Reopening schools question.

mine asked for unpaid sabbatical right after watching that zoom

I’ll add that option into the the conversation. Good thinking. Thanks.

Have the Lions been given the memo?

Lions, vions, virus, lirus, wifffle woffle – not your concern.

Boris’ “led by the science” guidance is all you need.

kelvin

I’ll add that option into the the conversation. Good thinking. Thanks.

It was very quick and seemed amicable. Short term we can weather that financially and although a few teaching friends incl. her HOY said she could make a bigger fuss it was worth it for peace of mind.

The way I see it: Technically as I’m the one at risk the school/CC have no legal obligation to me as I’m neither an employee or pupil so they could get arsy.

Her HOY is actually the one at risk and I understand is getting paid… (which I also think is fair). She’s feeling guilty especially now so many staff have been sent home and still doing a fair bit of work anyway.

Why assume that is any worse than usual? Just because you see it?

I think it’s because her teacher is going off script and improvising, rather than sticking to what they would normally be doing. I further suspect it’s an Alexa or Siri error rather than the written word.

Still, I’d have hoped it wouldn’t pass the mental sense check that any imported fact would undergo. It was only 23 years ago, you would remember it from the news.

I think it’s because her teacher is going off script and improvising, rather than sticking to what they would normally be doing. I further suspect it’s an Alexa or Siri error rather than the written word.

Still, I’d have hoped it wouldn’t pass the mental sense check that any imported fact would undergo. It was only 23 years ago, you would remember it from the news.

OH often has to take a class she hasn’t prepared herself and this sort of thing isn’t rare. These are just things she asks me “this can’t be correct ?” and ones that she actually gets the material in advance.

Again, this stuff as I remember that should just pass a mental sense check. Perhaps more now though as they have gone off script?

I’ll hold my hand up and say I couldn’t have said what year the Titanic was built or sank before looking but putting it the wrong side of WWI is bad enough… WWII unbelievable.

I asked my 10yr old to have a guess… he said 1906…
interestingly having already checked google’s answer to “when was the titanic made” (23 January 1998) I asked him to check… he used Siri and that actually came up with 1911.

Either way going back “what is the correct answer if your teacher says 1998?”
I asked Jnr (after he knew the correct answer)… he said “whatever they want to hear”.
I asked why if its wrong and he quoted “Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else.” (he’s currently reading 1984)

I can’t help that remind me of:

“Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.”

Well here we are, lovely day for it!

Well here we are, lovely day for it!

Did you have a training day yesterday or something? What do you do on them when the pubs are shut? 🙂

Did you have a training day yesterday or something?

Only allowed a certain number of kids in so I only teach tuesday and thursday at the moment. Its only Eng, Maths and Sci too.
Yesterday I went for a ride with my son!!! Couldnt find a pub 😂

Well here we are, lovely day for it!

It certainly seems to be getting down and dirty.
OH was given unpaid sabbatical basically* as the school/CC have a legal responsibility for her as an employee not me as a spouse. I’m kind of OK with that. It would mean me moving out somewhere but that isn’t strictly THEIR responsibility.

(* is what it seems to boil down to)

However one of the SEND TA’s has now been pressured into returning. Her daughter is the “at risk” attends the same school and she’s a single mother.
Her salary is paid linked to a child who’s parents have been pressured into sending the child to school.

Regardless of all that the upshot is the TA now has to send her daughter to relatives indefinitely and whilst I accept the school has no responsibility for a spouse it seems to me that sending away the daughter is not in her best interests or mental well being.

I’m only in for 90 minutes on Friday morning, delivering about an hour of pastoral stuff then 30 minutes of subject-specific content. Same next Friday too, then out Y12 students start their 7 week summer holiday and we’re doing a virtual transition week for Y11 who are thinking of joining us next year.

We recruit from a very wide area so a lot of students travel to us by public transport and school buses. Almost all of them have a more local alternative, so we’re really worried about the impact on recruitment of new students and the impact, long term, on staffing levels.

I’m in tomorrow to gut my room and mark out distancing. In next Tuesday to do something. We’re not allowed to have a planning meeting even if it’s socially distanced even outside.
We’ve been told this will definitely be until Christmas there’s no going back to normal unless…..
I think ScotGov is beginning to get pressure to get folk back to work so I can see schools being open no matter what.
We’ve got nqts being told there’s no jobs and yet pushing for retired teachers to fill in gaps.

