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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Jellycatspyjamas · 21/05/2020 17:37

I’m quite happy with it tbh, I don’t think taking kids back for 3/4 weeks in June would be worthwhile for my two and assuming they’re both in at the same time I’m in a fortunate position that I can adjust my working days to suit the days they’re in school. I know not everyone has that luxury but I’m happy with what’s been proposed so far. Our schools were due back on the 13th, but a Monday start makes more sense.

Mistressiggi · 21/05/2020 18:00

We need to wait really till we know what the part time hours will be like before we know how easy or hard it will be for working parents.

Nicknacky · 21/05/2020 18:01

It’s going to be a nightmare for me no matter what it’s like, but I’ve been expecting it so it’s no surprise

CaptainMerica · 21/05/2020 18:03

@Mistressiggi sorry, that's not what I meant to imply! I know teachers are working, and really appreciate the effort my school are making to support everyone.

What I meant, is just that now they have a good chunk of time to plan for what is coming, and let parents know with decent notice.

I would be assuming that lots of them will be WFH until August (and partially beyond - I would hope they will get a day a week to prepare online content, if they are teaching 2 classes 2 days each, for example ).

Zombiemum1946 · 21/05/2020 18:11

Dh is a teacher so I'd be interested to know how the home and online learning would work.He currently does facetime lessons with the kids(small groups) as well as YouTube videos.He's also constant emailing,messaging with parents and other staff till 7-8pm. I put my foot down and said nothing to be answered after 6 when we're trying to eat our dinner.

KKSlider · 21/05/2020 18:18

Dh is a teacher so I'd be interested to know how the home and online learning would work

We're not in Scotland but our school has clarified how school learning and online learning will work once they go back.

The class in school will be taught by two teachers on a rota system of Teacher A in the morning and Teacher B in the afternoon. This is because children not in school will still be getting work set for them on Google Classroom so the teachers are on a rota to give them time to still set online work for whatever their specific subject is.

School have also clarified that the work being set in school will be the exact same work being set on Google Classroom so that regardless of whether they go to school or not, all of the children will be covering the same topics.

Mistressiggi · 21/05/2020 18:56

@CaptainMerica I'm rather sensitive at the moment, sorry
KKslider I think that's a shame really (if the work is identical) though I can see why it is practical - the whole point of having the teacher actually in front of you should be to be able to do things differently and more creatively than an online experience.

KKSlider · 21/05/2020 19:24

To be fair to school, they are setting a good variety of work online. He even gets art projects, science experiments, and PE set via the online system.

Wannakisstheteacher · 21/05/2020 19:28

Are independent school being told to stat back on the 11th? I have one in an independent and 2 in state so the little ones would go back 3 weeks earlier as DS1's isn't due back until 02/09.

peajotter · 21/05/2020 20:41

Just done the maths. 81 days to go.....

NaturalCleaningParticles · 21/05/2020 21:00

81 days to go....
Sad

Y0uCann0tBeSer10us · 21/05/2020 21:38

As one of two full time working parents I'm pretty unhappy tbh. This 'blended learning' sounds like bollocks for the youngest ones. Our boy is P1, going into P2, so is too young to sit by himself and work through anything online - he needs constant attention to keep him motivated and explain concepts etc., so one of us will have to give up those work hours to do it with him. DH is already under pressure from his work to get 'the wife' to do the childcare, and I doubt he's alone, so it will inevitably be women's careers that have to give when it all becomes unbearable.

What's most upsetting though is that it looks as though the holiday clubs and private nurseries won't be opening until August either, so we have another three months of trying to work from home full time while schooling/looking after 2 kids with limited options for outdoor entertainment. We've already done just over two months, and its already unbearable, mostly because of the toll its taking on my son's mental health (before we even start on the damage to his education). I honestly don't know how we'll cope. It just seems like such a massive overreaction to keep nurseries closed when all of the evidence suggests that children are rarely affected and don't spread it to any significant extent.

radness75 · 21/05/2020 21:50

We were also meant to be going back on the 18th august. As we usually do we have taken the last 2 weeks of the holidays as annual leave now to be told we will be going back a week early. This will mean i will get one week with my daughter and my second week of leave she will be back at school. As a frontline worker, who has worked through the pandemic, i was looking forward to spending that 2 weeks together as a family. I cannot shift my annual leave as i have to book it a year in advance as it is to get any time off in the holidays. My husband goes back to work next week so we have had to spend a fortune on a childminder for june and july now to find that school will be part time in august. I have no idea how we are going to work and not have her at school. The childminder im using for the next 2 months will not pick up from her school as its outside her catchment.

