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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Scottish schools - was the return a success?

87 replies

MoreListeningLessChatting · 18/08/2020 09:15

I'm posting in AIBU for traffic. Hence no voting.

A question for MN's in Scotland. May I enquire how the return to school has been?

Any tips you can share with those south of the border for when our schools reopen in a few weeks time?

Thanks

OP posts:

premiumshoes · 18/08/2020 10:17

My D.C. are both autistic and are actually doing better with the turn to school than normal. One of them suffers awful anxiety and is a regular school refuser, I was particularly worried for them as I thought the long break may have been detrimental. It's been the opposite. The return has been much more structured then normal which has helped enormously.

dancemom · 18/08/2020 10:20

three high schools in the Glasgow / North Lanarkshire area have had pupils test positive. Schools haven't closed, Test and Protect have intervened & contacted possible close contacts based on classes etc

I sincerely hope schools can remain open throughout any further outbreaks / clusters

Original poster

MoreListeningLessChatting · 18/08/2020 10:26

@premiumshoes

That's really great news.

OP posts:

Original poster

MoreListeningLessChatting · 18/08/2020 10:27

@dancemom

T&T working for those then so at least it can contain and avoid the need for everyone to stay home

OP posts:

chergar · 18/08/2020 10:28

@MoreListeningLessChatting

People who were considered close contacts have been told to self isolate, the school got a deep clean, and opened for all other staff and pupils today.

Original poster

MoreListeningLessChatting · 18/08/2020 10:31

@chergar

Thanks, at least that means only some need to stay home. A good balance.

OP posts:

Evilwasps · 18/08/2020 10:38

Successful from my child's point of view, he's delighted to be back.
Pick up arrangements are a disaster, the school's attempts at keeping people apart actually force us to group together. Not great when you've been shielding for months to be forced into such a situation.
It's too early to tell if there will be an increase in Covid-19 cases, but there have been a few high school pupils in various areas testing positive. Don't know if they're coincidental or just making the news because of the schools going back.

jerometheturnipking · 18/08/2020 10:40

My two have been been at primary full time since Wednesday. There were some teething issues on the first day, but to do with the parents in the playground rather than the kids themselves. DD is loving p1, DS is happy to be back. I think our school has struck a good balance of caution vs maintaining normality for the kids.

TeenTraumaTrials · 18/08/2020 10:44

My DCs were both in one day last week so yesterday was the first day all pupils were in.

They have hand cleaning stations and have to clean their desks when entering and leaving a class. There is a 2m area blocked off at the front for teachers and the desks are all front facing. There is a one way system.

But according to my DCs there is still considerable crowding in social areas even though additional spaces have been made available at breaks/lunch. I'd prefer kids to be sitting in classes during these times as apparently it was 'really busy'. They've stopped the S1-3s leaving the building during lunch which I can understand IRT local shops, but means there are now more kids in the building than before.

Barely any kids wearing masks - I think that the guidance might change on this in the not too distant future though ......

As to whether it is a success, I agree with a PP that it is, in that they are in school, but whether the measures are successful in stopping or reducing transmission is anyone's guess.

I feel so sorry for the kids who are now having to miss 2 weeks of school due to self isolation because they happened to be sitting in a class beside those who got infected due to the irresponsible actions of families allowing kids to have parties with no distancing. I'd be raging if one of my DCs was put in that situation.

RaspberryRuff · 18/08/2020 10:54

Mine have been OK so far. Both in high school so no parents hanging around.

There were always going to be outbreaks but the hysteria on social media is ridiculous. I think people have forgotten or don’t actually know that kids were in school just prior to the peak and it will have been swilling around schools then, we just didn’t know as no one was being tested. Months later and everyone is going off their heads at cases which haven’t even occurred in schools but happen to just coincide with kids going back, and probably been caused by people allowing their kids to ignore the rules. Personally I’d have liked the pt arrangements for a few weeks/ months but it is what it is. The cases that have occurred would still have happened anyway.

Regardless of individual spikes cases in Scotland are low and remain so, so I’m comfortable enough with them being back. They’ve missed out on enough for a virus that barely affects them.

I think parents are going to be the biggest problem, ignoring the rules and letting their kids gather in groups, sending them to school ill, and then moaning and complaining when the kids get it and have to stay off. It’ll be frustrating if my kids get it off people ignoring the rules when we’ve been properly careful and following them all.

