To be shocked at yet another last minute gov announcement.

[wantmorenow]

New guidance for schools just announced on a Friday night before schools return. Breathtaking incompetence.

@Clavinova don’t worry we all know how to use google thanks. Plus HT updates always contains the latest bollocks from the DfE.

Let there be no more talk about the mythical promised laptops. I think the government just counted the existing number of laptops in all schools and said that is the number we will promise as we have already got them. Win win for spin

Let there be no more talk about the mythical promised laptops.

Don't miss out;

"Guidance for local authorities, academy trusts and schools on devices and support available to provide remote education and access to children’s social care."

www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

"How schools can access digital devices for children requiring access to remote education due to shielding or local coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions."

www.gov.uk/guidance/get-laptops-and-tablets-for-children-who-cannot-attend-school-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19

@StaffAssociationRepresentative you are using the wrong word, it’s not mythical it is ambitious. However, you are right we are never going to see them so no point talking about them.

'2nd July - "UK government lays out plan for full return to school in September. All pupils in England to attend but teachers told to prepare remote learning in case of Covid-19 outbreaks" "Schools will also need to draw up plans in which entire year groups or individuals could self-isolate and learn remotely in case of fresh outbreaks of Covid-19"... "While the DfE has released substantial guidance of its expectations of schools, it said there cannot be a "one-sized fits all" approach and added that leaders should tailor their responses to the specific needs of each school, college or nursery"

July 2nd! That can't be right because the first ever guidance/contingency plan was late fri night, before a BH no less.

How do we know that this won’t happen again, Clav? schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-assumed-schools-had-280-devices-each-before-deciding-free-laptop-allocations/

The DfE thinking teachers are luxuriating in piles of laptops, laughing as they fill out the form requesting more?

@GetOffYourHighHorse yep you are right the Government published their Plan B on Friday. Schools had done theirs ages ago.

Im not a teacher but some of the guidelines seem quite obvious and have been discussed on this , also be prepared that things could change at a drop if a hat as new info emerges
Every business has had to deal with this during working week , any could not close and had to keep running in some form whilst the guidance continually changes and i expect will several times more .

@wantmorenow others i know have had within or just over 24 hrs their results mqybe different parts of country ?

@Clavinova is Gav or on DfE or Government spin payroll. Certainly not living in the same world as those who actually work in schools

Everyone has been saying on here how a bubble in secondary would require potentially 200 going home and it happening regularly so i dont see how this is a surprise ? This is why i have been asking ofqual what they plan to do about this years year 11 as my ds is in that group and i don't expect him to be at school much in winter plus what hes already missed i cant see how sitting exams in may / june is going to work or be fair to all kids and think they should have plan b if schools end up sending pupils home regularly , which may or may not happen . But if my son has a temp at very least i will need to keep him home until he has a test and results etc all missed school

StaffAssociationRepresentative
Clavinova is Gav or on DfE or Government spin payroll.

I'm not, but you are ignoring all of the initiatives - if you don't want to know about the schemes available, how can you apply on behalf of your students?

From the links;
"For the 2020 to 2021 academic year, more laptops and tablets have been made available for disadvantaged children in certain year groups"...

"The government has also ordered over 50,000 4G wireless routers. As of yesterday [1st July] 47,416 had been delivered or dispatched."

"In addition to the 4G wireless routers already provided, the DfE is running two pilot schemes for increasing vulnerable and disadvantaged children’s internet access: one giving free access to BT wifi hotspots, and another raising data allowances on mobile devices."

Notfeelinggreattoday
I feel really sorry for parents and children in your position.
A number of teachers I know had been asking AQA for a decision on GCSE English Literature content and AQA kicked the issue into the long grass before finally deciding to give an answer in the summer holidays.
Hopefully now the boards have finally made some decisions, you can talk to your child's school in a couple of weeks and ask how the changes affect your DC. If you're concerned then some parents have found coming over to some of the education boards has helped them get advice from posters who are teachers.

