Broom cupboard 4 - soon be time to think about heating this place

[TheHoneyBadger]

Will post this on the end of the other thread too but I have just found this:

If you are identified as a contact and asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, including by the NHS COVID-19 app you may be entitled to a payment of £500 from your local authority under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. If you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate you may also be entitled to this payment.

^Presumably that is all of the 'thought' that has gone into the situation I've been talking about. Still doesn't tell us if we would be seen as taking unauthorised leave or able to work from home or anything - need union specific advice on that.

Cut yourself some slack @namechangedyetagain

A very wise person once told me to focus on the pupils who were ‘getting it’ rather than those who weren’t. So when you feel it all getting overwhelming, take a breath, look around the room and focus on those who are doing what you want them too. See them. Then worry about the others!

Be kind to yourself, Name - it's really early days yet - and everyone finds these first few weeks tough as we get to know the children and try to work out how best to support them. Ask the SENCO for advice and lean on your colleagues - they are there to support you.

There are some. There definitely are. But the ones I keep going to slt and SENDCo about. They're the ones I'm failing. I can't teach to the majority and also stretch the tops and support the very bottom on my own. I just can't. I'm happy to be advised, shown, taught, whatever it takes.

But when there are chn you just can't reach as they're so withdrawn, so sad and nothing in life makes them light up, what then?

We have 4 NQTs and the others are so much more together or at least don't moan as much

I can't teach to the majority and also stretch the tops and support the very bottom on my own.

That’s not your failing, that’s a common problem. Have you got a TA?

But when there are chn you just can't reach as they're so withdrawn, so sad and nothing in life makes them light up, what then?
You just keep trying and you don't blame yourself. Some children are beyond hard to reach, even for really experienced teachers.

Maybe the others talk a good game....

Maybe the others talk a good game....

As I said to my mentee, not many people go on social media/into uni/on the WhatsApp group saying how crap they're doing. Don't compare because you don't know their reality. You k ow the cherry picked tales.

You're trying hard, you're asking for help and acting on advice. Give yourself a break.

namechangedyetagain
The NQTs who don’t moan are quite often the ones who are struggling - they are so unaware they haven’t realised they are struggling. You are reflecting on your teaching and will come up with strategies to improve. Anyway, the most experienced teachers are finding it hard this year. The key thing is to keep going.

Apparently the NHS has been told it can relax Covid measures in hospitals (eg reduce social distancing to 1m, no pre op isolation if double vaxxed) so they can “return to normal”.
Sound familiar? Although even scarier than in schools!!

Just one thought about mixed ability. I teach secondary so it might be different, and the advice I would give may sound counterproductive: make the work more challenging. Once the higher ability pupils are engaged in something difficult, they will be focused (and therefore not demand your time), then you can go around and pick up any pupils who are struggling. Teach to the top, scaffold when needed.

@namechangedyetagain

There are some. There definitely are. But the ones I keep going to slt and SENDCo about. They're the ones I'm failing. I can't teach to the majority and also stretch the tops and support the very bottom on my own. I just can't. I'm happy to be advised, shown, taught, whatever it takes.

But when there are chn you just can't reach as they're so withdrawn, so sad and nothing in life makes them light up, what then?

We have 4 NQTs and the others are so much more together or at least don't moan as much

Don’t panic-I still feel like this sometimes and I’ve been teaching for 20+ years! Which year group?

Do you have no TA support at all? Is there another teacher in the year group to support with planning?

I wouldn't listen to any advice from a teach first person. Not even if it was good. Ha! I'm that much of a twat.

I just realised that I hadn't read any drivel about Greggs sausage rolls or baking croissants from Lehain in a while so I looked him up and he's deleted practically all his tweets.

What happened there?

Had a letter tonight to 'warn and inform' that there are a 'number' of confirmed cases in dd's y8 class today.

I'll be happier to receive these notices when dd is vaccinated.

Thank you for your advice, sensible as always. I have a TA most of the week but also very new and needs training. And I need to learn to use them more effectively

Anyhow, I'm awake again as thinking about the day. Wondering if there's anything different I can try today...

@OytheBumbler

Had a letter tonight to 'warn and inform' that there are a 'number' of confirmed cases in dd's y8 class today.

I'll be happier to receive these notices when dd is vaccinated.

I felt the same when I was told there were 8 cases in my DD’s class but she’s Yr 6 so there’s nothing I can do except cross fingers!

Oh my goodnessname-they put a new TA with an ECT?! Go easy on yourself then as definitely that would make things 10 times harder! Can you get support from someone there to help learn tips to work with your TA effectively? Good luck!

I'm getting them to shadow the TA next door a bit just to learn how to do things. But then they are out of class....
Hoping today will be better🙂

@namechangedyetagain

Thank you for your advice, sensible as always. I have a TA most of the week but also very new and needs training. And I need to learn to use them more effectively

Anyhow, I'm awake again as thinking about the day. Wondering if there's anything different I can try today...

I'm really surprised they put a new TA with a NQT. Our school always puts experienced LSAa with new staff (whether new to school or teaching). How is your mentor? Could they help sort training for the TA?

That is bizarre they have given you a new TA. Have they got loads of new teachers and TAs this year for some reason?

I would go and say all of this to your mentor. Is planning ok-are you sharing that with others in the year group or are you a one-form entry?

@OytheBumbler

Had a letter tonight to 'warn and inform' that there are a 'number' of confirmed cases in dd's y8 class today.

I'll be happier to receive these notices when dd is vaccinated.

We're not telling families of the dozens of cases. Don't have to. I think we should though. Not least as it might make parents of kids with "just a heavy cold" take them for a test...

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10036519/Education-faces-hardest-hit-Rishi-Sunaks-spending-review.html

Wouldn’t have expected anything less though from the Tories.

Started a thread, mother. Not linking to the Daily Mail on chat though!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4361061-Government-still-dont-give-a-shit-about-kids-education-schools-lose-out-in-spending-review

Maybe the antivaxxers could protest about that if they actually care about children?

My school web filter blocks the DM!!

@Piggywaspushed

My school web filter blocks the DM!!

So does mine. For personal browsing I o my use my phone though.

Teacher with it at school now. Teaches in our SEND base, so kids go in and out the whole time, and are in other classes during the afternoons. Potentially could bring down the whole of KS2.