Well I’ve (just about) survived the first two days of my phased return to primary teaching as per the latest OH report. They said I could go back ten days after my second vaccination but also said that I shouldn’t rely on being protected by the vaccine as I am immune-suppressed from steroids and should be helped to maintain distancing, wear a mask etc, etc. Hmmm...
It was lovely to see everyone and the children were sweetly delighted to have me back but it was also quite stressful. There is no social distancing- our staff room is tiny and only four people are allowed in at a time. At lunchtime there were thirteen teachers in there, trying to persuade me to join them, because ‘You look so well, no-one would believe you have a chronic illness,’ ! Teachers were hugging each other!
I really enjoyed the second morning but, although I’m not meant to be doing duties at the moment, my school cannot get it’s head round reasonable adjustments and I had to accompany my class to the forest school area at lunchtime where the smouldering campfire was revived and started billowing out smoke. I ended up in A&E with an asthma attack- I just hope I’ve scared them out of asking me to do that again! My breathing’s ok again today, but I’m still exhausted (and cross).
Sorry for the long moany post - but I don’t know why school can’t just follow recommendations!
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TeachKat
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Don't apologize for posting your day ☺️ it's interesting to know how everyone getting back to work.
Glad you enjoyed the first day. Yes must be nice to be needed again. But I don't understand that you actually took part of this campfire....I wouldn't even get close to this, because I know what would happen. There should have sent someone else to accompany them not you, it's just to risky for you.
Now you need to wait again....😱😟 Till you better. I hope you will get better again soon.
Thank you Melnel - I had reluctantly agreed to go to forest school (‘the children will be so sad to miss their session ‘) but I had been assured that there wouldn’t be a fire! Never again !
Hello TeachKat, I’m so sorry to hear of the poor care you received at the school where you work. I would imagine you are not alone as not all schools follow social distancing etc. and how crass to say “how well you look” as if that makes everything ok then.
I really want to hug my family but I’m not sure if I’m ready just yet.
Is there anyone you can speak to because lovely as being back at school is, your health is under threat. Terrible to expect you to attend forest school with all that choking smoke. Unbelievable!
I honestly think you are not going to get an acceptable level of support from this school. The senior management team including head teacher have gone out of their way to be difficult over the past months.The rest of the staff clearly don’t or want to understand. For you to end up in a&e after two days is a disgrace.
Just don’t think your condition is being treated seriously. Or even the situation with Covid!!
In your shoes I would be looking for a new job. I understand this might feel difficult for you but work is such a huge part of our lives that it seems wrong to be somewhere you are not appreciated.
In the meantime I hope things can be bearable at your current school
Thank you, Bevvy! In away I would love to find another job, but I’m 63 and therefore expensive to employ and with only nearly 3 years to retirement- I doubt any school would consider me!
Have you talked to union rep about medical retirement? You may well be eligible..... It can only happen if Occ Health agree but might be a way forward??Also unless you apply for other jobs (if well enough to do so) you have no idea if they would consider you! A school with too many newly qualified teachers could jump at the opportunity for more experienced teacher for a few years!! Could even use you in consultancy role...
I am quite tempted by the thought of medical retirement, although I would really miss the teaching, but OH cleared me to return to work so I’m probably not eligible. I might look into it when I feel less fragile about everything!
When I wanted to be considered for medical retirement I had returned to work after 8 month sickness period. This was agreed by Occ health. I raised the question of leaving with manger who approached occ health and proceedings started. Is a long process and in my case gp, occ health wrote reports but independent doctor had to agree. Took a good 4 months then had to work 2 month notice period.In all of this I had management support and we had discussed what would happen if not agreed. In your case I would go via union plus speak to doctors before even raised with management, who are so unsupportive.
I have to be honest though my union rep was absolutely useless. Gave wrong information and caused me a lot of stress and worry.....
Can you not retire due to ill health . ?Your obviously not ready to do that but you are not getting the help and consideration you need. You cannot work like that
Hello TeachKat, I couldn’t resist having a look at your profile. My goodness, what a busy person you are! 7 children, and teaching. I do admire you. But how maddening to meet such obtuseness at work. And I too hate “You look well.” Someone once says that to me, followed by “and that’s the most important thing, isn’t it?” “No, it bloody isn’t,” I didn’t say. But wanted to...All the best
It’s crazy isn’t it! I too get the’ you look well’ comments but what really got me was the ‘ that’s the most important thing isn’t it!’ comment 🤦♀️ Some people really have no idea do they!
Even my Mother tells me I look too well to be as ill as I am! And through out lockdown she keeps saying "when you feel well enough to visit." Seeming not to understand I'm not visiting because we have a pandemic!
Dear TeachKat, 🤗I don’t know what to say! Seriously!! Your school is unbelievable!!! It makes me wonder what type of ofsted report they have if they treat their staff so appallingly with so little respect ?!
You are obviously a great teacher and your kids love you but the way you have been treated this year is shocking!
There are just way too many flaws in everything...from the staff room not sticking to the limited amount of people, to everyone hugging, to making you go out on this forest trip and telling you they’ll be no fire! I hope one of the staff called an ambulance or took you directly to a&e and that they can actually see the seriousness of what you’ve been trying to communicate!
