School not re opening

[Onone]

Just that really,just had an email from my daughter’s school to say that they won’t be opening on 1st June, don’t know when it will either,Thanks to the mayor of our town,I’m quite upset for my daughter,Hardly any cases in my town

[nonwonderwoman]

My DS school have said the same. He’s in YR in an infant school and once they have small classes for the few nursery kids, key worker and vulnerable kids there no roommates for any other children. I live in Surrey and I’m hearing there are many many school who have made the same choices. I think it’s outrageous that children won’t be provided with an education for over 6 months.

[MinorArcana]

We’ve just had a message from our primary school saying they’re not opening until 15th June. (Except got key worker children and vulnerable children as before)

They’ve said this is following new guidance issued by our local council.

[BarbedBloom]

Same issues here. They don't have enough staff or space. Doesn't affect me but does affect my nieces and nephews. They weren't going back anyway due to shielding family members

[lockdownlethargy]

This is a genuine question - When they say they don't have enough staff what exactly does this mean? They did on March 20th so what has happened to those teachers now that they can't go in? This is a genuine question as I keep hearing this but I don't understand.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

@lockdownlethargy

This is a genuine question - When they say they don't have enough staff what exactly does this mean? They did on March 20th so what has happened to those teachers now that they can't go in? This is a genuine question as I keep hearing this but I don't understand.

If staff are shielding or clinically vulnerable, they should be working from home. If it’s a small school, the chances of them having enough staff are slim. A huge number of staff in my school should continue to work from home (me included).

[drspouse]

My DD school isn't opening, they are waiting for the 28th May update and then taking time to prepare.
I would prefer they did that TBH!

[vanillandhoney]

This is a genuine question - When they say they don't have enough staff what exactly does this mean?

15 students per class instead of the usual 30 or more means that even if all teachers are well, they need twice as many teachers in order to open safely.

But lots of teachers will be vulnerable or shielding and therefore won't be able to work. So they need even more again. Considering teaching is a profession where people are leaving in their droves then I'm not surprised some can't open.

[Catdogmum]

A small number of schools (at least one secondary that I’m aware of) didn’t have enough staff at the end of March and had to close early. That was working on the basis of 1 adult to approx 30 students Now in order to be covid safe they need 1 adult to 15 students. Additional groups have also been added to shielding lists so schools may have more staff shielding themselves/family members than there were in March.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

Meant to add, if they have classes of 30 (one form entry) normally and the three year groups are coming back in full, that’s 6 teachers needed to stick to the 15 children bubbles. That’s nearly the whole school worth of teachers.

In a two form entry school, to achieve 15 maximum in a bubble, that’s 12 teachers. My school is two form entry and we have 15 teachers. 2 of us are pregnant, several have severe asthma, one’s husband recently had a heart attack... If every child in the three year groups had said they were coming back, we wouldn’t have had enough staff.

Neither of those take into account a key worker bubble.

[Squeekybummum]

Yeah my kids school will not be opening either. It's a small school and they already have a lot of keyworker and at risk children in.
It's a shame really as I was hoping they could go back in July at least and have a couple of weeks before the summer holidays.

[lockdownlethargy]

Thanks I get it now I think. So what happens in September when/if all children go back? Are we saying that only 15 kids per class can only be in at any one time? What happens to the other children? Will they prioritise learning in the classroom or online at home?

[ChilliCheese123]

Why do so many teachers have health conditions that mean they can’t work? Surely working in close proximity with kids isn’t a good idea in normal times if you have severe health issues ?

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

@lockdownlethargy

Thanks I get it now I think. So what happens in September when/if all children go back? Are we saying that only 15 kids per class can only be in at any one time? What happens to the other children? Will they prioritise learning in the classroom or online at home?

Your guess is as good as mine!

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

@ChilliCheese123

Why do so many teachers have health conditions that mean they can’t work? Surely working in close proximity with kids isn’t a good idea in normal times if you have severe health issues ?

How does having asthma stop you working with children?

How does pregnancy stop you working with children?

They’re only relevant now because of the nature and newness of CV.

[IgnoranceIsStrength]

I'm sure a lot of teachers health issues are indirectly caused by the stress of their job. It is also a lot more physical than people think

[BarbedBloom]

The issue with my local school is that splitting into more classes means they need more teachers full stop. Add to this that a couple are shielding themselves or have vulnerable family members. One is going off on maternity and her cover has pulled out and they can't find a replacement. One is working her notice already and finishes this term. Also some TAs have got new jobs during this and the staff in school kitchen have refused to come back as they can't socially distance.

[babybythesea]

Chilli - it’s more that catching Covid with certain underlying conditions is a problem. Two of our staff are severe asthmatics, for example. Doesn’t normally pose a problem but if they were to catch Covid it would, so they aren’t coming in. One is pregnant. Again, wouldn’t normally stop her working but Covid isn’t normal.

[Whattodo121]

Why do so many teachers have health conditions that mean they can’t work? Surely working in close proximity with kids isn’t a good idea in normal times if you have severe health issues ?

What a strange thing to say! Teachers are just human, this is unprecedented circumstances-trust me we would soon be managed out under performance management if we didn’t have the stamina to go into work!

[MynephewR]

DD's school have said they aren't opening for EYFS, Y1 and Y6 yet. No explanation, no information on when in the future they might open for those year groups, just a letter from the board of trustees saying that they are making more places available for vulnerable and keyworkers children at this time. It's part of an acadamy and it's a big school, 2 form entry. I get that some schools have made that decision and I assume they have their reasons but I'm pretty pissed off at the lack of communication tbh.

[ChilliCheese123]

It’s not a strange thing to say, it was just a question. Literally can’t even say the word teacher on here without getting accused of something. It’s getting so boring

[ChilliCheese123]

@babybythesea but working with kids you normally catch everything under the sun anyway. And like a poster above said, it’s a fairly physical job and requires stamina under pressure. Pretty sure severe asthma would have to be extremely well managed in those circumstances to make it a safe environment to work in, covid or not?

[Freddiefox]

This is a genuine question - When they say they don't have enough staff what exactly does this mean? They did on March 20th so what has happened to those teachers now that they can't go in? This is a genuine question as I keep hearing this but I don't understand.

Classes can’t be bigger than 15, they can’t cross groups so now you need to double the amount of teachers you need

[AddedHiccup]

I think people find it hard to understand why you don't understand. If a school has a couple of staff members who are asthmatic or a diabetic teacher or one who is recovering as they have had Covid then they are screwed numbers wise.

Each bubble of 15 has to have two staff members and they have to be the same ones all day every day so that's another difficulty.

It used to be the case that almost every class had a full time TA but that's not the case any more.

[ChilliCheese123]

I understand the logistics it just sounds to me like teaching has a higher proportion of people with underlying or chronic illnesses and I was wondering why.

[BrigitsBigKnickers]

This is a genuine question - When they say they don't have enough staff what exactly does this mean?
A school is usually staffed for one teacher per 30 children.
Schools have had to make TAs redundant recently due to budget cuts. Those that remain will be expected to teach a bubble ( so even if your child is in school they may not be taught by a qualified teacher.)
Class bubbles are no more than 15- less in early years ( and some schools won't have enough classrooms to cater for this.)
Key workers children have to be in their own bubble
Some teachers are shielding.
Many schools employed temporary staff on short term contracts due to teacher shortages prior to Lockdown.

This is not just a problem that has been caused by COVID. Years of systematic underfunding are also to blame...