List of rules making me feel on edge

[Ziggyzaggy]

My daughter has been home since march and will be going into year one next week. The school said that they will be in a class bubble before the summer holidays. They made it clear that the kids would just be mixing in that one class. I was fine with it and because she's in with her best friend I know she'll be happy. We've just had a long email from the headmaster with all the new rules and guidance and plans in place. Basically the kids will be going through the fire exits into the classroom. They won't be allowed to use the corridors. They have decided that despite the government saying they don't need to social distance in bubbles that they are going to make them social distance anyway. they've decided that children can't touch each other in the bubble and no-contact games will be allowed. They won't be allowed to sit on the carpet and the children will be at desks facing forward. They will only be allowed to the toilet in a bubble slot and they are banned from sharing food. They have to clean up their own cuts and scrapes but if they can't you will be called to collect your child and clean them up yourself at home. the school will report your child to the health authority if they shows signs of being unwell but will inform you of this. They are only allowed to walk home with the adult and not with their class friends. They want us there for 9 a.m. in the morning. they don't want us to be early and they don't want us to go near other parents as we queue down the street. they are encouraging kids to go through the gate by themselves and say goodbye to their parents at the gate. the teachers are allowed to help children with work but have to stay at least 1 metres away and can't help them for no more than 15 minutes. my daughter has not been at school for months and barely got into reception before lockdown. I'm well aware that the schools will be supporting the kids as well and trying to teach these new rules in a fun way but I feel like my daughter will mess up every day. She's used to holding hands with her friends and walking with her best friend to school. They all used to share snacks after school in the playground. they are used to sitting together and working together as a team. suddenly now they're not even going to be allowed to sit and do activities together. I know it might sound worse on paper but I just think for a 5-year old this experience of school is really negative. They won't be having assemblies or anything at the moment and they've said for the first two terms that theres no school meals. It just sounds really tough for a five-year-old. I hope the school make it fun and this doesn't put my daughter of going to school. It upsets me to think of her being told off for going near friends. they've also said that people can't pick your child up from a different bubble. that's going to make it hard for some parents as they used to share the school runs with friends last year. I'm presuming that my family can collect my child if there's ever a reason I can't go go but it just all seems very strict at the moment. I understand but it's confusing for them to suddenly not be allowed to do anything they used to. Not to mention having to walk in alone from the gates after a long break to a new class and teacher.

It looks like these plans are remaining until at least January. Kids will be full of anxiety being expected to be so mature so young.

In case anybody is interested they are doing hot school dinners at my ds secondary school. It appears that they only do two subjects a day however. He will be yr 11.

YANBU. But sometimes there is a difference between what an organisation puts in writing, and what they actually do. The written stuff is often about being "seen" to do the right thing.

It's the new normal.
New abnormal.

Getting coronavirus, or being hooked up to a ventilator, or their parents/grandparents dying
MN bingo!!!!

It's absolutely no fun for five year olds to avoid eachother and be sat at a desk all day with no carpet time and minimal outdoor time

Maybe have some faith in the teaching staff that they have got this and will do everything they can to make it fun? It's different, yes, but it doesn't have to be some gut-wrenching, hand-wringing agony, does it? Your child will take cues from you: approach it with a light heart and some positivity and see how that works for your child?

I think the mental health affect on children is going to be huge
Article on the BBC website today begs to differ. Again, your child will take her cues from you. Be positive.

Long term though what does that mean for them. Phobias of germs, people, places. Anxiety

Or maybe they will learn about community, about what it means to have empathy and support people around them who may be more vulnerable and stop them getting sick? Does it have to be a negative experience? Do they need to come away from this with anxiety or phobias of germs? What cues will your child be taking from you on this issue? What is wrong with regular hand washing? Not wiping snot all over your friend? Having a bigger space to work in? Learning to work independently?

As a teacher, I can tell you OP I am sick to death of reading this bullshit. Teachers are going to get sick and some are going to die. Russian Roulette we'll be playing come September 1st. Put it into perspective, eh? Your child's teacher's will approach this with a smile on their face and total professionalism so support that rather than making problems where there aren't any. Plenty of schools are putting in place half-arsed plans which will result in closure quickly. At least your children's school is trying and with a bit of luck, will be open for the duration with few or no interruptions. Try glass half full, perhaps?

I think the mental health affect on children is going to be huge

It will if parents fill them with anxiety.

@MH1111

But it’s not just about the pupils is it it’s about the teachers at risk and taking the virus home to family . All you can do is try and minimise the outcome .

The report from Dundee school today 17 teachers with covid and three pupils .

So that would indicate it might even be a staff room or something similar that caused the spread ? All within a fortnight ?

And of course pupils are at risk of catching it , but there is minimal risk of serious illness. That is what the stats show at the moment .

Except that it’s unworkable.
Thee not helping a child with a scrape for example. Or expecting a parent to come at the drop of the hat.

As for always applying SD when they are spending the day in the same classroom .... Looking at the ventilation/heating system would be much more efficient

For those complaining have none of you read the Government guidelines for schools. This pretty much replicates them.

@Ziggyzaggy

Interesting replies. We all feel differently as parents. I know it all varies on us an individual's and our children's ages. I'm not an anxious mess about it. It's just she's missed out on the play based year. Which all eyfs children have. Now she's going into a bigger year with more maturity required and concentration and stripped away simple things like sitting with a couple of other kids at a table. Not being able to hold hands and have fun like someone above said.

What I want to happen is her to be free in her bubble to play with the kids and if she holds hands with them I think it should be ok.

