to say that working parents need a Plan B (and all parents are responsible for their children's Covid-appropriate behaviour)?

[SaltyAndFresh]

We're kidding ourselves if we think we really have the data to say that opening schools with no social distancing, no PPE (not through choice, it's not allowed) and in many cases inadequately ventilated and crowded classrooms is safe. We can't possibly know. Secondary teachers will be in standing in front of around 300 pupils a week, and there isn't the space for a 2m distance at the front of the room.

Teachers are not saying they don't want schools to reopen (not that they were shut) which has been said and ignored multiple times. I'm both a working parent and a teacher.

AIBU to say that schools don't exist for parents' economic convenience and that if too many school staff become ill, it's up to parents to have a Plan B if schools have to scale back their opening? If in the coming months, we as parents end up having to reduce our hours to facilitate blended learning, it will mean difficult financial times ahead but that will not be the fault of schools and school staff.

Please note the 'if'.

Furthermore, AIBU to say that parents of mainstream pupils who want schools open, come what may, should be accountable for their DC's Covid-appropriate behaviour, whether or not they believe the virus is a hoax?

@SueEllenMishke
A whole generation of children missing out on an education and huge numbers of women being forced to quit their jobs is even more shit IMO though ....

Which is exactly why all of our work should be focused on ensuring that the Government enable schools to open in such a way that will allow them to remain so for the longest and most consistent period of time.

Whereas if we properly funded the return to school, it would lower the chances of this happening.

Quite.

You sound utterly ridiculous. Educating children is a basic requirement in a civilised society. There has been no increase in hospital admissions.

People are hysterical.

I just don't understand why it's not parents demanding that schools are supported to be as safe as they can reasonably be.

I actually disagree really. I’m a teacher myself, I’m excited to get back to work, although I’m not thrilled at the lack of care that the government has put into our safety BUT..

Kids have to go back to school. Parents have to work. And the reality is not everyone can have a plan b, or at least a long term plan b.

I don’t think it’s up to schools to provide the answer, but certainly I think the government should. I honestly think if the government close a school, or force someone to take two weeks off wr due to track and trace, then they should be providing some sort of financial compensation to allow people to do this OR forcing companies to continue to offer WFH when needed.

I think it’s ridiculous how it’s constantly made a battle into ‘lazy teachers’ and ‘stupid parents’ when the fact of the matter is surely, both groups have the same interests aligned - the safety and well being of the children, and themselves.

@spanieleyes

I just don't understand why it's not parents demanding that schools are supported to be as safe as they can reasonably be.

Exactly this, why wouldn't any parent support that?

[quote Iamnotthe1]@SueEllenMishke
I agree but scaremongering/goady posts on MN aren't the way to do it.

Agreed but we do have to be careful about the concept of scaremongering and the way it's used now. It's become a word thrown around by people when the thing being discussed scares them but that doesn't mean it isn't real. Look at how much of the 'scaremongering' around Brexit has proven to be true over time.[/quote]
But there is no denying that this post was designed to scaremonger and wind people up.
Does the op really think this isn't something worrying working parents?

I'm stressed to the eyeballs worrying about what will happen if schools don't open f/t in September- I genuinely don't know what we'll do. And this is on top of working 6 months with barely a break with a 5 yr old and zero childcare.

I agree with Tunnocks34. The government need a plan for keeping education going for all children and providing appropriate childcare when parents need it in the event that having everyone back at school causes too much spread of the virus or schools to close because of illness. Ideally they need to keep a really close eye on what is going on and implement the plan as soon as there is any sign of trouble.

I think it’s ridiculous how it’s constantly made a battle into ‘lazy teachers’ and ‘stupid parents’ when the fact of the matter is surely, both groups have the same interests aligned - the safety and well being of the children, and themselves
I agree. What's really bothered me during lockdown is the sheer number of lazy teacher/horrible unions threads. Teachers and parents are on the same side. We all care about the children.

It's time for people to place the responsibility and accountability where it needs to be: at the feet of those in government who have handled this situation terribly, tried to pass the buck at every opportunity and tried to turn the public against the workers who are doing their best.

We've had teachers blamed, anti healthcare worker leaks in the press, heads blamed for challenges opening schools fully, care home staff blamed. Give it time and Joe Blogs will be blamed for a second wave too because 'we told you to stay alert for a virus you can't see so can't possibly control but we want you to stay kind of home but also go it to pubs and follow these preventatives measures but those measures don't apply in schools because the virus is clever and knows not to spread in schools, just like it knows to spread if you have coffee with your aunty in her garden but won't spread down Wetherspoons on a Friday night'

@SueEllenMishke
I'm stressed to the eyeballs worrying about what will happen if schools don't open f/t in September- I genuinely don't know what we'll do. And this is on top of working 6 months with barely a break with a 5 yr old and zero childcare.

I genuinely don't think that not being fully open was ever an option. It's certainly not one that my SLT have ever considered. It's also not what the unions are pushing for, despite the way the Government has tried to present them.

Your child will be there and welcomed back into his/her class. Teachers will continue to give her the best they can for as long as they can.

