Just teacher I won't be sending DS back to school

[TheGoldenNugget]

Just got off the phone with DS teacher, we spoke about schools opening in June and she asked me if I'm planning to send him back when they open. I said no. Anyone else not sending their kids back when schools open in a few weeks?

For everyone saying they'll definitely keep their child off, can I be nosey and ask if you work? I'm a sahm so i'm lucky that I can choose to keep mine at home. If I worked though, i'd have to send him!

I don't think working will make much difference - school is likely to be part time, some days a week or every other week.

@CaryStoppins

If under 10s are going to go back to school and childcare, we have to accept they won't do social distancing and it's ridiculous to pretend otherwise

Then the guidlines should allow for the use of ppe for staff!

Our school is opening. If nursery, R, 1 and 6 return it will be 125 children. We are hoping that we get no more than 50%. We aren’t following the Gov guidelines to the letter as we won’t be able to. We cannot distance and may have to have more than 15 per classroom/area.

We are lucky that we have 5 entrances to school that we can use. Each class will use a separate one and be greeted by a different teacher. From there they will enter school and each year/class will split in half, less the key workers/vulnerable children who have been attending all along - they will stay together.

The 8 split classes will stay with each other throughout, will have the same teacher, use the same classroom, same entrance etc. They will be a ‘family’ group. If less than 50% return then we would combine N/R/1 in some way. 6 will definitely be on their own.

There will be no distancing in class as it’s not practical or possible. (Children will be encouraged to wash hands etc but as we discovered with our key workers children it’s impossible to socially distance them!) They will compete work from the same packs that are given out to the children at home, but will also do pe/art/dance/drama to break up the day better.

The plan is still evolving, and is going to depend a lot on who we get in.

I'm not sure why some schools are going to try to enforce 5 year olds sitting at desks 2m apart and teachers not coming near them?I

Because they are implementing the DfE's guidance, because they have no choice!

I had the same conversation today and told them that as long as I'm still off I'm going to keep ds at home.

I'm sending mine back in. September is not a magic month

That list upthread of what a school is doing seems to be from the same mentality as bleaching shopping. It's almost deliberately OTT. Some people seem to have this weird idea that if we make our lives really, really unpleasant, the nasty virus will accept our repentance and leave us alone.

Statistically no more teachers have died than any other profession.

I also told teacher today I likely won't be sending back, there are a lot of reasons not just the actual catching of the virus. She is reception, autistic and her anxiety levels about school are already through the roof without all of this and the things we do to help her each day get in thw actual classroom won't be able to be done. I think the emotional damage the restrictions in the classroom will have a far greater impact than staying off school (she is really happy at home) but I have said I will wait and see what the school actually plan before I say for definite one way or another.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

Where settings can keep children and young people in those small groups 2 metres away from each other, they should do so.

Statistically no more teachers have died than any other profession.

Because of the partial closure of schools.

@Feenie

We know that, unlike older children and adults, early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff.

We have Covid in our school community, one parent has already died, three members of staff have tested positive. We have to do everything we can to limit any transmission, if that means we go over the top, so be it.

@CostaCosta I don't work, I'm full time carer for my 17 year old who needs a lot of care. My husband works in a supermarket and has been at work. I appreciate our life (whilst not the life I would have chosen) makes keeping dd2 at home a possibility.

"Where settings can keep children and young people in those small groups 2 metres away from each other, they should do so."

I mean, come on - Year 10 & 12? Yes. Year 6? Maybe.
Nursery, Reception and Year 1? Quite obviously not.

Where settings can keep children and young people in those small groups 2 metres away from each other, they should do so.

Same paragraph! The rest of the guidance is that carefully written and not rushed at all.

@KKSlider those rules are ridiculous. There is nothing remotely like that being followed at my son’s school which he’s been in this whole time. Around 15 to a class. No issues. And he loves absolutely loves it. Certainly not causing him mental health issues...

Why on EARTH would they need a see through pencil case?! Surely they bring one in and take it home.

Classic case of trying to create scaremongering hype so parents are terrified.

@pennylane83

You make a good point, I just keep going round in circles about what i think will be best. I know I should be waiting to see what our schools own plans are, it's hard not to speculate.

I would love my DC to have more time with their lovely teacher, TA's and friends, and have a smooth transition into Yr1 but i'm worried about how it will affect them, if they'll catch Covid, if they'll be able to see their Grandparents if they go back to school (one Grandparent is shielding) it's just a shit show at the minute and hard to think positive.

I think a number of schools will only be offering part-time so they can work round the smaller class sizes.

I am assuming schools are doing the social distancing because pretty much all other countries who have recently starting going back to school have implemented social distancing. So many people are praising how upbeat Danish teachers are, well they have social distancing in their classrooms, and in their nurseries they have stipulated only 3 in a group for their youngest children, compared to 15 in England.

famly.co/blog/covid-19/denmark-reopening-child-care-corona/

@Feenie have you read the guidance. It’s not actually what it says

I'm not sure why some schools are going to try to enforce 5 year olds sitting at desks 2m apart and teachers not coming near them?

Because they are implementing the DfE's guidance, because they have no choice

Interesting article in the news about evidence schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-chief-scientific-adviser-admits-he-hasnt-assessed-school-reopening-guidance/

School has lots of benefits.

As we know it, yes it does. This is not school as we know it. It won’t be anywhere near normal for them. At best it will be childcare.

Yes thanks, flaminodial, that's why I quoted directly from it. Twice.

@Feenie but it says "where settings can..." which clearly nurseries and infant schools can't, and the guidance acknowledges that - "early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff".

I don't think working will make much difference - school is likely to be part time, some days a week or every other week.

Ah well, the Dfe have put the kibosh on that as well today - four days after asking schools to plan and 12 days before they actually do - if you can't do three year groups full time then prioritise the youngest. No flats for classes.