Children are not super spreaders, but answer me this...

[Happymind]

We can contract Covid 19 from objects so must take precautions... but not so much from children?

And children can go to school and be in contact with teachers, as they're not "super spreaders" but can not be around family members or grandparents outside their household?

The UK are following guidance from other countries regarding sending children back to school. They are reassured that there will be little or no covid outbreaks judging by other countries success. Yet the UK appear to be the only ones not providing PPE for students and staff?

Am I missing something?

My son’s school has some days where they don’t use toys, but make their own. 3-4 sheets of paper per child (scissors and pens help, but are not essential ), and the kids are playing for hours, and its all disposable: no cleaning required.
no plastic/wooden toys doesn’t mean they can’t play

myself2020

That's likely what they will do. They won't be playing in groups or having free play though.

Toys don't have to be removed the be chosen to do that because they don't want to clean it. That won't be the case for all schools.

Some things, such as soft toys, dress up, etc are being removed as difficult to clean between uses.

Some like children's books can't be cleaned.

Others will be left to be cleaned between uses but it will be reduced.

Why? Who is going to clean it and when?

How will R and Yr1 children manage sitting at desks all day?

They won't. They're not being asked to by the Government either. The governments has said that social distancing won't be needed within the smaller classes.

Our KW children are mixing way more now than at the start too. The staying at desks has been eased with time simply admits just not possible.

We are very fortunate that we can have two staff members per group but this is only because we can't room the year 1s which frees up more staff.

They won't. They're not being asked to by the Government either. The governments has said that social distancing won't be needed within the smaller classes.

What will the children be doing then with no toys or play equipment and within the classroom?

There will be sodding toys should schools choose to keep them. Good lord.

We were instructed by council head office (who were probably instructed by scot gov) to remove pretty much everything in the final 10 days of school being open and that was an a lot more relaxed time than current restrictions - soft toys, dressing up, sand, water,play doh, kinetic sand, help yourself pencils/colouring pens. It's not just a case of individual schools can't be arsed to clean!

[[
mattschelling.substack.com/p/youre-embarrassing-yourselves-comparing]]

For those of you still comparing this to seasonal flu.

They'll be some toys - easy to clean ones.
Our KW children are using the iPads too.
They do outdoor play using long skipping ropes and the easy to clean plastic hoops. They use the balls to play football etc.
Inside the my are doing a lot of junk modelling and paper craft, plus colouring and drawing activities. They have the larger wipe down blocks and toys about. They do some of the home learning too - either at tables or on the carpet in smaller groups at the IWB.

Handwashing isn't important or that effective against respiratory articles.

but no one wants to admit that. See medrxiv article, on...

the lack of evidence for the impact of hand hygiene in reducing ILI and influenza

Aragog

Ok. The headteacher of this local school has written to parents and made it clear that won't be happening. They can't clean playground toys for example between each bubble and from what he's said they aren't having access to toys in the classroom. I don't know about learning activities - TAs won't be running lessons only overseeing work set by the teachers so not sure what that will look like.

It's obviously for parents to talk to individual school's to ascertain exactly what will be offered to their children because clearly there's a variety of scenarios.

13:15Aragog

And, even despite the risk, those same teaching and school staff will be treating those child as normal - there will be contact. If a child is upset, there will be hugs, etc. There won't be social disarming as it just isn't possible. Most primary schools, especially in the younger years, are very tactile environments, especially in Uk schools. we don't implement a hands off approach.

This isn't true - schools have had guidance that social distancing is key and PPE will be worn when administering first aid. Schools are currently emptying classrooms of soft toys and furnishings, taking down displays and taking up carpets and rugs...all on gov advice.

So little are vulnerable children seen at present that their abusers don't even have to bother hiding their injuries.

This is such a devastatingly awful thought @Nihiloxica. I agree with everything you've written on this thread.

Imsosorry

My school isn't and then guidance makes it guess that with the youngest children social distancing isn't going to happen. It isn't happening with our KW children now. There is no requirement for 2m apart or anything like that.

Not all schools have emptied everything and the guidance doesn't tell you too.

Masks will be worn for dealing with an ill child with symptoms or having to deal with some injuries, yes, but not all the time.

Do I think it's right to have the youngest back? No.
But it's not my choice and as a school we will do our very best for those children who return, and if a 4 or 5 year is upset we will comfort them.

That sentence should have read 'and the guidance says clearly social distancing isn't necessary'

I agree that it's important that parents hear from their own schools as to what will happen and what school will look like. Because it's clear it will vary hugely between schools.

For example, we haven't removed carpets (I've no idea how we would, and the cost of putting new flooring down would be too much anyway) and rugs. The displays are still up. Infact one display in the current rooms being use has KW children's work up.

The rooms aren't as full as toys and books as before, there is no cushions and beanbags and a cosy book corner. There's no sand and water, but other wash down toys are. The children have their own own pots and equipment at present, and their craft material is dished out to them rather than shared. They have a small pot
of play doh each rather than shared, etc.

It's not as nice as it was in our classrooms in that sense but as a school we've done our best to try and make school a pleasant place to be for our children.

Because of this we are carefully protecting our vulnerable staff, not just the shielded, and will continue to do so. Unlike some schools there's no pressure on those staff to return. Wherever possible we are also enabling those with vulnerable, but not shielding, family members at home to wfh too.

@Aragog yours sounds like a very human and thoughtful school. I’m sure the parents and staff are both grateful.

Ours say they will be doing the same about vulnerable staff members.

Interestingly I’ve just heard back from my son’s nursery. They have had about 50% take up for places in June (from the grapevine a lot of furloughed parents are glad to save the money, some have vulnerable family members, some - like us - have reduced days as we have older kids at home too.) I wonder if schools will have a similar ratio sending their children back.

Jassy, some data points from England here, one school I know has 50% staff who won't be back to work on 01/06 (shielding). One school received a response to their questionnaire about reception, Y1 and Y6 saying 5% (not 50% but 5%) would be returning (still early days I know). Another school was told 50% (different demographic).

@Aragog that's reassuring to know. Thank you for that!

Gosh Zilla, 5%! I guess for us nursery was able to set a cut off so they could get a good idea of numbers. Must be a nightmare for schools.

Aragog talking to the school is so important. I know from my DC school that the approach is similar. I would not be happy sending my child if it weren't the case.

And ultimately it may not happen if the school decide its not safe. I do trust their judgement and 1st June is not set in stone.

Jassy - I think it does help that our head teacher is in the clinically vulnerable group and although she will spend a fair bit of time in school, albeit she has an office so can distance a fair bit, it means she understands and has empathy for those staff members who would be in direct contact with the children.

It's starting to look unlikely if I will return this summer. Due to my role in school I oversee our home learning provision so I'm also more useful at home at present.but it's nice to know that I don't have the type of management who won't be pressuring the vulnerable staff to return until it's safe to do so.

I'm not as cynical to think they have chosen R/Y1 children for childcare reasons. If anything that group is most likely to have younger siblings who'd still need looking after.

My thoughts are they are probably the most difficult to teach via Google Classroom, seriously how do you teach a child to read by throwing words at them online? Or form letters? Parents will have all sorts of bad habits / old methods of learning.

Y6 might be good socially and mentality to bring their primary years to a close. I also wonder if some assessments will take place for placing of children in class groups. It might also allow some transition stuff, a walk through video. Chance to discuss stuff.