Last month I wrote about what it has been like returning to work in the classroom after being off for an extended period of furlough.

Well, it’s time for an update.

I work in a college of further education, mostly with 16-18 year olds.

This week we had our first confirmed covid cases; a teacher and a student, both at different campuses from mine.

Frankly, I’m surprised that it has taken this long for us to have our first cases.

I am also surprised that the government has not announced a two week lockdown, or “circuit breaker” to coincide with half term. Now would be the perfect time, but yet again, the government are being slow to respond to the hike in cases.

Teaching staff have been told to prepare a stock of two weeks worth of online teaching material should a sudden circuit breaker be announced.

At the beginning of term (early September) I was convinced that we would be in lockdown by half term, but it hasn’t happened. Yet.

In the meantime we carry on best we can, constantly using hand sanitizer and wiping down surfaces to try to prevent spreading covid.

Just one more day to go before we get a week off…. and I cannot wait to be away from the college campus, safe at home with my family, even if it is for just one week.