If school cannot go back normally, they shouldn't go back?

[UnderReview]

Especially primary schools. Social distancing cannot be the new 'normal'! It will really fuck kids up. They'll be scared of normal contact and germaphobes for life. It's not OK. No school would be better than playing on your own in a chalk draw box in the playground or sitting on a table by yourself. It would be a nightmare for teachers too and is ultimately useless. If a kid sneezes on the way in to class or in the toilet and touches a tap or the wall, or coughs on a tray of pencils, etc... and they're sharing the same air in the classroom.... and the teacher cannot possibly stay two metres away, what if a child falls over or is in pain?! Or choking? I don't know what the answer is, but it can't be social distancing in schools. Or AIBU?

I thought that advice was that they don’t have to wear PPE but that they can if desired? That’s the advice our head has given anyway (well masks anyway, gloves are absolutely useless in a school setting).

I think so many people have lost all perspective about this virus that they are blinded by fear and anxiety.

why are people who think themselves so superior only pipping up now, and not since the beginning of the lockdown?

It's just that people are getting bored, not that the risk is any lower than it was then. I would strongly advise you to compare the statistics at the time and statistics now actually.

It's really, really not normal to tell four and five year olds that they can't touch their friends or sit next to them. That they can't touch their teacher. That they won't be comforted with a hug if they fall over. They are already very scared. I agree with the OP that you either send them back and accept that they will mix in their social bubble of 10-15 or don't send them back at all.

@GlitteryFluff what a negative email your school have sent. It sounds like there is little trust between teachers, parents and pupils. Our school has sent an email which details what they will be doing. Of course, it includes the same kind of measures but also how delighted they are to be having some pupils back, how they intend to make it fun and joyful for the children despite all the measures, reassuring that they WILL help a child who is upset or hurt. It states how children will have their own pencils and scissors etc. so not sharing and how the "families" of 15 children will stay together for lessons, lunch (packed lunches outside). The children will be doing full days and they say they trust parents to stay 2m away from each other for pick up and drop off. Children won't be bringing reading books home to avoid transmission but will do more reading aloud in school. Your school sounds very bitter and horrid about it all. Poor children. Same measures but a VERY different attitude from the school.

It's really, really not normal to tell four and five year olds that they can't touch their friends or sit next to them. That they can't touch their teacher. That they won't be comforted with a hug if they fall over

Thankfully our school won’t be telling them any of these things. As per the government guidance, they are being clear that they are not expecting social distancing in schools. An anonymous survey of the teachers has shown that the teachers support this approach.

So how many months/years are people happy for their kids not to get an education? Covid isn't going to suddenly go away. We need to live with it, not hide from it. What do people think is going to change that will allow schools to reopen in September as normal, when the same people think it's too dangerous to open on a very small scale in June?? Makes no sense.

A WHO expert on the BBC news last night said that there have been absolutely no cases recorded to date in any country which relate to an outbreak of Covid-19 in a school. That covers countries which closed schools and have now reopened them as well as countries where schools never closed.

She said that any cases in schools have been traced back to an adult passing it to other adults, no evidence that children have passed it to each other or to adults.

Everyone should do what is the best for their own individual circumstances. Personally my nursery-aged child and Yr1 child will both be going back on 1 June, they are both suffering not having similar aged children to play with and both me and my husband are trying to juggle home education/entertaining the toddler whilst attempting to WFH. None of us have health issues and we are not in contact with anyone in the vulnerable category (family are all 100+ miles away so we’re not seeing them anyway!).

Statistically the risk of dying from Covid-19 for someone under the age of 50 is

I think the media and that idiot Piers Morgan has done a magnificent job of a scaring people to death. People like this shouldn’t be allowed to be on national tv. He was sacked from him newspaper job for selling fake news - but he has got prime spot in the morning whipping everyone up in the mornings.

Even though the science tells us only a tiny tiny % will be effected by this and even smaller my die- just like the flu, people are panic stricken to the point we have now coined new irritating phrases like the ‘new normal’ and turning our primary schools in to mini prison camps.

Just utterly ridiculous.

I am sympathetic to people's fears but I think we do all need to be realistic. All the evidence so far points to children not likely to suffer from Covid 19 - yes, there have been a few cases and those are awful, but I am fully aware that children are killed in car accidents on the roads every year and yet I still drive them around because while it frightens me, the risk is small and I try to mitigate by driving carefully, wearing seatbelts, having a reliable car etc.

I think what's not being communicated very well right now is that as a society we are going to have to accept a certain amount of risk. We need to understand the people for whom this risk is more severe and be prepared to support additional protective measures for them. eg, I am assuming that DS' friend who is diabetic will not be returning to school as it's proven to be such a high risk factor.

Schools who are planning to, in effect, do everything they can to scare the children who return are not behaving in a way that demonstrates commitment to those children's well being. Implementing sensible precautious ranging from regular hand washing, personalised tools, daily temperature checks is entirely different to insisting the children remain in boxes and get no fun.

