The 69th Staff Republic

[TheHoneyBadger]

Just in time for the Christmas break. As it's the holidays we're allowed chairs and everything. I believe even buffets are permitted currently? No going to see Bond films though obviously.

Stolen from previous threads…
'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 for school staff to let off steam.

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.

Do not give the staffroom password to non-staff as it attracts the wrong sort of crowd.

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.'

We had an inset on it a while back, but nothing in teacher training.

They suggested that the teacher works with the children who needs it most (although TA does consolidation work or things like funky fingers, developmental PE) and the TA is keeping the rest of the children on task.

We are really struggling with 1-1s and still providing general TAs though.

We do it as part of our in school training with trainees, and our induction for new staff.
The uni don't even bother to teach them about planning lessons

The first rumbles of back to school problems are surfacing in the Australian press: schools back at the end of January - and it's the union asking for a plan. Omicron is running riot and staff shortages, already hitting supermarket supplies - food but fewer staff to stack it - is the anticipated issue.

In Victoria, as in the UK, there is a shortage of supply teachers, exacerbated by lack of overseas teachers and many if not most snapped up by longer term contracts doing the catch-up programme.

Access to vaccinations is the big issue for pupils - thank you Scott Morrison.

Having just retired, I won't be going into schools anytime soon. Now I think of it, I can't. Once the holidays are over my long service leave begins and I can't work in a school until it finishes.

My poor DD is ill, waiting for her PCR to confirm Covid, and now I see the turnaround is so slow that tests of more than 7 days are in-valid and you have to do another.

All the best to fellow Republican

I could quite fancy a job in Australia.

It's not a bad place to teach. The government isn't fundamentally anti-teaching, though funding is a scandal. The general "feel", as in public opinion, is supportive of teachers.

The strong union keeps the government in check with a better contract than in the UK.

I've a friend who teaches in Perth and is very happy

Ooh I could quite fancy upping sticks to Australia. But couldn't be sharing my house with snakes🐍

@thebookeatinggirl

Have most of you had new risk assessments done for the start of this term - taking into account Omicron is more transmissible?

We don't seem to be doing anything different... One form entry Primary. Had 30 people in a small Hall doing INSET training (most with masks on but that's it) then same 30 people all eating lunch in the same Hall without masks or social distancing. Staff Meetings in person as usual (in Hall so can socially distance), no PPA allowed at home, small staff room being used as normal (so 9-10 people in a small room without masks, often without windows open). Whole assemblies still happening, mixed year group teaching for phonics... And our local NHS Trust has declared critical incident as overwhelmed. Seems bonkers to me, but everyone just rolls their eyes when I open the staff room windows and Head denied request to do PPA at home.

Nothing different here but we have been quite cautious on the whole. Masks since Sept in communal areas and assembly for staff, since Dec parents back to wearing them on playground, staggered starts and end, lunch and break. Hand washing when they come in and before and after break.

Otherwise its an open window and hope for the best! All class back so far whereas had a few cases pre Christmas.

@namechangedyetagain

Ooh I could quite fancy upping sticks to Australia. But couldn't be sharing my house with snakes🐍

I worked in a factory in Australia for a couple of months. I remember my colleague cheerfully telling me you could tell when summer had started when you could see run over snakes by the side of the road .

@cornercupboard

For teacher colleagues: is there anything in your teacher training about how best to use a TA in class? Debating this with TA colleagues following recent recruitment process of a teacher, where none of the candidates gave any "instructions" to the TA about how they should support during the lesson which was part of the interview process.

As a current trainee, yes. It's the weekly focus once per term in my programme. However I am on a SCITT not a uni course so this could differ.

Cornercupboard - no, never. Though our TAs usually come in with a plan - they are there to work with, say, 2 or 3 pupils with ASN and wouldn't take that kindly to be told what to do! And would certainly not want to keep the class on task while I worked with half a dozen pupils.
I do talk to the TAs (don't have one that often these days) and ask who they are supporting,tell them a bit about the lesson etc.

DD's PCR came up negative, and now she's beating herself up that she wasn't properly ill!! I pointed out she had first contact with Covid case and had classic Omicron symptoms.

Anyway, the important thing I she's OK, and she can go to work now, now that the dozy buggers have realised that if they want front line social workers in, they have to supply the RATs.

Thank all for TA use information. When I was a TA in a class where there was recruitment recently, one of the things gaslighty twat head was keen to see was how candidates used the TA - only 1 gave me a lesson plan and asked me to do a particular task - all the others assumed I'd be out with the lower ability children and in fact just sent me and them out without coming back to see how we were getting on. In fact so did the one who gave me a lesson plan and job.

Might help someone to know that?!?!

Got put on an absence management plan today. Over twelve months I took two days for an ear infection (went back ill in between) and two to seek treatment for depression. I have just got to get out of teaching this year.

That's dreadful @BitterTits
Are your union involved?

That is shocking @BitterTits

That's ridiculous @BitterTits.

Ours are faux concerned about our mental health and wellbeing atm.
It makes you feel ill to read the bloody emails about it to be honest.

Surveys about how to help us - I said more time to everything!

What would help your workload?
Some time out of class to do IEPs, subject leadership, etc etc etc

What would help you feel happier at work? As above

What would be number one on your wish list to improve your job?

As above

It still won't happen! It's all so bloody pointless and wastes even more of my time!

I have paraphrased the questions somewhat but you get my drift.

@BitterTits

Got put on an absence management plan today. Over twelve months I took two days for an ear infection (went back ill in between) and two to seek treatment for depression. I have just got to get out of teaching this year.

I’m gobsmacked! What kind of a hellish school do you work in!? They should be ashamed.

I am so sorry

We have that too @twinkletoesimnot
What can we do?
These things.
Nope.

Why bother asking? You don't care

@BitterTits

Got put on an absence management plan today. Over twelve months I took two days for an ear infection (went back ill in between) and two to seek treatment for depression. I have just got to get out of teaching this year.

That’s awful bitter. I’ve had more time off than you this year! You need to talk to your union and look for another job. You’d think that after the last two years, schools would be trying to desperately hold onto staff.

There's no union rep where I am but I've emailed the regional member. It is an absolute disgrace isn't it? They're really gaslighting me, making me feel unreasonable for challenging it. I received the initial letter on the first day of the Christmas holidays, having not had any time off at all that half term.

Call me cynical, but I guess if staff are intimidated into attending work ill, there'll be more to spare for supply for Covid absence.

@twinkletoesimnot

That's ridiculous *@BitterTits*.

Ours are faux concerned about our mental health and wellbeing atm.
It makes you feel ill to read the bloody emails about it to be honest.

Surveys about how to help us - I said more time to everything!

What would help your workload?
Some time out of class to do IEPs, subject leadership, etc etc etc

What would help you feel happier at work? As above

What would be number one on your wish list to improve your job?

As above

It still won't happen! It's all so bloody pointless and wastes even more of my time!

Ours did this last year but didn't act on it. Was it autumn 2019 that Ofsted put staff wellbeing on the agenda? We had biscuits, posh tea, dress down Friday and were able to go home during PPA for one week only. Covid put a stop to any pretence of caring about staff.

We're about to be asked to do another well-being survey. Pointless waste of time

The data is out... under 600 teachers responded to the call to arms.😂