To ask what the summer 'mass catchup' will entail.

[whattodo1976]

Boris Johnson has said that there will be a mass catchup for school children over the summer. Does anyone know what this will involve?

There's only two choices: either it's online crap with total strangers, or he's going to try and force teachers back into the school buildings. We've just had this argument, and the schools are not opening where I am. You lost, Boris. Give it up already.

@YouLiedDCIsNOTAPleasureToTeach

This user name is hilarious!!!

"Whatever it is, you can guarantee that the ones who need it most probably won't turn up."
This∆
Unless there is some level of compulsion, it will not help a large section of the most disadvantaged students.

It’ll be some rubbish poor teachers and schools won’t be able to deliver. Children who have been at school need a rest and so do the teachers and teaching assistants. Bloody ridiculous idea!

I hope it's not compulsory My kids need a break and chance to just be kids over the summer.

@NotIncandescentWithRage thank you! I said it to my mum on the phone this morning, I have realised that about twenty years (in total!) worth of parents' evenings have been total bollocks

(apologies to all teachers, I'm sure you meant well plus I have DC who have never had that said about them which is worse really )

My kids need their summer holiday. It’s not going to be any more effective than what is currently in place and my daughter (Y9) is doing all the work but says it’s not really going in by teaching herself so summer learning isn’t going to help if it’s still online

Whatever it is don't expect teachers to deliver it. I'm knackered already working my part time days off to juggle everything. Apart from the usual planning etc I will not be teaching over the summer unpaid.This is the hill I will die on and I won't be alone on it !

No-one knows yet because Boris only made it up yesterday.

beela🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I believe the idea originally came from the Education Select Committee who suggested staffing it with volunteers: students and retired teachers.

Teachers who have been working hard since March will obviously need a week-earned break. My sister is one such.

However, in a friend's school the teachers have done virtually nothing so far and the majority refused to go into school. They actively tried to discourage yr R, 1 and children from going back in and very few have. 3 teachers now go in 2 days a week. Strangely, many of the teachers are asking if they can go in over the holiday to work because they know they would get paid to do so.

I'm a supply teacher and would be happy to do this, but only if I'm being paid my usual daily rate.

I would say if you replace the word "catch" with the word "fuck" it will be clearer.

Best response on a Covid thread yet

This is so my tory voting Mum can turn round to us moaning and say "Well Boris did give all the children summer school" despite it never coming to pass.

I assume the Pope will be leading on it.

badoom- tish Jingstohang

Agree with so many of the (very wittily put) comments on here.

I'm not a teacher, but work in schools. There is not a cats chance I fucking hell I'm giving up my summer. I'm exhausted. I gave easter for free. I'm not giving the summer, even if they offer to pay me.

And yes, yes campion. Sadly very true

I’m happy to give up a weeks holiday but I want my usual salary.

Even with supply teachers or volunteers, who is supposed to be overseeing this? Surely not school staff who have been working without a break since February? Who would be responsible for safeguarding? Maintenance and cleaning of the school? Our caretaking and cleaning team are the most overworked members of staff right now! My school building has significant and necessary maintenance work planned over summer so the building wouldn’t be useable unless the work is postponed to September and we don’t open until October?

I have posted this elsewhere but just give schools funding for extra TAs from September and we will work wonders on ‘catch up’. Let us choose our own staff to employ to support the children we teach.

Good point huge they can also be employed for different hours to usual so say 1-5. This will cover the general gaps of TAs in afternoon and also allow for schools to have after school catch up. It will help with wrap around care too.

People may just have to accept they will need to sacrifice summer and have longer school days for children and children should be made to see this is a good thing and an opportunity for them.

The issue will be if it's expected teachers do all the catch up without extra support and in the school day alongside trying to teach with a broom to their area to simaltanously clean the classroom.

True, but another issue is if TAs are told to do the catch up on £10 an hour, no funded time for researching, and "extra training for professional development". I know several TAs who are getting fed up with what they're being asked to do now for a fraction of teachers' wages.

It would be nice if they could just confirm the summer holidays camps can run so there is an option for children to socialise, have fun and working parents can have a few weeks where they’re not juggling everything badly.

@pepperwort
I mean for TAs to work alongside teachers in the classroom in September. With additional TA support the teachers can target and work with those who need it most while TAs support learning too. Not for TAs to be sat outside the classroom trying to catch children up.