RaspberryRuff · 18/08/2020 10:56

I agree @TeenTraumaTrials. What with that and parents calpol-ing up sick kids it’s going to be irresponsible parents who are the biggest bloody problem and challenge to schools staying open.

jerometheturnipking · 18/08/2020 10:57

I agree @TeenTraumaTrials. What with that and parents calpol-ing up sick kids it’s going to be irresponsible parents who are the biggest bloody problem and challenge to schools staying open.

Agree 100%.

guilttripjourno · 18/08/2020 10:57

What is happening to the schools with outbreaks. Are they closing the classes.

ItsmineAllmine · 18/08/2020 10:58

Mine went back full time last Wednesday and it's been absolutely fine. No issues whatsover.

Wherestheline · 18/08/2020 11:00

My partners son is 13 and his school isn’t allowing groups but can sit in rows they no longer move classes every hour but there’s been zero social distancing at breaks or lunch and no one monitors it or cares.

jerometheturnipking · 18/08/2020 11:04

@guilttripjourno Not so far. Individuals self isolate and the schools are advised by the local NHS board depending on the circumstance.

WeAllHaveWings · 18/08/2020 11:14

@Laaalaaaa

They were technically back last week - some pupils were only there for 1 hour. It’s the full time return this week so far too early to say. However, anything to do with the SNP will be a shitshow.

ANY government can only give out the guidelines they can't micro manage each school. Are the other UK nations planning anything much different to us? It is up to each council, school, parents/children, all of us to take responsibility. If any returns are a "shitshow" it is a reflection of problems at a local level. e.g. parents ignoring guidance and crowding at gates, parents allowing children to break guidance and having parties outside school.

ds's secondary year was back 2 days last week and everything so far seems ok.

They have doors to enter school for each year and have staggered breaks and lunch. Each year has own area outside school at break. Packed lunch or preorder lunch in school only, delivered to class rooms for each year/house (school staff are guarding the exits from the school grounds at lunchtime 🤣). Desks are being cleaned after each class (teacher sprays then kids wipe). ds says most pupils are compliant with the new rules.

No known cases yet at our school. Feels like a big experiment, only time will tell.

TeenTraumaTrials · 18/08/2020 11:29

WeAllHaveWings - I think this

Each year has own area outside school at break. Packed lunch or preorder lunch in school only, delivered to class rooms for each year/house

is a good approach - not happening in my DCs school but really simple to do

Graffitiqueen · 18/08/2020 11:34

Absolutely fine apart from parents no longer being allowed in the playground. This means that they crowd the pavements and spill out into the road. Someone is going to get run over!

ilovesooty · 18/08/2020 11:36

@SaltyAndFresh

Too soon to know. The rolling weekly average is increasing in Scotland but it also is in England. I suppose the real measure will be how far the next peak reaches if schools remain fully open to everyone.

Exactly.

premiumshoes · 18/08/2020 11:41

Absolutely fine apart from parents no longer being allowed in the playground. This means that they crowd the pavements and spill out into the road. Someone is going to get run over!

It's a shame the parents can't work out how to stand on the pavement, in a line, rather then try to crowd round a tiny gate.

CallmeAngelina · 18/08/2020 11:44

Why do you want to know, OP?

notanothertakeaway · 18/08/2020 12:15

It's been fine for us (high school). Staggered start last week, extended registration to tell them the new systems, one way system in school

My only concern is teenagers not wearing masks on the buses

Saltycoffee · 18/08/2020 12:29

Fine apart from parents congregating at the gates. You cant move or get past on the pavements. Also the parents that are point blank refusing to do as the school ask or advise. I.e no school bags or lunch packs or pencil cases. They are all over social media ranting about it being a disgrace. It's not a big deal or difficult but theres always a few that just have to be heard. The school have sent multiple emails & messages but they seem to be getting ignored. It's a shame as the school have tried so hard. The kids seem happy to be back & see their friends. Good to get a little bit of normality back.

Jesusweptagain · 18/08/2020 12:31

My DD aged 7 now into her 5th full day back. Some hiccups on 1st day but other than that it is very much business as usual! Break times are staggered and they have a certain area in the playground for each bubble. She's enjoying it & I feel fine about her being there as I don't have anyone high risk our household. I do worry how it will all pan out over the next few weeks as I worked in covid wards throughout the pandemic and it was bad, and so easily spread. So I worry about the long term implications for the wider community but they had to go back. If it doesn't work they will close again I'm sure so I'm going with the flow & not getting stressed. As an aside my DD has been much happier and brighter since being back she has really missed school and her friends.

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