Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01

jimmytwotimes 2013 · 20-01-2021 12:36PM

fits wrote: »

We aren’t talking about full classes here.

No, you're talking about a smaller cohort but one where SD will be near impossible.

khalessi · 20-01-2021 12:36PM

fits wrote: »

We aren’t talking about full classes here.

The virus does not know how many in a class

Icyseanfitz · 20-01-2021 12:37PM

mariaalice wrote: »

They have PPE and they will be vaccinated.

No we don't (never got my promised ppe) and i don't even think we are mentioned in the vaccination list, teachers are 11th, we will be below that.

Stateofyou · 20-01-2021 12:38PM

Here's a comment online from a parent with a perspective I hadn't thought of:

My autistic son is 30 hes home now fulltime his day service is closed again my main priority now is keeping him safe if he caught covid 19 and had to b hospitalised I could not visit him it would b devastating for him so I think they made the right decision for everyone s safety

Stateofyou · 20-01-2021 12:41PM

jusvi2001 wrote: »

so as supermarket staff, drivers etc..they don't deal with pandemics and not in their job description.

They don't sit in small, under ventilated classrooms with 30 plus unmasked pupils (primary) for over 5 hours a day. Social distancing in that environment is a farce, and many of those children depending on age need help from their teacher with coats, bags, books and lunches and comforting tears. Name one supermarket staff, driver etc doing any of that.

SAMTALK · 20-01-2021 12:42PM

fits wrote: »

The chances of any one student having covid at any time is minimal. It doesn’t matter whether intimate care is required or not if in the same space and I find bringing this into the argument which is hardly representative of all students by the way a pretty nasty and repulsive attitude.

It's the reality !

My daughter works in a unit and I can tell you the stress they are under is real

She was disappointed with the news last night as she wants to go back but she understands why its not the right time.

1 child infected 2 adults just before christmas, who are still very sick, and this was because parent sent child to school while other child was being tested. Not the smartest move on parents behalf

Sofa King Great · 20-01-2021 12:42PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

We are not in a medical nor viral role, we address care needs and assist with educational needs. We have zero training in contagion measures.

You aren't being asked to perform a medical or viral role. You are being asked to perform the role of, as you say, addressing the care needs and educational needs of those under your care.

MacDanger · 20-01-2021 12:44PM

Tpcl20 wrote: »

From the response to the statement by the Department of Education, worth a read and located here:
https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/112368584/posts/3136638092

Honestly so many people are asking what they think are smart questions and everything is answered in that article.

It was a genuine question tbf, thanks for the link although the response itself is poorly structured imo.

From what you posted:

The day-to-day reality in special needs classrooms requires that individuals be physically proximal. Children with special needs can be unpredictable in their behaviour and it is an almost impossible task to keep the required infection prevention and control measures in place.

So not withstanding the rest of the post, this statement makes it pretty clear that there's a unwillingness to return to work no matter what is provided

Stateofyou · 20-01-2021 12:44PM

mariaalice wrote: »

They may be a quicker role out in NI but that has nothing to do with the fact that special schools in NI are open today and special schools here are not open.

And they are rife with covid. Many sn children have underlying conditions. They may be open but that doesn't mean they should be. Also, many sn parents will not send their children in seeing as spread is so high and with the worst covid stats in the world very recently, and overwhelmed hospitals. Sick set's and sn children may be looking at subpar healthcare should they fall seriously ill. I'll say it again: anyone can open a school, but it's what happens after that matters.

Icyseanfitz · 20-01-2021 12:45PM

Sofa King Great wrote: »

You aren't being asked to perform a medical or viral role. You are being asked to perform the role of, as you say, addressing the care needs and educational needs of those under your care.

Which i thankfully am currently able to do with my students.

I was replying to a post insinuating that SNAs are essentially the same as nurses which is why they should be back in work in an unsafe environment at the height of a pandemic. Which is crap of course.

