Scottish Govt saying PT home schooling is likely for the full school year

[YeahWhatevver]

Scottish Govt is saying that blended learning (part time in school, part time home schooling) is likely to be in place for the full academic year.

Honestly, if I'm trying to juggle work and teaching 2 primary kids this time next year I'm going to have a nervous breakdown.

Funnily enough, UK govt at pains to reassure people that it's safe to start shopping on Monday, if its safe enough to shop, how isn't it safe enough to open schools?

I’m Scottish and used to live in England. It works both ways! I was always shocked by the anti Scottish sentiment.

I turned up in Scotland with a cut glass accent as a teenager and had zero problems even when in my 20s I ended up telling Dundonians that they weren't getting any benefits to their faces. My NIrish MiL and Scottish FiL bonded over anti Irish/Scottish sentiment whilst working in England in their respective University holidays. Dh has had more anti Scottish abuse in England than I've had here and he's barely got an accent.

bairnsmum really? I've lived west coast, east coast, central belt and have family in Highlands. The anti English sentiment is embarrassingly everywhere!

This is so stupid. They can't keep lock down forever! There has been loads of occasions where people have broken lockdown, street parties, people on beaches etc and the rates haven't gone up massively! Surely that means that we can just go back to normal. If numbers go up again then fine, but at least test the water first. Utter madness.

So hold on- is it NS or Boris calling the shots, legally?

I thought there were different rules, I had no idea people in Scotland were following the ‘English rules.’

I think you have to look at health boards cases and see that there is hardly any cases. The odd case once or twice a week in the borders and Dumfries health boards. Zero cases in agea in Shetland and Orkney. How can they justify part time school with those stats. Yes some other health boards are higher but not by much. At what stage will they feel that full time school is allowed. They have not said this.

They also need to think about allowing childcare bubbles with friends or family if they do insist on part time school. Parents won't be able to afford extra childcare but might just manage if they could share the care.

I’d there a letter to send to our MP, or something? I feel totally impotent and I’m absolutely dreading work/homeschool tomorrow. I just feel totally miserable and I can’t carry on much longer.

@hepburnmed - you don't need a special letter. Just find out who your MSP is and email. Don't worry about using fancy words and referencing your arguments. Speak from the heart. Tell them how you're feeling and how it's impacting on your kids.

That will have far more effect than a standard letter which they'll get dozens of.

On the Guardian homepage there's a report from the WHO saying that England is still in a 'very active stage of the pandemic' and calling for no more easing of lockdown.

But on this thread Nicola Sturgeon is holding us hostage by not keeping up with England.

I think we might see a spike in antisocial behaviour this summer. Teens will have been off school far too long

But on this thread Nicola Sturgeon is holding us hostage by not keeping up with England.

I don't think that's true. It's not about comparisons with England. Gavin Williamson hardly inspires confidence either. It's blanket statements like "blended learning for the whole year" that is the problem. Part time til October with a view to re assessing based on the situation would I think get a very different response.

@AudacityOfHope England is opening up business and retail tomorrow.

Scotland had 1 death today, and our businesses are to stay shut.

Yes, we are being held hostage so she can be seen to call the shots.

@Feellikedancingyeah already happening round me. A stabbing in a local park this afternoon, teens drinking and causing it.

Definitely lots of anti english sentiment in the west of scotland, more so due to indyref

Don't forget that a silent majority voted NO (and the emphasis is on silent for our own safety, quite literally)

My DH works for an English employer and they've had real problems telling their English directors that the rules don't apply in Scotland so naw, we canny open back up yet!

What shops are opening here? Is the likes of Braehead, Springburn and Princes Street all opening? I don't know how they can be stopped right enough.

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@SockYarn You are right. Thank you

I'm only on page 5, but I wanted to post about how pick up/ drop off is managed at my fully open primary in Oz. 4 separate gates, instead of everyone through the main gate. Pick ups similarly separated. No parents on site. No play equipment before or after school. Handwashing before food, and before/after sharing equipment. No masks, no bubbles, no distancing between kids, or between adults and kids. Only distancing between adults. My son is highly anxious (autistic) and he's bright as a button after school (when we can get actually get him to school, which is another story...). Really impressed at the relative sanity of it all. The mental health effects of the ruinously myopic approach to covid management have been inexplicably and dangerously underestimated. Stress and poverty = shortened lives of poor quality. But I guess those deaths will happen on another politician's watch.

YANBU, it’s an absolute farce!

I get things cannot all spring back to normal across all of society but a year of part time school is completely unacceptable. Education is a right and not a nice to have. If it can’t be facilitated by 2m distancing it’s the distancing that needs to go, not education.

Swinney is a fool with zero ambition to do even vaguely the right thing for Scotland’s children. He should resign.

+I am more shocked on the legal requirement to attend school despite anxiety relating to the virus*. Why would you be anxious when on current figures your kids would be more likely to die from being struck by lightning?

The Edinburgh situation is a nonsense - 4 days in 3 weeks is pathetically tiny. We're hearing that one local school is probably going to do a rotation of Monday/Tuesday week one, Wednesday/Thursday week 2, off week 3.

We actually run a childcare business and we're working on a plan to offer full day care for working parents. So many- mainly mums- are at breaking point

@Sceptre86 this is our situation, I’m part time in community nursing already on flexible working. My partner works away a lot and is a high earner, I’m not going to start demanding he works less days as we are lucky he still had his job at all. My area has had nothing yet, no word on how it will
Work or what provision there is still going to be for key workers if any

I used to really rate NS and voted for snp in the last 2 elections and to yes for independence but I won’t be voting for her again or for independence again, as far as I’m concerned she has really shown her true colours during this, she makes out she’s doing what is best for the people which is true to an extent but at the stage we are at now, my area has had no new cases for 3 weeks now, she is moving too slowly and now I believe it’s all a political game. Kids will have been off for 5 months come August and you’re telling me they haven’t sorted a way for all kids to be back in that time!????

@TheMurk you may be onto something there. I remember an article in my local paper, last year maybe, that said my council were looking into a 4 day week but it was then never mentioned again. Wonder if trey will use covid as the excuse, just like my health board and all the changes it’s made to my job which they are now saying will never go back to how they were, brought in via the back door when we were all scared and just wanted to do what needed to be done

I'm worried about my nephew who is in P3. His parents are not academic. Whilst my BIL left school with some standard grades, his GF left with none. She has never worked and I remember her younger brother was a school refuser from primary school.

BIL is back at work and I am pretty sure that his GF won't be doing any home schooling now or over the next year. She isn't academic, does not value education as we do, doesn't have the skills or interest to do online learning. She's been taking the kids out every day and not paying any attention to lockdown.

I know so many parents who would refuse to do any homework with their kids before lock down, because education was the teachers job. So what chance is there that those kids will do anything more with their kids over the next year? It'll be a long weekend each week.

This is appalling, as its going to further widen the gap between wealthy and non wealthy. Those who can afford it will probably get private tutors for their kids and pay for online tuition courses. What happens to those that cannot afford those things? These children are going to fall further and further behind.

Yup. I'm one of those who can afford a tutor - dd already has one for her mathsto build confidence. I've already emailed her about when she thinks she can return.