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.

Individual children missing chunks of school in normal times is a problem because they miss stuff that the other children are doing

That hasn't changed. Some children will be doing lots more than others.

Do you not think that lockdown was to preserve people's health?

It wasn't. It was to stop them all dying at once and overwhelming the NHS. Many people's health will be worse for it because appts have been cancelled and it's nigh on impossible to see a GP.

Besides, having months off is pretty normal in countries like Spain, where they have 3 month summer holidays

This isn't a 3 month summer holiday is it. It's 6 months off school completely and who knows how long getting some half arsed education?

@lazylinguist... Many parents in frustration are turning private tutors/ private schools that have gone online etc (the ads on Mumsnet should tell you that) . Others are supplementing with their own resources.

I don't think it's ok at all to say it is fine because all children will have fallen behind because it absolutely won't be like that.

So OP, you won't have your children vaccinated but you expect them to go back to school full time for your convenience? Ok then.

@lazylinguist
The original given reason for going on lockdown was to save the NHS as it was anticipated covid would run rampant through the population and hospitals could not cope with the intake.

The NHS has not been overwhelmed, which can be proved that Nightingale is to be decommissioned.
Thankfully covid has not affected the original projected figures.

In light of this, why is the majority of the population still on lockdown? Especially when 30,000 of the deaths are from the over 70’s and those with existing health conditions.

The majority of the population does not need to be in lockdown!

But OP, if we hadn't all had lockdown, what do you think the figures would look like now?

So surely that means the lockdown worked??!!

@MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately
At no point did I say I want my dc to return to full time school for my convenience, so don’t make lies up because you have no valid point to contribute to this situation.

Do you have school age DC?
Do you work? Are all your bills being taken of?

I agree OP. Children and young people have been treated appallingly in all this - so little thought has been given to their wider mental and physical wellbeing and their future prospects. All the facilities that support and cater for them still closed, while garden centres and golf courses have reopened. Suddenly adequate education seems to have become an optional extra. And, though barely affected by the virus themselves, they’ll be expected to pay for the longterm fallout of all this for the rest of their lives - on top of climate change and a likely no-deal Brexit.

If I were a 16 year old right now I’d be incandescent.

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

This last three weeks my son is finding things really tough - he doesn’t have siblings, he is missing his friends, misses interacting with other children other than on a screen, misses playing with other children. No amount of me playing games with him can replicate that

Play and social interaction are essential for children’s development.

My son has become demotivated, is very clingy, and is having angry outbursts.
This is despite having supportive parents doing their best for him.

I dread to think how he will be if he doesn’t go back to school and isn’t permitted social interaction with children until September

So no, it doesn’t depend what we do as parents to mitigate - we can’t magic up siblings, we can’t arrange alternative social interaction in the absence of school, we can’t take them to activities to offer stimulation.

The lockdown should have applied to the over 70’s and those with existing health conditions.

The lockdown has only prolonged what covid will do. Those that will die from it may not die today from covid because of lockdown, but they still will.

Ours is normal just Monday-Thursday normal time and end date I'm in Surrey.

Pisses me off so much when people say oh their education will be fine they'll catch up.. what about seeing their mates, chatting to another grown up that isn't their mum or dad, playing out, doing their after school clubs, seeing grandparents- Jesus they've been in isolation children for 9 weeks.... it's another 15 weeks till September... I am staggered that the one group who is the least affected by this has been the one that has had to give up the most... and people think it's just about their education

Besides, having months off is pretty normal in countries like Spain, where they have 3 month summer holiday

Yeah because this is just like an extended summer holiday for children

those with existing health conditions.

Which health complications would you include?
We have 9 members of staff who are classed as clinically vulnerable, but not shielded. Thats a big number of staff for an infant school, a reasonable percentage of the teaching staff.

How do schools manage full time with all children in but without their full quota of staff? Or should those staff go in and risk it?

Who knows? May depend on school capacity... DS's primary school is on a large site shared with other buildings that may not be in use so they may actually be able to have half-size classes if they are able to use the other buildings.

I'm not whether I'd rather have longer days and a short week, or short days every day, as if I won't have any childcare in all likelihood and if DH is still working then (not certain, as he's on contract) I'm likely to have to go in and out dropping off and picking up.

@TempsPerdu you put it much better than me

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.

Exactly! Just like the way climate change has gone on the back-burner now we've got the virus. All those extra wipes and single-use PPE have to be disposed of somehow. Now no-one gives a hoot about them ending up in the sea cos it's not a priority. But when the virus goes away the media will re-focus on the climate and how we're all screwed.

@aragog
Then those staff should be in lockdown if they fear for their health.
And at what point will they fell safe to go back to work? Are they waiting for a vaccine?
That’s a genuine question, I’m not trying to be antagonist by asking.

My fear of children going back part time and having to socially distance from each other is their mental health being effected.

What are they/will they be told?
They must walk around school in one way like the shops with arrows on the floor?
Will desks be taped off?
Will they be told over and over to stay away from each other? To not touch or play with their friends as normal?

What an awful environment for young impressionable children to learn and live in.

Setting them up for a bit of ptsd?

@Aragog I work in the front line and work with colleagues who have health conditions but they are expected to go to work. Why are teacher different?

@Ladywinesalot I totally agree. I've been made to feel like a bad parent because I am taking my dc back to school in June. As far as I am concerned the effects of lock down will be far worse than the minimal chance of catching the virus.

@Ladywinesalot I fully agree with your last post regarding it being an awful environment & concerns about their mental health.
I do wonder though, if going back full time & social distancing at the same time with have a greater impact on them? With part time, at least they have half a day / couple of days a week 'away' from it - where as full time it's all day, every day.
Not that I think for 1 moment all years can go back full time whilst social distancing is in place - the schools just can't fit them in.
I don't know what the answer is to this. I'd be very interested whether any teachers know of how their school is planning for September (I'm aware it's still too early and most are planning for returning in June for England but curious as to whether any long term plans are being considered too)

couple of days a week 'away' from it - where as full time it's all day, every day

Away from it where though? Not all kids will have a parent at home. They might just be in another socially distanced setting which imo is totally fucking pointless!

I think something like 400 people under 40 have died of Covid and likely majority of those had underlying conditions

Those with conditions and over 70 should have been directed to isolate and every support possible should be given to these groups to enable them to do so but it should be business as usual for everyone else - esp kids

It’s ridiculous that 66 million have been lockdown when vast vast majority will get nothing more than a cough

Most infections now are transmitted by care home and hospitals

Community transmission is very low

Good girl - just curious as to whether teachers (or anyone) with a health condition should be told to just take their chance.

FWIW I don't believe doctors and nurses should be having to work if they have a health condition which puts them at greater risk. Certainly I know not all are - and a someone I know (she's the lead gp for Covid for the area) doesn't believe teachers, or other workers, should be expected to.

To be fair the government guidance tells ALL workers, not just teachers by the way, that if they are clinically vulnerable they shouldn't be in work.

There’s no way social distancing rules will be in place by sept

No chance