StaffAssociationRepresentative
Don't forget their husband has a very important job linked somehow to state education, but despite having this amazing insight into state education Clavi seems to show a stunning lack of awareness of front line teaching (whilst never passing an opportunity to tell people in state education how to do their job/why state sector teachers are wrong about the issues in schools/why the government is glorious).

In that new guidance for laptops it appears to be saying the Government will provide these laptops within 2 days after requested. As it took them more than 2 months to not deliver all the previously requested laptops, can you understand why many school leaders/teachers are dubious @Clavinova

Also if they have these laptops ready to send out at a minutes notice why can't they just send them out now to the schools.

In that new guidance for laptops it appears to be saying the Government will provide these laptops within 2 days after requested.

It depends on local coronavirus restrictions as and when they occur - otherwise those pupils can attend school in person.

But why can't they just send out the laptops if they have them. If they have them why didn't they send them out with the original request? Why do schools have to do another request?

No we know about all these initiatives and the volume of paperwork that has to be filled in. The enormous time needed to get the money. The time needed to then complete supplementary questions. No need to preach at me @Clavinova I have been on the receiving end of all these fly by night initiatives.

And remember the building schools for the future program? I remember our application was pulled as the program was cancelled - planning sorted and builders ready to go! After the hash up they have made this year - the DfE needs and clear out or some serious retraining as they are no longer fit for purpose

There is no way the DfE does anything in 2 days. You just believe all the bollocks you read on the internet

And remember the building schools for the future program?

Yes, cancelled in July 2010 - the Labour Government had spent the money already.

I understand now Clav the shortsightedness of cancelling the BSF program means that the government is faced with a bigger bill to rescue the school estate that has been left to continue to crumble for the last decade.

Austerity was a choice.

@Clavinova

ineedaholidaynow I thought I would help you out - apparently some teachers missed the guidance published on 2nd July.

itsgettingweird
why they didn't deliver all the laptops required?

They explained that the laptops were manufactured overseas (I've already posted this) - factory output and supply chains were disrupted during the pandemic. I think you posted that your MAT needed laptops across all year groups (from early years?) but not all year groups are included in the scheme.

Not my MAT. I don't work for one and never would

@Clavinova

StaffAssociationRepresentative Clavinova is Gav or on DfE or Government spin payroll.

I'm not, but you are ignoring all of the initiatives - if you don't want to know about the schemes available, how can you apply on behalf of your students?

From the links;
"For the 2020 to 2021 academic year, more laptops and tablets have been made available for disadvantaged children in certain year groups"...

"The government has also ordered over 50,000 4G wireless routers. As of yesterday [1st July] 47,416 had been delivered or dispatched."

"In addition to the 4G wireless routers already provided, the DfE is running two pilot schemes for increasing vulnerable and disadvantaged children’s internet access: one giving free access to BT wifi hotspots, and another raising data allowances on mobile devices."

We know this.

It's not enough.

All the plans for remote learning in the world are pointless if kids can't access the remote learning.

Austerity was a choice.

Sort of.

Council of the European Union;

"On 8 July 2008 the Council decided, in accordance with Article 104(6) of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC), that an excessive deficit existed in the UK (2) and issued a recommendation to the country to endeavour to correct the excessive deficit by financial year 2009-2010 at the latest, in accordance with Article 104(7) of the TEC and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1467/97.The Council set a deadline of 8 January 2009 for effective action to be taken (3)."

"In accordance with Article 104(8) of the TEC, the Council decided, on 27 April 2009, that the UK had not taken effective action in response to the Council recommendation of 8 July 2008 (4)" ...

Do you ever have your own opinions, Clav? Sometimes I get a hint of the woman behind the cut and paste and then it’s gone again.

'Do you ever have your own opinions, Clav?'

I find all the links and evidence of ongoing guidance very helpful.Totally debunks the 'shock' of a Friday night update of course so I can see why you're sneering and trying desperately to change the subject.