What’s the likely hood of Primary Schools returning to full time in September?

[Ladywinesalot]

Just that really.

I’m full of fear that they schools will only open part time and split classes in half.

I’m in aghast at what the Government has done to the schools and our children.

The impact of this over exaggerated lockdown on the children’s education and mental health is just horrific.

All of our local ones will be part time. There isn't enough space to do otherwise unfortunately. They don't have enough teachers due to shielding which is a massive issue at the moment

When will schools go back to normal?

I’m in aghast at what the Government has done to the schools and our children.

Why do you think this is the Government's fault? What would you wish to have seen happen instead?

When will schools go back to normal? No-one seems to have thought that far ahead! The government planning assumes that shielding children and staff will stay home untill the virus is no longer a risk- so untill there isna vaccine, it mutates into something less serious or everyone else has had it and we have heard immunity (if that is possible with this virus)

I agree op. It's ridiculous. How can they expect working parents to work and homeschool. I have a really good job, school hours, which I will have to give up if they start messing about with half-days or half weeks.

GoodGirlGoneBadd, I have news for you. There is currently a (global) pandemic. Countries all around the world have closed schools for the safety of the children and the wider community. It has not yet been ascertained that it is safe for schools to open more widely (that they have been all along).
They're not "messing about" with plans to open half-days or half-weeks. If that is on the agenda, it will be because it is the best they can do under the circumstances. This is not schools' fault, but the virus's.
We have to do the best we can do. All of us.

3 months is a long time for things to progress. Look at what has happened between the end of February and now.

I think it's a bit premature to say one way or the other. There could be rapid developments between now and then. Things could get better or worse.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best as they always say.

@CallmeAngelina
It is the Goverment that put the lockdown in place.
It is the Goverment that closed schools.
The whole population DIDNOT need to go into lockdown!

The majority that have died of Covid 19 have been over 70 or had under lying health conditions.
Those 2 groups needed to be shielded and supported.

Instead the entire population suffers through the incompetence of this Goverments poor decision making.

I really do wonder the motives of those who are pro lockdown. How are you paying your bills?

No chance, sorry.

Why do you think this is the Government's fault? What would you wish to have seen happen instead?

Of course it's their fault! They made that decision.

Personally I favour Sweden's approach.

Somehow nobody gives a shiny shit about education anymore. When before it was a huge issue if children missed more than a day or so. Funny how things change.

Totally agree OP

And I’d be amazed if all schools didn’t open full time in Sept

I agree OP. I hope schools will be back to normal by September. The damage being done to the country’s children by keeping them off for so long is something that we will reap in the years to come. We need to get them back ASAP.

@trustthegenegenie
I agree!
Taking dc out of school for a family 1 week holiday is a big no no but 3 months off and going back part time for potentially 6 months is a fine because it’s for the “health”

Well I wonder what this lockdown and scaremongering when they go back part time will do you the children’s mental health hey?

I suppose it partly depends what you as a parent do to mitigate the effects.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/12154266

The children's education will be fine. It's important to keep everyone safe. Children might mostly be ok but adults (teachers, TAs, office staff, canteen staff etc) are more at risk.

I am a TA and will be in an enclosed space, performing initiate care, not allowed any masks or PPE, no social distancing.

My life matters to me, my 4 children and my husband.

In September the virus will still be with us, we will not have a vaccine. Teachers lives must still be protected and schools must look to their safety. Having 30 people n a class in September is not safe.

What's your chance of dying @LavenderLilacTree?

I suppose it partly depends what you as a parent do to mitigate the effects

Please tell me what I can do to mitigate the effects of my 4yo desperately missing his friends? I can't magic him up a sibling from thin air can I.

Almost all countries closed schools.
Many have been closed for longer than the UK schools. Although I don't think we've dealt with all aspects of this Panasonic greatly I don't think schools closing when they did was wrong. I also believe going back should be a careful phased return.

My ex colleague works in China. Not in Wuhan. She returns to school for the first time on Monday. The children go back the week after, phased return with restrictions. They last went to school in January.

@LavenderLilacTree
Are you waiting for a working vaccine to feel safe enough to go back to work?

What is the normal tone to develop a safe working vaccine?

Is it 18 - 24 months?

Would you be willing to take a vaccine that has been rushed a poorly tested?
Would you allow your children to have a poorly tested vaccine?

I will not.

Those of us working full time with more than one child can try as hard as we possibly can to ‘mitigate the effects’.

It does not go anywhere near replacing the school experience. I’ve had my youngest DD up way past her bedtime on a regular basis as I put in a second shift homeschooling her after my work day is done. It’s not sustainable, it’s a crying shame for her. We need to start balancing risks.

They could be all back, or not back at all. Literally no one knows at this point.

@CallmeAngelina

What risks do you mean?
The mental health risks to my dc? It’s what I’ve worked the hardest on while they have been at home. But even then, this past week I’ve noticed they are struggling. Fed up. Grumpy.

They are missing friends, family, playing at the park (swings/slides) going to the shops.

And it’s still the subject of vulnerable children. Could you imagine what it’s like being a neglected or abused child being stuck at home? God help them...

I don't think they will ever be able to fine parents again for taking children out of school for holidays.

But that's a sliver of a silver lining when many state children will have gone untaught for 6 months minimum.

Individual children missing chunks of school in normal times is a problem because they miss stuff that the other children are doing. That's not the case when everyone is off school.

Why are you putting 'health' in inverted commas, OP? Do you not think that lockdown was to preserve people's health?

Children have been doing distance learning and will catch up. There have been articles about what happened when whole cohorts of children in various countries missed bug chunks of school because of natural disasters. It was ok and they caught up. Besides, having months off is pretty normal in countries like Spain, where they have 3 month summer holidays.

*big chunks, not bug chunks!