Teaching In Scotland

[Type1_1984]

Afternoon,

I have only joined this forum today and this is my first post. Based on information I have read over the last week, I'm looking for opinions as the messaging is not clear at all.

As I'm sure you've already figured out, I'm a teacher in Scotland and have Type 1 diabetes. I'm in my mid-30s and have pretty good diabetic control. I was sent home around a week before lockdown in order to shield for 12 weeks. Schools are due to open for staff this month in order to prepare for pupils coming back in August, as has been documented on the news. I had assumed that would not involve me, but now I'm not so sure.


The NHS website places diabetes in the 'clinically vulnerable - people at moderate risk' category and goes on to say:

"If you're at moderate risk from coronavirus, it's very important you follow the advice on social distancing.

This means you should stay at home as much as possible. But you can go out to work (if you cannot work from home) and for things like getting food or exercising.

Unlike people at high risk, you will not get a letter from the NHS advising you to stay at home at all times."


The Diabetes UK website states:

"People with diabetes are not in the clinically extremely vulnerable group (shielding group). People with diabetes are in the 'clinically vulnerable group'. This means you should still stay at home as much as possible and if you do go out, be really careful to avoid contact with people you don't live with."


The Scottish Government website's publication 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): re-opening schools guide states:

"Staff who fall into this category should be supported to work from home where possible, for example by asking them to support remote education, carry out lesson planning or other roles which can be done from home. If they cannot work from home, they should be offered the safest available on-site roles, staying 2 metres away from others wherever possible, although the individual may choose to take on a role that does not allow for this distance if they prefer to do so. If they have to spend time within 2 metres of other people, settings must carefully assess and discuss with them whether this involves an acceptable level of risk."


The general message appears to be that you should probably work from home, but you could go to work as long as conditions are really safe and that you are very careful regarding physical distancing. While that will be easy enough without pupils, I'm not sure how that will be possible or practical come August.

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Josh DUK]

Hello @Type1_1984,

Thank you so much for joining the Diabetes UK. I thought i would share our covid 19 information page with you which can be found here:

Coronavirus / Covid19 Information

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock has launched an expanded public health awareness campaign on COVID-19 (Coronavirus). It urges people to wash their hands more often for 20 seconds. You can find their campaign on their social media channels below. Twitter:

forum.diabetes.org.uk

It is important that you follow Scotland guidelines because it differs from England at the moment .

It would also be best to speak to your employer if you do have to return and see if they make reasonable adjustments for you in the workplace.

 

[Type1_1984]

Thanks for the reply, Josh. I will have a look at the information page and hopefully everything will be cleared up during this week with my employer.

 

[mikeyB]

You will be safer in Scotland for sure. See what Aunty Nicola says, she’s a sight less confusing than the English government. That opening in August is a hope, not an immovable target like in other countries to the south.

 

[freesia]

Hi. I'm a Teaching Assistant with type 1, working in KS1. I've chosen to go back to work this week but had a discussion with the Head first. Instead of working with the children, i asked if i could go back and support the teachers by resourcing/admin etc. That way i could social distance but still work and i'm doing 2 days per week rather than 5. I'm also carrying sntibac gel with me. The Head said to speak up if i felt unsafe or changed my mind and it wouldn't be a problem. I appreciate its different for me being a TA rather than a teacher as its maybe easier to make a reasonable adjustment but the way i understand it, if you can't work from home then they have to do it. I hope you get things sorted. Keep safe.

 

[Type1_1984]

Hi. I'm a Teaching Assistant with type 1, working in KS1. I've chosen to go back to work this week but had a discussion with the Head first. Instead of working with the children, i asked if i could go back and support the teachers by resourcing/admin etc. That way i could social distance but still work and i'm doing 2 days per week rather than 5. I'm also carrying sntibac gel with me. The Head said to speak up if i felt unsafe or changed my mind and it wouldn't be a problem. I appreciate its different for me being a TA rather than a teacher as its maybe easier to make a reasonable adjustment but the way i understand it, if you can't work from home then they have to do it. I hope you get things sorted. Keep safe.

Thanks for replying to this about your experience and sorry I'm only getting around to seeing it now. I was told to stay at home. Staff only ended up being in for a very short period of time. I've no idea what my situation is going to be in August, but then again, we don't really know what schools will be like then either. Keep safe.