Scottish schools - was the return a success?

[MoreListeningLessChatting]

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

Small primary with nursery department has been open since middle of last week - feels very safe and well organised, kids are dropped off at gate or rear door depending on age, parents being generally very sensible, not allowed inside. Children are bubbled. Some teachers are wearing face shields if they choose. Parents also encouraged to wear masks on site but not compulsory- admittedly most aren’t but all are being compliant with social distancing and queuing. Feels safe. Think we’re in a fairly privileged position as it’s a very small school with lots of space anyway.

On the flip side, massive issue locally with RIDICULOUS numbers of teenagers (I’m talking probably 50-100 at a time, if not more) congregating in beauty spots to drink/party/do whatever else older teenagers do 👀, requiring dispersal by the police, then spending the next 2-3 hours slowly and very loudly meandering down the road back to the train station (which I assume means most are coming from out of the area..) - safe to say absolutely no social distancing during any of it. I’m not so old that I can’t remember what it’s like to be that age, and yet still I simply cannot fathom how they think this is ok. So the transmission capacity of teenagers is certainly being tested already in some circles, and since they’ve been at it for weeks, has been for some time... it’ll be interesting to see how numbers are in a couple of weeks. I just hope that they don’t spoil it for everyone else (like the Coatbridge house party-ers)...

@MoreListeningLessChatting they did a soft opening last week, where they had certain year groups/classes in for short periods of time so that they could get used to the new procedures.
The school my mum works in did 1st/2nd years in on the Wednesday, 3rd/4th years on the Thursday and seniors in the Friday, so yesterday was the first day with all of the pupils back in together!

At my ds primary school it's going great. They went back last Wednesday p1-p3 parents are allowed into the playground and p4-p7 parents aren't.
The classes are set up the way they were when I was at school ie separate desks in rows. They spend breaks and lunch in a class group. Lunch is eaten in the classroom.
The school has done everything that they can do and whilst it is strange and difficult for many of the NT children those like my ds who ASD are thriving.
I find myself hoping that this is how things stay

@CallmeAngelina

Why do I want to know?

I want to know because I have children returning to school in September and thought I could take advantage of any tips or be aware of anything that can cause an issue. Simple really.

@Meggie2008

The soft opening sounds like a great idea and then iron out some/most of the difficulties. Even things like asking parents not to congregate around the gate/doors seems obvious but it needs saying to get message through.

Thanks for your response - very reassuring.

I wonder if the same stupid parents now bleating that schools are not safe in Scotland are the ones who have let their kids ignore all the rules.

Ours have been back for 2 days, but there is a cold going round so several kids have already had tests after showing "symptoms" (all negative so far).
So lots of stress and second guessing... "is it allergies?" "What counts as continuous?"... etc etc.
So it's a bit of a merry go round, but better to be cautious I guess!
Have accepted that we may have to quarantine and test more than once, especially once the autumn and winter bugs get going.

@SquishySquirmy what happens whole they're waiting on the results? My DD has a long-standing croup- related cough and I'm wondering if she'll have to be tested.

saltyandfresh
Whole family self isolates while waiting on results, but they seem to turn them around quickly when done at a drive through centre.

(If you're ever in this position take biscuits, treats etc for after the test!)
A long standing cough isn't a new cough though, so by itself would not be a reason to get tested I don't think?

My child's school went back full time last Wednesday, not all school came back staggered. We have had no issues at all. I also work in a secondary school and also it's been fine.

@SquishySquirmy

Ours have been back for 2 days, but there is a cold going round so several kids have already had tests after showing "symptoms" (all negative so far). So lots of stress and second guessing... "is it allergies?" "What counts as continuous?"... etc etc. So it's a bit of a merry go round, but better to be cautious I guess! Have accepted that we may have to quarantine and test more than once, especially once the autumn and winter bugs get going.

I am totally expecting this - suspect once we get into bug season there will be whole swathes of kids off in waves even if it is just until they get a negative test

My p3 is enjoying it. There are compromises - e.g. playtime only in class groups, each has a bit of the playground which rotates. Some kids with better friendships in other classes are a bit sad about this.
Lunch is sandwiches (provided by school as all kids p1-3 get free school meals in scotland) eaten outside if dry, classroom if wet.
Parents of p3+ drop outside the gate but traffic is about 200% better than usual (must be due to more working from home).
No sports clubs etc which is sad too as lots of ours start from p3 and our kids have been looking forward to being old enough for two whole years.
On the whole it's good but the kids are still looking forward to life 'after the virus' whether that's realistic or not :(

5 year old in P1. Different child, so much happier if a little tired. Staggered drop off and pick up although space to distance is marginal plus narrow entrance passageway. Going in in PE kit on PE days difficult with very scrawny hipped child as she's normally in a pinafore - trousers that stay up are hard to come by...

They are training/checking handwashing by putting a stamp on hands and you get a sticker if you wash it all off, which seems clever - making it a game!

Dd1 (P2) went back last week. She's at a tiny village school.

Drop off us fine, there's no playing in the playground before school, she goes straight into the main door and to her class. No bags, just her lunch and water bottle. They have to wear their PE Kit on PE days.

Pick up, we have to queue in a socially distanced line and children are brought out to us.

Each year has its own start and finish times so there's not too many adults in the playground and any child over a P3, parents wait outside school grounds.

High school - All sounds grand on the surface in our communications.

In reality - lack of cleaning equipment, lack of classrooms, no class size reduction, teachers constantly moving rooms, lack of hand sanitiser, hardly any pupils wearing masks, can’t use lots of equipment or so group work so all lessons having to be re-written. Feel utterly forgotten about.

My p2 has been back full time this week and 1 full day last week. All has been well in the school. They are in class bubbles And have to stay in them all day . No mixing at break and lunch etc.
The only issue I’m aware of is the ignorance of the parents who all want to huddle round the school gates. Totally defeats the point .

@SquishySquirmy

saltyandfresh Whole family self isolates while waiting on results, but they seem to turn them around quickly when done at a drive through centre.

(If you're ever in this position take biscuits, treats etc for after the test!)
A long standing cough isn't a new cough though, so by itself would not be a reason to get tested I don't think?

Thanks. I hope not.

So far so good! It's a relief for DS to be back - he's so much happier and we have fewer angry outbursts already. There are staggered drop offs and pick ups and a one way system for parents to keep us apart, but the children just play with whoever they choose. There only seem to be minor changes to the school day, and overall I'm happy with the school's handling of it.

My DS (not school age) ran a high temperature on Saturday morning. Booked a drive thru test at Glasgow Airport for as soon as DH could get him there and had results about 8h later so no disruption to DD's school today. Spent the entire weekend checking everyone else's temperature and no one else needed testing or is showing any signs at all. DS is quite a good canary for drugs as he tends to throw a high temperature very easily. I'm not looking forwards to the next bug he gets as he'll be very very suspicious and angry (not yet 2 therefore very difficult to bribe!).

It's been fine but there are only 24 in my DDs primary!! Gym bags went in first day and will stay there. No school/book bags though so am unsure how home Reading etc is going to work yet. Lunch is in 2 sessions, as are breaks.

Meant to say also we parents are not allowed to access school grounds and teachers bring them out to us at the end of the day.

I work in a primary school. All good and children happy to be back.

Thanks for responses, generally positive overall - this makes me feel good about my children's return in September.

We had a positive case. Just the 'bubble' sent home. Few more with symptoms tested but so far negative. School great doing all they can.

@ThenSheSaidMore
Completely agree.