Will children's educational outcomes become even more polarised?

[cheeseismydownfall]

We are on day 2 of having the children at home while both trying to work remotely for companies in meltdown. It isn't pretty and we are relying heavily on screens to keep them entertained. Hopefully we will establish a bit more structure for them next week, but it is going to be a struggle. And we are some of the lucky ones, in that at least we are healthy and have jobs (right now).

Meanwhile, my Facebook feed is filled with pictures of friends' children gathered round their kitchen tables, working away while their highly-educated and invested SAHP supports them, their daily timetable on the wall and their snacks laid out in little baskets. I'm not criticising them! - this is what I would be doing if I could. But we can't.

When we come out of this, we will have children who have had weeks/months of one-to-one/few private tuition heading back to school with children who have basically just been kept alive. And it is likely to be some of the children who are already disadvantaged that will be hardest hit.

I worry about this too. My two are out the other end - one graduated and working and the other about to sit Finals (or not). Today I drove past my local skate park and it was MOBBED. honestly. Busier than I see it on a sunny summer holiday day. I agree some families are going to be a in a frankly great position to support home learning. But they are a tiny minority. Most kids will probably tread water and many others will I'm afraid be disengaged. It's a worry for society I think

Yes, almost certainly. There isn't really an alternative. But it's a real shame and a worry.

I think my husband and I are really trying to shift work - I haven’t even thought about the schooling I want us both to make a decision.

It might be I have to take a sabbatical let’s see what the government says about income and then take it from there

I think in the long run and grand scheme of things it won’t matter. There’ll be plenty of chance to catch up.

Whilst my FB will be full of timetables and projects....the reality will be 3 kids who would rather sit on a tablet all day, will bitch and moan, argue when I try to help them, and a filthy house, and stressed parents. But I don't post that on FB!!

I don’t think it’ll make any real difference (that’s if they’re back to school in September). I missed a whole year of school when I was a kid and still ended up with straight As, uni etc.

It’ll all even out again.

In DDs class there are several children who are from various East European familieswho are learning EnglishOur Scout group has several Chinese families where the parents have limited English.

These children will fall behind. If the schools are closed until September, there will be many children who are either at the same point or gone backwards, others that have made some progress, and others who have shot ahead. It will take a long time to even out.

Teachers won’t be teaching just providing childcare so if anything those kids with involved parents / remote lessons may find themselves ahead of those kids still in school. I imagine the focus for most schools will be on SEN and Vulnerable kids - the rest will be expected to muddle through

FB will be full of the good bits, not the aftermath of bored small children missing their friends and teachers and trashing the place, paint/crayon up the walls plus kids weeping because they can't draw a star properly (neither can I darling) or can't eat all the snacks.

I'm a SAHM, well educated etc, but am still going to struggle to deal with my 4 yo who prefers not to listen and really loves school...

I will have a timetable planned in advance because I won't have the headspace to think stuff up on the fly and have a 1 year old and a tonne of sibling jealousy to juggle too. My FB only has pics of the good bits!

We're going to make time at the weekend to set up a decent meal plan and vague timetable for the week, think up fun activities, plan in essential chores (moving house in 2 weeks 🙈) and make life as easy as it can be in the circumstances!

I'm more worried for children who might not even have access to screens - try to encourage some useful apps to earn messing around time maybe. Kahn academy/ Duolingo, Memrise etc might appeal.

I think it depends an awful lot on the ages of the children. Primary school kids in homes with enough food and stability really aren't going to suffer from having three months off school. They just aren't - they'll pick it back up again.

Older children with exams next year, yes - potentially need a lot more structure and support than most parents who are working their asses of to keep their jobs can give.

OP, also (I don't want to sound patronising here!) one of the main 'sells' of homeschooling for smaller DCs is that you don't have to spend nearly as long doing it because there's a captive audience. If one of you can manage an hour first thing and another manage an hour last thing, or stagger your lunches and do it then, you'll be able to do a lot. Snack baskets strictly optional

I’m glad you started this thread, I’m so scared my son is going to miss out on his education, I’m not a teacher I haven’t a clue what I’m doing and I’ve got to teach him whilst keeping and eye on my two year old. My son is going to fall behind and it will effect him for the rest of his life.

