an hour a week. Primary colleagues have up to half size classes every day.

Hi all hope everyone is ok. I've been having a bad day health anxiety wise (non Covid related) which all kicked off at start of peri menopause about 5/6 years ago. The anxieties change depending on symptoms. DH has had enough of me worrying although he has been sympathetic. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day