Fed up off OPEN THE SCHOOLS posts !!

[Lulu1919]

I've been in school since we closed including the holidays with KW children
But that's very different to opening the whole school and staffing it and keeping socially distant etc etc
I just don't think it's something that should be rushed into
Me and another member of staff with six children using two rooms is doable and I feel fine doing this.with lots of hand gel and hand washing and changing my clothes etc as soon as I get home ...I'm not sure I'll feel so comfortable / happy going back to my real job in three weeks time ...which seems to be when a lot of people think we should....
Or is this just me overthinking?

[cabbageking]

Common sense says we won't be back to school in three weeks.
Whenever it is all you can do is have your list of questions ready to raise issues the Head may not have considered yet.
Common sense says not all schools will be able to take the whole school in one go. So spend time thinking about the best and safest way for your school to open, be it a year at a time, one particular group at a time and the issues this brings and the solutions.
Having a considered plan you have confidence in might quell some worries.

[Sleepingbunnies11]

Really disappointed that Keir Starmer seems to be pushing it. I’m in a school of 1000 that was built for 500, and the day before closure kids were still drinking DIRECTLY from the water fountain 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Dogsaresomucheasier]

It’s the use of “common sense” and a political decision concerning schools being made in the same sentence that is making me nervous!

[Makeitgoaway]

Yes, it's all completely pointless at this point no one know anything, there's no point stressing over when or how they will reopen.

We are expecting extra kids in next week. The vulnerable children are becoming more at risk as time goes on

[Lulu1919]

Thanks everyone
The list of questions is a good idea and will give me some feeling of control !!!
Right I'm heading back in now to cover the afternoon shift..then a supermarket shop....wish me luck !

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Another one who's disappointed with Keir S. It's just reactionary and mis-guided, I think.

[Appuskidu]

Very disappointed with Keir Starmer-had very high hopes for him, but he’s really missed the point here.

OP-Have you seen/signed the NEU letter to the government?

[tootiredtoconga]

I work in a secondary school with 1400+ students. The idea that we could properly reopen while social distancing is still necessary is ludicrous.

I can't fathom why this is even up for debate right now when the Health Secretary has clearly stated there's no evidence we're past the peak of the virus yet.

[cantkeepawayforever]

Did you hear the head of Michaela on the Today programme this morning? She was really very impassioned about the impossibility of social distancing and the lack of staff...

[cantkeepawayforever]

(NASUWT representative, interviewed just before her, was useless. In total contrast to the very clear and sensible NEU letter, he was waffly and unclear)

[Northernsoullover]

I can completely understand why some people might want the schools to re open if they need to start working but when I see the argument about them missing out on their education I can't help thinking that their priorities are misplaced. I couldn't give a shit about education (at this point in time) education is important but safety is importanter .

[Appuskidu]

Did you hear the head of Michaela on the Today programme this morning?

Who or what is the head of Michaela?

[cantkeepawayforever]

Sorry, Michaela Community School mcsbrent.co.uk/

It's been in the news fairly frequently for its approach to discipline etc - she said this morning that despite having a reputation for being one of the strictest schools, she had absolutely no way of enforcing social distancing for children in school.

[Appuskidu]

Ah, that makes sense! I was wondering if it was a Union I hadn’t heard of! Will google what she said

[cantkeepawayforever]

Apologies for the daily Mail link, but it reports pretty accurately what she said:

Daily Mail report

[noblegiraffe]

Yes if Katharine Birbalsingh can’t enforce social distancing with her troops of well-trained kids then the rest of us have zero chance.

Which we already knew. But nice to have her confirm as she is often a conservative cheerleader.

[RhymingRabbit3]

Four weeks ago this place was full of "close the schools" posts!

[Appuskidu]

Just found the article. She sounds excellent!

I would imagine the heads’ union will be very concerned about what the return to school is going to look like.

[Devlesko]

I can't believe teachers have had to become child minders in the first place. It's not like there's a shortage of them.
I think when schools do open it needs to be managed by childcare workers so teachers can teach online.

[Piggywaspushed]

But Birbalsingh has been merrily tweeting for weeks that she thinks schools will reopen in May. She is exactly the sort of voice the Tories listen to.

[Piggywaspushed]

Then I read the link. She is nonetheless peddling the Your Country Needs You line. She just wants it to be clearer thst teachers should make a patriotic sacrifice imo. Which sounds more like her!

[cantkeepawayforever]

What I thought was particularly interesting about her interview was that she wasn't saying schools shouldn't re-open, and she wasn't saying teachers weren't willing to work, or might not need to work to re-start the environment.

What she was calling for was honesty in the way that was done, saying was that nobody should pretend that schools re-opening was in any way compatible with social distancing, and that up to half her teachers would - due to vulnerability or new self isolation - be unable to work, and this would lead to chaos.

[cantkeepawayforever]

Tbh, I think her view is quite typical of the school staff I know - we are willing to work, but we want everyone to know this is the end of social distancing, and that staff absence will continue to be a problem, so these risks should be considered and planned for rather than lied about.

[noblegiraffe]

If it’s accepted that social distancing in schools won’t happen then the government will also have to address the PPE issue.

And how does it fit with those reports that schools were going to run out of soap?

[Al1Langdownthecleghole]

Much as I would like DDs to get out of my hair once again for a few hours a day, (and that includes that adult teacher DD as well as her younger sister ), I honestly think at this point in the year, much of the damage is done.

Surely the educational benefits of returning to - a presumably still disrupted - school at this stage are limited, especially when weighed against the risks of going back too soon?