Scottish school return 11 Aug

[TheGlaikitRambler]

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

The 11th August is still the holidays in scotland my school goes back on the 17th but I believe this date has been chosen as some authorities go back on the 11th and teachers sometimes go in in the last week of summer . Its from the 11th not on the 11th

Im OK with return on the 11th as that isn't any different to current return date. I know one council has extended October holidays from one to two weeks and I'm hoping mine doesn't. I work for the NHS and I am already having to use annual leave for childcare as it is and won't have enough left to cover an additional week.

We always have 2 in october

They are currently negotiating what to do about the missing holiday week. The plan is definitely to go back that week, though obviously what that means for anyone's dc is up in the air just now.

@jacks11 I agree entirely with everything you’ve posted. We’ve become so obsessed with preventing every last case of COVID19 (which was never the point of the lockdown, it was to flatten the curve) that we’ve become blind to the harms these measures cause and have lost any sense of balance. I’m a scientist and have been following the data, and I agree that there is strong evidence that children are at virtually no risk from the virus (despite the media hysteria) and that the weaker but consistent evidence about transmission suggests no significant spread from children. There is of course some tiny risk, but there is in everything we do/don’t do and we don’t stop living life because of it. It is very frustrating that children’s future prospects are being harmed (particularly those from deprived backgrounds) for reasons that are completely unscientific.

@Y0uCann0tBeSer10us

👍🏻

I'd like to hear a bit more about the respiratory condition that seems to be connected to children having had Covid previously.

This gives some more information. It states that all schools will return on 11th, a week earlier than planned for many pupils. Also mentions expanding the school estate by use of comm centres, libraries etc with use of returning teachers etc. And investment in digital learning resources.

https://news.gov.scot/news/schools-to-re-open-in-august

I don't know a single retired teacher who would volunteer to return. They are more likely to be in an at risk group too. Supply staff though and newly qualified people looking for a job.

I think it’s the best possible plan. I know there is chat informally among charities and out of school childcare providers about setting up “homework clubs” particularly in more deprived areas where children can be supported in the home learning part.
We’ve been paying a retainer to wrap around care so hope that we’ll be top of the queue for wherever service they’re able to provide. Even still I will be forced into reduced hours at work for a while (term?) but we will get by as we’re saving money on not having holidays or days out and no petrol or travel costs.

I’m actually really surprised that teachers are on board with this. If we’re trying to say that you can get essentially the same level of education from online materials half the time, doesn’t that rather devalue the role of the teacher?

@ Y0uCann0tBeSer10us - I don’t think anyone is saying that. I know that the level of engagement alone in my classes is far lower online than it is in a classroom. But what’s the alternative? Houf them all back in a classroom regardless of the virus? Employ unqualified teachers, which would have a worse impact long term, if England’s example is anything to go by.

If the science available says that there is minimal risk of transmission between children and from children to adults (as it seems to) I would have them all back with enhanced hand washing etc. The real risk seems to be adult:adult transmission, so I would deal with this issue by staggering drop offs and ensuring parents/teachers don’t congregate. I don’t believe it is beyond the wit of school planners to arrange that.

@jacks11 totally agree with your post

I’m also hoping that they put children from same household in on the same days

I have 3DC and really need them to be in on the same days and times otherwise pick up / drop offs will be a nightmare

@Y0uCann0tBeSer10us - I’d be interested to see some information on what constitutes a “child” for the purposes of these transmission studies. Everything I’ve seen talks about children under 10. I’m in contact with hundreds of pupils a day, the majority of whom are in their mid to late teens, so the information I’ve seen so far isn’t particularly reassuring.

On the handwashing issue, large secondaries can have 1000+ pupils but proportionally very few toilets. Unless extra facilities are installed, the queues for washing hands would stretch around the school and it would take up most of the day.

There are so many logistical issues that aren’t to do with education but more about moving 1000+ people around a building safely, the majority of whom are teenagers who struggle to regulate their emotions and behaviour when we’re not in a global pandemic. In the last week before schools shut I was sworn at by a pupil for telling him not to share his drink with his friend, pupils coughed on each other and staff members deliberately, the perennial wanderers were not cowed by talk of social distancing...

