Announcement on schools today at briefing?

[whattodo1976]

I read in The Guardian yesterday that Gavin Williamson will be announcing 'school catchup' today. Also, there is talk of schools getting £1 billion for tutors from September to teach in small groups in after school clubs. However, I guess this very much depends on social distancing rules in September? Either way, it will be interesting to listen to what is said today.

[Weepinggreenwillow]

what we need to hear is what they plan on doing to get all pupils back to school properly in September. What we don't need to hear is some half baked poorly thought out scheme for a couple of weeks over the summer, with no mention of September at all. Guess which we will be getting

[Littlebelina]

We could also do with some info about what is going to happen over the summer holidays since the government have said schools won't open even for keyworkers and holiday camps are cancelling because they can operate under the current guidance.

[Littlebelina]

Can't operate

[ineedaholidaynow]

This is on the BBC website:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53100881

[Barbie222]

Why can't clubs operate with smaller numbers like schools? Not clear on this. Too expensive? Insurance?

[Todaythiscouldbe]

So longer school days for children who have had no social life at all for months? Perfect!

[dingledongle]

This is a distraction from the real issue- when are schools re-opening for all pupils?

[SteelyPanther]

What about help for the Uni students who are paying for their own education that they haven’t been having during Covid, and didn’t get prior to that while lecturers were striking ?

[NailsNeedDoing]

It will be harder for holiday clubs to run because social distancing might mean that they don’t have the the ability to take enough children to make it financially viable. They are businesses that need to make a profit, completely different to schools.

[EmpireFa11]

There will be nothing for year 11( the year that hit booted out of school in March) and above. Nothing. Zilch.

[EmpireFa11]

And yes it is a distraction. Some parents will be fooled into thinking crappy tutoring will save their kid’s education( all tutoring I know relies on parents enforcing work and is often shite at the best of times)others worried sick over no Sep starting( myself included) will froth over this and attention will be diverted. Again.

[Weepinggreenwillow]

well, the idea of supporting children to catch up where needed is not a bad one. As long as it properly planned and drawn up in consultation with teachers and schools (hmmm betting it wont be) BUT what we really, really need to know is the details of what will happen in September. Parents will be left in crisis if schools aren't fully back and they are expected to work. And as said above this about much, much more than just the academic attainment.
Agree also parents need to know about childcare options for the summer - although I see this as a slightly different issue to schools.

[dancinfeet]

Making the school day even longer for children will mean that they can't attend their after school activities, catch up is important, but so is physical and mental health. Lots of children will be looking forward to their after school activities restarting which also play an important part in a child's well being. Not to mention the ongoing impact this will have on those sorts of businesses, which are already amongst the last sectors allowed to reopen.

[cptartapp]

My DS are year 10 and 12. Their social life takes backseat for the next few months to catching up for exams. Provision has been largely woeful.
If this means extended school days for the exam year students then for those willing, let's crack on.

[Weepinggreenwillow]

and totally agree. This is all just to distract from the fact that there is absolutely NO PLAN of how to get children back to school in a meaningful way in September. We must NOT settle for this.

[Sirzy]

I wonder where they are finding the suitably qualified staff from to provide all this tutoring?

Like has been said what is needed is a clear plan for how things will work in September. It’s rediculous to leave schools (and parents) in a position where they have no idea what the set up will be so they can’t plan and they can’t support children to be prepared

[ineedaholidaynow]

If a child hadn’t engaged during lockdown (even though they have been set work) I can’t see them engaging with additional hours at school.

[Longwhiskers14]

Another plan that appears to have been pulled together scribbled down on the back of a fag packet. Where are these tutors coming from? How will schools ensure that they have adequate educational qualifications to teach the children? As for summer schools, I just can't see the most vulnerable and disadvantaged being compelled by their parents to spend their summer holidays at school.

[ifonly4]

Steely good point. DD didn't even get six months out of uni support. Everything just stopped in March, no assessments, lectures, exams. Next month she'll be paying £7500 pa for just one room plus standing bills, no lounge in flat, and who knows when she'll see it.

[EmpireFa11]

Cptart oh year 11 and above are getting nothing. There is no cracking on for them.

One wonders if current year 10 will be classed as year 10 or 11.

[keepingbees]

My year 1 child went back this week, they're all tired out. Longer days are not the answer.

[PicklePig31]

I’m a head of department in an inner city school.

We won’t need money thrown at the problem, what we need is kids in school, full time.

Time is finite and next year you can bet that most disadvantaged kids are the ones that have done nothing since schools closed and will be the ones requiring the most tutoring. It’s simply not possible to catch them up even if they wanted to attend (highly unlikely) and so the gap widens...

The whole thing is a joke. I’ve had enough and just want to do my job which is to teach.

[cptartapp]

Empire my year 11 nephew has been sent preparatory A level work from his new college to do over the summer. He has been cracking in! Many though, probably have nothing. Which highlights the disparity in provision.

[Weepinggreenwillow]

the article doesn't mention longer school days. It is perfectly possible the tutoring could take place during the school day - in a similar way to how those students identified as needing extra help are sometimes taken out of class in small groups for a period of time.
But also - schools will be expected to fund 25% of the cost - wonder how schools will feel about this and where exactly they are expected to find the money from. Last I heard school budgets weren't exactly overflowing!

[ineedaholidaynow]

We didn’t even have a budget for books this year @Weepinggreenwillow so I can’t imagine there will be any budget for tutors.