I feel like I want to write a letter of complaint to your school and raise these issues because I bet there’s loads of this going on!
I’m so sorry 😢 your first 2 days ended up like this! But in a sense really hope it opened up the eyes of your school, although from their previous antics, don’t hold out much hope.
So long that you could find a lovely school that would appreciate and respect you until retirement! Is it worth at least applying to a few others? You might get a surprise. Just feels like this school doesn’t deserve you!!!
Sorry for the long post! I’m just so cross with your school too!
Thank you! I am tempted but it’s a very strenuous process applying for teaching jobs and I really don’t have the stamina and energy to do it - after the struggles of the past year and a bit! I have thought about medical retirement but OH cleared me to return so it’s unlikely that I would get it. I have my hospital respiratory clinic appointment this Friday - I’m not sure what to expect , but I will try to ask for their support in insisting on reasonable adjustments.
How are you? I was sorry to hear of your family’s loss - never easy and when you have so much to deal with anyway, it feels so much more like a last straw! Try to cosset yourself as much as you can. Xxxxx, Rosemary.
I can understand and hear where you’re coming from re: applying for another job. I find job hunting totally stressful and can imagine a teaching job application process would be strenuous ! Something you could do without!
It might be worth just finding out about medical retirement. Could you talk to your resp clinic doctor or someone about it and ask their opinion? Feels like you’re between a rock and a hard place!
I don’t think it’s quite sunk in about my uncle yet. Because we’ve not been able to see him much because of covid..he’s been in a nursing home since last Jan. I think it will hit me at his funeral...we’re only a small family..so our little 8 has gone to 7 😢 and when we meet up it’s always been all of us, so that will be strange I think.
Surely you have had a risk assessment done before your return if not get one, this would clearly state what the expectations are of all in school of you ,staff and kids
Do you have a teachers union, and are you a member? A union rep could help you navigate the challenges of health and safety at work. I hope this visit to A&E was entered in the Accident Book.
I would show them this. Employers have a duty of care to their employees. Two of my daughters teach in a primary school. The youngest has Crohn's disease and the school accommodates this. She is never required to put her health at risk. google.com/url?sa=t&source=...
Hi TeachKat, I really feel for you, after being in shielding for so long it must have been so stressful to return in the first place & trying to keep yourself safe.
Having a non visible disability is so difficult, so after your awful second day I hope they take your condition more seriously.
Hi.. Not good enough!! Your health is paramount & it amounts to negligence if school aren't ensuring your wellbeing. You must be selfish & put your needs first.My son in law teaches & he sits in his car for his lunch & avoids other staff as much as poss. I know it seems unsociable but your friends & colleagues need to appreciate your vulnerability.
There should be more measures in schools:extra teaching space & staff & ventilation systems.
Well I do hope those teachers in the staff room have had their 2 vaccinations! How awful to have ended up in A&E, the only positive I can see is that at least they will now realise the danger they've put you in. A teacher in my g'daughter's infant school used to refuse to give her her ventolin inhaler because 'she didn't believe in them,'. The witch, poor Daisy always went home wheezing in the winter.
Can’t believe this about your granddaughter! Such a huge safeguarding issue. Teacher could have lost her job over that and should certainly been disciplined!!
That is appalling- it reminds me of when my children were little (in the nineties) and I had to complain all the way up to the head of the LEA before their school agreed to keep their inhalers in the classroom - instead of in a locked cupboard up three flights of stairs! I think some people still hang on to the image of people with asthma as being weak and neurotically dependent on their inhalers!
You're absolutely right. I remember that too and not a not has changed! Daisy is just 10 now and at 8 changed school. However, requesting a puff on her ventolin from a locked drawer in form classroom before a sports lesson proved to be so difficult for an 8 year old that I told my daughter to let D keep one in her sports bag at all times so she could surreptitiously have a puff when needed. It still makes me angry that in the 90s my son asked if he could get a quick puff before his first ever cross country run & the vile sports teacher Mr Goodwin told him not to be so pathetic. When I picked him up he old barely breathe, the dent in his chest was the size of my fist. 1st trip to A&E. Mind you, as a young mum I was fairly ignorant about asthma my self & was treated as an overprotective parent.
Hi TeachKat, It must have been nice to see the children again, but your colleagues seem to believe in living dangerously. It doesn't help that the school staff room is inadequate. So many schools seem to have been built without proper facilities. I hope the head and senior management have learnt their lesson and will treat you properly now. Look after yourself, if nobody else is prepared to do so. Best wishes, Chris xxx
Thankyou everybody- this is such a lovely site. Whether hugs are wise or not, I feel embraced and comforted by your kind support and wise suggestions! ❤️🌈
Hi teachkat I retired from primary school teaching at the age of 59. I looked into what my reduced pension would be and decided it was enough My health had been bad for a few years and I was finding it very stressful and tiring Maybe something for you to mull over. I miss the kiddies but nothing else I can’t believe how your school is operating !
You will have to spell things out for them. It’s you that will suffer. I know how difficult it is to be ... difficult. You end up giving in because nobody else is really in the same position. So you feel guilty and overprotective BUT it’s your health.
Take care, follow OH advice and remind your head if need be. Take care Cx
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