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?

@womanvsfood I’m a teacher.

You possibly need to consider why so many teachers have left the profession in recent years - either by retiring, or within the first 5 years since qualifying.
There were such serious issues within education driving those resignations (that still exist) that I would say there isn't a cat-in-hell's chance of getting any of them to re-enlist.

@womanvsfood: There's "lateral thinking/creativity" and there are batshit crazy ideas that anyone who's been within half a mile of a classroom in the last 10 years can see with half an eye wouldn't work.

MummyToBe0920 and...?

My point still stands - if OP's idea is the most ridiculous thing you've ever read then you must have led a very sheltered life.

• @womanvsfood: There's "lateral thinking/creativity" and there are batshit crazy ideas that anyone who's been within half a mile of a classroom in the last 10 years can see with half an eye wouldn't work.*

Well I'd hazard a guess that a lot of people on this thread have been within half a mile of a classroom within the last 10 years (maybe even have children at school ), yet not everyone is dismissing every element of the idea out of hand. Yes, maybe not every aspect would work and maybe not for every single school, but surely it's better to be thinking about what could be done? The current situation is clearly not sustainable but it still doesn't seem as if there is any actual plan for getting every child back into school.

FWIW, I'm inclined to agree with those who say we just need to open up schools with no social distancing. However I was under the impression that teachers are not keen on this idea - perhaps I'm wrong about that though.

As I said above, teachers would probably be more inclined to return to more crowded classrooms with no social distancing if they could be assured of its safety by GPs, for instance, leading the way by opening up surgeries to meet patients face-to-face.
And if they ripped up all the yellow tape on supermarket floors and allowed business as usual.
It's either safe or it isn't.

I laugh at this idea that the furlough or jobless will be all raring to go to help out in schools or hairdressers sweeping etc. Couldnt vmrven get then to help pick bloody fruit from a farm, work was beneath them and didnt pay much. It simply won't happen

The retention rate of teachers is staggeringly low. Why? What makes so many good teachers/TAs leave the profession every year? I’ll give you a clue, it isn’t the pupils!
If the government addresses these issues, perhaps they could hold onto more school staff. Perhaps those that have left would be more willing to consider teaching again.

When I lived overseas, space was an issue for schools. They got around it by litterally having two school days. Morning pupils went to school with one set of teachers. Afternoon pupils went to school with a separate set of teachers. The SLT covered both groups of staff and pupils.

It could work as an option 🤷‍♀️ but would take a lot of work on the part of the government to entice teachers back to the chalkface.

From a parental perspective it makes work difficult as school would no longer be in office hours. If you have siblings who are split between mornings and evenings it can make the day very long and you are tied to two lots of the school run. I speak from experience.

This is a terrible idea. To go anywhere near children you need a DBS for starters who do you suggest pays for that then? Then there is the fact that these people aren’t qualified to teach children!

No one's said they should teach, certainly not replace teachers and what with DBS being a government agency, I reckon there's a way round the cost, if the government wants it to happen, plus a lot of the people suggested, sports coaches etc are already checked.

Hellsbells I work training teachers, all my pgce and qts graduates for this year have already got jobs - there is a very real teacher shortage even before covid. Our trainee numbers for next year are down just over a third. Teaching is not seen as a desirable career at the moment.

yes lets get anyone in to do it, then a year later there will be a big scandal because someone got through the cracks and abused kids or something and the tide will turn and the government will get it in the neck again and everyone will blame the government when its the public putting all these pressures on and demanding it

NO cos it takes three years to become a teacher!! And it’s a calling and a gift to teach!! And if you let me lose in a school I would kill somebody’s little angel!!
Best leave it to the professionals!! 🙏

A summer catch up plan is going to be announced next week

Sounds like a great idea, they can go straight from the fields once they're done picking the fruit and into the classrooms 😂😂

I tell you what we do need help with - loo cleaning!
Last week, we were told that if we're hosting a BBQ in our homes and a guest needs the loo, they may enter the house, but the whole area would need to be properly cleaned afterwards.
Yet dozens of children are using the school loos throughout the school day (and let's face it, they're not always too accurate with their aim), with no additional cleaning at all.
You all happy with that?

And the apparent belief that anything is better than nothing.

Ah but don't you see, kids in school means parents in work,and that is good for the economy.
never mind education, just get them in and look after them so we can all go back to work.

Which is why, despite the desperate urgent need to get year 10 and 12 back in, the whole focus is on primary kids. Because 15 and 17 year olds don't need child care.

@ineedaholidaynow

A summer catch up plan is going to be announced next week

If it is published in a timely manner with no subsequent revisions I will keel over with shock!

I haven't RTwholeT but am wading in to say that you are missing the point that TAs are highly skilled; not all people are suited to it. (I speak as a former SENCo who has managed many good ones and a few shockers!)
My elder son is currently furloughed from his job in the hospitality sector. He is brilliant with adults but would be completely unsuited to be a pretend TA!

I'm not sure about the OPs exact plan but I do think we need to be a bit more creative about how we get children back in and in some places utilising additional space outside of the school building might be a way forward. If we can't get all children back in school as things stand in September what can we do instead? It isn't good enough just to say we can't do it differently and stop there.

As predicted, everyone skirting the toilet issue.

You've given it 20mins and 4posts Callme!

Are toilets a bigger risk than any other frequently touched surface for what is a respiratory illness? Genuine question, I don't know the answer but I haven't heard that it's passed via urine or faeces.

The BBQ thing was in a completely different context where visitors to homes were allowed for the first time. Afaik, the toilet cleaning was just about surfaces, the same as any others, so hand washing deals with that.

Bodily fluids! Of course toilets are an issue.

But these volunteer helpers. Are they going to be signing up for toilet-cleaning?

There's absolutely no way I'd be sending my child back to school to be taught by some random inexperienced person. He is back at school now and is being taught by his own teachers, if that changes then he won't be going.

Genuine question, I don't know the answer but I haven't heard that it's passed via urine or faeces.

It's been found in both. The aspiration when you flush is phenomenal. We should all be closing the toilet lid when we flush anyway, but especially now.