I think people being expected back to work when they have a vulnerable person at home is going to be an issue outside of education as well. I can see both sides, people not wanting to put relatives at risk, but employers desperate stay solvent aren’t going to pay people arent working. In schools theres going to be shortages even if everybody is in with social distancing, factor in staff who are ill for other reasons, staff who are vulnerable themselves and i cant see much capacity for people protecting others being off as well, especially if that means paying for cover.

I’m a visiting guitar at a couple of Cheshire high schools…. I’ve been told it’s unlikely I’ll be back in September (I’m teaching remotely currently)

My main concern/thought on getting schools back in September…..lots of people seem to have forgotten about the concept of ‘self isolation’. Ie if you have symptoms of Coronavirus then you must self isolate for X amount of days…. winter term in your average school the vast majority of staff and kids will be displaying multiple symptoms of covid19 regardless of whether or not they have it. I just don’t see how with the current restrictions/measures/advice in place, we will end up with anything other than chaos!

In addition to the rules on isolation of you have Covid symptoms, I think this is probably going to mean more people taking time off sick for other illnesses. I’ve certainly dragged myself in while iller than I should have done before know, but am probably more aware of ‘spreading it around’ now and so would probably phone in sick for things that I’ve gone to work with in the past

Been in to school in my HoY role for the last two mornings to say a distanced hi to my cohort (or at least the third of them that are coming in each week). Lovely to see them but still proper odd in many ways. Being nosey, I’ve determined what I already suspected – that maybe only 20%-30% of them have stuck to the ‘lockdown’.

In other news, my wife’s school has just announced that they’re closing for the rest of the week due to a Key Worker kid testing positive. Time for a deep clean and to decide whether they need to close the entire provision for 14 days.

100th

I think ScotGov is beginning to get pressure to get folk back to work so I can see schools being open no matter what.

I can see that were it not practically summer hols…

We’ve got nqts being told there’s no jobs and yet pushing for retired teachers to fill in gaps.

The standard down here pre-covid is no teaching jobs but plenty of TA jobs BUT you need QTS for the TA job and its only a year contract.

Then you get asked “can you do a lesson plan for….” .. and “oh would you mind teaching that lesson” and end up as a cover teacher on a TA salary that comes out of the CC budget not the school. Not really the school’s fault… just saying things could be worse up there

TomB

My main concern/thought on getting schools back in September…..lots of people seem to have forgotten about the concept of ‘self isolation’. Ie if you have symptoms of Coronavirus then you must self isolate for X amount of days…. winter term in your average school the vast majority of staff and kids will be displaying multiple symptoms of covid19 regardless of whether or not they have it. I just don’t see how with the current restrictions/measures/advice in place, we will end up with anything other than chaos!

Now you said it I can’t believe noone pointed that out before. A bit like how we were suddenly and magically going top triple classroom numbers for 15 pupil bubbles (even assuming staff).

When do we get told about Boris’ plans for summer catch up?

Once Gavin has finished scribbling it on the back of his fag packet…

I’m already hearing the words ‘retired’, ‘trainee’, ‘summer’, ‘school’, ‘weekend’, ‘extended’, ‘opening’, in a variety of combinations though.

And no mention of any modifications to next years qualifications until at least March 2021…

Yep holidays in 2 weeks but the hubs is moving to the high school because numbers of kids are on the rise. Almost doubled in 2 weeks I’d expect the same rise when we move to phase 2.
The pressure to get folk back to work while not being able to fall back on the wider support network means the hubs being used more.
We are even to be a hub for ourselves. So kids of teachers will be in the school when not in their own school. That needs staffed too.

There was a magic money tree, but where are they going to find a magic teacher tree?

Loads of local schools are suddenly putting cover supervisor jobs up. There will be a need for loads more bodies in schools.

I’m in 3 days a week now looking after key worker and vunerable pupils.
Still setting online work and giving feedback to other year groups…and ringing my tutees in a pastoral role.
All core subject teachers are in doing sessions for yr10 ‘bubbles’.

Did anyone notice that at PMQ’s it was said that GW will announce a catch up plan.
That will be fun.

Also just heard a headteacher say that the guidelines say that primary children do not need to stay 2m apart so they can be crammed in. Is this true?

Well our nursery called this morning to say there would likely be issues delivering care.

