Could they get furloughed workers to help in schools?

[BlackWhitePurple]

We keep hearing that one problem with reopening schools is that there aren't enough staff to cover split classes.

Would it be feasible to ask now for some furloughed workers to help out in September? I'm thinking the likes of hairdressers, sports coaches etc who are unlikely to be back to work any time soon. If the government are still going to be paying furloughed wages (which presumably they'll have to, if the industries can't open), they could offer to pay 80% instead of 60% or whatever it is, do background checks now, and put some training in place to allow them to at least supervise groups of primary-school children. Also offer to pay SAHP the same amount if they help.

I'm thinking the school could then move, say, the older age groups (from primary) into, say, a village/scout/church/community hall, and spread the younger classes out over the remaining classes and assembly hall.

The teacher could then do the actual teaching, and then leave the class with the TA to complete work, and then go into the other classroom to teach there. An extra person in each class would help with supervision.

It's not ideal, obviously, but it would allow all pupils (in primary at least) back to school with social distancing in place. It would need money to be spent (to boost the furloughed workers' pay, add some SAHPs, hire halls etc), but they've already found billions, and it wouldn't be prohibitively expensive in comparison (plus it would allow taxpayers to return to work).

Obviously it wouldn't work for every school, but it would be a start for some.

It's not likely to go on forever (if everyone goes back to work then we either go back to normal, or Corona spikes again and we go back to lockdown).

Anyone have any other ideas for how things could work?

Would each furloughged worker come with the room and equipment needed for their bubble?

Because if not, then waste of time.

And how would getting a load of volunteers help GCSE years or even secondary years? If I wanted mine to be taught science by someone who hasn't got a clue, I would educate him myself.

Sigh, they wouldn't be teaching, they would be supervising while teacher deliver lessons remotely. They could cover the more pastoral aspects while teachers teach, they could free up teachers for the gcse years by "childminding" other years. No one is saying it would be the same as or as good as normal school, but that is not on offer atm.

How easy do you think it would be to supervise a random group of teens?

Parents can’t get their own to work let alone gobby teenagers who haven’t slept or lifted a finger for months.

Stop making out it’s easy. If it’s way there wouldn’t be a teacher shortage.

Plenty of reasons this is no good, but I’m immediately wondering what these children in the community halls do during their break times and lunch times? Are you expecting them to sit there like robots all day without fresh air?

No one is for a minute suggesting that it's easy but some people want to insist it's impossible. The groups would be small and the volunteers would in many cases be people who are used to dealing with teens in roles that are currently closed, sports or drama coaches, cadet leaders, music teachers, swimming club people. Of course lots of available people would be completely unsuitable but there must be some who would be very good at it.

Again, it's not ideal Pinkblueberry but it's no different to what most are doing at home atm. Teenagers don't need lunchtime supervision or space, you just let them out

@WowLucky

Again, it's not ideal Pinkblueberry but it's no different to what most are doing at home atm. Teenagers don't need lunchtime supervision or space, you just let them out

Have you ever seen what teenagers get up to at lunchtime if not supervised? Our school is surrounded by water on all sides...they have great fun when they think we are not watching.

Yes I have, the schools here do just send them out unsupervised. They don't have to say in school at lunchtime after yr8.

You're surely not going to argue we can't have wider reopening of schools because there's no one to mind 14/15/16 yos at lunchtime?

Teenagers don't need lunchtime supervision or space, you just let them out

Teenagers ‘don’t need space’, well that’s good to know and what a relief. But I do have my doubts about whether they would all bother returning after lunch to their fun filled village hall learning session supervised by the local hairdresser...
And those who are not teenagers?
And how is it no different to being at home? No one I know has been forcing their kids to sit at a table for six hours without a break.

sleepy dragons
I’m very pleased for you that your excellent financial planning means you don’t have to return to work.well done. Sadly not everyone has had the foresight or the life chances to do the same, perhaps the OP has or has not. Many will have to stop wfh or become unemployed, many have children who are really struggling with isolation and learning at home. It would be so nice if a bit of positive thinking could be allowed to find solutions, even if not perfect ones, to some of the very real difficulties people are going to face.

Will the local village hall have wifi?

I believe it is possible to get WiFi connected, I also believe it is even possible to teach younger children without technology in the short term.... I doubt KS1 would suffer hugely without laptops and an interactive screen.

Teenagers aren't going to be allowed out at lunch at all in our "next year" plans. There's not much point in keeping them SD in the classroom and then all mixing at lunch.

No jotters, no books, no worksheets - I would certainly want WiFi!

No way am I sending in my children to anyone but their own highly professional teachers. These are children, not cattle. This is education, not childcare.

My sons secondary. Inner city high populated, little green space which is shared by another local school, personal trainers, and the general public.

Years 7 - 12.
Each year has 8 forms.
In each class 25 students.

Dining room out of bounds - lunches need to be prepared as they aren't allowed to take bags into school.

They have one multifunction room.

Outside space within the school is limited and has four sittings at lunch time because of lack of space in and out of the building.

Offices/shops out of bounds. Community centre run by locals, and 2 churches are also otherwise occupied. No library, cutbacks saw the end of that a couple of years ago.

So lack of space rules out portacabins, marquis, tents etc.

Parents want to adhere to the guidelines. School and lea are flummoxed they've been investigating this since well before government gave it a passing glance. They have involved the community to come up with ideas.

Please, come up with some suggestions that no-one else has thought about. They could open to GCSE years without a problem and then phase in other years based on the building design. Years 11/12 would also have something in place because they have a seperate annex.

The problem is the impending year 7's. Cannot have 3 years in and of course parents of year 6 have started their protests. Secondary already has to make alternative arrangements because of the year 6 transition.

Lots of people desperate to get rid of their children at any cost.

Oh also forgot tables are an issue. The classrooms only have double tables and obviously not wide enough for social distancing. So need the same about of tables for less students.

Of course there is one very simple solution. If you are unhappy with the provisions your child is receiving now, and will be for some time. De-register them and home educate. Create your own little bubbles with their mates and go for it.

Bubble of 10 kids only needs one maybe two parents depending on the age of the child. Easy to find though if you have a look. One parent could have 5 in the kitchen the over 5 in the front room. Plenty of worksheets are resources online, have been for years.

callme Angelina
Lots of people wanting to keep their jobs and pay their bills.

I am absolutely categorically not saying that any of these ideas are "the" answer or that a solution that is as good as or a replacement for proper school can be found but why is there so much determination that no solution can possibly be found?.

Every other sector has changed it's operating model to find ways to continue or to improve what's it was initially able to offer, why not education?

And you don't think schools have changed too?
Ffs!

I know schools have changed, I'm SLT "FFS' but it seems what we've done to adapt is tovastly reduce the value of what we deliver and there's little appetite to do better than that.

Other sectors have done so much more, even finding better ways than the old ones but education seems determined to not even try.

Oh.My.God.
You are kidding, right?