To think that Schools will not open on 1st June

[whacks493]

I think schools will not open on the 1st June for a few reasons.

A couple of evenings ago Hancock said to a reporters question that schools when they go back would go back as they normally do.

People suggesting a phased return are not thinking how unlikely it is to help on a regular basis.

If classes are reduced and one year groups go in separate days then families with more than one child will still need to be looked after at home. Some families may have children at different schools which do things differently so not providing a regular schedule for return to full time work.

Also wrap around care will be unlikely to be on if Schools go back on a rota basis as it would not be feasible for cost and also not enough staff to safely social distance kids in wrap around care.

Hours of school 8:45 - 3:15 is this going to help with parents who have to go to work?

So if like Mr Hancock is correct and schools are to resume normal operations I feel it will most likely be September as this will give the government the time they are looking for to try and reduce the chance of a 2nd peak.

It would make sense for schools to reopen gradually in June. It would be detrimental for many children to wait until September - we have to balance everything out. I expect a gradual re introducing of schools and childcare provisions from June onwards. Lets see!

"They'll all be in the same boat" - that is completely inaccurate. Children are not all in the same boat and for children from poorer/deprived backgrounds or facing challenging situations at home a return to school only in September would be hugely detrimental. I expect the government realises that and will follow France with a gradual reopening of schools. Of course not mentioning the impact on people's jobs etc as not everyone is able to have kids at home and work.

I think 6 weeks back at school followed by 6 weeks summer holiday would be a good way of testing out whether infection rates change. Like a little trial run.

100% agree

You're right of course @oblada. I was thinking of the average MNetter's child and some of the utter selfishness I have read about on here regarding children needing to get back to their (usually) "indie" schools ASAP because they, the parents, are not shielding/obese/elderly etc etc and the child has Important! Exams! coming up. But yes there are many children who could do with being back in school sooner rather than later. I am just not particularly worried about my own child because as a person who was forced to home educate my other child I feel these things all smooth out in the end.

A September phased start would allow more time for the R value to shrink further meaning that if a second peak did occur after school restarted there would be more time to adjust and react. Sending them back whilst the R value is closer to 1 gives us less time and Denmark have seen this push their R value back to near 1 again.

You seem angry? Look you’ll find out by the end of the week.

Not sure why you think I have been angry just pointing out that my sources are just as viable as the governments unkown sources.

Sure at the end of the week I will come say I was mistaken if Schools restart on 1st June will you do the same?

Of course,

I’d also say if you read my posts I never said they would reopen. I just asked if you knew something everyone else didn’t because you stated they weren’t opening and you wished to prepare people. Your posts read like you’re angry,

As it happens on the balance of probabilities I do think they will reopen, primary at least, from the start of June, but i certainly wouldn’t say I knew that or needed to prepare people for it.

Overall I’m a bit confused as it feels like you’re on the attack and angry at the thought of them reopening, which makes no sense as you know they aren’t and are just trying to help people mentally prepare

You will find out by the end of the week, you’ve just a few days until we will be told the plan.

They will not be going back before September I am not holding on to some hope but trying to prepare those under the illusion that 1st June is a magical date for schools to reopen....just like 11th May was the magical date a few weeks ago

Well unless you work for the government and are giving away info you shouldn’t be yet. You can not say this with certainty, your not doing a public service by trying to ‘prepare’ anyone that thinks differently to you.

The media is speculating June the 1st and to be fair they aren’t normally far off in the speculation.

They may trial certain year groups etc to see how it goes. They aren’t going to have all dc in school straight away it will be phased when it happens.

Nobody is reading your post thinking well someone on mumsnet said it won’t be until September so now I’m preparing to have my dc home until September. Sorry they just aren’t

I think there are a number of ways they could do this either in June or in September. Personally I think it will be June just to test the water and gradually increase the number of children going back. That way, the schools have the summer holidays to prepare for the next cohort of children returning. The six week holiday will also give time for infection levels to show if they're going up. If they return in September, having not tested the waters, you hit flu season, the elderly winter issues around falls and other seasonal increases in hospitals.

So my thoughts are:

a) They'll get as many primaries back as possible. Secondary school children can, for the most part, be left to come home and get on with things. My DS is a year 8 and, when I at work, I'm happy to leave him to get on for a few hours. But you can't leave a year 4 or 6 alone after school hours.

OR

b) They'll open up the range of 'key worker' roles so they can accommodate those workers children, like they do now. If they're not going to open theatres, cinemas, cafes/restaurants/pubs until later in the year, there's no need (purely from a child care point of view) to have those children back if space is tight. At the moment you have to produce a letter from your employer to say you are a key worker. If they open up (let's say) factories, more transport and certain shops then those workers children go back. A few weeks later, checking how the infection figures go, you open up another couple of types of business and they go back.

