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?

Seems to schools are one up from colditz

What a fucking horrible comment.

@Bubbletwix you don’t. this is scaremongering are its worst. the reason for bubbles is to not have the strict need for distancing between the kids.

the reason for bubbles is to not have the strict need for distancing between the kids

the bubble is pointless unless you keep the children 24h a day - which you won't obviously.

It's not an issue, but pretending otherwise is what bothers people.

Bubbles are not pointless when it comes to reducing overall risk.
COVID is not going away. We have to start managing risk rather than pretend we’re going to magic it away.

Lockdown is practically over where I am anyway, if the amount of families I have encountered during this afternoon's trip to the supermarket.

A couple with 3 kids completely happy to let their little cherubs run around as if it were a playground once again, bumping into me and others.

I've no doubt they won't give a fig about the teacher's welfare and they will be back in school asap.

I am not pretending it's going away, but people won't obey social distancing anymore - and rightly so if you think about it. So that's why they are pointless. Because there won't be such a thing as a "bubble". It's virtually impossible, parents commute, have other siblings, teachers come from other towns and have children themselves, childcare will restart

Has it ever been possible to trust parents not to send sick kids at school? Of course not...

No, but there has never been a global pandemic before.

Well, not in our lifetime anyway.

Worth having a read on this thread to see how other countries are handling the school return: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3912936-AMA-my-child-s-been-back-at-Dutch-school-for-one-week

the bubble is pointless unless you keep the children 24h a day - which you won't obviously.

Not when you look at it from a population level - this is about reducing the average number of contacts each individual has and their ability to spread to larger numbers in a less controlled (and less easily traceable) way.

A defined, consistent bubble at school does extend quite significantly the number of potential contacts in a network - but significantly fewer than the full school, or a busy workplace, etc.

No, but there has never been a global pandemic before. Well, not in our lifetime anyway.

Ok then, my lifetime.

I very much disagree.

Yanbu. The proposals for schools and social distancing are batshit and will result it very odd and neurotic children. Children need to be allowed to socialise and play, not shouted at for hugging a friend or having the fear of god put in them.

Again, the government guidance says that no social distancing is expected in schools.

How are the primaries that have been open for key workers' kids been managing since they closed for the majority? Have they got measures in place?

@summerof699 read the actual guidance, not the tabloids and social media. My schools plan for reopening is totally reasonable and they will not be socially distancing.

I think schools proposing to seat the young children at desks and play in chalk circles are the tiny minority, I'm a teacher and have heard of no school in the real world proposing to do that. Like a pp said, the bubble is a bit like extending your family to have 15 extra people.

Children need to be allowed to socialise and play, not shouted at for hugging a friend or having the fear of god put in them.

From what I’ve heard from friends, ours is following the guidance and not expecting primary kids to distance, they treat them as a bubble. Ditto the hub nursery.

smogsville there has been no social distancing in our school for key workers children.

AIDS/HIV was a global pandemic in the 80s by the way.

or sitting on a table by yourself

Like almost every American junior school student? Oh very damaging

@mamabears3 'resuscitation until theyve got their gowns masks gloves on! so if a person collapses they must wait while staff get the right ppe on'

First responder guidelines state:

'Cardiac arrest in children is more likely to be caused by a respiratory problem (asphyxial arrest), therefore chest compressions alone are unlikely to be effective.

If a decision is made to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation in asphyxial arrest, use a resuscitation face shield where available.

Should you have given mouth-to-mouth ventilation there are no additional actions to be taken other than to monitor yourself for symptoms of possible COVID-19 over the following 14 days. Should you develop such symptoms you should follow the advice on what to do on the NHS website'

There is unfortunately no PPE that would adequately eliminate risk in this circumstance, but then I can't imagine any adult would leave a child without help if this were to happen, either in school or out.

Op are seriously suggesting that children should stay home until a vaccine is available? Limited socialising is better than none.

If the U.K. follow the reopening lead of primary schools on mainland Europe, primary aged children won’t be expected to keep at a 2 meter distance from their classmates. However, classes will be significantly smaller and they will maintain those same smaller groups in the playground as well.

Guidance here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools

From reading many posts on MN, I think that the interpretation of this guidance has varied widely....