To feel I can't cope with schools only going back part time in August?

[jbonsor]

Just that. I was coping OK with lockdown, and trying to keep positive about juggling kids and working from home til June, then take a few weeks holiday over the summer just to do things with the kids even if still restricted. This week I have received a letter from my son's nursery to say he has a space for the 2020-2021 school year but that due to covid 19 they can't confirm pattern of attendance, as in, they can't confirm if he will have the 30 hours he was having since August. I also have read a lot that primary school might be 2 days only a week or a very day but only morning or afternoon session.. This has really tipped me over the edge as I am dreading having to keep juggling all this for over a year. This really puts a strain in family life and finances because now we have to basically decide on one income only, and not onky that but I don't feel I am that good at home schooling and feel like my kids are going to fall behind. Sometimes I can't believe how everything fell apart so spectacularly and how is the Scottish government deciding this is the best course of action without any regard for the mountain of problems this will bring to a huge amount of families.

Despite the flu nasal spray, 58 children died of flu related pneumonia from February-May last year.

I can’t believe someone is implying that living on one income and benefits is something more families should aspire to, rather than having two working parents. Bloody selfish double earners paying their mortgages and not living off the state.

I think academically the effect of missing 6 months schooling for primary age children is negligible, unless they come from a very deprived home.

More important for young children is just to talk to them and appear interested and listen to them so that it's a proper conversation. That has a very big effect on their development.

But coping with young dc 24/7 is bloody hard. Is a childminder or another nursery an option OP to make up the hours?

@modgepodge exactly... Where do they think the tax credits, and other "top ups" come from? I think is great to have these benefits available but really should not be something people will go to as 1st choice.

OP - you have my complete sympathy. It's clear that no-me making decisions has small children or a clue about real life.
I a teacher, keen to go back and have told my Head I will definitely be back the moment we are allowed and I am not remotely fussed about'PPE' and think schools should be exempt from social distancing as it obviously is not appropriate in that environment and in the weeks before lockdown we just made them wash their hands and they complied -nothing more necessary than that.

I mean the following to be helpful rather than start a fight but the UK is somewhat of an outlier with the start of formal education. Most countries favour a school starting age of six and several European countries seven, including Finland that appears relatively successful in international comparisons. I know every country has different pre-school arrangements but a child's development need not be detrimentally affected by some month's interruption to formal education.

@coronamoaner that's shocking. How is that "safe" for private nurseries but "unsafe" for public ones?

And academically, missing 6 months of school and then going back half-time definitely has an effect on teens in exam years and college/uni age. But fuck 'em, eh? Covid is THE most important thing here.

I can’t believe someone is implying that living on one income and benefits is something more families should aspire to, rather than having two working parents. Bloody selfish double earners paying their mortgages and not living off the state.

Exactly! That never-ending money tree will just keep us all going whilst we're unemployed on a mass scale. That's always been shown to work, but you know, Covid.

@ IfYouCantSeeMyMirrors thank you - I have signed.

Yanbu my son is 15 childcare is obviously not an issue for me but he is due to sit national 5 exams next May.
He is a bright intelligent lad middle of the road academically. He certainly won't do well with only part time teaching.

I am going to have to employ a tutor which isn't cheap... I am really worried about it

But in these countries Zilla1 they’re still going to nurseries, and pre schools, and being cared for by relatives, and visiting friends. There is a big deal made of children not going to school until 7 in Scandinavia but most children are in full time nursery before that.
Our children currently have none of that.

@madroid seems to be a lack locally that could pick up my kids from different schools.
@beltanebride absolutely I think teachers are brilliant and defo willing, is the government and politicians that are so out of touch with people's needs