20-01-2021 12:45PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

No we don't (never got my promised ppe) and i don't even think we are mentioned in the vaccination list, teachers are 11th, we will be below that.

If your school does not have PPE that is something the unions should be looking at. I would also go to the local media with that one.

Sofa King Great · 20-01-2021 12:47PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Which i thankfully am currently able to do with my students.

I was replying to a post insinuating that SNAs are essentially the same as nurses which is why they should be back in work in an unsafe environment at the height of a pandemic. Which is crap of course.

Is that the same for all your colleagues?

Icyseanfitz · 20-01-2021 12:47PM

mariaalice wrote: »

If your school does not have PPE that is something the unions should be looking at. I would also go to the local media with that one.

Oh we got ourr ppe (box ticked). A box of disposable masks between all SNAs....... One box, and a face shield each.

Sofa King Great · 20-01-2021 12:49PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Which i thankfully am currently able to do with my students.

I was replying to a post insinuating that SNAs are essentially the same as nurses which is why they should be back in work in an unsafe environment at the height of a pandemic. Which is crap of course.

Where did I insinuate they were the same as nurses? If anything, you are the one conflating the two by saying you cannot go back to work in absence of the vaccine, full PPE or training in contagion measures

Tpcl20 · 20-01-2021 12:50PM

MacDanger wrote: »

It was a genuine question tbf, thanks for the link although the response itself is poorly structured imo.

From what you posted:

So not withstanding the rest of the post, this statement makes it pretty clear that there's a unwillingness to return to work no matter what is provided

No, there's no issue with returning, but the Department has not put any of the safeguards in place:

Sofa King Great wrote: »

Where did I insinuate they were the same as nurses? If anything, you are the one conflating the two by saying you cannot go back to work in absence of the vaccine, full PPE or training in contagion measures

Nobody is asking for that. They're requesting vaccine prioritisation (as healthcare workers you mentioned got), at least SOME adequate PPE and permission to wear it (heretofor, not provided) and to be assured of a test in the event of being close contact of a confirmed case.

Not a huge ask but things which have consistently not been delivered.

Why are so many so enthusiastic about absolutely railing on teachers before ever questioning the government who are not only today attacking them and vilifying them on the national airwaves and in scathing letters but actually laying the blame with them. Education staff who do not have the control over policy and funding to actually make the changes required to get ALL schools reopened.

20-01-2021 12:52PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Oh we got ourr ppe (box ticked). A box of disposable masks between all SNAs....... One box, and a face shield each.

Do you provide personal care to students?

It would be interesting to know to do special school in NI dress in full PPE the same PPE they use in Covid wards when providing personal care to students in other words what measures have allowed special schools in NI to open. A solution-focused response.

Icyseanfitz · 20-01-2021 12:54PM

Sofa King Great wrote: »

Where did I insinuate they were the same as nurses? If anything, you are the one conflating the two by saying you cannot go back to work in absence of the vaccine, full PPE or training in contagion measures

You know what, im not doing this again. Your right, SNAs should be in schools regardless of whether they are safe or not, regardless of whether our students are in or not, regardless of how much disrespect we get from our department. Your right.

km79 · 20-01-2021 12:55PM

http://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1351838684102995969

http://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1351849742549065728

20-01-2021 12:56PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

You know what, im not doing this again. Your right, SNAs should be in schools regardless of whether they are safe or not, regardless of whether our students are in or not, regardless of how much disrespect we get from our department. Your right.

This is not the issue to address 'disrespect' from the department.

Icyseanfitz · 20-01-2021 12:57PM

mariaalice wrote: »

Do you provide personal care to students?

It would be interesting to know to do special school in NI dress in full PPE the same PPE they use in Covid wards when providing personal care to students in other words what measures have allowed special schools in NI to open. A solution-focused response.

I don't work in a special school, but id imagine wearing full ppe around students with profound needs could lead to extreme outbursts and tantrums.

Icyseanfitz · 20-01-2021 12:58PM

mariaalice wrote: »

This is not the issue to address 'disrespect' from the department.