When would schools go back though? The virus is going to be around for the forseeable future. Even with fingers crossed idea of a vaccine in Spring by the time its rolled out you'd be lucky if school could start at all next academic year.

I'd rather schools spent time between now and Setember putting in every possible safety and distancing measure than rush back to a bit if a shit show due to lack of time, money and resources and even staff.

Whether that's putting in temporary buildings, sorting staffing issues. Different schools may find different solutions to best suit their staff needs and abilities or willingness to be flexible as well as the unique buildings/play area issues to their own school.
What may work in one primary school may not work in another despite similar pupil staff numbers.
Some serious thinking outside the box may be needed.

I think there is a huge difference in making young children sit at separate desks vs forcing them to play in chalk bubbles in the playground.

Separate desks are common from this age in many parts of the world. The children seem to manage OK. It has some advantages (less distraction, few discipline issues).

But playing is very important for kids, and they need to be able to run around freely. If that means taking a few small risks with the virus, then so be it. This is important.

Where did you read that, @VladmirsPoutine? Not a goady question - genuinely wondering if there's a communication I have missed!

YANBU

BTW, nobody could possibly say the Eton teachers are workshy, whether the physical school opens now or in September - they are teaching a full timetable plus extras. Plus the massive amount of work involved in switching from a 'proper' school to a completely online school. My son is having an online lesson as I type!

You do realise most kids won’t go back until September by the very nature of the new rules. Also how much work do you really think is going to get done in 6 weeks

Given that this school year has been a complete write off, I would much rather the children go back for the remaining 6 weeks (even if it is just babysitting) so that the children and the teachers can get used to the new set up (because this is going to be the way our children are taught from now on for quite a while - it won't suddently change come September) then at least the Autumn term of the new school year wont be a complete write off aswell whilst everyone comes to terms with the new set up.

I think so many people have lost all perspective about this virus that they are blinded by fear and anxiety

It's called AVAILABILITY BIAS!
With nothing else on the news other than covid-19 this and Corona virus that, people's brains are conditioned to believe that human contact in a work environment is dangerous.

@OneandTwenty
why are people who think themselves so superior only pipping up now, and not since the beginning of the lockdown?

It's just that people are getting bored, not that the risk is any lower than it was then. I would strongly advise you to compare the statistics at the time and statistics now actually*
R was much higher at the start of lockdown and we were bracing ourselves for the inevitable rise in demand for healthcare that this would generate and the consequent "peak". We are now undoubtedly through the first peak with an R rate below 1 in the general community.

I follow the statistics keenly and it is clear that 7 day rolling average for deaths is low and admissions to hospital and ICU are down from the peak.

So how many months/years are people happy for their kids not to get an education? Covid isn't going to suddenly go away. We need to live with it, not hide from it. What do people think is going to change that will allow schools to reopen in September as normal, when the same people think it's too dangerous to open on a very small scale in June?? Makes no sense.

By keeping lockdown a bit longer and keeping as many people as possible apart, hopefully it will give the chance for people who are already infected (but asymptomatic) to become non-contagious.

It will give the NHS time to adapt and plan resources and deal with the current problems (e.g. re care homes) without having to deal with an extra influx of patients.

It will give the time to develop a testing and tracing system that actually works (at the moment it looks as if tests are actually being lost and not processed)

It will give the time to source PPE and come up with firm plans for who needs to use PPE and when and how. Teachers and TAs and any other school staff can be trained.

It will give time to for teachers and TAs to plan how to teach effectively without the aid of objects (books, toys) which may transmit infection.

It will hopefully give some time to sort out the logistics problems in built-up areas: how do school children get to school safely in a situation where they would normally have taken the bus or Tube?

It will also give the time to come up with a plan that can assure continuing education for those children who remain vulnerable and who may not be able to return to school in September either.

I'm quite concerned for DD who's meant to be starting reception in September.

Getting used to a new setting, new people, new routines with the addition of all the social distancing regulations - sounds hugely unsettling and I've no idea how to prepare her for it.

corythatwas Meanwhile businesses are going bust and more people losing their jobs.

We have to do it simultaneously. Parents cannot sit and wait till every one has completed all their checks dotted the i and crossed the t’s

People need to go to work Now. Furlough just doesn’t cut it if you have big outgoings. Many many people are in serious debt already.

I do appreciate that, Splillinteas. But let's be upfront about it then and not pretend it's about education. And let's also calculate the risks to businesses and the economy of a worst case scenario with mass deaths.

What we need of course is a stronger, more public-minded government with the facts at their finger-tips and a capacity for organising.

Just had a lovely email from school regarding their plans for reopening. Said it would be wonderful to see as many children as possible, but there was no pressure on parents to send and it was a family decision. Children will be taught in bubbles and there will be social distancing between them but not within them - they will be placed with friends as much as possible. As much time as possible will be spent outside. It all seemed really positive and feasible to me.

@upthewolves that has been my experience too