AMA - my child’s been back at (Dutch) school for one week

[Flopjustwantscoffee]

Where we live (Netherlands) they re-opened primary schools part time to all children from 11th May. Although of course the rules won’t be exactly the same in UK schools a lot of the debate here before opening (child/teacher safety, the effect of the new rules on children etc) was similar to the UK. The UK and Netherlands are quite similar in their approach to covid in other ways as well. So I thought it might be helpful to answer any questions on the reality of how it’s actually gone for children/parents/teachers (admittedly from my own limited expat perspective). I’ll answer any questions I can, but obviously no teacher bashing please (my mum was a teacher)

@Zilla1 the parent I know with health conditions is keeping her children home, but they are siblings close in age and siblings and seem happy to be there. I don’t think shielding staff need to go in - but they wouldn’t tell parents which staff at my sons school are shielding anyway since that would be personal health info. Return to school isn’t compulsory so parents can choose what’s best (although of course that also depends on their employers)

Thanks for the answer Flop. That's amazing that they work behind a line for kids that young.

Do the children seem ok? Not traumatised? We are hearing about a lot of mental health issues in the adult population here. Just wondered how the children seem to be coping.

Thanks OP!

Thanks for posting this, it's really interesting to read. I teach in Scotland so I am still waiting to find out exactly what's going to happen.

It's good to know it can work.

@saints2020 the Dutch have always had a “robust” approach to health, for better or worse and possibly that’s informing it. I know that the Dutch were going for “group immunity” in the early stages (sound familiar) and actually have continued to say that’s still the plan despite the need to lockdown in the short term to prevent overwhelming the health system. I suspect that that’s also s general medium term plan in lots of European countries (none plan to lock down for the rest of the year) but the Dutch have a very direct way of communicating it. I’ve reached the stage where I honestly don’t know what’s best overall. I have friends in lots of different eu countries and they all seem to be doing things differently and everyone in those countries is complaining that other countries are doing it better. On an individual level I’m glad my sons back at school though.

My DC is back at school since May 11th in Switzerland. Similar experience as in the Netherlands: same max 15 children and only half the time. He is really happy to be back with his friends.

The number of new infections was very low before school was restarted (IMO that's key) and it is still in the same range.

My SIL's children seem happier and more settled since back. It's just mornings atm but gives a structure to the day. they re met outside by a key worker which goes better than taking them in

Sorry to interrupt the OP

So you don't get people trying to insist they stay 2m apart or that teacher's can't mark anything, as that is what some unions are suggesting here...?

@Phineyj for my son it’s absolutely worth it. If I ask him what he did in school he says he played, but even before all this if you ask him what he did he’d say he played. For me the social side is the most important, but I imagine the shorter day is partly counterbalanced by the smaller class sizes. For childcare it would be useless if I needed to work outside the home (my office is ages away) but as I am working from home my productivity rate is much higher due to those childfree 2 1/2 hours. After school care has also reopened -ours say they will only take the children who are in the afternoon session at the school so you could get from 12.15 to 6.30 2 days a week child free if you wanted. There are limited numbers though so children already signed up to it get priority

@Orangeblossom78

Yesterday Michael Gove said pupils who are returning (Reception, yr1 and yr6) would be sitting in a more traditional environment, with desks at an appropriate distance part, pupils would be sitting at these desks. He’s not a union.

After school care has also reopened -ours say they will only take the children who are in the afternoon session at the school so you could get from 12.15 to 6.30 2 days a week

How does this work if there are children from different groups, as they're not allowed to mix? For example 6 children from one class, but only one child from another year? Do the same staff have to stay with those in their class who want after school care?

@Mummyoflittledragon my son was really struggling by the end of lockdown but has cheered up considerably since then so I hope there’s no lasting damage! I was trying really hard to keep things positive although his dad (who he also sees sometimes) was in my opinion not helping. I have noticed on walks that my son and other small children were (and are) hyper aware of the need to jump out of other people’s way to keep the 1.5m distance going, it’s awkward because they do still need to keep social distancing but sad that it’s necessary (and we have had talks about not jumping in front of cars etc). All the children at the school gate are very aware of the rules for drop of but seem more happy to boss their parents around than anxious. Of course children with abusive home situations will have fared worse

I don't suppose you know if you have to quarantine for 14 days if you arrive from the UK do you? My kids are due to go back to their school in the Netherlands (international school) after half term but I am struggling to get flights and work out whether they will be able to go straight back to school or if we have to quarantine for 2 weeks.

Beebie I'm talking about this..

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/coronavirus-unions-say-schools-must-stick-to-2m-distancing-rule-w6b39xkcx

NEU insisting on 2m distancing even for the smallest children and telling teachers not to mark work...

It is going to be interesting assessing colds and other germs this year - young children often build up immunity in school to all kinds of things which our new measures presumably ensure they no longer will - we need to balance the two sides out which I hope PHE is doing.

@Orangeblossom78 no problem, that’s also what I’ve found. And the parents I know with older children have still been having work marked. My sons actually doesn’t do any written work that would get marked because they start formal teaching of writing etc later. I think there was a lot of discussion before the schools opened about distancing children but that doesn’t seem to be the reality. My sons class always had chairs in a circle for teaching, now there are less chairs in a more spaced out circle. I havent actually seen inside my sons classroom, so I have to take it on trust that they aren’t really chained to desks all day...

@GrimmsFairytales I think they mix, but due to the new procedures it will be a much smaller group than normal and the same group of children each time in after school care (so additional mixing but still controlled). Also additional hygiene measures.

If they mix at after school care then surely that goes against rule number 6?

@Flopjustwantscoffee

Yes. Teachers are definitely magical!
Thanks for doing this! In the US and don't go back until August; however, expecting something similar here.
This is a very good thing you are doing by posting. Very encouraged by the creativity and positivity of educators - and people in general!!
You've earned some big karma points in my book

My kids are/will be in junior high/middle school and high school. Do you know anything about how that looks?

@TailEndCharlie I don’t and am also trying to figure it out as it might affect my plans but wierdly can’t find any info about it on the rvm website - so I think that means the rules aren’t in place yet but would be amazed if they didn’t introduce something soon, it’s annoying because it means if I do visit the UK anytime soon I will likely have to do 4 weeks of quarantine.

Selfish question here, but how does the part-time schooling work with parents working?

I'm a teacher and expected back full time. DS is in y1 and will be part-time and I'm assuming no breakfast or wrap around care. How has it worked there? Does he elevate to 'key worker child' status?

May be too niche a request but I have no idea how I'm supposed to be at work if he's only in a few hours and there's nothing for pre and post work.

It may be fine in the short term but it's a real worry for next term. It's just me and him so I rely heavily on paid childcare.

@Xenia yes, but on the plus side maybe less thread worms!

@GrimmsFairytales indeed... that does seem like a flaw to me but I think they are just trying to weigh everything up and compromise

I am Dutch- I have three kids of different ages, 2 in the school system. (Not primary) The secondary kids have been full on online classes daily, my daughter even has exams this week. I could not praise the school enough for their dedication and effort. They are due back on the 2nd June, we're waiting on a plan on how this will work. But I have confidence in them.
Youngest went back to nursery on the 11th, also very well handled.

Kids under the age of 12 are allowed to mix.

Teens cannot wait to go back into school, they're quite ready now.
Youngest ran into nursery, while I ran the other way into work !
It's been bloody marvelous..