Return to work in a school

[Becka]

Just a reminder that, unless there is a significant outbreak, those in the clinically extremely vulnerable group will no longer be asked to shield from August 1st in England and Northern Ireland. Instead they will be advised to follow the same rules as the clinically vulnerable group.

The current advice to that group is simply "to stay at home as much as possible" although you can meet others outdoors and, as allowed by local restrictions, indoors. Specific advice regarding employment no longer seems to be offered.

New National Restrictions from 5 November

Information on the new national restrictions, including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available.

www.gov.uk

Coronavirus (COVID-19): definitions of ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ and ‘vulnerable’

Some people are considered to be ‘vulnerable’ or ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ in relation to Covid-19. This page defines what both of these terms mean.

www.nidirect.gov.uk

However, in the current education guidance for England it does state:

The following principles will apply to this phase of wider opening by settings:

• children, young people and staff who have been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable due to pre-existing medical conditions have been advised to shield. We do not expect people in this category to be attending school or college … Clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) people are those considered to be at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) … Staff in this category should work from home where possible, and refer to the detail in our protective measures guidance

[Withdrawn] Actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020

www.gov.uk

[Withdrawn] Opening schools for more children and young people: initial planning framework for schools in England

www.gov.uk

 

[MDM]

Just a reminder that, unless there is a significant outbreak, those in the clinically extremely vulnerable group will no longer be asked to shield from August 1st in England and Northern Ireland. Instead they will be advised to follow the same rules as the clinically vulnerable group.

The current advice to that group is simply "to stay at home as much as possible" although you can meet others outdoors and, as allowed by local restrictions, indoors. Specific advice regarding employment no longer seems to be offered.

New National Restrictions from 5 November

Information on the new national restrictions, including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available.

www.gov.uk

Coronavirus (COVID-19): definitions of ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ and ‘vulnerable’

Some people are considered to be ‘vulnerable’ or ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ in relation to Covid-19. This page defines what both of these terms mean.

www.nidirect.gov.uk

However, in the current education guidance for England it does state:

[Withdrawn] Actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020

www.gov.uk

[Withdrawn] Opening schools for more children and young people: initial planning framework for schools in England

www.gov.uk

Thanks for this information. I've contacted my union and they said they are continuing to advise clinically vulnerable staff to work from home and that if school do ask me to go in there must be an individual risk assessment carried out which must include why it is not possible for me to continue working from home as the safest option. I am speaking with my Head teacher tomorrow so will see how it goes!

 

[Bexlee]

Good luck. I’m sure she / he will see sense and support you. Maybe they just aren’t fully aware ...... sometime they’re not aware of things you’d assume they would be!! My school head teacher and the head of the trust is supporting working from home for Clinically vulnerable and will review again nearer September. It’s lovely to feel supported after the previous head. Hope you feel the same tomorrow.

 

[ColinUK]

@MDM and @T1Ryan if you’re members of a union then contact them and ask for advice.

 

[Becka]

Good luck, MDM.

 

[T1Ryan]

Thankfully. Work have taken the time and looked more into this and I can work from home 🙂 both myself and family are very blessed

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope the conversation with the headteacher went well @MDM - good that you have the support of your union.

It is worth remembering that the risk for T1s remains very low unless they are older. The NHSE data that identified a fairly high proportion of people with diabetes among the fatalities, including T1s has to be understood in the context of the average age of the T1s in question being 70-something.

The risk to people with T1 in their 40s was very similar to non-Ds I think, and I believe there were no recorded deaths of T1s below 20.

So none of us want to get it... but broadly speaking the risk of death or serious illness remains low.

 

[MDM]

Hope the conversation with the headteacher went well @MDM - good that you have the support of your union.

It is worth remembering that the risk for T1s remains very low unless they are older. The NHSE data that identified a fairly high proportion of people with diabetes among the fatalities, including T1s has to be understood in the context of the average age of the T1s in question being 70-something.

The risk to people with T1 in their 40s was very similar to non-Ds I think, and I believe there were no recorded deaths of T1s below 20.

So none of us want to get it... but broadly speaking the risk of death or serious illness remains low.

My Head was more understanding of my concerns regarding social distancing when we spoke yesterday. She thought it would be good to get me back in to school though to get an idea of how things are now set up and running. So next week I will be back in school but not in a bubble (class). I'll be resourcing and planning in a room on my own so no need to worry about distancing!