Utterly ridiculous to think that you won’t even be allowed to go to school if you have a bit of a sniffle, half the year group won’t be in school at any one time from October to March then.

But there is no denying that this post was designed to scaremonger and wind people up.
Does the op really think this isn't something worrying working parents?

While I agree with most of the teachers on here and the points they have made, I also think the "you should have a plan b and if you don't, good luck" is just a horrendous way to approach this.

As I've said, this doesn't really effect me, as I'm at home anyway, but for those who need the schools or at least nurseries and childminders to be open, this thread is a bit goady tbh.

FWIW, I don't personally think schools will close again nationwide any time soon. Because we can't afford it. Teachers have to work, so parents can work, so the economy doesn't fail. It isn't in anyone's interest, including "lazy" teachers, for schools to close. So the issue is finding a way for them to stay open, not "parents having a plan b". Completely the wrong approach as I say.

The virus isn't parents fault and it isn't school teachers fault. However it is lethal. No-one young or old knows whether they will get the equivalent of a slight cold, whether it will kill them, or anything in between.

If you work in a food factory, large office block, a school or anywhere else which has an outbreak,that place will have to lock down for the benefit of the whole community,

Where schools are concerned, any lock down in any school has implications for parents and the work places that community serves.

Can't be helped. I understand that parents affected will feel frustrated. Teacher's are scared and frustrated too. They will work when the schools are open and schools will be closed only on the orders of local areas to avoid more deaths and the possibility of overwhelming the NHS. We will just have to wait and see what the autumn brings and get on with it.

@PerpetuallyUnderwhelmed

I’m not normally a teacher basher but threads like this could easily persuade me otherwise.

You are a public service. You are paid from the tax revenue generated by ‘working parents’. Quit if you can’t swallow that (but then what would you moan about....?)

I'm really not sure how saying that parents are going to have to have some sort of contingency for their children if schools have to close is any more provocative than insisting schools must stay open at all costs, when in fact that cost may be the health or even the lives of teachers.

[quote Iamnotthe1]@SueEllenMishke
I'm stressed to the eyeballs worrying about what will happen if schools don't open f/t in September- I genuinely don't know what we'll do. And this is on top of working 6 months with barely a break with a 5 yr old and zero childcare.

I genuinely don't think that not being fully open was ever an option. It's certainly not one that my SLT have ever considered. It's also not what the unions are pushing for, despite the way the Government has tried to present them.

Your child will be there and welcomed back into his/her class. Teachers will continue to give her the best they can for as long as they can.[/quote]
The rational part of me knows this but as I'm stressed and exhausted I can't help worrying.

I know our school is fab and all the staff are on board with a full return in September- as a governor I worked on these plans so feel 100% comfortable but we're in the NW and although in our ward there have been zero cases for over 6 weeks and negligible cases overall we're still classed as being at risk of a local lockdown... that worries me.

Plus threads like this really don't help!

So the issue is finding a way for them to stay open, not "parents having a plan b".
I think it's both.
Personally when I think of the secondary schools near me who are over the capacity they were designed for, I think it would be much better to have part time on site opening and part time online learning with ongoing key worker provision if needed.

The problem is that would cost money and the government are expecting schools to fund the Covid measures. The laptops for vulnerable students has been a disgrace and was clearly another empty soundbite from the government. They have no interest in properly funding schools to open in the safest way. They're quite happy to shift the burden to heads and then if and when schools have to close they can blame teachers and unions.

Utterly ridiculous to think that you won’t even be allowed to go to school if you have a bit of a sniffle

You shouldn't be going anywhere with covid symptoms.

@SaltyAndFresh

I'm really not sure how saying that parents are going to have to have some sort of contingency for their children if schools have to close is any more provocative than insisting schools must stay open at all costs, when in fact that cost may be the health or even the lives of teachers.

Do you really think parents haven't thought about this? We're not stupid. It's giving me sleepless nights.

A sniffle isn't a symptom of Covid

It's time for people to place the responsibility and accountability where it needs to be: at the feet of those in government who have handled this situation terribly, tried to pass the buck at every opportunity and tried to turn the public against the workers who are doing their best.*

Yes, exactly. But it isn't much use laying the blame at the feet of parents either is it? The "should've planned for that" comments. Well, no, who could have planned for this? The comment that people should only buy a house they could afford on one salary; I mean, where do you live? That is impossible for many people. Dh and I did it, but with help from parents and a lot of luck. It isn't a choice or something you can simply plan for. Like, "I plan to suddenly have a salary which covers a mortgage on its own". Not where I live anyway.

So I do think this op is unhelpful, on balance.

As has already been said a sniffle isn’t a covid symptom and realistically it is far more likely my children will have the common cold rather than Covid considering how low community transmission is and hopefully will remain so. I am happy to test should they start with sniffles/cough if negative test means quick return or I May as well give up working now as I’ve never be there over winter. If nhs staff can return after negative test so can schools

So if you don't have covid symptoms you can go to school. Not difficult.

I should have said community transmission is low in my rural area of Scotland and always has been

@WhereTheCrawdadsSing I agree. I live in Salford and I wouldn’t even be able to rent a house that fits us all in, and pay all our bills on on Salary if it was under 40k.