Annoyed with schools with big classrooms only allowing 8 in a bubble

[abreviation]

Government guidelines clearly say primary school dc are not expected to social distance so bubbles of 15 instead (16 in pre school). Why are loads of schools deciding to have half this number? This basically prevents any other year groups any chance of returning.

There's a school in Denmark, in an affluent area where the parents value the skills and knowledge of teachers and the Government doesn't keep putting out contradictory advice. If they can do it why can't you? A CAN DO attitude is what's needed here not just moaning about your inability to bend space and time. If adults are able to socially distance, follow simple rules and not lick surfaces (or other stake holders) randomly, WHY can't you with a bunch of five year olds?

The advice is that where possible social distancing should be adhered to. Not that it should be abandoned altogether. Year 6 should be adhering to this as much as possible. Year 1 and eyes need more space without tables to allow them to move and play without being on top of one another.

The 15 was suggested as a maximum not something the bubbles must be.

We are aiming for 10 per classroom, as our rooms are not particularly big and that's how many we can fit in and have the tables set out to allow 1 per desk with the children approx 2m apart, but still leave room for the teachers to move around and the children to move around and access the limited toys etc.

We are having two adults per class - where possible a teacher and an LSA, though the combination may vary. With the exception of two job share teachers they are the same staff in the bubble all day every day.

Two staff members means the classes can be looked after better. It allows the adults to go to the toilet and have a break for lunch. It means one can be doing the additional cleaning after lunch or toilet visits too. It allows some children to go outside and some stay in - especially useful for bubbles where there are different age groups, such as Kw groups. It also means that the teachers can take a little time to monitor online remote learning from others in their class, or to do some planning.

If you only have one teacher per class then the teacher can't leave to go to the toilet even. It's being practical.

Having 15 in a class designed for 30 does not allow for proper social distancing.

Op I agree with you. There is no square footage requirement in the primary school guidance ( unlike early years) , and I think some schools are being over cautious.

Of course they should utilise all the space they can, use halls and outdoor space etc to maximise social distancing, plan frequent handwashing and hygiene measures etc etc but they shouldn't refuse to open because of it.

Lockdown has been damaging to thousands of children and an over cautious response isn't helping anyone. I think the unions and some schools are behaving appallingly.

@titbumwillypoo

There's a school in Denmark, in an affluent area where the parents value the skills and knowledge of teachers and the Government doesn't keep putting out contradictory advice. If they can do it why can't you? A CAN DO attitude is what's needed here not just moaning about your inability to bend space and time. If adults are able to socially distance, follow simple rules and not lick surfaces (or other stake holders) randomly, WHY can't you with a bunch of five year olds?

Quite right. Fed up of this moaning about schools not having enough room to accommodate smaller groups of children . Just try harder, put blankets over a washing line, there you go, a classroom. Ask the kids to bring in a garden umbrella each and put them in the playground, voila ! another classroom. Anyone moved recently, get hold of some removal firm packing boxes...........

[And I bet it was some damn don't give a toss teachers in Wuhan that started this mess in the first place. Just the sort of thing teachers would do ]

viques, washing lines, umbrellas! You sound like a namby pamby pinko socialist! What's wrong with sitting on a wet field (unless it's been sold for housing) Where's your blitz spirit? A piece of slate is waterproof and enviromentally friendly (for the lefties) and they can keep their chalk under their boater hat to keep it dry.
Anyway I heard it was Kevin Courtney and Michelle Codrington-Rogers who cooked up the virus in a sixth form lab in order to get their members a really long summer holiday.

But the government has said that social
Distancing should happen where possible. And they have given advice to numbers and it is t that there should be 15 in every classroom across the country.

Teachers and schools would, on the whole, life things to be back to normal. An awful lot of teachers and LSAs also are parents. They know what this is like for parents as well. But normal can't happen yet.

And the whole Denmark thing - go back and take a good look at what is in place in those schools in Denmark, and then Compare it to what schools are like here in the UK in many places. An Victorian classroom room with a concrete yard and NO extra space cannot compete with most of the schools shown on those Danish comparisons.

