please read the guidance for schools....

[Ariseandsmellthetea99]

Key points:
-Since hospital grade PPE is neither obtainable (needed for medical staff) nor practical for teaching young children (scary and next to impossible to teach in) this is not recommended

• Since face coverings would need to be worn by all the children to have any effect at all (this relates to the science that a face covering only protects those around you not the person wearing), this isn't practical or recommended.

-They are NOT suggesting children are kept separate from all other children (as some fairly alarming photos on social media have shown).

-Children should be kept away from others who are NOT in their group bubble (the max 15 other children they WILL be mixing with). These groups should remain the same with the same adult to limit exposure for the adult.

• Any staff who are (clinically) vulnerable or live with someone vulnerable should be leading remote learning from home.

-Any children who are (clinically) vulnerable or who live with vulnerable should stay at home

• Parents should be socially distanced. To enable this, each bubble of 15 children should be dropped off at a different entrance or time.

If you disagree with these measures, please say what measure you think would be better, since children remaining home for up to 2 years is neither desirable nor healthy.

@ArthurMorgan interesting! That is definitely not the approach being taken locally here in nurseries or schools.

It’s all a load of bollocks

Government trying to stop the economy crashing (even more than it has) with very little regard to the number of people who die...

Not heard a peep from our school about this yet, I suspect that even if they do re open it won’t be for long as from what I can gather we will hit a second spike and all be back in lockdown.

@DontStandSoCloseToMe -Very true, but for me the issue is that I, and others are terrified that we will not be able to keep your children safe under the scenario put forward by the government as it stands without a working test, track and trace programme. Say I am exposed while shopping and don't know, I go to work with the vulnerable children I really care about and pass it to them? It's a really difficult situation and I think the government is rushing things without having adequate measures in place. Thank you for all you are doing during this crisis and in more normal times by the way, I've done some work in a prison & know it's not easy at all.

Not heard anything from my dcs school yet, will they send out letters in the next week?

I won’t be sending my dc in to school until I feel it’s safe but I know friends who want theirs to go back in June. Schools will need to let parents know in plenty of time.

@MistyIreland when do you want to see schools return and under what conditions?

@Notsurehow2handlethis are you teaching in an SEN school?

*@ProseccoBubbleFantasies *

I'm in the states, so not until mid-August. I assure you, though, myself - and the rest of the world - are watching with great interest to see how nations all over the world are handling this.

@Nicedayforawedding

Schools heard about this at the same time as you. So the leadership team will be working on plans and I would assume they will contact parents when there are plans for safety in place (or maybe before, to find out numbers wanting their children to attend).

By rushing this decision it will have a very detrimental on the delivery of the curriculum . The curriculum that is already being taught with difficulty.
It doesn’t sound like the OP wants schools to return , it sounds like they want childminding.
I think this is only possible if all teachers are fed by the school and eat with their bubble, and the hours are short with no formal assessment or planning requirements

By rushing our already under Resourced and poorly paid teachers back too soon we will be prohibiting the opportunity for teachers to continue to prepare and deliver for remote learning.

The science just doesn’t support this move yet.

Yes. You'll probably get asked if you intend to send your child in first and then later once they have numbers, their plans.

Re. whether children spread the virus or not, I posted this on another thread earlier. This is the recent (last week) findings of scientists at Johns Hopkins university, which has the US's leading health science research centre.

www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540747/all/Coronavirus_COVID_19__SARS_CoV_2_

Viral shedding by asymptomatic people may represent 25–50% of total infections.

Children and intrafamilial spread appear to be a growing means of transmission.

This is an area of ongoing research but we cannot categorically say children don't spread it. I suppose there is likely to be more data after schools reopen.

We teachers will go back to work without the safety measures that other workplaces have been told they must put in place. Personally, I'll be going in as it's my job. It would be nice if it was at least acknowledged that we may be putting ourselves into a risky situation.

