To think schools should not reopen in Sept?

[SusanFrimp]

I think that schools should not fully reopen in September and instead be partially reopened to some years. It is just not safe enough to reopen yet. I'd say December at the latest for full reopening. If they can't reopen other smaller places, how can they reopen schools with 1000's of kids? AIBU?

I think the schools need to go back for many reasons. The mental health of the kids has been mentioned, but in truth if you have two parents trying to wfh and home school, or a single parent Wfh and home school, school closures affect the mental health of the whole family. It’s impossible, it’s unbelievably stressful, and it’s having a detrimental effect on so many families that I know of.

Full time schooling may increase transmission rates, it may not. Schools in other countries seem to have managed. We need to try to open the schools full time and find out as a solution to the current strain is needed urgently. We need to see an end in sight.

@Coastercat

I think the schools need to go back for many reasons. The mental health of the kids has been mentioned, but in truth if you have two parents trying to wfh and home school, or a single parent Wfh and home school, school closures affect the mental health of the whole family. It’s impossible, it’s unbelievably stressful, and it’s having a detrimental effect on so many families that I know of.

Full time schooling may increase transmission rates, it may not. Schools in other countries seem to have managed. We need to try to open the schools full time and find out as a solution to the current strain is needed urgently. We need to see an end in sight.

I don't doubt how stressful it is for most families. It really is hard.

But " need to see an end"? Today is Sunday and over 1000 cases have been confirmed. Does that not tell you something?
I honestly think reopening is a bad unsustainable idea on present showing... I think the mental damage of children returning only to be locked down within a month is senseless

I honestly don't understand the "if you disagree, deregister your child from school" nonsense so many have posted. That seems a lot more 'goady' than the opening post.

@Watdafark

I honestly don't understand the "if you disagree, deregister your child from school" nonsense so many have posted. That seems a lot more 'goady' than the opening post.

What is there to understand? It is a valid option for those who don't want the schools to open.

Then there's the "but kids rarely get seriously ill with it" posts. Apparently that clearly means they can't and don't spread it among older family members and the general population. What?!

I agree with the sentiment that pubs and beaches ought to be shut first, but am confused at the Let's Just Get On With It stuff. As if the damn virus will miraculously cease to spread because we adopt a stuff upper lip attitude.

I find it bizarre.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/09/unions-plan-schools-teach-pupils-week-on-week-basis/

Union plans for schools to teach pupils on 'week on-week off' basis

Headteachers' union criticises Prime Minister's push to get all children back into classrooms

@crimsonclover

I agree that opening schools is a risk - not to children and most parents, but to vulnerable parents, vulnerable teachers and grandparents. I simply don’t believe the narrative that of all the virus’ going around only this one isn’t spread by kids. There also seems to be a bit of a media blackout on cases in schools already. We need to weigh the risks against our own circumstances and make the choice that works for us. I’m happy to have my kids back but I totally understand others choosing not to.

Thanks for mentioning teachers and the media blackout on cases in schools ( and also on the number of teachers who have died from Covid19) !!! Without PPE (because Boris won't make it mandatory in schools) an older teacher with 30 five year olds ( children who can pass coronavirus on with out displaying symptoms) is right in the firing line. If only Boris would make PPE mandatory in schools to give teachers a fighting chance like he has done for other service providers.

Is it correct that there is going to be a review tomorrow on schools?

Hopefully Boris will say staff can wear PPE if they wish to.

Why wouldn’t staff be able to wear PPE if they wanted to? Surely it’s a personal choice?

I thought schools had been told no PPE allowed. Although I've seen that some are making choices to use it anyway.

The Government guidance says no PPE unless you are dealing with a pupil who possibly has COVID and you are taking them to the isolation room

There are lots of people nervous about sending their kids back, but they are concerned that if our kids go back but their kids don't, then our kids will have an advantage.
So they make panicky remarks and lobby to keep the schools closed.
Dont send your DC back if you dont want to, but accept that there may be consequences to their learning/ MH.

@Watdafark

What exactly is it you can't understand? It's really quite straightforward.

Why are the unions focusing on part time teaching, in the full knowledge that that would lead to soaring child poverty and homelessness, rather than PPE/mask wearing which is teachers best chance of improving their safety while delivering their job?

