FACE-TO-FACE?

With the latest relaxation of restrictions, I have been asked a few times if I plan to return to face-to-face lessons. There is no doubt that teaching over Zoom has huge limitations and there simply is no substitute for being 'in the room'. However, if this pandemic has taught us one thing it is that the government have mishandled this crisis at almost every step; prioritising the economy over people's lives and repeatedly rushing into releasing restrictions before it is safe to so, costing many people their lives and livelihoods.

I am very keen to begin teaching in person again but I feel that we must still be cautious. Personally, I have had both doses of the vaccine but this only reduces the dangers of the virus, it does not eliminate them. With this in mind I have come up with a few caveats to teaching face-to-face again:

TEACHING IN MY HOUSE

Those of you who have had lessons in my house will know that the room I usually use does not really allow us to remain two meters apart, so lessons will move to my kitchen which is a much bigger space allowing us to stay at a safe distance. As it is a family space , this will mean that lesson times are limited to weekdays only

I shall be lateral flow testing myself twice weekly (at least 48 hours before any lesson). Again this is not a guarantee of safety but is in line with most government guidelines

I will wear a mask/shield but you will not be obliged to

You are not obliged to test but I would be grateful if you could take a test in the 24 hours before coming to lessons - these tests are free to obtain and easy to do, just click here https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

TEACHING IN YOUR HOUSE

If the space in your house/garden enables us to stay comfortably two meters apart and there is no-one in your home displaying ANY of the symptoms of Covid-19, then I will consider coming to your property to teach. The room must be properly ventilated and I will wear a mask/shield throughout the session but you will not be obliged to

Again, you are not obliged to test but I would be grateful if you could take a test in the 24 hours before coming to lessons - these tests are free to obtain and easy to do, just click here https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test