Mixing up school pods allowed?

[Blimeyoreilly2020]

Hi all, just wondering if someone more au fait with the guidance can give their thoughts....Dc went back to school as soon as it opened to their year group. As per guidance they were put into pods (currently 4 pods with less than the max allowed). A new influx of children are starting next week and rather than add to the existing pods & potentially create one other they are planning to mix everyone up - including the existing pods.....doesn’t this totally negate the point of having the pods in the first place (& go against the govt requirements?!)....Really happy to be told I’m wrong but would be really grateful to know the answer...thank you!!

[Bluewavescrashing]

We are sticking with our pods and adding to them if new children register to come to school. There could be another reason for mixing the pods- it's not ideal as you say.

[Duckfinger]

The pods are farsical. In practice they don't work.
We have 2 yr 6 pods, 2 keyworker pods, 2 yr1, a fs1 and fs2.
There are siblings in different pods, their are neighbours in different yr groups walking to school together. All using the same toilets- that aren't cleaned after every group just 4 times a day.
The staff all use the same staff room before school and lunchtime.
No social distancing in pods.
It is utterly pointless. And our LA have checked our risk assessments and confirmed we are 'covid secure' it is ludicrous it really is.

[confusednortherner]

The pods/ bubbles are a disaster! Similar where we are, two initially that have split and been added to and looking like that will happen again next week. Complete farce and local authority don't care.

[Blimeyoreilly2020]

Ok - so it seems to be the norm that schools aren’t able to stick to the guidance...Dc really struggles with change so changing groups again as well as the supervising teacher is causing worry...in addition to the issue that it seems to not be in line with the rules. If the pods/bubbles aren’t working we either need to say schools out for everyone or get everyone back in (preferable for many I know!!)

[starfish4]

Our school are sticking to bubbles. Schools locally have recently taken on extra children on from a local government organisation. They are in new bubbles, not being added to existing ones.

Regarding those coming back to Years 1 and 6 (not taking reception back), there is a space for all those who've confirmed they'd like their children to return (even if not for the first week or two). They've already been allocated a bubble. We've had a high intake, so can't take any more.

[NameChangeForThisOneToday]

My keyworker kid is in a bubble with classmates til 2pm when class go home, then he joins another bubble just for keyworker kids til 5. Why they didn't just have one keyworker bubble from 9 to 5, confuses me!!

[ShSpecialFriends]

Also, the guidance is optional, schools don't have to stick to it at all if they think they have a good reason for doing it differently.