To think the idea that schools won’t be back full time by September is an absolute disgrace?

[LovingLivingInLockdown]

The government and teaching unions need to pull their fingers out. There should be no excuses.

The effects of 6 months out of school is going to be damaging enough, both educationally and mentally for hundreds of thousands of children. Not to mention the unnoticed abuse and neglect.

Teachers should be wearing PPE with spit screens if they are vulnerable and this should be being organised now. Temporary classrooms should be being built in playgrounds and school fields. Random testing routines in all schools should be being devised as well as guidelines regarding children’s contact with others outside of school and home. Whatever it takes, it must be done.

Our society expects parents to work while their DC are at school and if they want to get the economy moving again, schools being back by September should be non negotiable surely?

It's imperative that people go back to work soon. A totally fucked economy will cause many deaths too through poorer healthcare for all, austerity, etc. People are underestimating this.
Children absolutely have to be educated by education professionals. The social divide is widening more and more through keeping children off school. It's okay for educated parents to educate their children (maybe, for a while at least) but it's just closing down the future of children born into less educated families. Not to mention children already living in poverty.
Unless there is a massive second wave, there is no case to be made in favour of keeping them off.

Again in this thread someone saying that the curriculum has been suspended. This keeps popping up on MN, but no-one can provide a link to the DfE document stating this.

I think that schools should go back: it's time that the government started to properly assess the risk that Covid presents in relation to the risk presented by delaying children's return to school: and I'm not the only one

I am a teacher by the way and would happily be in the classroom tomorrow if allowed. In fact, I'd have been happy to have been in the classroom all along.

Why are you blaming the unions?

I’m assuming you’ve read the NEU’s latest communication with the govt?

I'm not in the slightest bit worried about my children catching covid. There's virtually zero risk to healthy children.

@Ethelfleda I fully agree. It won't be long before the 2m rule is scrapped anyway. Where I live it seems to never have existed - even the supermarket 'squares' you have to stand on are nowhere near 2m - they are 1m at best away from each other.

All my family are key workers and NONE of them have had any PPE provided for their jobs (no hand gels either and there's still none in the shops) so I can't see why teachers are special in having to have it to start working as normal. I still know no one that has had the virus and we supposedly live in a 'hot spot'.

A huge amount of children are socialising with the same friends they would be at a school with anyway yet their parents are so scared of sending them back to school

Aren't you worried they might catch covid?

Nope. Given my ability to read and risk assess based on the data that has been published, why would I be?

The government (partially) closed schools. The government decided when and for whom wider reopening would happen.
The government stated teachers should not have PPE.
The government ruled against rotas, then changed their mind 452 times until no one knows the rules any more.
The government ‘funds’ schools, who operate on a skeleton staff at the best of times thanks to this.
The government instructed those who are shielding to stay at home. This includes some school staff.
The government have kept many primaries in tiny Victorian buildings with very little outside space on which to build temporary classrooms.

Spotting the pattern yet?

Yes, the unions behaved idiotically (and were widely unsupported by actual teaching staff) BUT they were responding to a clusterfuck of a situation that was not of their making.

Schools need to reopen full time in September. The current situation is not sustainable.

When you look at the numbers and the trend, it's unjustifiable that they are planning on part time schooling for "many months".

tabby I am definitely not worried about my children catching CoVid. The risk is absolutely tiny to them, they are more at risk from lightening!

There will be almost no cases by September, if any, so your reasons for not sending in your children are based on what? Already they have lost six months of school, are you just going to keep them at home regardless? There may be never ever be a vaccine. So if you are serious about this, then you need to deregister your kids from school, and start homeschooling indefinitely. That is a good option for you if you are too anxious to return, meanwhile everyone should be back in autumn, full time.

I'm not worried about DS catching coronavirus either as all evidence points to the risk being absolutely minute to children his age. I'm not particularly worried about getting it myself either, for the same reasons (I'm under 30 and healthy).

I'm not in the slightest bit worried about my children catching covid. There's virtually zero risk to healthy children

Completely agree.

I have a ds at an inner London state secondary...he has to cross a dual carriageway to get to school.

Covid is the least of my worries....

I am worried about my elderly relatives catching covid (though accept that most will die within the next 5 years or so as they are over 85).

I am not worried about my children catchinn covid. They have more chance of being struck by lightning than dying of covid.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/06/09/school-age-children-likely-hit-lightning-die-coronavirus-oxbridge/amp/

I should point out though I'm not having a go at teachers, DS's school has been amazing throughout this. I blame the government and their ridiculous lack of planning.

Wow you sound like you have all the problems solved give big Gav a ring and get that shit done

I agree teacher should have Ppe. Shame no one is allowing us to. Also to screens awesome idea but nope not given

Temp classrooms great- are you funding these? Buy up some extra land to place them too?

I look forward to your ideas being put into action!!!!!!!!!

Christ alive.

@formerbabe but fuck the staff, families they spread to, staff families etc etc right.

@pigeon999 please tell me why does covid need to play nice and vanish is sept? Modelling suggests second wave in winter.

All these dates put in place are hilarious.

Posted this just in case

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/305525

Also www.themforus.co.uk

Write to MP, sec of state, children’s commissioner

You are completely right op

Well I dont think the level of risk is going to disappear by September. I dont want to put them at risk, and I dont want them to bring it home either. It might be better by September, I dont know, would rather wait and see. Between now and then, with shops opening etc, I think it might get worse. I've had the option of them going back in a few weeks time and I've said no.

In terms of reopening there needs to be an end to the one size fits all approach. A little village primary locally to me has 30 kids in the whole school, two classrooms. They could reopen now and should but due to govt guidelines they can only open for yr r, 1 and 6. Another school in a big city with limited space and loads of children will have completely different hurdles.

The govt should put it to head teachers that they are expected to reopen to the extent possible in September with all the social distancing etc in place. Schools who aren’t opening full time to all children should be asked to provide an education remotely to those it can’t have in school.

At the moment we have a certain number of schools (my children’s school) who have decided not to meaningfully educate the children remotely since March. They could, like many others have, but they’re not because they don’t have to. I also know that they will not think outside the box when it comes to reopening they will just look at the guidelines and say it’s not possible.

@catfeets

Teachers are not saying the are fucking special get a life. It’s not a race to the bottom. Why are teachers always the ones to have to be the worst off for the public to feel happy. Everyone should have Ppe. To say one sector doesn’t doesn’t mean that you can just say well teachers can’t. This is disgusting. Other sectors can fight for themselves we can fight for yourselves as well. People literally willing teaching staff to die because they have a chip on their shoulder it’s no wonder no one wants to join the profession.

What responsibility do teaching unions hold here

The unions have been telling their members not to do anything: not to mark work, not to provide virtual lessons, not to go into school.

Anyone from a teaching union here who would like to explain what it is you think your members actually should be doing to earn their salaries, which are still being paid in full? Fortunately many/most of their members are ignoring them and doing their jobs as best they can.

"Iam not worried about my children catchinn covid. They have more chance of being struck by lightning than dying of covid. "
Why do you think that when it's still everywhere?

There may be never ever be a vaccine. So if you are serious about this, then you need to deregister your kids from school, and start homeschooling indefinitely. That is a good option for you if you are too anxious to return, meanwhile everyone should be back in autumn, full time

Completely agree with this.

I dont understand why so many parents seem to want to put their kids at risk.

It’s ridiculous to be worried about a healthy child’s risk from Coronavirus (infinitesimal) when we should be worried about the long term implications of limited education and lack of socialisation.