Is there a schools petition anywhere yet?

[WhoahThereCrazyHorse]

Just wondering if anyone has seen one in circulation anywhere that they can link to? And if not, would you sign one?

Suggested wording (but please suggest any additions)

Our children are being failed. They are missing out on an education because of the government's lack of planning and understanding of the challenges facing schools during coronavirus. Thousands of children are suffering damage to mental health due to the lack of social interaction that is a vital part of school life, and vulnerable children are in danger.

This government urgently needs to revise guidelines and make return to school for all year groups compulsory from September. It must provide the emergency funding required for extra teachers, and the help to provide temporary buildings if social distancing rules mean that schools need more space. It must recognise that children's education is a key priority and work urgently to resolve this crisis.

Thoughts?

[sleepydragons]

You'll be wasting your time.

[Beatingthisthing]

Have you looked in petitions? I saw one on here the other day which said pretty much what you're saying.

[Iggly]

Write to your MP, especially if they’re a Tory. They’ll be getting twitchy: link

[Oysterbabe]

I suspect that new cases and deaths will be so low by then that there will be no way they can justify keeping kids off.

[Yester]

With the R rate above 1 across the country it's pretty unlikely to be listened to. If education is your issue instead focus on improved education at home.

[meditrina]

I know this sounds very negative, but how the hell can schools expand in London? They're stuffed to the gunnels already, having received central govt additional funding in recent years just to create enough school,places to meet basic demand.

Also, what provision will you call for for shielded children?

[eggofmantumbi]

I'm in maternity leave so not involved, but the effort it is taking my school to get 2 year groups (and keyworker children) in is phenomenal as they are an
Doing it safely and by government regs.
I think it'd be crazy to go straight back to capacity

[HipTightOnions]

emergency funding required for extra teachers

Who are these “extra teachers”?

[halcyondays]

I’m not sure this is just a matter of extra funding. Where are they supposed to find pretty much double the number of qualified teachers and the same amount of extra classrooms in a couple of months?

[Mightymurphy]

Yester, the R rate is not above 1 across the country.

[Adirondack]

I think not all parents will be happy with a blanket ‘everyone back to school’ petition. Might be better to ask for a comprehensive, standardised online education programme across the board for all year groups? I think a big part of the problem over the last 12 weeks has been lack of consistency- some schools doing loads incl online and zoom lessons, and others doing sweet FA.

[Walkingwounded]

Yes there is. It’s at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/305525

(Sorry cannot link)

Also petition and campaign at //www.usforthem.co.uk

A lot of of are writing to MPs, sec of state, children’s commissioner also....

[Walkingwounded]

Oh, linked worked! 😀

[silenceattheback]

Where are they going to magic up these extra teachers and extra rooms?

Why don't you put your efforts into better homeschooling your child.

[Duckfinger]

I would sign it. And I have written to my MP.
I work in a school, I'm a TA and honestly all the staff I work with want everyone back. We have had up to 40 keyworker children in school throughout the crisis, mostly children of front line hospital staff. We have all been in one room, no distancing, sharing toys as usual. Different children and staff each day, no attempt at bubbles of 15. ( until the guidance came in on 1st June now we do). No extra cleaning other than spraying down the tables before lunch so they can eat off them.
We have not had even 1 suspected case.
Our parents clearly feel the same as we have 92.8% attendance for the year groups that have returned.
We also have been told by various parents who work in the hospital that they are now only getting 1 or 2 Covid cases a week.

[Starlightstarbright1]

I wonder why secondary education isn’t getting a mention . He is year 8. Never gets a mention . I am a keyworker but working from home. He could walk to school - I see his mh declining and not a single word - there has been work sent but no pastoral thoughts .

[IncrediblySadToo]

This government urgently needs to revise guidelines and make return to school for all year groups compulsory from September

What - even if the R rate is 4? Or 40?

[TheGriffle]

@silenceattheback not everyone can effectively homeschool. Me and Dh are working full time from home in demanding key worker jobs while looking after our 7 and 3 year olds as we can work from home so school won’t take them and nursery closed completely.

There are not enough fucking hours in the day to homeschool effectively, parent, do housekeeping duties (which there are a lot of as everyone is home, all the time) and be a decent employee working 40 hours a week.

So fuck off with your parent shaming “educate your kids properly” that is why we have schools and fucking brilliant teachers who train to be able to teach effectively.

[Oysterbabe]

It's being reported that the 2m rule will be relaxed very soon and that social distancing may be scrapped in schools all together. Things are changing constantly and it's very unlikely that the bubbles of 15 will be a thing come September.

[CeeJay81]

I am really worried about schools too esp as one of mine struggles with mild sen. We're in Wales so it's a devolved matter. They said the kids could go back part time for 4 weeks. My kids are getting 3 and 2 single days. That's not per week, that's for the entire 4 weeks. What's the bloody point. In Wales the r is 0.7, so not too bad. I really hope they are going to be getting at the very least 2-3 days a week in September.

[Msmcc1212]

FFS.

[WhoahThereCrazyHorse]

Thank you for the links Walkingwounded. silenceattheback - thanks for the input

[Iggly]

Why don't you put your efforts into better homeschooling your child

I bet you’re one of those who don’t realise that many parents have to actually work while homeschooling their kids.

I’d like to see you try with two parents in a high pressured stressful job.

[DigOutThoseLemonHandWipes]

I'm home school just fine thanks. But what I can't be is other children. I can't replicate the social interaction with other children. I can watch my child who has made great strides to over come shyness and SEN integrate into the class slide back to where where he was several years ago. As on old child apart from a handful of zoom calls and shouting hi to passing friends in the street he hasn't spoken to anyone other than his parents for three months and the prospect of it being another three months is heartbreaking.

[DigOutThoseLemonHandWipes]

*only child not old child