To the person who said they will prefer that over a ventilator. I'm not being funny but if they'd end up on ventilators if they went near their class mates then no they should not be open. It's not about that at all.

It's about expecting too much for five year olds. They start school too young as it is!

I agree re missing the play based year. He 1 is pretty full on. Now it be even more strict. They had half a yr of play based learning, half a year at home, straight into "sit at your desks, don't move, don't touch, you can't go to the toilet until I say so, so bit tough Jai's pencil, go and wan your hands again, sit still why we do your temperature" with no transition. It's a huge leap, my only reassurance is most of them are taking it together

Massively OTT rules by the school.
It's crazy madness and I hope that as time passes they see how ridiculous it is and lighten up.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/24/parents-children-back-to-school-boris-johnson-coronavirus-pandemic

Kind of sums it up really. No wonder the OP feels like this..

Apart from the cleaning up of their own cuts and scrapes it all sounds reasonable. I'd expect a member of staff to wipe it clean and put a plaster on as needed.

These measures are to keep the children safe though. I am not in the uk and my 6 year old returned to school with very similar rules for a couple of weeks in June. She adapted really well, was not phased really and was just so so glad to be back at school that all the rest became unimportant. The only difference is that parents were already not allowed on school grounds before Covid and so children were used to going to school and home by themselves. But all the rest, (and wearing face masks) the children really did take in their stride. And they still had story time - either at their desk or the teacher took them out in to the playground and sat them around the yard. I think it is a case of schools going back with rules in place, or not going back. And my child definitely preferred school with new rules rather than no school.

@SleepingStandingUp

I'm glad you understand. It's ok to have concerns isn't it. Everyone knows there own child. Some will bounce through it. Others will struggle

It's sad for kids to be in this situation and I wish we could acknowledge it without an angry teacher calling it bullshit and aload of people saying I'll pass anxiety into my child. I don't believe for one minute they have breezed through all this! It's time people woke up abit. If it's putting the teachers at severe risk then it's not safe to have everyone back at once. It's either life or money. Seems to me it's all about money now. Nothing has changed since march. But they choose to try nothing out through the summer and hope for the best in autumn.

I didn't send mine to school for keystage 1, it didn't do them any harm at all. I don't get all the they will be damaged for life if they miss school, obviously children who are being abused or neglected but it doesn't sound like your DD falls into that category. If you think it will be damaging have you considered deregistering her?

I think there are a lot more rules going on in schools which will have passed you by (because they teach them as they go and don't send you a sheet about them). In this instance schools are spelling rules out in advance to get parents and children on board.

I suspect a lot of the rules you mentioned will may be tinkered with/quietly ignored if practical issues arise.

Teachers want happy, engaged kids - they will do their best to make it fun and interesting. As lockdown proved we don't know their jobs better then they do.

Let's just give the schools a chance to get on with it. By October/Christmas we will know if it is working.

My composite class (includes Y1) have been back for over 2 weeks. The first wee while back is always about teaching routines; the routines are just a little different this year. All the children at our school have come back ready to learn and are happy and comfortable within the school, even those who had higher levels of anxiety e.g. because they are in families who had recently been shielding. The ‘recovery curriculum’ is very much based around supporting health and wellbeing, as well as trying to pick up on literacy and numeracy skills.

As a staff we are sticking clearly to our risk assessment and checks are being done across the authority to ensure we are meeting best practise guidelines.

We still use play resources, but they’re washed and sterilised as appropriate, or left to quarantine in the hall for 72 hours. Children have individual resource boxes including art equipment, games and play dough. Groupwork is still happening; the children here don’t need to socially distance but we are encouraging them to give each other more space. We are doing outdoor learning daily and can go outwith the school environment with enhanced risk assessments (we have done so already). Assemblies are hilariously difficult over Teams and we’re not allowed to sing.

We will administer first aid as appropriate but will use more PPE than usual.

It’s really, really not been an issue so far at my school. The children have been fabulous!

This is what changed from March OP. the exponentially rising death toll

Almost everything you've listed is in the government guidance for schools

Teachers really need to remember who the grown ups are in this situation and stop making such a fuss.

By definition, they are of working age, and as long as they're not obese, they have a very low risk of having serious complications from Covid.

Only 0.3% of the UK's population were ever officially shielding, and even that population will be skewed towards the older age range. I simply don't believe some of the stories on here where head teachers claim to have upwards of 30% of their teaching staff shielding.

Life is inherently unsafe, its unfortunate, but we just need to get back to normal now.

You or your child’s father could quit your job. Or both go part time.

You could move house if needed, to a cheaper property.

Then you could home school your child. And maybe even your friends children. Tiny private schools might be the way of the future! You could lead the way!

Or you could try and support your child’s school through this challenging time.

But, choices!

They would seriously expect a five year old to be able to clean up their own cuts? Or call the parents to come in and deal with it? That's the most ridiculous rule I've seen yet.

Life is inherently unsafe, its unfortunate, but we just need to get back to normal now.

Good luck with trying to do that. Ridiculous.Your way means a resurgence of the virus.

It hasn't gone away. Only a fool would think of going back to normal.

How are people expected to get to work? This will affect mainly women and people will lose jobs because of it.

Why can't tachers pr whoever wear gloves to deal with cuts, it's ridiculous to expect children to do this. Wear gloves and wash hands - what do they think us NHS staff have been doing all this time.
I've worn gloves and masks since February and worked full time throughout the pandemic and have caught nothing.
There needs to be some common sense for gods sake. If I was called off my ward to put a plaster on my child I'd go ballistic.