As two deemed key workers we can get childcare at. Hub….only we can’t because the LA hasn’t got any.

So wife’s expected at school I’m expected at work

Gov says the LA will provide childcare and the LA are saying sorry full.

Good work goverment.

Currently I’m on a 3 day week using holidays and so is she as phased return after maternity. Come August that won’t be manageable

This situation will be repeated and magnified up and down the country especially where both parents are teachers

Also just heard a headteacher say that the guidelines say that primary children do not need to stay 2m apart so they can be crammed in. Is this true?

No social distancing allowed at the school I know most about, between kids or staff. And I mean not allowed… even giving other staff a wide birth in the corridors frowned upon. Oh, and parents evening (but in the day) for all classes next week… so all parents invited on site. This is what you get when guidance from government is hopeless.

Also just heard a headteacher say that the guidelines say that primary children do not need to stay 2m apart so they can be crammed in. Is this true?

M<y Daughter is at a Childcare Hub at the moment, she’ll be moving to a similar at her usual school a week Monday.

I think they’ve decided, probably rightly that there’s little point asking 5 and 6 year olds to socially distance, you might as well try to herd cats Well I’m sure you could, but it would really **** with their heads.

In our school they’re in small bubbles 4-6 kids, they wash their hands a few times a day, they’re not allowed in with symptoms etc, but they play all day, she LOVES it. There’s no definitive science on infection rates and transfer rates in under 10s, but it suggests it’s far lower risk than adults.

My Son, who is 14 has volunteered to join a study on anti-bodies as we’ve all been exposed to Covid and had no symptoms, he’s been having a blood test on Saturday which may prove our immunity, or at least his. This study will form part of the process for how schools reopen in Wales in September

I posted this on another thread.

Bit of a conundrum here and this spans a few threads.

The Wife returned to work on Monday, she’s a TA at a primary school. Tuesday morning she’s had a phone call to say someone in her “bubble” has CV19 symptoms. So she’s now having to self isolate, at least until this person’s test result is back. One bloody day of schools returning!

Sensible head on means that my household is now in isolation. But the NHS111 advice is to only isolate if you or someone you live with has symptoms or a positive test. That means we are free to carry on as normal until we have symptoms.

This seems a very lax approach, but on the other hand one person having symptoms could mean vast swathes of people self isolating for a small chance that the 10th person in the chain “could” have been exposed.

So I’m now sat in limbo, work doesn’t want me in until the test result is known, waiting for someone else to do the right thing and get tested ASAP.

kentishman
Member

Did anyone notice that at PMQ’s it was said that GW will announce a catch up plan.

Maxxis Bling Bling on the back, and stop being rubbish at bikes, was his usual advice

catchup plan is government will hire 1-1 tutors for all kids that need them

colour me sceptical

anywy our twins are back in nursery, they have temp checked on entry fwiw

my niece whos 6 just had a kid in her bubble test +ve , so theyve had to shut the entire school

Did the pesky unions shut the school? Or was it Starmer’s fault?

my niece whos 6 just had a kid in her bubble test +ve , so theyve had to shut the entire school

Why the entire school?
In our school that’s what the bubbles are for – if someone has symptoms then the bubble they’re in isolates until a test is done, and then if it’s positive they all isolate for the required length of time (still 14 days AFAIK).

Why the entire school?

Possibly contact between staff, then if they have alot of vulnerable staff they were unable to continue. Also any covid death will be on the Head Teacher no matter what the Gov etc says. All protective measure being inplace doesnt ease the concience.

“If you are a teacher let’s have your master plan for reopening. Or even online lessons. Give us something.

As a parent all I see is teachers hiding behind the unions finding reasons not to do what they should be doing”

funny old post this…

Teachers aren’t hiding from what I can see, My local secondary closed as a teaching establishment in March but re-opened the next day as a child care facility, expecting over a hundred kids plus numerous primary kids from surrounding feeder schools. They did so gladly despite the fact that no PPE was provided. While doing this the school provided work online, sent work home for those who couldn’t print, provided tablets and IT help for those without tech in the home setting, provided food parcels for those on FSM who weren’t attending school and Safe and welfare checks for those families who hadn’t maintained contact with schools. They then went onto deliver online, live lessons for each class.