I’m not a teacher - huge respect to those that can teach. I’ve a degree and post grad qualifications but wouldn’t have a clue on how to teach the material and methods used today. However if I was a teacher about to return to the classroom, I would be deciding whether I wore PPE and not a headteacher, union or government. It should be a personal choice.

@Watdafark

Then there's the "but kids rarely get seriously ill with it" posts. Apparently that clearly means they can't and don't spread it among older family members and the general population. What?!

I agree with the sentiment that pubs and beaches ought to be shut first, but am confused at the Let's Just Get On With It stuff. As if the damn virus will miraculously cease to spread because we adopt a stuff upper lip attitude.

I find it bizarre.

What's the alternative?

A whole generation losing out in an education - the impact of which will hit the most disadvantaged children and will be felt for generations.

A huge number of working mothers out of the labour market ( cos let's face it, it will be women that lose or quit their jobs)

Schools need to open. Teachers should be able to wear PPE if they want to but they do need to return to work.
I will be returning to my university to teach in September. There has been no discussion yet about whether this will involve wearing PPE or not but I will be returning regardless.

And before anyone says anything... I know teachers have been working throughout and I think they have done a wonderful job, especially at my son's school. But the way it was working before the summer isn't sustainable for most schools and families

You can’t talk easily while wearing masks. It’s a direct conflict with the essential requirement of the job. That’s the difficulty. So yes indeed schools have been told that teachers and support staff (who are all on much less than teachers let’s not forget) are not allowed PPE.

LaurieMarlow

A far as I can tell the unions are not concentrating on a week on week off rota the Quote has been taken out of context (unsurprisingly).
And once again the population has fallen for the spin.

Watdafark
I honestly don't understand the "if you disagree, deregister your child from school" nonsense so many have posted. That seems a lot more 'goady' than the opening post. 
What is there to understand? It is a valid option for those who don't want the schools to open.

No it's not valid as an option. Giving parents a choice without the threat of fines is an alternative surely?

@doubleshotespresso blocking a school place that you don’t intend to use is not an alternative. De-register, and then register again once you are happy. you will be found a place reasonably close by.
Other children might be happy about the place, or it might be vacant.
the continuation argument for pupils is pretty pointless after having been away from school for that long, friendship groups will have changed anyway - a new school would likely be easier on the child anyway.

@Pepperwort

You can’t talk easily while wearing masks. It’s a direct conflict with the essential requirement of the job. That’s the difficulty. So yes indeed schools have been told that teachers and support staff (who are all on much less than teachers let’s not forget) are not allowed PPE.

And yet those in the NHS who give instructions to patients seemed to manage ok. I will be wearing one. I know they are hugely limited in efficacy if the kids aren't wearing them but tbh without one on I can't see me going back.

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia

As a mum (with primary age child) and concerned about Covid safety but understanding the educational and other related childcare and social development needs for return to traditional in person schooling - would any of teachers (and parents) believe this can be done using just existing school infrastructure and current human resourcing without some sort of regular testing in addition to all Covid risk mitigation measures?

Do teaching staff also believe schools will initially reopen but will possibly face repeat disruptive closures when transmission is detected? Presumably there is no such thing as a safe mass multi household bubble too and that the weak link is the journey in and out of school for pupils and staff especially exposure to busy shared public transportation?

Exactly

[quote Newdaynewname1]@doubleshotespresso blocking a school place that you don’t intend to use is not an alternative. De-register, and then register again once you are happy. you will be found a place reasonably close by.
Other children might be happy about the place, or it might be vacant.
the continuation argument for pupils is pretty pointless after having been away from school for that long, friendship groups will have changed anyway - a new school would likely be easier on the child anyway.[/quote]
That's a ridiculously simplistic view.
The notion I can simply dergister and be found another place which incorporates all the hours of blood, sweat and tears , sheer efforts of collective specialists and SENCO's at D.C. school to deliver the specifics of their EHCP on an hourly, daily, weekly basis will not be possible to replicate in another school. Neither will the rapport and relationship with their specifically trained one to one supervisor.
It's not as simple as you think for many families like ours, stop with your goading and think outside your own bubble for a second. Some of us have more to consider than just being able to get back to work. That's the problem with this whole thing, it's not a one size fits all strategy solution - I'm not asking for your choices to be removed, please don't think you can diminish the hard-fought chances of our child either.