Our children have the right to an education.

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So many posts about whether schools will be safe when they reopen but I’m not seeing this point made. Lots of discussion around the childcare that schools provide and the importance on children socially.

My 11 year old has lost all interest and I can’t get him to do anything significant. We’ve had one zoom social with his teacher and classmates. So pretty much zero learning going on.

We know children are less susceptible and there is some discussion around whether they’re transmitting less. The children of key workers (i.e. the ones more likely to catch and spread it) have been at school the whole time and as far as I know there haven’t been massive outbreaks in schools.

So I think I just want to loudly shout: our children have the right to an education.

We have 2m unemployed now. I am sure we can find cover

Cover? We don’t need cover, we qualified teachers who feel valued in the profession!

If we stopped paying teachers any pay when off sick (I don't get paid when off sick) that might help

It’s not a race to the bottom maybe it’s your tough luck you’re in a role where sick pay isn’t paid.

The unemployed should cover for sick teachers, nurses, probably gp's as well just use WebMD.

My mother taught classes of 40 after WWII without a teaching assistant.

I remember you trotting out this pointless comparison on another thread. In the 1940s there was no national curriculum, no Ofsted, no league tables. Your mother could have been doing a completely rubbish job with her 40 kids without any comeback. Many kids left school at 14 with no qualifications. The kids who couldn't keep up or had SEN were just stood in the corner with a dunce's cap on or were institutionalised. This is a completely worthless contribution to the current discussion.

YANBU. I agree and what concerns me more is that our two local private schools are providing a full online timetable to their students, with their usual teachers. Our state school has provided worksheets. I don’t know how they can resolve this fairly but I worry it will widen the attainment gap.

I'm just checking after finishing online teaching. Laughing the idea that a voucher from the government would cover anywhere near the fees for a private school.

@Whatsername177 being workshy I am just having a little break between PP calls. Delivered 4 on line lessons today - at a state school. I had PPA which I used to catch up with my tutor group. If any of this lot were parents at my school I might not bother.

Sorry. Do appreciate lots of you are lovely and supportive. Been a long week. Almost there 😊

State school.

Delivering partly online lessons. Recorded videos. Some Teams meetings (need second staff member present) happening & we are going as fast as we can to train up staff and the students to use the live meetings etc.

Even so, we are finding only about 1/3 of the kids are attending or engaging with the work. We've delivered laptops to those without. Printed work for those with no internet, taken books and pens, food vouchers etc round to kids houses.

We really are trying our best, I promise.

I agree and what concerns me more is that our two local private schools are providing a full online timetable to their students, with their usual teachers

My DC's (independent) schools and teachers are doing precisely this - and I still want them to go back to school!

@mumsneedwine and @GuyFawkesDay sounds like we work in similar establishments. Currently planning virtual transition for Yr 6. I've had so many zoom calls this week I'm zoomed out!

@Whatsername177 @GuyFawkesDay I am getting better at the on line lessons but hate talking to myself. Kids feedback via chat as otherwise it has descended into chaos. But I found out how to get the sound to the kids on Teams today - simple things please me 🙂.
And do agree about engagement. I am there but so many don't turn up. Talk to parents and some supportive, some tell me it's my problem as I'm the teacher (no change there then).
Talked to a colleague at private school (we have kindly helped them with rubrics for marking ). She has 5 in her year 12 classes. I have 24. She has 13 in KS4. I have 30. She thinks I'm nuts !!!

We arent allowed to do live lessons so I'm pre-recording mine. Emailing back and forth in the Googleclassroom too. Keep joking that I feel more like tech support than a teacher! I miss teaching properly. We are almost there with a plan to get 10s back in but it is difficult. Really not sure what 'some face to face' means!

Miss teaching too. Miss the kids. Our plans are getting there but we have over 450 kids to get back (just 10 & 12) and one normal point of entry. No idea about buses yet. Some classrooms can only hold 10 as so small (even though we cram 30 into them). But everyone is inputting ideas. Some more serious than others 😂

I miss the kids too! I'm worried about some...raised those concerns but I really miss them. Especially my hilarious Yr7 classes who are just zany and lovely and a hoot to teach.

I hate being at a computer all day. It's just not me at all.

Oi stop chatting amongst yourselves, get to work slaves.

Apologies, dont know what we were thinking!

I’m a parent enjoying teaching. I couldn’t be doing with the national curriculum, mind.

Today in Y6 we learnt about the Cold War, Concorde, trade wars with a China and why global politics is a bit like playground politics. We then walked the class pet and had lunch on the grass outside.

I don't doubt that many teachers (including some on here!) are working very, very hard and going above and beyond the call of duty.

But, if what you all say is true re returning to schools, there are likely to be very serious, practically insurmountable issues with overcrowded schools opening in September, let alone June...So it may possibly be many months, if not next year, before it is safe to open schools again and schools may be providing a 'sub-optimal'/part-time experience for a while to come.

Therefore, at least in the short-term, we need to question whether school-based education is the way forward. Higher standards and greater efficiency will be achieved by an online centralisation of provision (rather than some students receiving fantastic resources and feedback from dedicated teachers and others getting nothing), together with practical and financial support for the parents tasked with delivering that educational provision on the ground. Parents might, for example, choose to spend the money provided on private one-to-one tuition for their children for a few hours a week to cover difficult subjects.

This situation is nobody's fault (though agree some people here seem to think that teachers are responsible for Covid-19!!!). However, we must also remember that schools exist for the benefit of the children, not the staff. If school-based education is unlikely to be feasible for some time, we need to think outside of schools and provide effective (funded) alternative methods of education for all children and parents (not simply those lucky enough to have dedicated and tech-savvy teachers).

I’d love to know when schools think this is going to be over - no vaccine and unlikely to be one- highly likely more peaks ahead - winter likely to be worse than now. They want us never to send them back?

The latest and most baffling is ‘we’ll come back when the HOC does’. Just shows total and utter misunderstanding of the concept of social distancing.

I’ve snoozed the TES on Facebook, cba with reading it any more tbh

@Daffodil101 you are awesome ! Bet your child is having so much fun. Love the class pet.
The new antibody test is a game changer for me - if I am immune I'm back tomorrow. And vaccine results maybe by mid June so I am praying (& I'm an atheist) it works. Come on Oxford do your thing.
A little patience, a little planning (lots going on) and this can be done soon and safely.
I miss my year 7s too - they just love science !! If we can get back I'm doing endless Elephants toothpaste and methane bubbles (this will kill the virus). How many hydrogen balloons can I blow up in a day to celebrate 🎉

...where will that leave teachers and their pay

Existing teachers would clearly be best-placed to deliver the new centralised provision. 'Shielded' teachers and those worried about their health in the event of a return could help with setting resources/giving feedback online. Other teachers prepared to return in person would still be required to operate school (though essentially 'childcare') hubs for key workers' children/vulnerable children. So I definitely wouldn't foresee mass redundancies!

But I think we do need to consider what an adequate education will look like in the months to come. I think secondary-aged children should be entitled to a decent amount of one-to-one or small group provision to help with subjects they are finding difficult. Primary school children are trickier....Parents may need financial help to purchase appropriate resources or even just buy in 'babysitting' so they can more effectively balance work with home education. Clearly, children living in poverty or who lack reliable internet access/parental support will need more help, financial and otherwise (though perhaps their needs will be best-served by physically returning to school).

Agree this only really addresses the academic side of things, not the social side. But when lockdown measures are eased further, parents will have some discretion to fill that void. I, personally, will start organising playdates with a few close friends who are not at risk nor living with those at risk. School may simply be unavailable to children as a means of socialisation for the foreseeable future.