 

[Ivostas66]

NASUWT have today issued a lot of guidance and updates and will continue to do so over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out (see below). Other unions are also updating members. Unions are also concerned that lots of schools are starting to look at increasing teachers hours etc next year (additional unpaid duties or patrols), so remember to look at things like statutory pay and conditions documentation if that happens. We've just had a rather 'passive aggressive' request for middle leaders to give up a lunch hour each week unpaid to supervise areas of the school - it's 'open to consultation', but we all know anyone who says no will be seen as not pulling their weight or being a 'team player'. Not sure when I would be expected to eat & inject!

• the DfE Guidance relates to the arrangements for September 2020 and there should be no change to the arrangements currently in place in schools for this term;
• there has been no relaxation of any of the COVID-19 requirements for schools for this term;
• members who are currently homeworking should continue to do so;
• there has been no change to the Government Guidance for those who are clinically or extremely clinically vulnerable, pregnant, for those who have a disability or for teachers who are BAME;
• employers and schools will begin to make plans for the September reopening this term. Members should engage fully in the development of these. However, this should be carried out remotely and members should not be required to attend meetings on site;
• there should be no expectation from employers that either teachers or headteachers will be available during the Summer holiday period to work on the arrangements for September. If the planning cannot be concluded by the end of term then the timetable for the admission of pupils at the start of term will need to be deferred.

 

[MDM]

NASUWT have today issued a lot of guidance and updates and will continue to do so over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out (see below). Other unions are also updating members. Unions are also concerned that lots of schools are starting to look at increasing teachers hours etc next year (additional unpaid duties or patrols), so remember to look at things like statutory pay and conditions documentation if that happens. We've just had a rather 'passive aggressive' request for middle leaders to give up a lunch hour each week unpaid to supervise areas of the school - it's 'open to consultation', but we all know anyone who says no will be seen as not pulling their weight or being a 'team player'. Not sure when I would be expected to eat & inject!

• the DfE Guidance relates to the arrangements for September 2020 and there should be no change to the arrangements currently in place in schools for this term;
• there has been no relaxation of any of the COVID-19 requirements for schools for this term;
• members who are currently homeworking should continue to do so;
• there has been no change to the Government Guidance for those who are clinically or extremely clinically vulnerable, pregnant, for those who have a disability or for teachers who are BAME;
• employers and schools will begin to make plans for the September reopening this term. Members should engage fully in the development of these. However, this should be carried out remotely and members should not be required to attend meetings on site;
• there should be no expectation from employers that either teachers or headteachers will be available during the Summer holiday period to work on the arrangements for September. If the planning cannot be concluded by the end of term then the timetable for the admission of pupils at the start of term will need to be deferred.

Very interesting thank you for this. I'm an NEU member and will keep an eye out for updates from them.

 

[Keith56richard]

Just to add my union Unison has been very good throughout with regular updates. I would advise all support staff who are not in a union to join one.

 

[TiredOldGal]

I'm support staff in a primary school and have been back since June 8th. We have all children in”bubbles” of max 12 children, one teacher and midday supervisor per bubble, staggered start, end and break times, eat lunch in classroom, separate areas outside to play, no parents allowed in school buildings at all unless by prior arrangement, two rooms designated as isolation rooms if anyone becomes ill. If anyone in the bubble becomes ill the the whole bubble must self isolate for two weeks. Lots of hand washing and cleaning going on all day, close early on Friday for deep clean, and no mixing of people from one bubble with any other bubble. It's definitely not back to normal! You can’t completely remove the risk but I feel safe enough and want to do my bit. All schools should have similar measures in place and they should be open to discussion if you are worried.

Similar here. I'm a primary teacher and have been in on a rota since the start of lockdown, going from a 1in6 rota, to a one week in, one week off rota more recently. I have been in my bubble for the last 4 weeks and it's been OK. Lots of hand washing and not much actual work to be honest, but I'm busily planning for September now. It's not normal, but it's better than nothing. I do feel safe in my bubble. However, SLT do seem to treat us as lepers if we see them in the corridors etc = they take HUGE steps away from us and haven't been near our classrooms! On the plus side, the organisation of it all has been amazing and the rotas/cleaning cycles etc is fantastic.

 

[MDM]

Similar here. I'm a primary teacher and have been in on a rota since the start of lockdown, going from a 1in6 rota, to a one week in, one week off rota more recently. I have been in my bubble for the last 4 weeks and it's been OK. Lots of hand washing and not much actual work to be honest, but I'm busily planning for September now. It's not normal, but it's better than nothing. I do feel safe in my bubble. However, SLT do seem to treat us as lepers if we see them in the corridors etc = they take HUGE steps away from us and haven't been near our classrooms! On the plus side, the organisation of it all has been amazing and the rotas/cleaning cycles etc is fantastic.

Good to hear you feel safe in your bubble. How many children are you with and what age? Are you managing to social distance? This is what worries me now for September. - a full class and being able to keep my distance from them.