*Any staff who are (clinically) vulnerable or live with someone vulnerable should be leading remote learning from home.

-Any children who are (clinically) vulnerable or who live with vulnerable should stay at home*
That bit is not correct.

Any staff who live with someone vulnerable are expected to work.

Children who live with someone vulnerable are expected in school.

The study from Wuhan- stated that children carry the virus in their stools for up to 6 weeks.

@sauvignonblancplz I'm a teacher. I also have primary children at home. The purpose of this thread is to explore the guidance and alternatives calmly, not school or teacher bashing. Me saying the government envision something is not an endorsement of that something. I think the social and emotional benefits of returning shouldn't be underestimated though, even if the curriculum is suspended (as indeed it is now). Clearly the point when the benefits outweigh the risks is a matter of debate.

The whole situation is crazy particularly with the increasing cases of this new inflammatory disease in “recovered” children. When will people realise this is a novel virus which isn’t yet understood, it’s been around for a few months. It could result in all sorts of auto immune conditions for kids for the rest of their lives! It’s mind boggling how kids/staff are being used as guinea pigs 😳. There’s no rewinding this disaster once it’s happened.

If a child, young person or a member of staff lives with someone who is clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable), including those who are pregnant, they can attend their education or childcare setting

If clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) individuals cannot work from home, they should be offered the safest available on-site roles, staying 2 metres away from others wherever possible, although the individual may choose to take on a role that does not allow for this distance if they prefer to do so. If they have to spend time within 2 metres of other people, settings must carefully assess and discuss with them whether this involves an acceptable level of risk.

Actual words from the actual guidance. I think you are confusing shielded and vulnerable.

From the previous link posted:

"Current plans to return children to school could risk spreading the coronavirus, the Department for Education's top scientific adviser has admitted.

Addressing the parliamentary science and technology committee this afternoon, Osama Rahman said there is a "low degree of confidence" that children transmit Covid-19 less than adults.

Asked if this means "we are potentially putting together hundreds of potential vectors that can then go and transmit [the virus]", Mr Rahman said: "Possibly. Depending on school sizes."

@DippyAvocado Absolutely I think there has been an assumption that children indeed do spread it and like everyone else will spread it when asymptomatic. Personally I'm not sure the science supports that it is more risky than other workers who cannot work at home. But I'm interested to read anything that supports that view.

@Ariseandsmellthetea99 - Thank you!

I think you are confusing shielded and vulnerable.

Indeed. The guidance is quite confusing but as I understand it

clinically vulnerable = Those who are vulnerable

clinically extremely vulnerable = shielded with a letter

@Piggywaspushed thank you for the correction. I think it's an area that unions will need to push on, as I can't think of many onsite roles which could be safely and reasonably done socially distanced but not at home.

Um, regarding classroom space, can't they just move the foundation lessons at least and if needed year 1 outside - outside is better anyway for eyfs play based learning and for much lower transmission of the virus

@riseandsmellthetea99 Well of course - who said it wasn’t?
The bottom line is work places etc are opening for a functional purpose- rebuild the economy.
A schools purpose is to educate . Under the umbrella of education pastoral care is very important. However if social distancing is to be adhered to then young people esp will probably find the environment quite hostile and frightening as it’s so different from how it was before .
If no formal planning or assessment will take place then the purpose of the school to deliver the curriculum also isn’t happening.
Ergo - why rush to open them?
We are endangering school staff and children.
The education needs to be delivered in some capacity , children need to learn and we should be allowing teachers to prepare for that and continue to upskill not throw them back into an environment that may cause an awful lot more harm than good.

Only headteacher OP !

@Oaktree55 fair point. We don't know. I do really worry that the impact of children kept contained at home, most with parents multitasking working from home too has not been properly considered by those wanting long delays in the start of getting pupils back into school. Short term it is unlikely to be harmful but if the situation continues for months then I worry for the most (socially) vulnerable.