Do you think any other years will be back at primary before the holidays?

[Florabella]

I know the Government originally said that they wanted to get all primary children back to school in England for a month before holidays, but with yrs R, 1 and 6 using most of the available space, is that really likely to happen now? And if any other years do go back, who do you think might be next?

I hope so, but I'm not convinced it will happen. I'm slightly miffed that no thought has been given to year 2 children, many of which are transitioning to junior schools next year. Certainly in DS's case it's a move to a separate building with entirely different staff.

We might get our Y6s back in for a week for a week. I don't know where we'd put any other DC: there is no more space. We're also running out of teachers...

I work in a primary school and it has been determined physically impossible to accommodate any more "bubbles" beyond R, Y1, Y6 and key worker/vulnerable children. So no, not in my experience.

Nope. Our school has already said they can’t take any more year groups. Not physically possible.

No but I think they should be.

DS's school have said they are able to accommodate other years if allowed, so it depends if the government says they can go back.

So what’s the long term
Plan with education for our kids ? If schools can only fit a third of the usual number in them I wonder

There is no plan !

No, our school has explicitly ruled it out.
I think it is an appalling collective failure.

It is entirely dependent on the government deciding that the current guidance about bubbles and social distancing isn’t needed- and then saying that in such a way that unions believe them.

At the moment it isn’t possible unless the guidance changes. And you would think (hope) that rates of infection will need to drop significantly before that happens.

I think it will only happen if the government decide bubbles can be larger than 15 and back to usual class sizes otherwise there won’t be the space or staff in many schools. I guess any social distancing would be out the window then too as most primary classrooms are not huge!

Unless the rules about the bubbles were to change, I don't think many more could fit in the schools. I have been wondering if the government plan was to go back to normal class sizes if the R doesn't increase for a few weeks with the years R,1 and 6 back. This hasn't been mentioned but the talk of getting all year groups back for a few weeks before the holidays seems to point that way.

Not for us, school have already said it's physically impossible.

I think by September they will increase the bubble size. The government want the children back at school.

No. Our school hasn’t even had R, 1 or 6 back yet

@Vagndidit

I work in a primary school and it has been determined physically impossible to accommodate any more "bubbles" beyond R, Y1, Y6 and key worker/vulnerable children. So no, not in my experience.

I also work in a primary and my Head has said we will not be returning other year groups before summer as the entire staff available are being used to accommodate YR/Y1/Y6 and key worker/vulnerable chn in Bubbles. We have even had to say no to opening the Nursery as we cannot staff it under the current guidelines! We also do not physically have the space if half sized classes and social distancing is to be utilised for other year groups too.

Our school has said they will not be taking other year groups and will close earlier than normal in July for R children so they can do transition for Pre Schoolers.

DD's year 6 isn't back. The school can't accommodate them.

Our school are only taking R and key worker children at the moment. They are keeping 60 places open for reception children when only about 10 of the reception children are going in. It is an utter disgrace.

So, no on that basis, I can't see that they are going to suddenly change dramatically. I am so disappointed with our school and the lack of lateral thinking around the "back to school" plans. It's a shambles.

They can only go back if the restrictions are lifted, otherwise it's physically impossible.its not just schools being difficult or reluctant.

We have 9 classrooms and one other spare room which can be used. The hall is being used as an admin and staffing area due to the smallness of the staff areas - so it's where staff will take breaks, store stuff, etc amongst other uses. It wasn't practical to use it as an additional classroom anyway.
We have limited toilet areas for children and we have a concrete yard in a slope, so no space for extra cabins, marquees, tents, etc.

We have 271 children. The bubbles should be a maximum of 15. We would need at least 6 classrooms per year group, so we are at 8 rooms short.

We've already only been able to have reception back, in addition to increasing numbers if KW and vulnerable children, and not been able to offer a return for year 1. That's for 4.5 days a week.

I suspect the Government's next move will be to tell us that all of a sudden the risk in schools has gone, and that everyone is fine to return and they'll be an end to social distancing completely in the school environment, and our staff who are clinically vulnerable or extremely vulnerable will be expected to return to normal teaching too. Just have to hope they get it right, especially for the adults (as we know that most children get much milder symptoms) involved.

I think ours would be able to, it’s a private school with small class sizes. They will if the government say it’s happening-they have followed government guidelines all the way through.
We break up on 10th July though so they need to hurry up if it’s happening which makes me think it’s unlikely.

Local special schools have said that most children won't be back before September and it is likely that there will not be space or teachers for all children in September either.

Simple maths.

Kids in bubbles of 15- half a class.

So can accommodate half the kids in the school.

Unless we think about “ work arounds” ie TA in sole charge of a bubble ( which means your child will not get a teacher at all) . Split the hall with tape ( the noise !). 100% forest school in the grounds group ( but that’s giving them a different experience than those in school ...)

So I can’t see it.

Best we can hope is back in sept to sort of normal. Short of many portacabins and retired teachers / fast promoted student there is no way to double capacity and workforce

At our local school only yr 6 and keyworkers children are in so they haven't even managed YR and Y1 yet let alone thinking about the other children.

However, the Yr 6's are loving it. The issue is lack of staff since majority of staff are shielding or living with a shielded or would you believe shopping for others that are shielding and some have children at home so cannot come in since their own children are not at school/childminders yet - catch 22 situation there.

I feel for the head who is working very hard trying to get children back but some of the staff aren't wanting to come back and like WFH

Our school are only taking R and key worker children at the moment. They are keeping 60 places open for reception children when only about 10 of the reception children are going in. It is an utter disgrace

But schools need to do that, as we know - based on key worker number patterns - that within the first week or two those numbers will grow. And the school needs to accommodate those children.
It,would be far worse to bring in other years and then after a few days tell them they no longer can come. Schools,have been told which years to prioritise (youngest first) and have to have places open for them, even if they don't return on the first eligible day.

Blame the Government for the guidance.

I suspect the Government's next move will be to tell us that all of a sudden the risk in schools has gone, and that everyone is fine to return and they'll be an end to social distancing completely in the school environment, and our staff who are clinically vulnerable or extremely vulnerable will be expected to return to normal teaching too.

Definitely

If this doesn’t happen before September, it’ll be reduced year groups and part time then, too.