AIBU to expect other primary years to start in July?

[Mawbags]

I thought initially that my kids would be back by 15th June

But am rapidly coming to the conclusion that it will be more likely to be July....

1. I expect the numbers to start going up any day now as so many people started doing their own thing from VE Day onwards

1. I can foresee many teething problems with the whole school social distancing thing

1. So many schools are going to be struggling for space just once the initial cohort starts. Just where are these children supposed to go?!

@Likethebattle I'm aware of that, but it still means they miss out. The learning at home cannot replicate what they would get at school. Also some parents just won't do it, meaning the attainment gap is going to increase massively.

I can't see them going back in July either, but it would be good if they could. Gives a chance to see how/if the arrangements can work with a smaller number of children and adapt accordingly so they are as ready as possible for September. Otherwise I can't see there being any meaningful learning much before October.

mawbags - you say children have been 'let down' this implies that you think that something hasn't been done that should have been. Can you detail what it is?

It’s in the PGCE training spaniel. There’s a module called “immunity: how to ensure you don’t get the virus”. You get a certificate of attendance and everything.

I do think its so worth going back....it means that they can actually become familiarised with the way things will be in September which in turn will mean they can hit the ground running in September

Also mental health... every week back at school would be precious for my kids. I already know of several children who are scared of going outside, or to school and I think we will end up with a real problem

I just can’t see them being sent in until they know the first lot have gone through tjeee weeks of education without a spike.

I think it's different in Scotland as the school break up lots earlier than england. My dc are due to go back for 5.5 and 6.5 weeks of school. I think it will be very beneficial to them, but they are little, reception and yr1, so 6 months out of school is a really long time. In five weeks they can see their friends again (both of mine have at least 3 or 4 friends going back),their teacher can see how they're getting on (both are having their normal teacher)and they can have the routine of school to break up what would otherwise be 6 ish solid months at home.

SmileEachDay

There was probably a PowerPoint too!

My DD is year six. School have invited her year and R and year one back from 8/6. Only two days a week for each year and they are using every available space in the school for a classroom. It's just about feasible, assuming the govt don't stop it for any reason.

There is no way any other children can be added to those returning unless we go back to normal, Pre virus conditions. The school is at capacity with just key worker, year one, six, and R.

Either no more children will return ever or the govt will quickly decide that social distancing for DC and teachers isn't really necessary. I know which I think will happen.

@lemonsandlimes123

Years (decades) of underfunding means that many schools have no chance of opening. Overcrowding. No money even for the necessarily cleaning materials. If you DIDNT have 33 kids in a class, it would be so much easier to create bubbles according to the guidelines.

As an example, my children’s old school had one large room which served as: gym hall; School dinners, assembly and library. What will they do?

Children have really taken a hit with this, in every way and I can’t see life going back to normal. They run the risk of ending up with a part time education for a year... it’s really damaging. My son is autistic and needs to be pushed socially. He needs to go back.

Like pp have said, they will end up having to drop the distancing rules and hope for the best.

mawbags - That makes sense, I would definitely agree on a more general level, I thought you were just talking about the CV response.

Of course it will change, the government will discover there is absolutely no need for any distancing in schools, children don't transmit and teachers are miraculously immune to covid

I think they are already leading us this way.
Every other group should have social distancing pretty much, or shields around them or PPE, but children and their teachers/TAs are immune from that.

It seems very convenient that the 'children can't transmit it' rhetoric started being kicked about just as schools were told to take more children back and schools stated they wouldn't be able to socially distance 4 and 5 year olds.

We've been told we don't need to - so groups of 15 in classrooms is fine, even though if we tried the 2m social distancing rules it'd be a maximum of about 8 really.

It won't be long before schools are told children - and soon young people I'm sure - are immune and can't pass it on therefore we can return to classes of 30, assemblies of hundreds, etc are all fine.

And we;l be told that teaching staff are at no greater risk so can all return, including those who are clinically vulnerable, and no doubt soon after, even those who were told to shield.

It's the only way schools will be able to open normally and do the government advise will have to match that - I'm sure the scientific findings will match whatever the government need it to be.

I can't really see a lot of point, as it will only be for a short while before they're off for the summer.

I am a TA with children in a different primary school, mine are in the keyworker provision so are going to school.
In all and absolute honesty I think all the children should be back full time in usual classes, at our school we will not be social distancing withing our bubbles, it is so silly to imagine not comforting a crying child or telling a child they can't sit next to or share things with their friends. Our head has made it clear in the letter that while bubbles will be isolated from each other the harm of social distancing to mental health is far greater than the risk of the virus. ( their have been less than 700 confirmed cases in our town over the whole pandemic most of those are now recovered, our local hospital is a covid clear green zone, and the big hospital in the next city has less than 10 covid cases at the moment) I therefore think it would make very little difference if we have isolated bubbles of 15 or 30.

My son's school have basically said that they can't see the other years going back before the summer as they don't have enough staff or enough classrooms. Just with KW and the years that are going back it is up to 19 bubbles! They are using every bit of space they have and children are going back only PT.

Dds school only have the space and staff to take back half of R, Y1 and Y6. How can they possibly take anyone else? It just isn’t possible without going back to 30 kids per class. I’d be surprised if
that will even be possible come September.

I have no idea how schools will cope in September

i. bloody hope so, they need some normality back

September is another three months away, if you look back even just a month cases were so much higher. I really think it will be a much lower risk even than now by then. I also think any second wave will be dealt with in a more precise way rather than locking down the whole country.

There is a cohort of children in the three tier system who haven’t been considered AT ALL. They will all just start their new school with no transitions whatsoever. Very stressful!

Totally agree with you Georgie it should have been a different system for the middle schools. With is yrs 4 and 8 that are the transition years.

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

There is a cohort of children in the three tier system who haven’t been considered AT ALL. They will all just start their new school with no transitions whatsoever. Very stressful!

Same with infant Y2s going into junior schools. My youngest has to transition to a completely not-attached junior school, different location, uniform, no familiar staffing whatsoever... no transition other than a few videos the school has produced.

@spanieleyes

Don't worry, the government will suddenly discover that any form of distancing/ bubbles in school are not required and we can all get back to normal. Convenient🤫

Exactly! As teachers we'll all suddenly be viewed an super immune extra terrestrials the moment Boris realises he needs the other year groups back. No social distancing, full class sizes and don't worry about the fact you can't source so much as a hand sanitiser (let alone PPE) you'll be fine.