School only having Reception/Foundation children back not Year 6

[Flippetydip]

Is anyone else's children's school doing this? I am having a call with the head today and want to be forearmed.

I have a year 6 child and a year 4 child and I really want my year 6 to have some sort of time in school before transferring to secondary in September. The school are offering the whole of foundation the option to come in and despite only 35 out of 60 parents in that year group being willing to send their children in and 50 out of 60 year 6s wanting to go in, they are keeping the spaces open "in case foundation parents change their minds".

AIBU to think there should be some better thinking around this and a better solution found?

Cross post!

It is not a governor decision, it is an operational one and therefore down to the Head. the Head will inform Governors but not discuss it with them.

That's not what is happening here, the school have a committee of teachers, the head, a parent from the most affected year group, a couple of governors, the union rep to discuss it all and come up with a workable plan.

@manitobajane I am not saying governors haven’t been involved, we very much have in our schools. We are also part of a MAT so there has been collaboration across schools. In addition the Premises and H&S teams have been very heavily involved. Very much a team effort here.

I just wonder why no secondary school children are going back to school. The schools here are large and I am sure each year group could be accomodated throughout the school for one day a week to be given support and work to take home. Instead the schools are left empty and groups of teenagers are roaming our streets and not keepng their distance.

@pudcat part of the reason is that you can't do the class bubbles with a dedicated adult that are being used in Primary Schools as children will be in different sets and have different teachers for different subjects. Another huge issue is transport. Our Secondary schools are trying to work out how you can enforce social distancing on school buses especially if it is public transport.

Why would the governors need to know? Heads are working flat out to keep up with the gov and it’s lack of communication.Ours simply hasn’t stopped and is putting in silly hours. Is your Dh not aware of how hard heads are working and what an incredibly difficult situation it is?

They have their own, current, students, many of them are sitting exams next year and they will need to be prioritised over new year 7's.

I just want to make the point that Secondary schools are currently working hard to make plans for as smooth a transition as possible for the new Year 7s, as well as working hard on their existing exam groups (all year groups really).

The problem with schools announcing anything to parents is that the government guidance for year 7 transition has not come out yet. The guidance for yr 10 and 12 face to face contact only came out on Bank Holiday Monday just gone and during the Dominic Cummings press conference to boot.

Secondary schools are waiting on guidance for the other year groups and seeing as the Primary guidance changed at least 41 times, I don’t blame them for holding back announcing plans yet.

I too agree with DominaShantotto in that those who are in the three tier system or separate infants and junior schools have not been considered much at all in the guidance but this really does rest at the door of the Department of Education and not teachers/schools themselves and I recommend writing an email to the local MP to voice your views at least.

Is your Dh not aware of how hard heads are working and what an incredibly difficult situation it is?

Yes, he is. What he feels is that there is a great deal of talent in the governing body from other teachers not within that school. It would have been sensible to have consulted them and at least shared ideas.

[quote user1000000000000000001]@ceeveebee www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020/actions-for-education-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020[/quote]
Thank you

@Lenny1980 My DC's school originally said they would take year 6's back 2 days a week. Half the class would go in Monday and Tuesday, deep clean on a Wednesday and then the other half on a Thursday and Friday. It then went down to mornings only because that means that they don't have to have any play times or lunch so that they don't have to worry about social distancing at those times.

Thanks @Daydreamermummy. I guess that makes sense as a gradual step. See how things go before dealing with some of the more tricky aspects.

Our Yr 6 have been omitted as well... With no explanation as to why. A generally v supportive group of parents is not happy with this lack of explanation at end after 7 years. Some children are feeling abandoned somewhat😢.... Others not bothered. 🤣

I feel if not enough space they would have been better to take yr6 back for short period.. Just for say a week.. To finish their primary school life in some shape or form and then move back to reception and yr1.This would have been a better move for children emotionally, allowed school to cope and not left parents with bad taste in mouth.
Obviously everyone wouldn't be happy but could have been handled so much better.