Aibu to think that kids in England will not be back in school before September?

[MrsHookey]

I'm finding it increasingly hard to believe that kids will be back in the next six weeks. It just doesn't seem likely at this point. Am I off my head to feel this is unlikely?

[Swiftsseason]

Well we will know by July won't we about second waves?
Surely numbers will either steady or go up especially after these marches.
I guess if they do then it's back to lock down?
If they don't then school will be back but I don't think all pupils will be in at once... It will be staggered so how that will work with working parents? If dc need to be at home one week?

[Kljnmw3459]

I think they will be back for the last few weeks.

[PepperMooMoo]

I actually feel full time school for any year this side of Christmas is unlikely. It's entirely unmanageable what the schools are required to do, and the government can hardly just U-turn. People talk of the summer holidays like some sort of holy line in the sand, whereby after that everything will magically become better in a six week period. It's such a short space of time, the virus won't disappear!

[PepeSkunk]

We've already had a letter to say they won't be back this academic year.

[nancy75]

My Dd is year 10 & will be doing 4 hours a week in school starting from 22nd June, there don’t seem to be any plans to do more than that & no other years are going in this term.
The school seems to think kids won’t be back as normal even in September.

[PepeSkunk]

I agree Pepper. Like September is some sort of magical time period because it's the start of the year.

[puffinkoala]

There's an article on the front of today's Sunday Times saying parents have been told (I haven't) that schools are unlikely to be back to "normal" until 2021 and discussions are now taking place about delaying next year's exams to July or more likely using teacher assessment again.

Good for those who like coursework but there is no doubt my ds will do worse with teacher assessment that he would do in exams.

I also hope that when schools/colleges write references for UCAS that they will detail the teaching that has happened in this period, eg regular timetabled virtual lessons or just setting work.

If they are going to use teacher assessment they need to decide soon so the kids know what they have to do. It's not fair to teach based on a linear exam and then say, like they did this year, actually we're not going to assess you that way now. Arguably this year they had no choice but they can make an early decision for next year.

[cherryblossommorningstoday]

We got a letter to stay that children will be in the same classes with the same teachers from September (which I'm hugely relieved about as one of mine will struggle to settle) as this will be more settling for them after what for most will be 6 months off.

So I think that told us the school aren't planning on having any additional years back.

In my sons class, only 3 out of 10 re epitome children have returned anyway.

[cherryblossommorningstoday]

*reception children!

[Puddlesplasher]

Our primary school has confirmed that only reception, yr 1 and yr 6 will go back before the end of the school year. My year 9 DC will also not be back before September.

[Badmemorieshouse]

My reception and year 1 started back last week

[Letseatgrandma]

Well, some are back already, but I agree, most won’t be unless the government tell us that vulnerable school staff can go back to work and classrooms sizes can return to 30+.

[Redwinestillfine]

We need to know whether schools will be back and how they are going to do it. Parents need to plan. Childcare, whether to spend £££ buying uniforms/ school shoes or not. We also need to trust the plans.

[Kljnmw3459]

How have some schools in England already been able to determine that they won't be back for all Years before September? Our primary schools in the south east area don't know anything more than we do at this point?

[Letseatgrandma]

@klijnmw3459

It could be a staffing/space issue. If they are already at capacity and using all available teachers and rooms, they will know now that taking any more (under the existing limits) year groups in will be impossible.

[Puddlesplasher]

@Kljnmw3459 Our school have said it's because they don't have the staff or available space to offer spaces to other years safely.

[MrsHookey]

We do need to know. I agree. Our school seems coy about the plans. I have heard that there will be "blended home school learning".

[listsandbudgets]

Yes the uniform question is a big one especially for children going onto year 7 who will need entirely new uniforms, sports kit etc. Not cheap especially if you're just buying it to hang in a wardrobe.

[Goinghome20]

Secondary teacher here. London comp.

With the 2 year groups out of 6 returning in June, we are dividing up the year groups, spreading one class between 4 rooms, providing handwashing, material packs, planning safe movement around school. Plus simultaneously providing online learning for the other year groups, and overseeing children of key workers and vulnerable students.

A September return for all year groups will not be possible if we are to meet 2 meter distancing guidelines.

Only a small proportion of students can be in school at any one time safely.

Timetabling is going to be a massive challenge.

To safely social distance in schools with old buildings and 1300+ students is not possible.

There cannot be a safe return to 31 students in a room, 5 changeovers, breaks, lunches plus the vast numbers using public transport.

There is no easy answer.

[Letseatgrandma]

Our school seems coy about the plans

That will be because they just don’t know at the moment. They can make detailed plans but they’d have to go in the bin if it’s not what the government decide.

[boredboredboredboredbored]

Ds is in year 10 I have no doubt he will not set foot in the school prior to September.

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

I dont get how people are ignoring the government saying pretty clearly that they do not expect children to social distance.

If you are running a setting and trying to somehow open and keep kids 2m apart you have misinterpreted the guidance. The government are ok with the level of risk associated with no social distancing in schools.

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

If the rate of new infections remains steady despite recent relaxation, social distancing will rapidly be abandoned, regardless of whether there is any vaccine etc.

[Tfoot75]

The government have said it is hygiene and bubbles to limit the spread that are required, but many schools seem to be trying to implement social distancing anyway, our school is with y6 but not with other years so far. Unless there has been any instruction to social distance y6 in preparation for that in high school? A school local to us has interpreted it as 3 groups of 6 kids in y6, in a school with only 7 classrooms, which is ridiculous imo. They aren't able to offer any room for either reception or y1 because of this.

[Goinghome20]

For secondary schools government guidelines say social distancing should be implemented