Support and Teaching Staff Safe Space - bring biscuits! (edited by MNHQ)

[BehindTheSequinsandStilettos]

Didn't we have an inner staff room within The Staffroom - you know, where we could chat and vent about the week?
Am I being stupid or has it gone?
Rough week, needed to chat x

This is it!

Hah! It can be. But I thought there was a long-running one? Did it peter out or did I just lose the last one? How was your week Mrs H?

Not the worst ever, but I wouldn't want a rerun!

Yours?

Knackered. I am a Cover Supervisor (but with QTS). We had six out the other week and I've picked up a covid variant but gone in regardless, which in hindsight, was dumb.

Am wrapped up tight in a blankie now, trying to ignore the lung crackles as I exhale. #pitypartyforone

TA, knackered with a cold. Who invented the 8 week half term??? 🙈🙈🙈

Don't know but they need their head examined. Not DD's secondary though - they've opted for a two week October half term, break up next Friday it's to try and massage attendance figures

A two week October half term sounds just the ticket!

Glad to have found this thread!

I'm a HoD (core subject).

So far, the half term has been pretty decent but this last week was so stressful 😫

Hoping next week is better!

Hi all,

Love the idea of a 'staff room'!
I have had fairly good week - we started our first 'big write' of the year and the children were excited to be writing which is great however, due to many meetings after school this week I have had to bring all the English books home which I try to avoid all costs but it will need Monday doesn't start with a pile of unmarked books.

Mine was pretty fucking shit tbh
I had my timetable altered at very short notice, and as originally i had lots of sixth form i had been given shit ks3 classes as a counterbalance.
Then they alter my tt and now i have loads of shit ks3 groups, and wasting a lot of lesson time waiting and waiting and waiting. .

Mine was ok but finally decided that after 29 years this is going to be my last year in education.

I've had enough and I don't love it anymore.

It feels like this is the longest half term ever, yet there are still two weeks to go?!

Everyone seems to be so fed up at my school-huge numbers of really high need SEND pupils with inadequate funding, fewer support staff than ever before, more parental complaints and much much more illness! Not just Covid and colds, but things coming from stress and the job, I think-water infections, shingles etc

Has anyone’s school said much about changing PPA due to the new recommendations? I don’t think they are actually out yet, are they and I’m presuming won’t be statutory? We can’t have ours from
home and this won’t change unless the government/DfE tells heads it’s compulsory :( I can’t help but think it’s rather pointless having stuff that’s guidance/recommendations/non-statutory as some schools just won’t do it/can’t afford to do it.

To answer your original question, we all buggered off during Covid when we kept going in Active and getting attacked. Even when HQ stopped us from being able to be an Active thread, we used to get visitations.

Anyway, I've been off work resting after an op. Went back Weds and remembered how exhausted I was.

Cheers piggy so it's been years then
Well, I decree the new inner staffroom open. Have a brew!
Sorry to all of you with similar woes.
If any MNetter wants to criticise me they can come and do my job for a week.
Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough!
I just watched The Wheel and I would have beaten the posh dude cos I knew it was Emily Brontë. This pleases me and my state education.
Hope you all have a good Sunday and next week is better for us. x

I watched it too ( post Strictly, obvs). Jonathan Ross must always think 'blimey,everyone else is so thick'.

Indeed. Although I have to say Shepherd's Pie is my go-to comfort food (same as bangers and mash) rather than a roast dinner. Although our local carvery has decent mash/gravy.
Wossy is well-informed generally, different interests and connections
Hope you're okay piggy and post-op recovery isn't hindered by stress/fatigue

~ Hope you have a good week Mrs H/pumpkin
~ that your cold goes soon enigma, nowt worse than being bunged up or dripping and trying to keep on keeping on
~ that you juggled your book-marking with respite juggle good on ya
~ a pox on the timetabler's house, jaffa year 7s can be very needy
~ totally sympathise and empathise BG brave of you x
~ same here Appu, no cash for interventions, buck stops with staff, no idea how they'd do PPA from home where I am. It would only really work if p1/p5

I'm off foraging for chocolate. I may be some time

Rough!
And now I’d like to cry as my TA has warned me she probably won’t be in tomorrow!

@IgnoranceNotOk how are you? Did the TA make it?

I'm exhausted, though this week is currently better than last.
Had a cover last lesson today- an RS lesson (I'm a scientist!) The work was a PowerPoint which needed delivery and input 🙈 spent lunch desperately going through it and trying to work it out. Some of it didn't seem to link at all.
I started the lesson and it became clear the kids were missing some vital knowledge so had to adapt.

Thankfully, the class were great because otherwise, it would have been carnage!!

Oh and my ECT has a cold and hinted he may not be in tomorrow 🤯

Still knackered TA here. Day off tomorrow though.. hooray! 6 more get ups!

@PumpkinPie2016 nope - she’s not in for the rest of the week. I have a very tricky class needs wise and nothing has been put in place to support (not even movement breaks!). I can’t teach through the constant disruption (which we’re supposed to ignore because SEN) so I’m failing everyone. One flipped out yesterday and screamed, threw things and swore before running downstairs to try and escape! No SLT asked if I was ok!
So afternoon he’s back in and happy as Larry.

I just need to leave as anywhere would be better right now - I can do challenging pupils and SEN but I need a management who will do something! Anything!

Will you have to cover the ECT if they’re not in?

@Enigma52 thanks for all you do!
How is your class?

@IgnoranceNotOk yes I work in a little SEN school. I enjoy my work, but oh so very tired right now. I work with lots of different teachers and students with varying needs and love the variety that comes with that.

Your setting sounds very tough and unsustainable for you. Without SLT support, it's hell.

My new username sums up the term. Been one long nightmare really and home has been totally fucked up too. So few staff, so much unmet need and the behaviour communicates the impact this is having. Hurry up half term!

@Hitkickclimb how are you surviving it?
How/do your management support with it?

I’ve never been so close to calling in sick when I’m not sick but I know then my poor class will be split up and put in groups in other classes and they are dealing with enough!