Staggered drop offs might work in primary, but they will massively impact on a secondary’s ability to follow a timetable. If I’ve got S3 period 1 but only 1/3 of them arrive at normal time, then 1/3 20 minutes later and the final 1/3 20 minutes after that, how am I supposed to teach any of those children effectively?

Even just thinking about facilities for staff, there are issues. We don’t have a central staff room, so 10+ members of staff will need to use the department base for breaks and when we’re not in classrooms - this room is perhaps 4m wide by 7m long. Toilets are on the other side of the building and take several minutes to walk to from my classroom - who watches my class while I wash my hands more frequently?

I’m not saying these issues are insurmountable and I’d love nothing more than to be able to go back normally in August, but they are legitimate concerns and questions that need to be dealt with. Just saying “wash your hands more and have staggered start times” doesn’t really work.

@MurrayTheDemonicTalkingSkull I confess my focus is on Primary schools as this the age group my child falls into. While you make some good points regarding Secondary schools, as you yourself say, in primary age children there is very little risk of transmission, they are in one class all day so no moving around the school is necessary, and staggering drop offs are very plausible. They are also the age group least likely to be able to engage independently and effectively with home schooling, so why lump all schools in together in the plan? I can think of no good reason why Primary schools can’t go back full time (with modifications) if infection rates in general are at that point in August.

Don't care about the term start date, although it's earlier than it would normally be.

Don't see how blended learning will work. For either primary or secondary aged kids. And we have been told that transport to school will look very different - 11 kids per single decker bus and 22 per double decker bus. And that's if there are now enough buses to get them there with the new numbers. I seriously don't see how I can work with having the kids only at school 2 days per week.

And home schooling here hasn't been plain sailing. Little quality work coming home. I feel for the kids - their education will suffer as a result of this ☹️

I also can’t do blended learning or significant hone schooling - have a very active toddler and with nursery provision being knocked on the head looks like I’ll have them at home for much longer

Was hoping for nursery aged toddler to be in mon - fri 9-3 but obviously that’s up in the air and don’t even know if the nursery will be opening at same time as school

That’s another minefield actually , will nursery children get same days / slots as school siblings if they go to nursery attached to school ...

@Bairnsmum05 how will you manage if it’s to be part time? There is no way I can be any more flexible at work than I am already

@Alaska I'm using a mixture of leaving her at home alone and using annual leave. When schools go back and they are part time it'll have to be at home alone. Thetebis no nhs policy in my trust to cover childcare for this situation, only annual leave or unpaid leave. Very annoying!!

@bairnsmum05 yes it really is and a lot of the time they aren’t too understanding either. Unfortunately my children range In age from 5-11 so unable to be left at home alone. I have a childminder for holidays but she has 2 young kids herself so may not want more when trying to homeschool her own not to mention the cost side of it!

@LoadsaBlusher we’re in a similar boat trying to home school with a toddler (and work full time). The continued closure of nurseries is another thing that has me banging my head off the wall with frustration, as I was really hoping to at least get one child back into childcare over the summer. There’s even less evidence-based reason to keep nurseries off as primary schools, as the risks of transmission are even lower still. This was all laid out in the SAGE guidance (the risks lessen as the children get younger), and I believe in England nurseries will be back full time from 1st June. There doesn’t seem to be any reasonable justification for keeping them off till the schools go back.

@Alaska it's a bit of a juggle isn't it. Expensive and stressful times when unfortunately your employer isn't supportive. I'm fortunate mine can be left alone but for 5 months? That's too much for their mental and emotional health. Once they can start seeing another household that might help.

Just feel like all this “blended learning “ and “ half weeks “ of home schooling is completely unachievable and unrealistic if you have preschoolers at home

There is only 1 parent at home so not even as if we can divide and conquer

@loadsablusher exactly, I really don’t know how this is going to work. I’ve just been on a FAQ things someone shared on Facebook regarding when Scottish schools go back. It will be up to individual schools how they do it and how they decide who goes when, all it says about help for when they aren’t in school is something about childcare facilities only opening when safe to do so. Not much Bloomin help, will probably need to give up my job at this rate