Schools reopening before May half term?

[Manchestertimes]

What's everyone's opinion on when the schools will reopen? I think they will reopen a few weeks after Easter.

Reopening schools is absolutely not a priority, the impact of 5 days of (partial) closure won’t be seen for at least another week.

Maybe exam boards could compensate by changing the exam or saying they will only focus on specific topics.

I don't think they can only focus on specific topics because schools don't have a fixed order to teach.

What could be fairer would be to say 'only best 3 out of 4 topics' will count. So if you are weak on say Shakespeare then your questions on J&H, AIC and Poetry count.

True. I was thinking of where we're up to- and feeling glad we pushed our hardest text into yr 11.

Keeping them closed isn’t making the difference they thought it would.

Can you explain what you mean by this? Do you attend all Cobra meetings?

Teaching happening 9-3 by personal iPad....so kids need an iPad each.

Not everyone has this. I don't and I'm a teacher!

September at the earliest. We did not lock it down like China did. It will take us longer to recover.

@GuyFawkesDay that’s what I mean about the discrepancy - their iPads are supplied by the school but I know that not all state schools would be able to give every child their own iPad to take home with them.

Keeping them closed isn’t making the difference they thought it would.

Can you explain what you mean by this? Do you attend all Cobra meetings?

Well it obviously is otherwise the death rate prediction would be still at 250-500k.

Our primary is the biggest in the area, nearly 600 children from nursery to P7, we have a handful of iPads per class. While a huge amount of the children have access to internet etc, we do have quite a few vulnerable families/children who cant afford to feed or clothe them, never mind pay for internet & devices. School found out in advance & sent paper workbooks etc home with those children & will be doing so weekly when they get their school lunch delivered.

They will miss 13 weeks of learning if it's September. Say 11 to include end of term activities.

It isn't ideal. However as a teacher. I am confident I can pick this up.

There's a 3 week or so lag between actions and hospital admissions, so we won't know if school closures/lockdown reduces infections for a week or so more. It will but it's only a temporary slowing.

We won’t see the benefit of this lock down for 3 weeks. We will then need another wave of people to get it before the winter, ideally in the summer. I don’t think any country is waiting for a vaccine/cure - more it’s about managing cases. School openings will surely be based on teacher availability and also the risk of who the kids live with. So maybe (guessing here!!) half the schools may open with families selecting which kids go back?! Who knows?!

Gov advisor has just said lockdown to continue to "late May poss even early June" - he didn't mention schools, just lockdown, but might indicate schools could open then too 🤞

Yet again;

Schools will be the last thing they open. Kids spread germs everywhere.

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince Precisely. I caught what I've got from my DD2 (7), she was very unwell for 4 days with a high temperature, chest pains, headaches and achy all over.

Opening schools will risk that happening to a lot more people.

Not a chance!

Gov advisor has just said lockdown to continue to "late May poss even early June" - he didn't mention schools, just lockdown, but might indicate schools could open then too

I find it extremely unlikely to think that we will go from total lockdown where we can’t leave the house unless it’s to get medication/food to schools opening.

Schools opening would mean hundreds or even thousands of children mixing at extremely close quarters instantly-social distancing will be utterly impossible. Families mixing in the playground etc

And don't forget staffing - ill teachers, ( don't want to think about it - but fatalities) self isolating teachers; I have quite a few HT's who are in 12 week isolation - if schools are open it won't be to everyone, it won't be full time; it may not be of the quality expected.

We won't be able to 'spring back' to normality ( just like every other area of business).

@Blackbear19 I work in a deprived area and before the schools closed we had each teacher input students in their classes who had no access to Internet. There were around 5 in each class (classes of around 30).

Schools will be the last thing they open.

Yeah but people can’t go back to work until the schools are open so opening everything else first won’t change much. I think schools will be the first thing they try to open.

I appreciate teachers would want the summer off but think most key roles are in the same position. All our annual leave has been cancelled and we can't rebook because no-one knows when this will end. A lot of people I work with haven't had time off since before Christmas and have no idea,when they'll get a break. I'm not saying this because I want teachers in as I'm not using the school but because teachers aren't the only ones giving up holidays.
It's hard for everyone.

I appreciate teachers would want the summer off

In my mind, it’s the children who need the time off.

I think the children really need to get back and see friends and get back into the routine. Even if it’s not for much work

I think the children really need to get back and see friends and get back into the routine.

Mine is doing the 6 lessons per day as are in her timetable-she is working from 9-3.30 at home with breaks and PE. She has homework and is FaceTiming her friends in the evening. Her routine is pretty much as before.

What she’ll need at the end of the next term is downtime to go out and see her friends, not more lesson times with more work. This is what the school holidays are for.

Yeah but people can’t go back to work until the schools are open so opening everything else first won’t change much. I think schools will be the first thing they try to open.

Not if its the summer holidays. They should be allowed to play in the park first.