To not want my child to return to a school full of reluctant teachers

[Heldupwithscaffolding]

Even if the Government endorses school reopening, who would want to send their child into an environment where the teachers clearly do not want them there ?

headachehenry
presumably anyone with symptoms will get tested and only if a positive will everyone still have to isolate for 14 days?

Children are often asymptomatic the first sign that anyone has it will be the teacher being ill.

The children would be tested as well though surely?

If 1 in the bubble gets symptoms, everyone is tested and self isolates until all the tests come back? Depends who does them but ours are same day or within 24 hours so most people miss work for a couple of days and then back.

headachehenry

The very woolly guidance which has changed many times, did say that only those showing symptoms would get tested.

Michael Gove has been on Andrew Marr this morning insisting that it's safe to reopen schools but then went onto talk about the need for social distancing- how children will have to be sat at their individual desks apart from each other and remain there etc. This directly contradicts the Government guidance which recognises that social distancing in schools is not possible and apparently doesn't matter anyway as we've been told there's no need for us to keep children 2m apart if they're in their bubble. This is the problem, it's not that school staff don't want schools to reopen at all. Every colleagues I speak to is desperate to go back. We all want to believe that it's the right time and the decision is based on science as they keep saying. I'm currently WFH full time, trying to home-school a Y1 child and look after a toddler and its a nightmare so believe me, I would LOVE for schools to be able to safely reopen! But the confused messaging from the Government not just on schools, but throughout their response to this whole situation has completely undermined public confidence. Gove says its "unlikely" we'll see covid outbreaks occurring in schools but they said the same about care homes. Throughout the pandemic the Government have drawn comparisons between us and Italy, repeatedly referencing the fact that we're a couple of weeks behind Italy in the briefings. Now all of a sudden they've stopped mentioning that and are making comparisons with Denmark, where schools have reopened. Italy aren't reopening schools til September so it doesn't suit their narrative. Nevermind that Denmark's total death rate is lower than the number deaths we're seeing in a single weekend, or the fact that their kids don't stay school until 6.

Michael Gove is not just Tory scum but as racist as Boris, and Pritti racist Patel.
I wouldn't believe a word any of them say.

Presumably welcome the kids under six in Denmark will be able to go to nursery though. It’s the reception and y1 kids that struggle with this lockdown. Too old for nursery. Too young to sit and do proper work/assignments. They aren’t socially distancing in the nurseries. Why is it so important they do jt in the schools?

I'm a teacher [Secondary] and I want to get back to work. Our school has been open throughout all this for children of key- workers and those considered 'vulnerable'. Our pupils don't want to break the rules, they just forget- 3 kids watching a video on a mobile phone; tackling each other when playing football; the 'hugs'. This is what is making teachers scared, as is the lackadaisical attitude of SLT- no PPE etc
Also, what some don't realise is that there won't be any 'lessons' as such in Secondary Schools, more than once a week . We will just be supervising groups of 15 pupils each, working on things they have been set online by other teachers.

Also- Eton aren't re-opening until September. Draw your own conclusions...

Also- Eton aren't re-opening until September. Draw your own conclusions... That's because they're residential and the teachers can teach online for now. The pupils will all have the right tech as will the teachers.
It's inequality but that's how it is.

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
To all the teachers.
You do a job that I never could.
Thankyou
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

I work in a school and I am desperate to get back. Schools have never been safe from flu, norovirus, chickenpox all of which kill people every year. The evidence suggests that children not particularly spread covid and are at a very low risk themselves.
I worry a lot for some of the vulnerable and SEN kids I work with. They need to come back to school ASAP especially the young ones. I think the idea of small classes that don’t mix with other classes is a good one.

The evidence suggests that children not particularly spread covid and are at a very low risk themselves.

Yesssss. Some evidence might "suggest" that but WHAT ABOUT ALL THE STAFF and the wider families/community.

Jesus, how many more times?

@callmeangelina

What about all the bus drivers, nurses, electrical engineers, farmers, etc etc Is your suggestion that we close the county for at least the next year? Are you willing to lose your house? Your savings? Your pension?

The bottom line is that parents have been given the choice. There is no guarantee for any of us that we wont catch it, however, I am still expected to go to work. So I dont understand why some teachers think they are any different. We are all in the same position.

derxa- Most pupils are day pupils !!!
Re Eton, Harrow and Winchester all opening in September

however, I am still expected to go to work

Will your work be putting social distancing measures in place? What is your risk assessment like?

derxa- Most pupils are day pupils !!! Re Eton, Harrow and Winchester all opening in September Isn't Eton fully boarding?

I'm a carer. I cant socially distance as I have meds and personal care to think about. My team are married to other at risk key workers and I have to work alongside them. Not once did it occur to me to refuse to work.

@Sometimeswinning
And are you provided with PPE? I'm presuming you are, well education staff aren't and are also being told you can't wear face coverings, even if you want to.

I am. But they are not much use if someone coughs in my face. Sneezes on me. Grabs my hand. If anyone in my care becomes Ill I will have to go into lockdown with them. Putting me at a higher risk. Also cutting me off from my family. I have just as many valid reasons to be concerned going into work.

I am (reasonably) happy to return to the school premises. I strongly object to being told that social distancing and PPE is not required or necessary, when it appears to be for the rest of the world.

Eton College is fully boarding.

Their staff are still working:

Accommodation for key workers.
"We have offered accommodation, free of charge, within some of our now empty boarding houses for adult key workers, where they need alternative accommodation because their own families are self-isolating." ...

"Eton College is opening its doors to hundreds of children of key workers and the most vulnerable pupils from Maidenhead, Slough and Windsor. "

"The £42,000-a-year school has decided to stay open throughout the crisis, including the Easter and summer holidays if necessary, to teach children aged 5-13 whose parents are nurses, cleaners, porters, police and work in other critical services." ...

"Eton is offering its EtonX online self-study courses to every secondary school in the country, free of charge. Courses include guidance on writing CVs and preparing for interviews, as well as improving creative writing and essay writing skills."

As a teaching professional the way the government has set out changes for our youngest children is my biggest issue.

In reception and many year 1 classes the children don't sit at desks, the best way for them to learn, for their well being and mental health is through play, physical interaction with their environment, peers staff. What we are being ask to do is change this environment. How will this have a positive impact on their well being? We have to remove all resources which can't be easily 'wiped' over, children shouldn't be sharing resources, selecting their resources. A teacher my job isn't just about English and Maths, it about making children independent learners, to explore their environment. Best practice for this age group isn't sitting at a desk away from their peers.

The government are using the line that this is about children's well being but everything they have put in their guidance goes against the development of children and doesn't support their well being.

I am happy to go back with my class, I am not happy to make the dramatic changes for these young children without them having a proper transition into this new way of learning which goes against what they truly need. Why can't every child in primary school spend some time (at different times for each year group) so they build up some confidence before September. Why this need to be back full time and expecting all to cope.

ShouldWeChangeTheBulb - The most vulnerable pupils are already allowed to come into schools. Many children with EHCPs are coming in to our school on a daily basis. The government has clearly said they will not fine parents who do not choose to send their children in June 1st. So for those vulnerable pupils who are not currently coming in - how will anything change for them?

Their staff are still working:

So are all teachers in state schools