Year R and Year 1 back to school

[Justajot]

I know there aren't any details. But if you are a year R or year 1 parent, will you be sending them back?

YANBU - Yes, sending back
YABU - No, staying at home

[ShootsFruitAndLeaves]

There are negative excess death rates at the moment up to about age 45.

[caringcarer]

If Reception and Year 1 go back but not other Primary children then they can be spaced out with 10 kids in each classroom.

[Buffthemagic]

I would imagine they will spread the 3 year groups plus the key workers children throughout the entire school so a handful in each class.

[MossWalk]

The fact that a year 1 teacher is "terrified" terrifies me more, given that, as EatsShoots has pointed out, the risk to small children is basically zero

They can transmit the virus to us, to each other and to their families. That's why we are terrified.

[PurpleDaisies]

Reception kids will not stay spaced out.

[ShootsFruitAndLeaves]

This is a couple of weeks old but shows the same thing. Negative (to usual) death rates for young people.

[caringcarer]

Boris said Nurserys open June 1st. They would need to open for parents to go back to work.

[MrsTtobe]

@farfallarocks yes you're right kids are basically unaffected but what about the adults teaching them?? What about our families that we are potentially bringing it home to?
I'm a teacher (yr4) but did 3 years in Reception. 30 children per class. 6 to a table. They are all pushed together in tiny classrooms. It's impossible to stay 2m apart. How do you help a child who has fallen over and grazed their knee from 2m away? How do I encourage a fussy eater to eat their dinner? How do I help a child stuck on a question if I can't stand next to them to see what they have written?
4yr olds do not understand social distancing and rightly so they are 4 years old.

[LaurieMarlow]

They can transmit the virus to us, to each other and to their families.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that has been established for definite one way or the other.

There are conflicting POVs on the topic.

[CaryStoppins]

@caringcarer I didn't catch any mention of nurseries?

[Firstworddinosaur]

No. I'm lucky, I can WFH and educate my two easily so I'm not taking any risks. The negatives outweigh the positives for us so they'll be staying home till I'm satisfied it's safe.

[MossWalk]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that has been established for definite one way or the other.

There are conflicting POVs on the topic.

So why did they close? Until there is clear, concrete evidence that they absolutely do not transmit the virus- which lives on surfaces- why risk it?

[caringcarer]

If a year group is back to school and some children stay at home they may fall behind and the other children will forge friendship groups without the children staying at home.

[FrippEnos]

ShootsFruitAndLeaves

So no fucks given about the teacher, TA or other staff members?

Good to know.

[LaurieMarlow]

So why did they close?

I think at least part of it was because by shutting schools, it forced the hand of businesses to facilitate people wfh.

Until there is clear, concrete evidence that they absolutely do not transmit the virus- which lives on surfaces- why risk it?

Because we need to balance the risk of infection with the broader concerns about the economy and the social, psychological and educational impact on children.

Parents need to get back to work properly to put food on the table. Businesses need to be up and running to generate tax for the treasury to pay public sector workers (including teachers). The current set up isn’t sustainable on any level.

[Findingapath]

No. The way the government has handled this situation to date is beyond shocking and the fact people continue to trust them even more so.

[Letseatgrandma]

If Reception and Year 1 go back but not other Primary children then they can be spaced out with 10 kids in each classroom

Not in infant schools it doesn’t!

[doubleshotespresso]

I would need to see some very clear ideas as to how this is even going to be possible for our Year 1 SEND child who has 100% 1:1 supervision. Totally impossible to manage at 2 metres, zero comprehension if Socisl distancing and I think mentally this strange routine change will have spectacularly negative effects.
Aside from the fact of not us parents are going to be home it feels an act of insanity to basically join a mass gathering at drop off and pick up - God knows what hygiene levels exist throughout the entire school community.
I also feel teachers are being backed unreasonably into a corner here and just magically expected to cope.
Our D.C. has been happy, much calmer and actually learning with the odd bad day so makes zero sense to me to send them into guaranteed anxiety, confusion and distress.

[Boxachocs]

Surely if the other year groups are to follow, it will be on a rota? Otherwise the whole school will ALL be back using all the classrooms so full classes of 30? A rota means the key worker and vulnerable kids will still have space and some teachers can be setting online work, the other year groups can also return on a rota in their own classrooms?

[lilgreen]

Teachers at my school are not returning until measures to protect their safety are in place.

[PurpleDaisies]

some teachers can be setting online work

I think all the teachers will need to be because one reception class will now need three teachers to enable social distancing.

[lilgreen]

We can only take 5 per class if 2m.

[KKSlider]

DC's schools have both said they won't be opening beyond current rules (keyworker children, etc) until they can ensure the safety of staff and pupils.

[Letseatgrandma]

I doubt very much if any of this will actually happen.

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

Did BoJo say they would be back full time?? I think that is all part of the planning. They may have alternate days or part days to start with. Maybe a staggered return.

After looking at the photos of primary kids going back in Denmark I guess we will have SD at lunch as well - unless schools use lunch as the changeover period