Lovely that you cherry picked that out of everything else, but i wouldn't expect anything more at this stage from people.

20-01-2021 01:00PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

I don't work in a special school, but id imagine wearing full ppe around students with profound needs could lead to extreme outbursts and tantrums.

If you do not work in a special school why do you need more than a mask and a face shield?

Just curious as one of your posts you said that you did not get any PPE.

What PPE are looking for?

billy_beckham · 20-01-2021 01:02PM

Tpcl20 wrote: »

No, there's no issue with returning, but the Department has not put any of the safeguards in place:

Nobody is asking for that. They're requesting vaccine prioritisation (as healthcare workers you mentioned got), at least SOME adequate PPE and permission to wear it (heretofor, not provided) and to be assured of a test in the event of being close contact of a confirmed case.

Not a huge ask but things which have consistently not been delivered.

Why are so many so enthusiastic about absolutely railing on teachers before ever questioning the government who are not only today attacking them and vilifying them on the national airwaves and in scathing letters but actually laying the blame with them. Education staff who do not have the control over policy and funding to actually make the changes required to get ALL schools reopened.

Looking to jump the vaccination queue, rest is just garnish. Unions said that they would accept the public health advice and have renaged on that. Back in October cases rates were in the 1,000's, hopefully within the next week we'll be back to that.... Will that suffice I wonder?

20-01-2021 01:02PM

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

Lovely that you cherry picked that out of everything else, but i wouldn't expect anything more at this stage from people.

Honestly, I am just curious particularly as to how special schools in NI are open as well.

Why cant the solutions that are used in NI to keep special school open being looked at?

Icyseanfitz · 20-01-2021 01:02PM

mariaalice wrote: »

If you do not work in a special school why do you need more than a mask and a face shield?

Just curious as one of your posts you said that you did not get any PPE.

What PPE are looking for?

Face masks of the correct standard in an amount that doesn't run out in the first 2 weeks of school would be lovely.

KrustyUCC · 20-01-2021 01:03PM

MacDanger wrote: »

It was a genuine question tbf, thanks for the link although the response itself is poorly structured imo.

From what you posted:

So not withstanding the rest of the post, this statement makes it pretty clear that there's a unwillingness to return to work no matter what is provided

Even if every single demand there was in place and they're not easy demands the unions would still find a way to not go to work

jrosen · 20-01-2021 01:03PM

If other countries are managing to provide a level of support in these areas then I think we need to look at how they are doing it and if its possible to implement here

Icyseanfitz · 20-01-2021 01:04PM

mariaalice wrote: »

Honestly, I am just curious particularly as to how special schools in NI are open as well.

Why cant the solutions that are used in NI to keep special school open being looked at?

Every single special school in northern Ireland has had a confirmed covid case, they are not the bar to use here.

lulublue22 · 20-01-2021 01:04PM

fits wrote: »

The chances of any one student having covid at any time is minimal. It doesn’t matter whether intimate care is required or not if in the same space and I find bringing this into the argument which is hardly representative of all students by the way a pretty nasty and repulsive attitude.

I find it a pretty nasty and repulsive attitude to downplay the health concerns around spitting , biting , coughing and sneezing and wiping hands on staff by someone who doesn’t work in special ed as it’s not a pc topic to raise. Not every child displays those behaviours just as not every child is unable to access remote learning. Just because you don’t want to acknowledge these behaviours does not make them untrue and / or not relevant to the topic at hand no matter how much it affronts your pc sensibilities.

KrustyUCC · 20-01-2021 01:06PM

billy_beckham wrote: »

Looking to jump the vaccination queue, rest is just garnish. Unions said that they would accept the public health advice and have renaged on that. Back in October cases rates were in the 1,000's, hopefully within the next week we'll be back to that.... Will that suffice I wonder?

Doubtful with the new strains really

Cases would probably need to be lower again

How low that bar would be is the question?

Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) **Mod warning in OP 22/01**

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Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01