Does your school have a lot of staff sickness right now???

[MrsTumbletap]

Ours is crazy, covid, chest infections, bad colds, general illness. Never known absence levels like it and I have been teaching for years.

Cover is crazy, loads of students are off too.

What is your school like right now?

Around 25% off last Thurs and Fri. Combo of covid, covid testing, bad 'other lurg' and 'anxiety'.

We’re not too bad atm but it was very close to us needing to close just before half term.

Loads of children off before half term, calmed right down and then this week has gone crazy again with around 25% of a couple of classes off though most not with Covid (apparently).

Yes! Some off with COVID and we have a horrible heavy cold/flu/virus thing doing the rounds which is flooring people (a week or more off and morphing into chest/sinus/ear infections). Supply is scarce and we are really struggling (especially with lack of TA support in younger classes with many children needing 1:1 or additional support which is just not there at the moment). And we're trying to do a Nativity performance which needs lots of additional adult support with costumes etc. It's turning into a nightmare.

Loads of staff and pupils off before half-term but better since.

We're hit with Covid atm, when staff come back it's taking a few weeks for them to get the strength to do full time. This is a young vaccinated workforce. Supply is tricky, teachers having to help at lunchtimes. It's not easy.

Yup. Daily emails are going out asking for anyone who can help to give up non-teaching periods to cover staff absence on top of the supply teacher numbers as well.

Although I suspect a lot of this asking is because we don't seem to have as many supply teachers in as we have had in the past. I wonder if there is an issue in getting supply in or the budget to pay for it isn't there.

Supply teachers don't want the job...too insecure...up and down lack of respect or appreciation...they have walked....don't blame them...

Our staff sickness levels are high.

mainly Covid related.

@Bearnecessity - I don't blame them. I TA. I've been in some shocking classes (students) and the lack of support from senior management is obvious.

Yes loads. Not so much covid but other bugs and stress.

[quote minisoksmakehardwork]@Bearnecessity - I don't blame them. I TA. I've been in some shocking classes (students) and the lack of support from senior management is obvious. [/quote]
Should have read .....I don't blame them....

I can only produce butchered phrasing at the weekend I will be back to normal in class tomorrow. 😉

Yes. We have closed to half of our year groups for 10 ten days. Staff absence almost all Covid.

at least 4 staff including HT
Dont know about kids as im also off with a busted wrist

Glad it's not just my school!
Staff are burnt out.

Half the teaching staff are positive for covid. 1/3 of the children are off. We need to close if we lose any more staff as its just not safe. Very stressful and disruptive.

Same here. Lots of staff off for various reasons. Cover really tight and we struggle to get supply teachers in.

Never known it this bad

We have a lot of staff off. So much that we have had to a year group working from home each day this week.

Yes: After a good pause COVID is making its rounds a general bug and I honestly don’t know when we last had full attendance.
As someone who hasn’t yet been struck, I’m beyond shattered doing my job plus covering duties, clubs and helping supply staff.
I’m 100 percent sure it will be my turn once the holidays start.

@bananabuddy3 that's what I'm worried about. I've been covering sickness and following the covid around the school. Would rather have it now than at the beginning of the holidays

The next two weeks are going to be a challenge. The Christmas parties, assemblies and concerts are going to be tricky!