OhioOhioOhio · 21/05/2020 21:55

I know. I have a court order and bastard xh to contend with now that the holidays are buggered up as well.

Mistressiggi · 21/05/2020 22:16

Radness, I can't solve the childcare problem but what is anyone going to do if you keep your dc off for that week? There will be parents and staff with pre-booked holidays, they will have to be honoured. It's not England, there won't be fines - she might not be due in that week anyway.

MurrayTheDemonicTalkingSkull · 21/05/2020 22:49

For those saying they’ve shortened the holidays - they haven’t in the grand scheme of things. Teachers will still work 195 days. The week or so lost of the summer by a lot of teachers will need to be taken back elsewhere in the year. Potentially in bits and pieces as extra Monday holidays or tacked on in one go to make an 8 week summer next year.

Also, a PP said that teachers will be expected to volunteer for the summer provision - I doubt councils will want to pay teacher rates for this. I imagine it will be run by cheaper staff. (Volunteers at Easter/bank holidays in Scotland should have been paid or got TOIL for this.)

PeachPineappleJuice · 21/05/2020 22:52

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greathat · 21/05/2020 23:06

Teachers can't plan effectively unless the government publishes what it wants in good time. Boris said two weeks ago he wanted year 10 and 12 to have "face to face" time, and that's basically all the info we've got to go on. Other than masses of social distancing instructions, like bins with lids and cleaning the loo after each kid

margotsdevil · 21/05/2020 23:12

We have a (UK based) holiday booked for that last week that has just been removed from my holidays which we were thinking we might have been able to actually go on. My husband has his AL booked accordingly and won't be allowed to change it. I know there will be dozens who pile in to say we get so many holidays and we all have to make sacrifices - but as I'm currently working every day (as a number of pupils only seem to be able to access devices at weekend, as a result of families sharing devices) and an average of 50 hours min per week (willingly) I don't feel it's unreasonable to be unhappy at some of today's news.

I have no problem with going back to work - we need to be in classrooms with pupils, not on the other end of a screen - but this just feels like a slap in the face. Many of those who go back to work normally on Aug 11/12 will get a week's break in February or holiday weekends elsewhere in the year that our council don't take, and you have to imagine that you might actually be able to do something with the time then. Unlike our staff who will no doubt be allowed to finish a week early in June, whilst we are still pretty restricted - that certainly doesn't feel the same as the week in August would be. Really disappointed at the lazy journalism from the BBC also about us "returning to work" in June Angry

ssd · 21/05/2020 23:19

It's a long time for the kids to be off, March till August!! It feels so weird. My 2 have left school, I can't imagine keeping them going that long but needs must.

Blackbear19 · 21/05/2020 23:22

I also think English schools should cut short the summer holidays but can't see that it is realistic

Are you also suggesting that the English schools / Home Ed should stop end of June?

The 11th will end up being an 'earliest' date with each area sticking to the dates they already have. Teachers are still going to need their inset days to sort themselves out.

PeachPineappleJuice · 21/05/2020 23:26

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IKEA888 · 21/05/2020 23:30

we are due back 21st August
my eldest secondary school immediately sent an email to say that date remains

CountFosco · 21/05/2020 23:38

I know Scotland is a cooler climate, but surely that’s still the height of summer and some areas could be experiencing very high temperatures?

A trip to a Scottish beach in August last year.

Scottish school return 11 Aug
Nicknacky · 21/05/2020 23:41

CountFosco Ah, but that outfit could be for midge protection also.