Going back to school, a thread.

I’m not looking forward to going back. Usually a week off does the trick and I feel rested and ready to tackle the next half term. This time, not so much. A week off has been good. I’ve been able to do a scant amount of work...

which I am very fortunate for. I have seen others who have been dealing with +ve cases throughout the week and don’t know how they’ve done it. I am still exhausted despite a week off. I have very much enjoyed not listening for coughs, not making decisions...

not monitoring social distancing, not overthinking everything and trying to find solutions to problems that just don’t exist in a Covid world. This exhaustion won’t just be felt by me, it’ll be felt by many others in many different types of setting. I am not excited about...

the thought of going back to that. It’s a treadmill I’m not keen to get on again. This is the unintended can sequences of weeks and weeks of uncertainty in the lead up to going back in September, uncertainty now. The whole thing feels like a house of cards about to fall down...

with just the slightest blow. It’s a system that cannot sustain anymore strain.

But...

We all will do it. Because we want the best for the children. We’ll do it because we care and put them first. Seeing them will cheer our hearts, lift our spirits and ease anxieties,

just as it did in September. Then we’ll remember why we get back in the treadmill. However, we have got to commit to looking after ourselves. Resilience has been tested in the 7 weeks we’ve been back, and to do honest, this term will only be tougher. So...

Look after yourself first. You have to. There is no other option. If that means leaving early, do it. If it means taking time for you, do it. It will be better for the children and, more importantly, for you in the long run. If the message about pacing yourself was important...

in September it’s even more important now. Remember what you said in June about not going back to normal. Remember what you said about family time and leaving early and making time for what you realised was important. Do it now, because if you don’t you might not ever make the...

time for it. Listen to your body, listen to your mind and look after yourself first. You are the biggest asset a school has, no matter what your role is. Look after yourself.