Since Monday,  the same school has re-opened to selected year groups and vulnerable students whilst maintaining its online provision and responsibility for keyworkers’ children – again with no PPE and have even been told that it is not permitted in line with academy expectations, the teachers have duly complied, hardly being obstructive or hiding.

The issue is that those attending are those whose parents are forcing their kids in because they either need to get back to work or are conscientious enough to realise the impact this whole situation will have in the future. Sadly, many of those who the government are concerned about simply aren’t engaging or bothered with education.

So in answer to your request Boomer, old chap, the answer lies not with education but with complete social reform, addressing a decline in society that’s been decades in the making. One of the largest factors in this is our bloody media feeding garbage and half truths to anyone feeble minded enough to listen.

If the earlier statistics are accurate then our local secondary must have the lion’s share of decent teachers so I  pity the other schools in the area, they must be dire. Teachers aren’t hiding Boomer.

Off you trot.

Also… teachers (and their unions) have been complaining for the last ten years that cuts to council budgets and family incomes have reduced the support given to kids beyond the school system… it’s next to impossible to get kids help with mental health issues, family problems… teachers have been attempting to patch over those holes in provision… even paying for food out of their own pockets, and staffing breakfast clubs and the like in their own time… and NOW are being “told” by Conservatives and their supporting newspapers how much our society depends on schools and teachers to be the safety net for so many kids in our society, as all other support has been eroded… IF ANYONE KNOWS THIS IT IS TEACHERS AND THEIR UNIONS.

Careful now Kelvin, think of the holidays. Teachers don’t know they’re born 🙂

think of the holidays.

I am, I’ve done 2 days in school this week I need a holiday!

The issue is that those attending are those whose parents are forcing their kids in because they either need to get back to work or are NOT conscientious enough to realise the impact this whole situation will have in the future. Sadly, many of those who the government are concerned about simply aren’t engaging or bothered with education.

So in answer to your request Boomer, old chap, the answer lies not with education but with complete social reform, addressing a decline in society that’s been decades in the making. One of the largest factors in this is our bloody media feeding garbage and half truths to anyone feeble minded enough to listen.

Bold added….
Hmmm so here’s a surprise… the busy work set for Yr 6 today was writing about how home schooling is terrible. I guess at least its not another wait for 3 hours then get told “draw a picture of”…

Pretty obvious who the government are concerned about…
All the progress made in the decades of decline where both parents are required to work could very easily be lost.

The only reason Jnr is engaging and doing the work set is because his mother teaches at the same school… and it would look bad.

Trying to get through my weekly pastoral phone calls home to my tutor group…spoke to nearly half, and 6 were still in bed gone midday 😄

Best call if the day…
Me “Hi it’s Mr AJ, is little Jonny able to speak to me?”
His mum “he’s just playing on his Xbox, I’ll ask him.”
Little Jonny, shouting at mum “I’m busy, tell him I don’t want to talk.”
Mum “sorry, he’s a bit busy and can’t talk.”
Me “…! Uh ok, I’ll try again tomorrow.”

I had the same above phone call about 2 weeks ago but I was the parent.

My issue:

Our school is not following any guidence from the government. Regardless of what you think of bros and the tories some of it is common sense which allows people to work.

– kids made to wear masks. 4yrs old upward. Disregard for contact transmission and child mask etiquette.

– regular temperature checking if a child looks warm and subsequent isolation of a child who is 37c+. Which is not pyrexial. No regard to the confused 5 year old in mask who is running about in the sun. Sorry pal. You’re isolated…. You need to have clinical judgement skills in my opinion.

-bubble gets isolated from keyworker provisions for a week if any display any kind of illness. Child went home with belly ache and they sent the whole bubble home for a week. What kind of effect does that have on families expected to work? You’d be in and out of work every other week. Makes it totally unreliable.

It’s shite. Can’t use family. Can’t use friends. School is unreliable and I don’t agree with the risk assessment. Childcare costs £100 a day for two kids. May as well not work. If I could clear some debt it would be a lot less stressful and I’d happily be a house husband.

Sounds like one school is on the ball then! If anyone thinks that a return to the classroom while we still have the virus in the community means guaranteed childcare, they’re mistaken. Any chance that one of the thousands of new cases daily is in your school will effect an immediate return to staying at home for many. If you want a ‘normal’ return to school, then we need collectively to do what needs doing to eradicate the virus, or as near as dammit, first.