Secondary Teachers, what do you think about going back to school for the last term with social distancing?

[sunshineanddaffodils]

My year 8 and year 10 dc are in the best possible situation at this point. Both have their own computer, space to work, pretty good home learning from school and both are cooperating. However, I am so worried about the impact being off school until September will have on them socially, on their mental well-being let alone the academic side of things. When I think about dc who are less fortunate than mine I feel so anxious and concerned. I’d be so happy to see some sort of phased return to school as soon as possible really. Looking at the stats I’m not concerned about the health any of the dc or staff at the school although obviously wouldn’t expect anyone in the vulnerable categories or dc of the vulnerable to be expected to return (there’s only one teacher at at their school who is shielding because he’s diabetic). I think school should reopen and the vulnerable remain isolated so the virus cannot be passed on to them if dc fo pick it up at school.

@Pentium85, just so you're awear:

I'm QTS - Secondary science
I'm Vice Chair of Governors - Secondary
I've previously been VCoG - Primary
I'm a parent to two in primary and two in secondary.

To answer your question - I have a high opinion of some teachers and educators, many think creatively and find solutions rather than problems. Many, many in the sector are not showing this resilience and can-do attitude.

@FATEdestiny

And yet here you are, so very qualified, and unable to spell.

sunshine, this is about the fourth thread you have begun to persuade people your kids need to go back to school and you have been given the same response and thought each time , some concurring, others not. You always ask secondary teachers for their thoughts and then dismiss what they say. So you clearly don't actually value teachers' input.

I don't understand why you haven't gathered sufficient evidence yet!

Schools managed to switch to an entirely new way of working with two days notice of schools closing.

They’ve remained open for keyworker and vulnerable children including social distancing measures.
They’ve managed to keep FSM kids fed while the government has dragged its heels over provision.
They’ve started producing PPE in large quantities for local use.

So FATE knows nothing about what schools are capable of in a short time period.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss Not long ago OP you were really worried about post coming through to your house with potential germs I was caught up in the media induced hysteria that I think a lot of people are still suffering from. I have since become more clued up on factual information.

Ahhh yes OP, the Guardian, so legitimate and based on 1 person. Perfect. Off we all toddle back to class.

I agree with you OP. A phased return of some sorts should be being planned.

If staff are in the vulnerable group they should not have to work obviously , but if teachers go down the line of refusing to work until things are 100% safe then they will never go back, as there's no guarantee that any given working day is risk free any more than it is for any of us.

Children might be low risk for the virus but the teachers and other school staff aren’t. Social distancing will be a nightmare for any school and part time school hours would be impossible as the aim of reducing the lockdown will be for their parents to go back to work.

I was caught up in the media induced hysteria that I think a lot of people are still suffering from.

What are the more than 20,000 dead and rising suffering from?

Remember though, the countries that didn’t close schools had testing, smaller populations, spacious school buildings and relatively smaller class sizes.

In Denmark, if a child tests positive the school closes for 2 weeks for cleaning. In this country many children wouldn’t be eligible for testing, and even those who were eligible may not get tested due to us not meeting demand.

We don’t even have enough tests for front line staff. Teachers are on the new list, but if they don’t meet demand it will make no difference.

Sweden does NOT have low infection rates. It is the worst country in Scandinavia for infection. Iceland does not have schools completely open and has an extraordinary scientific track and trace procedure.

I would like to know what quality of education is being delivered in the secondary schools that are going back on a rota in other countries.

Same amy65 I’m in SEN too. In our Primary and EYFS classes this involves personal care and changing nappies. How on earth can you do that from 2m away?

You can't. The same as in hospitals, you can't social distance. You just have appropriate PPE provided and get on with it.

@Beebie2

Totally agree. The schools that didn't close abroad have more outdoor classes, fewer children within the class etc so really cannot be compared.

And the very few that have reopened are employing a 2m distance but this simply isn't always possible here.

At first, before this thing really got going, I thought it would be better to "get it and get it over with". I have never really been very ill at all, and consider myself and kids to be pretty robust, getting only mild versions of what others get if at all and I have always had an iron stomach.

Fast forward to now and as time goes on, it is clear that people who are younger and fitter than me are dropping down dead and confidence has completely disappeared. We just don't know enough about this to put the kids at risk and the main concern for me is that the kids get it mildly and they are fine - pass it on to those who will not be fine. But my fear is that this virus will stay in their bodies forever. Hopefully that is not the case but the point is at the moment we just don't know do we?

@Piggywaspushed I didn't realise there was a limit.
This is something I'm really concerned about. I'm sure you have your own fears, but the future mental health and wellbeing of my dc is my priority. I'm not saying this isn't going to be hard, but we can't just give up on getting our dc into some semblance of a functional life.
Our President Professor Russell Viner comments on child deaths due to COVID-19.
“Children or young people can become infected with COVID-19, but we know that it is unlikely that they will become seriously ill with the virus."

Just to say it is very unlikely you know the medical history of every teacher and classmates of your child.

Schools do not have the staff to spread children out 8 to a room, never mind the space. Add to that, the number of staff in vulnerable groups and isolating and schools will not be able to do it. Even before lockdown, schools were closing as they simply did not have the staff to safely open.

@Xylophonics

It most likely will be a phased return. It’s what the NAHT are talking about, but until they know returning to school won’t impact on the R value, they’re not going to start.

We made a slow start and we haven’t had enough tests.

We can’t compare ourselves to other countries, because we haven’t followed the same protocols nor do we have the same school infrastructure.

It will be slow, and it will impact on the economy. We can’t keep saying “but Denmark......” “but Norway......” they have made completely different decisions to us. We now have to lay in the bed we made several months ago.

I’m not sure it will be good for kids’ mental health to go to a socially distanced school.

I hate going to the supermarket and that’s only for an hour and I’m not expected to concentrate and learn stuff.

Another person taking Viner's comments completely out of context...

This isn't about fear. I have not said I was afraid. This is about you asking the same question repeatedly being given answers from your target group and the dismissing their pretty expert answers.

We all want kids back at school as soon as we are safe and it us practical.

By the way, it's a half term not a term if you mean a June restart.

sunshineanddaffodils

If the school were to implement social distancing we could probably have one year group in per day.
And that would be with a full complement of teachers (so non specialists in all subject areas) with classes of 4 possibly 5 as that is as many as we could put in to a classroom.

That doesn't include staggered starts, lunch and break times. Which I am not even sure how you would implement without staff losing all breaks and some how extending the day.

It also doesn't include those that won't send their children back and will demand work for them.

And

The close work that is often done with SEND pupils.

All of this assumes a perfectly behaved cohort of pupils.

And doesn't even start to address the issues of practical subjects.

@sunshineanddaffodils

With all due respect, the government are going to (hopefully) be slightly more bothered about the ricochet affect, of an increased R value due to reopening schools, than the mental health of your specific children.

Clearly, if scientific and mathematical modelling project little impact on this value, then they’ll begin to look at the best way for children to return to classes.

The physical health of the nation, and limiting the number of people dying will most likely be prioritised.

I’m not sure it will be good for kids’ mental health to go to a socially distanced school

Exactly. Not to mention being worried about passing deadly germs onto your teachers, touching surfaces lots of others have touched, first aid from 2m away etc.

They are far safer at home both physically and mentally currently. They have so many ways of staying in touch with friends etc to remain in contact.

What do you mean by our president ? Is that a typo?

Let’s just forget it then and shut schools for a few years as it seems every suggestion even sensible ones and every bit of statistical data is instantly shut down. I give up.