To be honest I don't know how they'll do it. It's a headache for the government, headteachers, unions and school boards of governors to try to unravel. I'll just go back when I'm told to and work with our school to keep the kids safe.

In wales apparently the priority returns are for children with SEN, children in welsh speaking schools but have no welsh speakers at home and year 6.

As a teacher I would like to know what protection I am going to be given before facing a classroom of different children every day who aren't socially distancing and could pass on allsorts to me.

Supermarkets have screens around checkouts for a 3 minute transaction- teachers will have a full day of breathing the same air as at least 15 children and so far no-one has reassured me that I will be protected. Hospitals talk about viral load being an issue and are using PPE even in non-COVID wards and so surely the same will apply to teachers?

It is all a bit confusing op. Your previous thread shows you just want them to return in September, even the way this thread started shows it is just wishful thinking as that’s what you want, but it’s suddenly turned into you know for definite and feel you need to prepare people because you have “sources”

If you have sources why your previous thread, why the way this one was written. There is no shame in saying you just want them to go back September, plenty want this, the shame only comes in when you start pretending you have access to confidential government data and are providing a public service.

My son wont be. Where I work we have masks, sneeze guards social distancing, limited numbers sanitizing procedures and health checks. This cant happen in schools especially for my reception aged child. Why would I do that? Why would I expect these measures for myself but then throw my son in the thick of it? You cant be telling me to follow all these rules and measures put in place but then they expect me to test it out on my son with absolutely nothing? No thanks

What about the staff? Where is there protection!
I dont understand why we would have all these measures but then forget about them all with the kids, bizarre.

I don't even think the government know yet. Ireland have released their 'road map' which is very detailed and clear. I would imagine this government will be looking at that closely. Irish schools not back until September but they finished the last week in June anyway so probably not worth the risk of more catching it when kids could be at home for those final few weeks. NI schools also finish the same time as does Scotland so we might well have different strategies across the 4 regions.

I really don't think they will be back on the 1st June...Italy are apparently 2 weeks ahead of us yet have recently announced schools will not return until September. I also think that there are so many things to consider as we adapt schooling to try and meet social distancing regulations, that a timescale of June 1st is just too ambitious, I mean it took officials 3 days to get PPE from a runway in Turkey to the UK! I think the government will also err on the side of caution in regards to avoiding a so called second wave, but then that's just my opinion.

You don't sound angry OP. Weird accusation to make . I always think people who say this when there's no real evidence of it, are trying to undermine the points you're making and make the other person defend the accusation, rather than engage properly with the discussion. Manipulative.

You sound preoccupied and wanting to discuss an issue that you're very concerned about. I think we all know that feeling right now.

It’ll be September. I’m a teacher and I’ve said this all along, I was told as much before lockdown

Nobody knew anything before lockdown.

Y10 and 12 could go back. The only issue is around staffing and teachers who have kids or who are carers, and teachers who are vulnerable.

But I would have thought there would be enough staff available for two year groups.

You could potentially send Y6 in too, they'd have the whole primary or junior school to themselves, and again there would be enough staff to cope with one year group.

If most kids aren't going to be back until August/September, it's a good job the BBC has stepped in to provide a programme of work. Hopefully people will see a little more value for their licence fee now.

Italy are apparently 2 weeks ahead of us yet have recently announced schools will not return until September I believe their school holidays start around June 3rd.

I have two children in different years currently. Three come September and then that will be two schools and three year groups. There is no way I will be doing the school run with children for one to go in for half days. The other two wouldn’t get to learn anything from constant back and forth and the one I expect to be called back in is year six so now all fun and games. There will not be transition days to secondary as you would’ve mixing way too many children. For me it’s all or nothing. Either it’s safe for my children to attend school as we knew it or it isn’t safe to attend at all.

France is reopening the schools gradually from May 11th. And we are a couple of weeks behind them. As mentioned Italy's start their summer break much before us and so does Spain. France and Germany are more likely better comparators I'd say.

I'm cynically thinking that someone is leaking ideas to journalists to try and test public opinion.

I've wondered the same about some of the millions of threads on here about the same topic.

Whatever is done needs to be thought through carefully and I don't trust that our government will do that.

I agree with you @lolasmiles they're using the press to test public opinion.

The government and the DfE have talks early this week with the trade unions and other education officials.

To announce they've already made a decision before meaningful consultation has even begun is disingenuous at best and the beginning of very strained industrial relations at worst.

I hope it is September, phased re opening.
Every time I see this discussed a lot of people say it doesn’t affect children as much so it will be fine- like people seem to forget that while it may not affect children as severely they are super spreaders (especially younger ages) and who works in schools? ADULTS.

I am dreading school returning, I am catering staff, probably one of the most over looked yet quite essential to the operation of the school. Our kitchen and dining area where the rolls are situated will be a nightmare to protect the staff.