Hi I am a teacher who is trying to provide as much support as possible to parents as they educate at home. This is such a tough situation for all of us. I really want to back with my class educating them but we are going to have to do our best. I think with part time school what will happen is that when in school it being part time or full time we as teachers are now going to have to concentrate on the three R's. If we can get those in place and not worry about the history and geography we can get these children back to where they should be, The foundation subjects can follow after. This is what happened in WW2 where children were mainly educated for 5 years on a part time basis. Emphasis and help should be placed on children who need extra help whatever their situations and there must be money provided to help. No cost cutting should be allowed in education as these children deserve the best. This might mean providing extra teachers , building extra buildings even if temporary. Giving children the best ie laptops where necessary and for all, access to good quality internet. What worries me more is the children's mental health and we need time and training to make positive moves forward plus access in a timely manner to the professionals outside school that the children need. This needs to be across the board for children who are vulnerable have sen and for those who just need a boost. If we catch it early, provide the targeted support we can move this forward. Children's education is very important and should be just as a focus as rebuilding our economy and the NHS and care homes. These children deserve the best and it could be done.

Gosh, do people not realise that not all children are nursery and primary school age? NOTHING is being done to support secondary level and college/uni age teenagers. You can't teach them at home as easily.

Nothing is happening to our children. They will not be damaged by this.

Nonsense. My children are heading towards really important exams next year. They are now being told that they won't be in school next year more than a certain percentage of the time - have seen as little as 33%. How is that not damaging? DD is becoming more and more withdrawn.

The government can't have it both ways. Either education is important and our kids need to be in school full time, or it's not. Blended learning MIGHT work if they throw loads of money at it, put classes online, make sure every child has a laptop and stable broadband. But that's not happening, is it?

I should say I am a primary teacher and I agree the focus should have been first of all on exam years. They should have been at the fore front of the return to school. Most teachers expected year 6 to return but thought year 5 , 10. 11 would have been the focus. We were all shocked at year 1 and rec returning.

Agreed op. I don’t know how I or many other women will be able t9 get back to work properly unless the schools go back properly

It does really bother me when people say kids aren’t going to be affected.
My dd was on a sen plan for nearly every subject, by March she was only needing it for maths. We’ve struggled with the home learning as she really needs the extra support and I think by sept despite both our best efforts she will be back on most.
Socially she also needs to see her friends! She’s desperate to get back to school and see her friends. As adults we can understand it to a degree but kids don’t understand it and it’s really worrying for them.
We’ve gone from fining parents £120 for taking a holiday to meh whats 6 months at home isolated from the world.

All this stuff about making men do their share is great if you’re not a single parent.
I’m lucky in that I can wfh but as a single mum it’s incredibly hard balancing wfh and home schooling. It’s a constant pull between the both and both expect 100%

Blended learning MIGHT work if they throw loads of money at it, put classes online, make sure every child has a laptop and stable broadband. But that's not happening, is it?

Nope! My daughter is also in the same boat as yours, but you know, covid.

@highmarkingsnowbile probably legacy now because of people that make their prerogative to live on 1 income with top ups... Rather than using them in Between jobs

From your opening post, you sound understandably stressed.
Do you think perhaps cut yourself some slack. A nursery age child does not really need 2hours of homeschooling, just learning while you play.

Drivingdownthe101, as I said, I know every country has different pre-school arrangements. For what it's worth, my limited understanding is that Finland tends to emphasise creative play which is somewhat easier to replicate at home during lockdown for a parent not working from home. What I was trying to do was to echo some PPes that an interruption of formal education for what would still be a pre-schooler in other countries would probably have little or no detrimental effect. I know some PPs have said the same. I know pre-school children won't have formal pre-school, visits to play or other family though they will have more time at home with family (many of whom will be juggling WFH I know) and for some vulnerable children that won;'t be a good thing. I know only some of the cared for children have still gone to school in the UK and some vulnerable children will be trapped in unpleasant and dangerous circumstances.

@BeltaneBride I’m a primary teacher and I’m not prepared to go back without social distancing, my job is a job at the end of the day, not a calling. Just because you feel comfortable without it doesn’t mean all teachers should.

My 5 year is due to start p1 in August. One week on, off one would be horrendous as he needs routine but they don't know what it's going to look like yet. We got sent a video as part of the new transition but I can't show it to him because it contains all the fun stuff like sand tables, squishy chairs for reading, play equipment, dining hall and I don't know how applicable it's going to be. It's the uncertainty that's killing me. I want our lives back, not this "new normal". Is it only me who thinks of Aunt Lydia any time it gets trotted out?