So sad for the lack of innovation in uk regarding schools reopening

[emptyfridge]

Watching newsnight about schools reopening. So sad to see the contrast to the approach here in the uk and how they’ve dealt with this abroad. We need to start thinking about the impact of all this on children and drop all this crap about home learning for the next year.

^

What Chien said!

I was quite inspired by the Danish model. I thought Of all the local Spaces available - loads of them

lack of innovation - how do you know? What do you want to see which isn’t happening. How do you know it isn’t happening.

Dealing with abroad? Which country because if you are talking about Denmark please do some reading and see the HUGE differences with dealing with Covid-19 and reopening schools & the education systems.

For a start most danish schools and primary and secondary combined - huge difference in physical size of school which is why it is possible.

We aren’t copying the model we are simply paying lip service to it to make it look like there is a plan.

& yes I agree the governments lack of innovation (In everything but the spin of it’s pitiful performance) is a fucking joke

the innovative use of empty theatres and museums as learning spaces, as well as things such as sailing school and forest school.

I’m not teacher but the first thing that strikes me about that is the bloody paperwork that would be required here in the UK - risk assessments, permission forms......no?

If the paperwork is the problem they need to reduce it, if you can turn an exhibition centre into a hospital in 9 days, you can turn a theatre or a museum into classrooms, there are obstacles when China built a hospital in days they said it couldn't be done here but then we found it could be, I am not saying teachers should sort this I'm saying the DoE plus army logistics could sort it I think unions need to work with government to find solutions instead of just saying no, it is working in Denmark Germany France etc British children aren't fundamentally different . Also social distancing guidelines vary in some parts of Europe it is 1.5metres WHO says 1 metre maybe there could be a little flexibility

From the many threads I've seen on here the main problem seems to be lack of space...ie the only spare space is the hall and one concrete playground. Sure you could use a church hall but the school down the road might also want it and there's nothing else in walking distance.

The real life teachers/council workers I know are trying their best. eg, yday my dad (schools IT technician) got lent to the neighbouring county so he could help their 2 IT people plough through setting up 1400 chrome books to give to disadvantaged pupils (they'll be at it all week)

This is what happens when the education budget is slashed. Where is the money going to come from for all these extra classrooms? Who's going to teach in them when teachers are leaving the profession in droves? Who's going to pay for and install all the extra equipment needed - they'll need electric and hand washing facilities won't they? And they'll need to be big enough to allow for social distancing?

Lots of schools barely have playgrounds these days, I'm not sure where people think the money and space are going to come from?

I agree with you OP. It seems the automatic reaction was "it can't be done" instead of "OK, let's look at ways this might work and see what we come up with."

It's not just limited to schools though. It's a general attitude amongst the British where we seem to lack innovation.

There are quite strict rules and lots of guidelines around early years provision which would make it difficult to teach them not in an early years classroom for significant amounts of time.

For older children I'm sure it could work using different spaces.

Yes our govt could certainly learn a lot from Denmarks approach. Many SLTs are trying to be as innovative as they can, working long hours trying to grapple with dfe guidelines and no extra cash.

The Pandemic has highlighted chronic underfunding in the NHS, Social Care and Education.

This government and governments before have been happy to offer corporate bailouts.

Yet they’ll cut education budgets and tell you there’s no money left.

That is the scandal here being highlighted by covid.

I didn't see it - was it actually about the whole UK or just England?

The quiet privatisation of schools definitely won't have helped here. I presume Danish schools are much more centralised if they have made this work.

The way academies work, they would have to pay to rent any space outside the usual space, even if they were using another school. This would make it unsustainable.

Centralisation would have made it easier to innovate. As it is, each school is making its own decision on whether and how to open. Some schools will come up with incredible solutions, others won't.

I agree with you OP. It seems the automatic reaction was "it can't be done" instead of "OK, let's look at ways this might work and see what we come up with."

So how are they supposed to come up with all this extra classroom space when schools have no money left in the budget? How will it all be paid for? Who will teach in all these extra classrooms?

They will be fine missing school OP.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/12154266

I agree with chienloup, great post. I am not a teacher but am the child of two and I know the pressure they are under in normal times, never mind these circumstances. I know, given the chance, teachers would be able to innovate, focus on what's important for the kids as they come back from a very unsettling period, but government is not encouraging or facilitating this in any way and, because of the hamfisted way DoE has handled engagement with the unions, the unions aren't either. As a parent it's so disappointing that once again teachers are not being allowed to use their expertise and professional skills to do the best thing for our children.

I am SLT in a primary school. We have lots of innovative ideas and would love to try them, but we have no money. So for the moment we have to stick with the buildings and staff we have. We are inner London and due to a rising birth rate we already accommodate 100 more children than the school was built for. No field and a small concrete playground that we can only use for one year group to play on at once in normal times.

I would love to use this chance to do something different, but the government needs to invest.

Yesterday going for a dog walk ,there was people everywhere,huge group of parents and kids on the field..down by the stream same again

My view has been all along not to open schools till September
But now I’m just thinking,if the parents and kids are mixing anyway ,they may as well go back to school.
Seems from local Facebook page my area has mainly given up on social distancing,and a lot of parents and kids think it’s the summer holidays.
No point paying people’s wages to stay of work if they are just carrying on as normal.no point keeping schools closed if kids are mixing anyway

Definitely not individual teachers at fault, but I totally agree that there has been no innovation and not enough guidance for reopening from higher up. Even within the private sector (so it isn’t just down to money) I’m very disappointed at the lack of flexibility shown at my own children’s school. They’ve gone online, great, but definitely no thinking outside the box-they have amazing outdoor facilities the children could be using right now at minimal risk, and even opened up for other children within the community. Except no, they are just bringing back yr R and 6 as per government advice (despite the school going up to yr 8). I definitely think lack of exercise, socialisation and mental health of all school age children should be nurtured more than the actual education side.

I wonder if it would be better to wait longer for the kids to go back and use that time for better planning and preparation. Teachers have really been dropped in the shit and the government need some more consistent guidelines rather than each school cobbling together it's own plan last minute.

I agree with Chien too. I'm really disappointed that the government hasn't given schools funding and better resources including flexibility in regulations where necessary to pull this off.

Heads are slt could do it with the right resources and children could be back learning, school is so important in allowingevery child to access education. I can't believe how little value is being placed on it by so many.

Denmark are providing education for a far smaller number of children than the U.K. would need to. What works there won't necessarily work here.

If primary are struggling for space and year 6s are to go back for transition support then it makes perfect sense to teach year 6s in the empty classrooms and schools of the secondaries to me.

Frees up more space in primary for R/Year 1.

Obviously that won't help when more year groups go back but in the short term it will and help year 6 with transition.

The problem with spreading a school out over multiple sites is the school, teachers and pupils will lose its sense of community and will just end up being a series of childcare hubs.

I don't know what the answers are tho. Am desperate for my y1 to go back but he's not going until I know the environment is right.

It's not the lack of creativity from teachers. It's the lack of competence rom government.

Schools go back when test and trace is in place... not because of school magic.

I have every sympathy with teachers and I think June is too early to return but going forward we do need to be more innovative in creating stimulating learning with max social distancing. Schools won’t be able to return to how they were for some time. I’d like to see lots more outdoor learning for the younger year groups for a start. I don’t think it’s up to Individual teachers to come up with though. They are stretched already with their normal jobs. Also, it will likely cost some money, more staff, more equipment. Most schools can barely afford to buy pens and paper, The government asking schools to revolutionise learning with the measly money they give them is laughable.