The broom cupboard 2 - just for when we get briefly stranded without a staffroom

[TheHoneyBadger]

I'll pop a link in the old one so you know where to find safe haven. I have tried to clear out some space by getting rid of the ohp and vcr trolley and gin is hidden behind the sick sand bucket.

@TheHoneyBadger I agree - it's utterly surreal. I keep forgetting that there is even a lockdown situation because the only place I go is school, and apart from the fact that I never get breaks any more, it's exactly the same as normal.

Dreading this week. My TA's young DC is self-isolating following a bubble closure in her school so it will just be me and 30 children, non-stop, with no respite, and no PPA time, all week. I almost wish our bubble was still shut! Our school day has also been extended by 30 mins to help account for staggered starts/finishes so it's going to be exhausting.

What a lovely Mother's Day gift, Monkey.

@Monkeytennis97

Hi all hope everyone has had a lovely day. I've had a brilliant time and seen both my boys. Lovely roast dinner and beautiful flowers and candles from my eldest as well as DS2 saying "I love you mum" totally unprompted. Ace day ❤️

That sounds perfect, Monkey. I am so glad for you.

I'm group 10 and the omnni calculator for Wales predicts mid to end April. They are still only just beginning with the vulnerable and over 60s in the area, so they must be committed to carrying on upping the rate of tests.

y11 DD is PROPER stressing about going back tomorrow. "I'm not going back. I can't go back...." and repeat.

I hope it's bluster.

The omnicalculator I just did says I’ll have my first jab between 1-31st July. That is so different to the picture I just posted from Twitter which says I’ll be April?!

monkey so pleased you had a great day.

I need to plan a revision lesson for my very switched off Year 11s. Also need to give them a pep talk.

You’re making me a bit weepy there Monkey!
Just beautiful

monkey how lovely.

I'm frantically planning y11 lessons based on an assessment they're going to do in the next couple of weeks. This class have had such a rough ride and I'm now responsible for their grading. I hope I can get them through.

@HarrietDVane

PPA is a legal requirement. Someone else should provide cover while you have it. I know its not always easy to get and probably the attitude in primary is a bit different. But you should be covered and have the time.

Monkeytennis for you and your lovely ds1 and ds2.

Good luck for next week everyone. Not long till Easter!

Ds2 is the best. He is sending me Calvin Robinson tweets to tut at.

My DS is proper woke. My work is done.

Michael Mina, who disputes John Deeks' study results on LFTs, discussing LFTs and how one taken immediately:shortly after a positive gives reliable confirmation or disproves:

^No known false positives on the Innova test in over 5,000 at home and over 15,000 tests on college campuses.

Whenever a positive comes up, a second rapid test is used to confirm. PCR is also sent bc these are trials^.

Oops
mobile.twitter.com/michaelmina_lab/status/1370977010940579852

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation I haven't had my proper PPA for weeks. The PE teacher normally provides most of our cover but he keeps being sent home every time a bubble bursts. I have asked the HT but she just says there's nobody to cover. We are terribly understaffed. I got fed up with it the week before half term and stuck a film on on the Friday afternoon and awarded myself 90 minutes peace!

That's awful Harriet. Do you have union representation in school? I know it's difficult if you have a good relationship with your HT and as teachers we tend to do our best for the kids. But the head has a responsibility to provide cover for your PPA. They should be getting someone external in.

I have an 'interesting' relationship with the HT and I am probably the only one vocal enough to say anything about the PPA. We don't have a union rep. Colleagues are not boat-rockers and are unlikely to moan about PPA, or support me in asking for it, because 'after all we are in a pandemic.' Do you think it's worth a call to the union?

Definitely worth a call! This is one thing I won't back down on. PPA is protected time. My HT has never taken the piss and I'm secondary so a bit different in terms of cover. Is no one getting PPA? That's terrible. The fact we're in a pandemic makes it even more necessary. Stuff is taking longer to plan/mark etc.

I agree it's worth a call to the Union Harriet. I'm secondary, and I've always questioned whenever we have things that take away our PPA time. But it's only ever been one hour missed, and only ever one week. A few weeks with no PPA whatsoever is appalling, and illegal!! I've been told (many times, because I've queried it many times) that you should have an average of 2.5 hours of PPA a week, based on the normal 25 hours of teaching time in schools. So missing an hour one week but making that up over the next couple of weeks is ok, but losing PPA for a longer period would not be ok. So definitely stand up for yourself and your colleagues (even if they won't stand up with you) and demand that they get someone in to cover your PPA.

The fifty-third republic is open www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_staffroom/4192245-The-Fifty-third-Republic-Ides-of-March-Part-2

Good to know - thank you. I will speak to HT again this week, and if I get fobbed off again, I'll ring the union, as it has gone on for ages. This week I will need the non-contact time more than ever as I won't have any TA support at all.

Just sneaking in to put the heating on and stock up on biscuits.

My NQT school had biscuits available at morning break. I lived for that custard cream sometimes!

I got a cryptic "who was the student who was wearing an ear pod in your lesson?" today.

1. Which class?
2. Clearly I didn't see it from my box or I'd have dealt with it.
3. If you did, who didn't you deal with it?
4. In answer to 1, I've met them twice. I don't know who any of them are.

Clearly not meant to be SLT! 🤷‍♀️

Thinking of you tomorrow name and Honey. Name make sure you tell them how desperately you want to teach!

I’ve only just caught up with the old thread and it’s full.

Hope everyone is ok and those who have interviews are as prepared as they can be.

I can’t quite believe I am teaching Year 11. Keep thinking at some point some will realise I’m out of depth and come and take over.

I’m guessing it’s worse this year a lot of people are all over the place with testing.

Oh god MrsH we get that type of thing sometimes.... pisses everyone off no end...

Sorry when I filled the thread with my failure to even apply for a job 🤦‍♀️