"More pupils to return soon"

[Piixxiiee]

Any insight on school return? My head just sent an email with some info in, but she also states we'll all be doing more days very soon as more pupils come in?
Government has said it will give schools notice so have they already ?

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

Schools have not had notice.

BJ outlines plan next week.

And the two chaps who can give clearer info are .... chief medical officer Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser.

[Piixxiiee]

Thank you. Didnt want to start another when are schools back but feel like my head is starting to think /plan for an increase of pupils this academic year.

[ineedaholidaynow]

What sort of school are you in OP?

[noblegiraffe]

I heard that schools will get at least 3 weeks notice to give time for preparation and cleaning so if Johnson is saying something next week we could be looking at 1st June for some kids (Gavin Williamson said it would be a phased return).

[ScorpionQueen]

Your head may be trying to get more vulnerable children in for now. Our numbers are creeping up. Only by a few but with no social distancing or deep cleaning between sessions it's making me very nervous. I'm looking at options for DD to stay elsewhere if the increase continues.

[YappityYapYap]

Schools, restaurants, cafes and bars were the first to close so will be the last to open in my view.




No idea how things will go but I can imagine non essentials shops will be allowed to reopen with social distancing, households will be able to mix again (not vulnerable one's), nurseries may reopen with limited amounts of children, some workplaces that can adhere to social distancing will reopen and the use of parks, beaches etc will be ok but with social distancing. These things would most likely be on a 'be responsible and expect it to stop again if figures rise' basis. Work from home if you can, schools shut and no bars and restaurants will be a theme going well into May I imagine

[stuckindoors77]

I've been saying all along I think that in the same way there has been an element of "prodding" those allowed businesses to re-open, school hubs will be "prodded" to increase their numbers from the long list that was produced originally.

Increasing the numbers in the hubs will give those in the know a chance to see if it causes any rise in numbers or specific issues without officially re-opening schools.

Also, numbers will naturally rise as those who were entitled but chose not to take up places early on will now get lockdown fatigue and rethink their decision.

[FreddieFlintstone]

I know it will have to be a phased return but I'm in a panic about this already. What will happen if you have two children in different year groups, whilst you're working in a different school? Ex h and I are both teachers but he's in the private sector, so probably won't be going back at the same time. The past few weeks have been like a finely coordinated dance as it is and I'm dreading trying to make more concessions. I can just see more layers of difficulty.

[Someonesayroadtrip]

Probably just trying to increase the numbers of vulnerable children,

[superram]

Year 6, 10, 12 on 1st June. Schools will need to look at shielding staff, how to socially distance and may not be full time. If the curve is to rise (which it will) better in summer than October.

[hiredandsqueak]

My dd has an EHCP and has been attending her independent specialist school throughout. Today I heard she has been given a keyworker at the LA who will be overseeing educational provision during lockdown (having heard not a peep from the LA previously)
I imagine, in our LA at least, this means all children with EHCPs will be given a keyworker and more will be enabled to access school provision.

[Piixxiiee]

I'm in a special school so maybe slightly different from most. Social distancing documentation has been produced by school today although weve been in since the start 1 or 2 days a week and obviously can't social distance with the children. Also all children have 1:1 plus extra adult so about 15 people in the room

I've got 2 dc too so a bit concerned about a phased return.

[Notdonna]

Year 6, 10, 12 on 1st June. Schools will need to look at shielding staff, how to socially distance and may not be full time. If the curve is to rise (which it will) better in summer than October.
Who has told you this?

[Notdonna]

I mean the three year groups and date of 1st June.

[Glitterkitten24]

Do you remember the last week of school before lockdown? Constant handwashing to the point of bleeding cracked hands, kids up to high doh about covid and half the class absent?
Even if I was in the mindset to have been teaching to my usual standard, the kids were not in the mindset to learn. The worry, and the disruption and the constant interruptions and changes to routine....the kids heads were fried.

I just can’t imagine what that looks like when schools go back.

[SansaSnark]

@superram please don't post speculation as fact- it's not helpful.

@Piixxiiee it sounds like all children in your school would have an ECHP? In which case, they are all already allowed in school. It sounds more like your head has had more requests for children to come in, or maybe has decided to encourage more parents to send children in?

A member of our SLT sent out an email this morning talking about CPD and saying we "may" be back in the next 8 weeks, which sounds like they haven't heard anything concrete yet- and are still working under the assumption we could be closed/partially closed for a while yet.

[Hibbetyhob]

@FreddieFlintstone I am stressing about this. DH & I both teach...what on earth will we do with our dc?!

Our only lifeline is that our dc go to the school I work at so the head may be incentivised to find a way for them to be in so I can be in.

But if it’s an issue for us (& currently we’re managing to keep our dc at home by juggling the days we’re actually in school) it’s going to be a problem for heaps of key workers who we’re currently staying open for...and therefore makes something of a mockery of us being open now. So hopefully key worker, vulnerable etc children will keep their entitlement to a full time school place whatever phased decisions are made.

[Minisoksmakehardwork]

@freddieflintstone and @hibbetyhob, we are in the same position. 4 children, 2 schools, 3 year groups and I work in a different secondary. DH is a keyworker elsewhere and would not easily be able to facilitate childcare.

I can't see some of mine being back to be taught classes while their siblings are in under the key worker care plan. It just wouldn't be practical. But maybe I will be wrong and they will have a class for keyworker children who aren't attending in their year groups. Separate classroom away from the others who are in for learning with a couple of TA's.

[Useruseruserusee]

I think it will be the vulnerable children. We are having more come to school regularly as the lockdown goes on and I know that’s the same for lots of schools in our borough. Some of them are less safe now than they were when lockdown started.

[ThereWillBeAdequateFood]

I am stressing about this. DH & I both teach...what on earth will we do with our dc

Surely teachers kids would be counted as keyworker kids and would be given a school place.
But then that means loads more kids in for schools to deal with. Nightmare to sort out.

[Dogsaresomucheasier]

I know we are getting some vulnerable kids compelled to come in as monitoring of them has flagged up issues. The rota has been expanded to reflect that. No concrete info on reopening yet, though.

[reefedsail]

Ireland have set out their plan which involves schools 'phasing' back in starting in September!

[thunderthighsohwoe]

Phasing is going to be an absolute nightmare and make everything 25 times harder, for the younger children especially.

I’d almost rather they just sent us all back at once and implemented some kind of weekly testing and tracing programme!

I did say ALMOST, before anyone spoiling for a fight gets all excited

[dootball]

Depending on the age of your kids I would expect my own school to let me bring them with if possible too, until things are closer to normal.

[Workingmum34]

No one knows. Everyone is guessing. Thursday we will find out more so no point speculating before then.

Regardless, if you are a teacher your kids will get a place at their school or the designated one that the LA has assigned as they are key worker kids. Whether you want to send them in or not, that’s a different issue.

Unless you are shielding and have proof or have a minor who has to shield you will be expected to be in work.

Private schools - anyone’s guess - they can do what they want but would be hard pushed not to open and charge parents if state schools are open.