To be honest if our school return was looking like what happened in Denmark every teacher I know would be heading back with far less concerns.

And leave of the whole can do spiel. It's not even a phrase used in schools anymore these days, let alone by MNetters telling schools what they should and shouldn't be doing despite most having no actual knowledge of how schools have to work or what the many numerous DfE documents and guidance have said.

Off bit of before I can pulled up on that too

@titbumwillypoo

viques, washing lines, umbrellas! You sound like a namby pamby pinko socialist! What's wrong with sitting on a wet field (unless it's been sold for housing) Where's your blitz spirit? A piece of slate is waterproof and enviromentally friendly (for the lefties) and they can keep their chalk under their boater hat to keep it dry. Anyway I heard it was Kevin Courtney and Michelle Codrington-Rogers who cooked up the virus in a sixth form lab in order to get their members a really long summer holiday.

I was only thinking of the poor children, some of the poorer ones might not have Barbour coats and hunter wellies.

It’s not a requirement to socially distance reception and year one. I’ve read the guidelines and only recommended for older dc if possible. That’s why they’re recommending bubbles. It’s terrible how year 6 in the next village get to go to school for the rest of the year, ours don’t.

@abreviation

This is a modern primary with large classrooms. Each classroom has a sink and a door to outside. They could have 15 children without a doubt.

Have you measured the classrooms then? 2 metre spacing is quite a lot.

My sister works in a school, a new build. The windows don't open, which is a good start when you need to increase air flow!

The toilets are another issue. They've had to allocate one toilet (not block, one individual toilet) per bubble. They have a timed rota as to when each bubble may have access to their toilet because the cloakrooms are small and they have to keep bubbles separate. The toilet has to be cleaned frequently too.

It's not just about classroom space it's about the other facilities and how many children plus groups it can accommodate.

And then you have situations like this. Teachers are trying to help as much as possible and this is the thanks they get?

@abreviation

It’s not a requirement to socially distance reception and year one. I’ve read the guidelines and only recommended for older dc if possible. That’s why they’re recommending bubbles. It’s terrible how year 6 in the next village get to go to school for the rest of the year, ours don’t.

They’re not requiring them to socially distance because they know it’s not possible. Doesn’t mean it’s safe, though.

@Blueemeraldagain

And then you have situations like this. Teachers are trying to help as much as possible and this is the thanks they get?

That is unbelievable! How selfish can some parents get? Isn't this exactly what staff have been worried about though?

How dare those parents put the other children and staff at risk like that.

It’s not a requirement to socially distance reception and year one.

The guidance doesn't say that no attempt to distance should happen, but they accept that the youngest will find it difficult. It doesn't mean we should have the children sat right next to one another or on top of one another. If you've read ALL of the numerous updates to the guidance it does suggest that schools should do what is safest for their school set up.

It's a MAXIMUM of 15 & schools are desperately trying to ensure enough space to at least attempt social distancing. Plus, it's not just about the safety of the kids...what about the adults?? All of whom have their own families/children to go home to every day & put at risk!!! 😡

@gingerbiscuits
Plus, it's not just about the safety of the kids...what about the adults?? All of whom have their own families/children to go home to every day & put at risk!!
Totally agree!!! Clearly this is one of those parents who feel they are more entitled to childcare than a teacher is to be protected from contracting the virus.

Our classrooms fit 32 children but with everything else removed, and the rooms measured, we can only fit 7 or 8 desks at 2m intervals.

Ours is 6 to a bubble.The head wants to be extra cautious.

DD3's school can fit 8 to a classroom. That's with 2 sets of tables laid out in an 'H' shape - 1 child on each end of a leg. They have 2 adults per bubble. DD3 (y6) hasn't gone back, but so far reports from the school are positive.

I think all the schools are doing their best with terrible circumstances.

@Letseatgrandma

They can’t bring back year 6 as all classrooms full of bubbles of 8 with 2 teachers per bubble

2 teachers per bubble-really?

Most likely a teacher and a TA... there will be two in a room in case of emergencies so they arent having to ask staff from other rooms (for example a shared TA as is the case sometimes)to come in and mix between bubbles.