What is the point of one day of school a week?

[Wishforanishwishdiash]

Wales just announced primary bubbles of 8, and confirms the leaked reports from teachers unions that have been dribbling out for weeks. The leaks have said that 25% of students will attend over four days each week, with a day for cleaning and teachers to sort the online learning. Of course, each school will be a bit different, but this is the general plan.

It seems everyone loses. The teachers have to teach in person and sort on-line learning. The kids won't learn much in a day a week and we all know home schooling is variable. The really vulnerable kids won't make it in only one day a week when they get to stay home and play xbox the other six days. We all take a small amount of risk for barely any gain.

The WG seem to want their cake (open schools) and eat it too (appease unions and the terrified public)

If the day is for kids to be social and see their friends, I would like to hear more about socially distanced social options for kids. Well being isn't just school, and the school plan seems like a lot of work for very little gain. I'd be happier with really good home learning and some youth clubs instead of one day of school with the continued mediocre offering of home learning (and I am grateful for what teachers have done, but we all know it isn't what you'd choose).

never mind the childcare issues, but that seems too much for one thread

[mum2jakie]

To be honest, it isn't only vulnerable kids that would prefer to be in on x-boxes. Lots of kids of working parents will have the same issue!

My oldest is reluctant to go in for the half day a week his school is offering. It's not compulsory and he says "what's the point?"

[flamingochill]

Is it mandatory in Wales?

Everybody part-time is better than the English solution of some full-time and others getting nothing imo.

[Starlight39]

I'm in England but I'd actually love DS to have a day a week at school. It'd give me at least a little time each week to fully concentrate on certain work tasks that are difficult with 8 yo interruptions. It'd also be really good for him to see his friends and have a little bit of more structured input as well as a bit of normality - I know it wouldn't be full normality but just being at school a bit, with teachers he knows, friends he knows and some of the routine would help him a lot right now.

[SellFridges]

My reception child has been back a week and a half now. He’s a different child. Believe me, even a day would have an impact.

[Bunnybigears]

Both my children are in year groups that are not allowed back in England to be honest they would be happy with half a day a week, even an hour, just some sense that they havent been forgotten about.

[afinetoothcomb]

My DD is in year 6. She does every 3rd day and it has been wonderful for her. I'm of the opinion that something is better than nothing.

[VashtaNerada]

I think it’s better than the system we have now. At my school it’s been so lovely to see the children who are back but so sad for the others who aren’t back yet. I personally think we should split classes in half and teach 15 children Monday/Tuesday, then have a cleaning and planning day, and teach the other half Thursday/Friday. We’d have to redesign the planning so all children have two days taught and three days work to do at home, but it would be better than not seeing some of the children at all.

[mamapants]

Has anyone in Wales heard their schools plans yet?
Waiting to hear at the moment

[tinierclanger]

A day a week would make a HUGE difference here. I wish it was an option :(

[PatriciaHolm]

The school I am a governor of has chosen to do this, in order to give all children (now it has been announced schools can make their own decisions on this) a day a week in school, at least. We are hoping the social distancing advice goes a to a metre soon so we can double the amount of children a day and so children should be able to have 2 days a week.

Other schools have chosen to bring children back 4/5 a week but limit the years.

[PatriciaHolm]

sorry, to be clear I'm in England!

[Wishforanishwishdiash]

Thanks for the optimsitic replies. I have three kids in different schools. At least now I don't have a school run - three school runs with two still at home gives me less time to work. School one day a week will massively increase the mental load for so little gain.

I know I chose to have kids, but I've managed kids and work until now and it was never this bleak. DH is worried about job losses so wants to save every penny, and is really adverse to independent school for primary. I have been crying all afternoon. I am just so exhausted. I can't bear the idea of 6 or more months.

No wine weekdays cancelled. I will be fine. We all will. It is hard.

[Titsywoo]

My year 10 DD will be going back for one short day a week from 22nd June. At this point anything is better than nothing as the online provision is fine but nowhere near good enough when she is sitting GCSEs next summer.

[Wendalicious]

I have a year 2 and year 4 and believe they would benefit massively for any time at school!

[BrieAndChilli]

I think any amount of time in school will be beneficial at this point. I’m now expecting any great amount t of learning but the kids need this for thier mental health and social interaction. A change of scene and taking to friends /people you sent related to even if only 1 day a week is better than nothing!

[cologne4711]

I'd be happy with one day a week IF the online provision remained, too.

But I suspect that may not be the case.

[DamitJanet]

Whilst I’d like more school time, even a day a week I think would massively benefit my yR child. Unfortunately his school are only taking back y6 and yr1 before the summer holidays. Would be good to have some sort of interaction with his peers, and to stop school being this big scary unknown when he eventually does go back.

[VashtaNerada]

I'd be happy with one day a week IF the online provision remained, too.
I’m sure it would. I’m double-planning my Y1 lessons at the moment for children in school and at home, I’m sure we’d just carry on doing that sort of thing.

[PorpentiaScamander]

My year 10 has been offered 1 short day (9.20-1) per fortnight. Its not a lot but it's better than he's getting now. He needs to touch base with his teachers.

[museumum]

Is the 1-day week before summer? I’d take that.

I’m in Scotland so we have nothing till August then hoping for a 2-day week as best case but most likely scenario.

[PatriciaHolm]

@cologne4711

I'd be happy with one day a week IF the online provision remained, too.

But I suspect that may not be the case.

That's very much the case here. For both my primary, and my teenagers' secondary - DD has been offered a day a week, with a continued online timetable for the rest.

[UntamedShrew]

If he really happy with this for my DD(8). It would really cheer her up. But in England it seems she won’t get to go back at all for a long while yet.

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

The online provision most defintely continue. The model of a rota is intended to support the online learning and make it more meaninful and manageable.
We are looking at 1/4 of a class a day for 4 days with the 5th day for prep and rolling out of resouces while the school is also deep cleaned.

Within the week, once the class of the day has gone there will be a mid week zoom meeting in the middle of the 4 days that that group aren't in, to answer any questions that have come up, and try and ensure they will be able to complete their home learning tasks by the time they go back for their next session.

Key worker children are to be planned for first, with an extended day (with no charge for the additional hours) in their own separate bubble.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Same here tinierclanger.

[MotherAbigail]

My year 10 DD has been offered one meeting with her mentor. That’s it. Nothing else. No communication from school regarding any schooling at all, so it looks like they have nothing planned. Work being set is sketchy and nowhere near the level they should be working at by this stage. I am seriously worried for her future now, they are no longer all in the same boat. Some are in luxury cruise liners, but we appear to be in a leaky dinghy...