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Scottish school return 11 Aug

206 replies

TheGlaikitRambler · 21/05/2020 13:06

How do those in Scotland feel about the plan for Scottish schools to return on 11th Aug part-time only?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52745643

OP posts:
midnightstar66 · 21/05/2020 13:42

Yes @Dreamersandwishers that part isn't clear yet - spoke to my HT 5 minutes ago and she didn't know yet whether we'd go back on the 11th or the 19th as planned. Lots still to be worked out but as you say NS has done a good job of getting us all started

Dreamersandwishers · 21/05/2020 13:42

Good to know

Dreamersandwishers · 21/05/2020 13:44

Sorry last comment was for Glitterkitten

RaraRachael · 21/05/2020 13:45

Is 11th August not still the holidays

Yes it is in Moray and Aberdeenshire and maybe some others, but as usual it will be done according to the Central Belt.

StoorieHoose · 21/05/2020 13:46

It was the school holiday here too in my part of the central belt but don't let that detract from your sweeping generalisation

RaraRachael · 21/05/2020 13:48

If school term dates are going to be standardised, what happens in areas where there are 2 weeks' off in October and others where there are only one?

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 21/05/2020 13:49

Not happy. Ds will be going into primary 1, he hates change and I can't imagine what remote learning will look like for that age group. Hoping it's at least the same days per week or mornings as he's not an afternoon person. Lockdown so far has shown that dh and I suck at the basics of learning and are only any good at conveying information we're interested in so he's good at dinosaurs, biology, plant recognition, has decent knife skills and knows a lot about aircraft carriers but less good at number/letter recognition.

OhioOhioOhio · 21/05/2020 13:51

Term dates definitely standardised?

midnightstar66 · 21/05/2020 13:52

@RaraRachael Edinburgh weren't due back til the 19th and Scottish Borders the 18th so a large chunk of Scotland with you guys as well.

RaraRachael · 21/05/2020 13:54

Ok, wasn't sure are we are usually different to the South of Scotland.

Ohio I heard that on the BBC Scotland news just now. For how much of the year, I'm not sure, but I don't want to lose our 2 weeks in October.

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 21/05/2020 13:54

I absolutely think English schools should cut short the summer holidays

OhioOhioOhio · 21/05/2020 13:56

Me neither.

midnightstar66 · 21/05/2020 13:57

I guess if they standardise it it will all be equal and get the holidays we usually do albeit in a different format but I suppose we'll never get that week and a bit back before the new school year and just have to suck it up - even more expensive holidays too if we can ever get away. We were due to be away til the 16th but not sure we'd still be going anyway.

rockingaroundthemulberrybush · 21/05/2020 13:58

East Lothian 18th too

Glitterkitten24 · 21/05/2020 14:00

It doesn’t explicitly say standardised in the roadmap, but the BBC definable just said it!

Scottish school return 11 Aug
lyralalala · 21/05/2020 14:00

There's no specific mention of standardised term dates in the full document. It states that they expect schools to open on August 11th, but also has lots of caveats and makes clear there will be differering plans for different kids.

Phase 3 is the mention of August 11th - We are planning for children to return to school under a blended model of part-time in-school teaching andpart-time in-home learning. Public health measures including physical distancing will be in place. Subject to the evidence and progress of the epidemic we expect schools to open on August 11.

However, the overall summary only mentions August - In taking decisions about the recovery of education, we have worked closely with local government, teacher unions and the national parents’ organisation. The COVID-19 Education Recovery Group, chaired by the Deputy First Minister, has led this work and has considered all practical options that will allow us to strike the right balance between safety, healthcare, wellbeing and learning as schools begin to reopen.
A Strategic Framework has been jointly agreed and is to be used at local level in conjunction with Local Phasing Delivery Plans for the reopening of schools and early learning and childcare provision in Scotland. It highlights that we are working to enable as many children and young people as possible to return to education and care settings at the earliest date on which it is safe to do so. This can only be undertaken with careful planning and clear communication to pupils, parents, carers and staff to build confidence and assurance that the health and scientific advice justifies such a position.
We aim to restart school education for almost all children and young people in Scotland in August. Subject to public health guidance, teachers and other school staff should be returning to schools in June, to plan and prepare for the new model of learning that will be implemented in August. This new model, will include physical distancing and significantly reduced class sizes as well as enhanced hygiene regimes. As a result most pupils will spend around half their time in school and half learning at home. Health and safety guidance, including risk assessments, will be in place prior to staff returning to school in June.
Mindful of the impact of lockdown on many of our most vulnerable children, local authorities will work with partners to increase the numbers of children attending critical childcare provision including hubs. This will include both keyworker children and children whom teachers, ELC professionals and other partners, in consultation with the local authority, think would benefit most from early direct contact with education and Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis31care staff. There should be a particular focus on supporting children at key transition points (e.g. due to start P1 or S1) which may include somein-school experience in late June, where possible and safe to implement, so that they are supported to take the next steps in their education.

cologne4711 · 21/05/2020 14:01

I also think English schools should cut short the summer holidays but can't see that it is realistic. People may well have holidays booked for the end of August and early September - I have myself. I was supposed to be going to Scotland tomorrow but had rescheduled for the first week of September as ds' college isn't due back until the second week. UK holidays may well be able to happen by then and possibly even some overseas ones. I can't see teachers' unions accepting an earlier return.

NaturalCleaningParticles · 21/05/2020 14:06

It's okay. I just hope my two go in at the same times/days (they will be P1 and P4) for selfish logistical reasons. There are only 2 classes of 20ish in their school anyway and depending how they split this year may be together. Also it doesn't make sense from an infection control POV to have siblings mixing with different groups.

masonmason · 21/05/2020 14:07

Ours are due back on the 12th August.

Mistressiggi · 21/05/2020 14:07

I don't think the schools can provide staff in one area with a week's less pay than staff in other areas - finishing work earlier in June is one possibility but I think it's more likely they will go back on the original date.
I'm sure more info will be coming.

Nicknacky · 21/05/2020 14:12

I’m just glad to have a date to work toward and confirmation that it will be part time (although what this entails I don’t know). We will have to do some major juggling until they are back full time.

peajotter · 21/05/2020 14:14

Sounds very sensible. Nice to have a day to aim for. I wonder what will happen with preschoolers? Does anyone know?

Personally I hope we all get two weeks in October. I hate the long stretch to Christmas with only one week off. Maybe we could even go away somewhere......

LoopyGremlin · 21/05/2020 14:15

Schools will go back on the date they were scheduled to return. My problem is I am a teacher but if my two children are only in school part time (Hopefully on the same days) then how can I be in school?

OhioOhioOhio · 21/05/2020 14:15

I'm the same Loopy

LoopyGremlin · 21/05/2020 14:16

@OhioOhioOhio
I am also worried about June. I assume our children will go to the hubs?