Irish parents - have you any idea how schools will be returning next month?

[Inanutshelldaze]

So far our school has given us no communication as I'm sure they don't know what way things will go...
My neighbours received an email late yesterday evening to say that due to the rise in cases to expect & plan for scenarios involving remote learning & classes not returning fully.
The way things are going with the numbers & r rating I don't expect them to be back fully. I would like to be prepared though! I hope we get some notification soon as to what to expect.. the govt seem very determined to get them all fully reopened 🤞

Yes as they can't split the pods. Norma Foley was questioned on the radio about what happens if one of the pods gets sick in school or a close contact contracts the virus. She couldn't answer, the interviewer basically answered for her that the whole pod would need to be sent home & could be asked to isolate if covid was involved😔 lots of fun & games come September😞

So they're going back!!! How in gods name are they going to be ready in 4 weeks. My DC are due back the 26th... They're in a large primary, I cannot see them being near ready...

I highly recommend reading the Government advice and Department circulars, they're very entertaining. I love the seating charts with kids sat at the legs of tables, that will be workable...and all this done in huge classrooms that don't reflect reality 😂

We'll be back for sure but really I'd prefer if they just admitted that the plan is Back As Normal. I plan on doing the bare minimum of the hygiene theatre they suggest. If it's safe to have 30+ children in a room, then there should be no need to wash materials, have individual material packs etc. Busywork for teachers and glossing over issues is all it is.

Totally agree with you Sionnach. I can't see where the difference is really, still 32 kids packed into a class.

Sionnach is it true there's going to be extended hours to cope with the staggered drop offs collections? How will that work for a family of 4 kids in different classes 😞nightmare for working parents with set hours but if I had any update from the school I could put a plan in place... I'm sure the schools haven't got as far as the scheduling yet with the whole rigmarole of sorting the classrooms...

I highly doubt that. I know it's going around on social media alright but unless you see it in a Department circular or in a letter from your principal, don't believe it. There's nothing in the guidelines about extending the school day but some schools might have to alter school times to cope with staggered entrance/exit from the buildings, so start/end times could be different for different classes. The guidelines are very wishy washy so it's really up to individual principals.

The school will need a whole to get a plan in place so I wouldn't be expecting anything just yet. Definitely a tricky situation for working parents!

Now, I've heard that some schools are thinking of offering supervision time, so let's say if you had a Junior Infant starting at 8:50 and a 6th class kid starting at 9:15, you'd drop both at 8:50. The JI goes to class and the 6th class kid is supervised until lessons start.

Then at the end of the day, the JI is supervised until the 6th class child finishes lessons and then you pick both up at once. Don't ask me who supervises them - if it's the teacher, that's a lot of unpaid hours over the year - or how you let the school know you're there to pick up (assuming that parents aren't let into the building).

I wouldnt be confident in all schools taking that approach but it's just an example. Loads for schools to think about!

Actually (sorry for another post) but I've just remembered that Junior Infants finishes an hour ahead of 6th. They definitely wouldn't mind the infants for over an hour a day Easy to tell I haven't taught infants for a few years! So the imaginary children can be in 1st and 6th instead. You still get the idea I'm sure.

Actually the primary that my daughter goes to does supervise children in JI & SI for an hour if they have a sibling in the higher classes. I’m not sure how it works as I haven’t needed it yet. But If they offered it now it would involve more mixing of the children so guess it’s off the table next year.

Northern ireland here and seems to be a large mix with the schools in the area. My pairs school are saying full time, eldest from 24th August, youngest 1st September. Both full time. A lot seem to be doing a 2 day week. We have been told to provide sanitizer, tissues and a list of stationery thats to be left in school. No school bags and no books/work being sent home

I'm not sure how that works either as infant teachers are not supposed to work that extra hour (well, they do work but it's solely prep& paperwork time). That battle was fought a long time ago now. Perhaps they're using SNAs or other staff to cover the supervision.