I feel sad, I wish school or somebody could give me an idea of what I’m supposed to teach.

Out of his class of 27 , 18 are eligible for a ‘key worker’ place , they will be taught and my son gets nothing, the pack school sent home was 6 printed pages of rubbish. I’m glad nurses and doctors have childcare but it’s ridiculous SAHP with NHS partners get to send their kids to school.

SAHP with nhs partners should absolutely not be sending their kids to school!

DH and I are both key workers, I’m working from home but I’m lucky enough to be flexible and I’ll juggle as best as I can.

This will all change over the next few days. Government is aiming for 10 (max 20 per cent) of school age kids at school. They are asking nicely at this point, the criteria will have to be strictly applied by schools themselves. They will have a list and will have to make a decision who qualifies and who doesn't. Good luck to the schools making these decisions.

I think it's certain. I just read this in the Torygraph live feed - from the advice the government received ... it's pretty much a sure fire thing that the most vulnerable & economically deprived children will be as ever the worst affected.

School closures would be an 'unequal burden', experts warned
The Independent Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B), which feeds into SAGE, warned that almost all strategies to contain the coronavirus outbreak would result in "reduced, or changed, adult oversight of children". 

The experts raised concerns that this would present a "risk of unintended consequences," writes Henry Bodkin. They focus in particular on school closures, saying:

"School closure in conjunction with isolation of those aged 65+ will reduce the ability of grandparents to engage in childcare.

"This may be beneficial in terms of morbidity of those aged 65+, but will reduce the ability for parents to work. This may be particularly problematic for lower income families and single parents."

The SPI-B went on to suggest that shutting schools would be and unpopular intervention. This advice was issued to the Government before announcements this week that most schools would be closed from Monday. 

"SPI-B have a consensus view that school closures will be highly disruptive and likely to present an unequal burden to different sections of society. Our understanding of reports from Japan is that there is growing discontent around the policy."  

I don't think it is (to close or not) a no-brainer decision either way, despite mn calls.

I’m a teacher. I discussed several weeks ago with my daughter aged 10 that should this happen, we’d do 2 hours a day of formal learning. Working at home means you will get through things so much more quickly. Advice and support should come from school too.

Closing the schools isn’t good for the children. Even well supported children with big houses and lots of enrichment.

At this point, we’ve decided that the greater risk is to the very survival of the elderly and the vulnerable. Depending how long this goes on, people may start to grumble about children’s futures, proper development and mental health. (Not to mention the economic depression we are staring down.)

Keeping the balance right is one hell of a task. More testing so that less social distancing is needed would help a lot.

Lesson One

Don't believe the bullshit you see on Facebook. As if anyone is going to put up things that were a car crash.

Keep plugging away and most importantly. DON'T GET BOGGED DOWN IN WORK!

Seriously, kids forget most of it over the summer anyway and it's generally retaught each year. That's right, even P6 kids need reminders on using basic punctuation.

It’s no accident that schools were closed after news thar 40% of US ICU cases being in the 20-60 range.

they will be taught and my son gets nothing

Don’t be jealous as if they’re getting something you’re not. They WON’T be taught, it’s childcare, not education. They might do busy work etc but it will be impossible to run a real curriculum.

Meanwhile they’re mingling with others, potentially being exposed to the virus. Your child is far safer at home and that is so much more important than being resentful that they’re getting something extra.

More testing so that less social distancing is needed would help a lot.

Definitely.

Also making the point to people (because they are generally selfish) that this isn't all being done just to reduce the deaths amongst the elderly/medically vulnerable (obviously the important consideration) ... but also to stop the NHS collapsing which will directly lead to excess deaths & illness in the whole of the population. It is a utilitarian solution, inevitably people will still suffer & inevitably there will be unintended consequences

I think there will be a large attainment gap if this goes on for a long time between the children who actually do the school work and those who don't get the opportunity for whatever reason.

Re children of key workers, our school is very clear that if one parent is a SAHM or even working from home, there are not eligible for a place at the school.