My sons primary school have measured their classrooms...

[DonLewis]

And if social distancing is how schools will be able to open, they can fit 9 children in per classroom.

Reception is 3 form entry and totally open plan.

It's a virtually brand new building, so not like the school I went to, a tiny voctorain thing with portacabins in the playground as dinner huts.

So, how does this work? Most classes have 32+kids in them.

When people say "children don't spread the virus" (unproven) or "children aren't at much risk" etc, does this definition of "child" include 16 year olds? Because I'd have thought there's a point at which children are physiologically adults?

callme tell that to my pupils half way through their GCSEs, they have lost over half a term, and we closed school a week before the spring break. That adds up to a huge loss of teaching in key years especially, not to mention what it is doing to younger children.

For some children this is a catastrophe. A mental, physical and emotional catastrophe, even those that have not had the horrific experience of a loved one. The impact of this will go on for years, I work with children that suffered serious MH issues, self harm etc before this even happened, and I am truly dreading to see the condition they are in now. We need to get them back, whatever it takes. You clearly are indifferent to the terrible suffering these kids have been through. Surely the wrong profession for someone so uncaring.

@Biscuit0110 forgot to say that your comment that if they are getting a bus they must be nearly at adulthood. Nope sorry the kids on the school bus are as young as 5. It's a primary school.

I'm sure there was a graphic on the bbc news yesterday that said re-opening schools (although it did not say to what extent) would increase the R-level by 0.2? From its current level of 0.7, therefore still keeping it below the magic 1 level.

peppa well their parents can always drive/walk or organise lifts. I imagine you will be pleasantly surprised at the innovation.

You clearly are indifferent to the terrible suffering these kids have been through. Surely the wrong profession for someone so uncaring.

ODFOD! Are you this dramatic and goady in real life? You have NO IDEA of my circumstances or attitude to the children in my care.

Children seem to get the virus at the same rate as adults according to two larger studies in China and Germany. Just most children get it very mildly so their cases were missed in early research.
It is impossible for children to go back and social distancing to happen. Infection rates will rise and deaths will increase again. We will reach a second peak just as schools close for the school summer holidays.

My kids are not going back and if I was a member of school staff who was vulnerable I would not be going back either.
My kids will become ill and I will be ringing in sick for them. I have no problem with lying to keep us all safe.

@Biscuit0110 not everyone drives. Maybe you would be willing to walk primary children 3 miles along the side of motorways or along dangerous country roads. But I don't think many parents would think that would be a good idea. They wouldn't put on school buses if they didn't need to .

@Biscuit0110 I have a year 10 ds and another at university. I'm a parent as well as a teacher. Those of us in education are simply pointing out that it's not as easy as 'put them in the hall'. Schools have been working on contingency plans for weeks. We do care about our kids, there is a lot of help and safeguarding going on behind the scenes at my school. We also care about the health and welfare of our staff.

@CallmeAngelina That is a guess, and sending kids back to school is an experiment.
They also told us they were aiming to "only" have a total of 20k deaths from covid 19. They got that wrong, so I am not holding my breath that they have got this right.

callme if that has hit a nerve, then that is a matter for you. Nothing you have said so far has indicated any concern for the children, nothing. Calling a pandemic with so many tens of thousands of lives lost, and untold damage to our country and children is catastrophising is deeply offensive and insulting.

@Biscuit0110 I am concerned about you? Do you really work in mental health, because your comment is incredibly over dramatic and does not sound like anyone I know who works in mental health.
Also if you really did work in this you would be in contact with the children you care for and would know exactly what their current mental health is like.
I do know people working in mental health and they say some are more anxious and depressed and for some their mental health has improved. The picture is far more complex than people would assume.

Seems to me that the effect of returning to school in these conditions will have a huge effect on the mental health of children and teenagers, far more so than home schooling has had.

The stress of social distancing, the restrictions on play and social contact at break times, lunch eaten apart, teachers behind screens. It sounds a lot worse for young minds than being at home.

"The UK was not built on a can't do won't do attitude, it was built on backbone and solutions"

Oh Jesus wept . Your "solutions" haven't been great so far have they @Biscuit0110

One minute you talk about cancelling PE, drama and dance (why those subjects, because you personally don't value them?), then the next you're talking about kids missing their GCSEs.

You seem to have zero understanding of viral load, adequate hand washing is impossible in many schools as is teaching outside in the great British weather.

They haven't "shown" that children don't spread the virus at all. They don't know yet. And by "children" what do you mean? Because most studies are looking at under 10s. Not 16 year olds sitting their GCSEs. It may surprise you but the body of a 16 year old and the way it reacts to certain illness is very different to that of an 8 year old.

I'm sure there was a graphic on the bbc news yesterday that said re-opening schools (although it did not say to what extent) would increase the R-level by 0.2? From its current level of 0.7, therefore still keeping it below the magic 1 level

Ok genius even if that's correct (and it may well not be in the UK) that means there's NO wiggle room for any other adjustments, such as people going back to work

Well, tone can be lost in print, so I suppose you weren't to know that my DFOD was written with amusement.
Perhaps you should step away from the internet for a little while, maybe supervise your children's GCSE study for a bit? It seems you're struggling managing them being at home.
Let those in Education who know what they're up against continue with prepping possible REALISTIC and PRACTICAL solutions to schools re-opening.

@DippyAvocado

Before anyone from the government makes any rules about how schools should operate, they need to actually set foot in one.

Well, let's pick one that's currently pretty full with key worker kids! Let them enjoy a FULL day there without decent PPE

If they refuse the invitation a full explanation would be sxievtdd!!

sxievtdd *

iPhone for 'expected' 🙄🙄

• Is there any actual science behind the 2m rule? Is it not 1.5m in Germany? Physical distancing seems about as backed in science as face coverings are. There are no studies that show either of them makes a difference. Wash your hands.*

Of course there is! Plenty - use google or look up John Campbell he explains the science in a very easy to understand way

It's essentially a respiratory disease - inhale the virus and there you go

@AmelieTaylor Yes its like all the people who say we just have to get all this virus never seem keen on volunteering to help in care homes and hospitals and of course without PPE because they are going to get it anyway.
What they mean is other people have to get it so share prices can increase. They have no intention of catching it and will be safely hiding in their second homes.

I had a portable sink in my class room, needed emptying and filling daily. but that is one option. (would need emptying and filling more than once a day with covid. )

We have to play the long game, whether the children go back in June or September. Not just say it won't work

Yes & no

Hopefully by September we will be better at getting people into hospital sooner, better at treating it and have a stable, lie, R number plus be nearer a vaccine.

The kids are on holiday for a Chuck if the next few months. It just makes NO SENSE to send them back before the summer holidays!

It just isn’t possible. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s suddenly “discovered” that children can’t spread it after all. This government are capable of anything.

I just don't get how it'll work for nursery and reception. They sneeze in your face, wipe their noses with their hands and touch everything. They are all over each other and regularly (and unsurprisingly) come down with all sorts.
I think for those years it's all or nothing...

There is a child in my class (Year 3) who has attachment issues so frequently needs to climb on my lap or stroke my hair throughout a lesson. I couldn’t socially distance from him, he wouldn’t cope with a full day in school without that reassurance.