Schools Reopening?

[Liveforever86]

When do you honestly think it will happen? And when do you want it to happen?!

That wouldn’t work for marking exams. Unless you are proposing getting rid of a long summer holiday and replacing it with a long winter holiday instead?

I think they could quite easily shift holidays around...

Holidays could be shifted.
However in Scotland the exam period is May, marked June and July with results sent out the first Tuesday in August.
Even mid October exams give the same turn around period. Marked end of October in to mid December.

Yes - sorry it was.
Interesting idea but can’t see it being popular with parents who have children due to start school or nursery and will be in need for childcare to get the economy back up and running.
We just have to sit tight and see what happens.

I’m not “proposing” anything. I’m pointing out that no-one knows what will happen so to rule it out completely seems foolish.

But yes. Maybe a longer Christmas holiday since it’s likely there will be another peak in autumn or winter. Let’s face it, we’re likely to have another period of lockdown, if not more, so I can’t see the government failing to maximise the time people can go to work easily and the time children can get an education. Especially since the govt has shown that they’re prepared to pay other people’s salaries at the moment, so why not teachers?

Bewareoftheblob I am doing a similar volume of marking.

I’m a headteacher - no one knows! We’re currently closed, but are planning to open to 5% of pupils after Easter and I think we will steadily increase that up until mid June, when I expect about 25% of pupils.

@Tulipstulips

Well, I think Wales can rule it out as the Minister for Education conformed the 6 week summer holiday will go ahead as planned this evening.

@Bewareoftheblob It was accidental really; we sent home booklets with enough work for the two weeks before the Easter ‘holidays’ to equate to three pieces of work a day, while we got Seesaw up and running ready for a different approach in Term 5. We agreed that we would interact with the children via Seesaw and respond to work that they post for us to see, making this optional and assuming that about half of the children might do so.

Well, half is about right in all other classes, but mine are VERY keen. I’ve also been getting lots of extras sent through to me, like children building bug hotels, filming themselves doing science experiments etc. Just my luck

There are a lot of people complaining teachers aren't really working despite us all saying that work is being set and marked weekly plus we are all either in our schools or on a rota to be in if we are healthy even over the Easter holidays which we shouldn't be working.
The last couple of days, there are also threads complaining that teachers or tas are daring to make contact with families and ask how they are which is clearly code for, I don't like your child, I prefer someone else's child, your child's work isn't good enough, we have concerns for your parenting etc.
No wonder teachers are leaving the profession after a few years!

@Bewareoftheblob
Are you saying teachers don’t get paid holidays? I thought their annual pay was divided by 12 and that they received it on the same day each month whether it was term time or summer holiday

Interesting variation, my DC have had no interaction with teachers since school closed and their work isn't being reviewed or marked. We are being emailed weekly task sheets, the work takes about 90 mins a day, it's pretty basic. Different work sheets for each year but in a similar format. We don't submit the work. There are around 30 children attending school for core hours (no breakfast or after school care) and the teachers are working 1 week in 3.
Perhaps things will change as the break extends. We are going our children additional things to do, so far it's been going ok, no idea of the expectation really.

I'm a primary school headteacher,there really isn't a plan for when schools go back. Nobody knows ,there isn't some overarching plan that we've been given,I really dont think there is one. We have a system up and running in school for a few keyworker children,this will continue for as long as its needed.

@starlight13 you are a teacher and yet you think your paid when your on holiday?

I don't believe you are a teacher. If you were you would at least be aware of the most basic parts of your contract.

@Petlover9

No, teachers get paid for:

190 teaching days
5 training days
Statutory holiday pay of 28 days

Other holidays are unpaid, but most teachers opt to receive pay as a salary that’s divided over 12 months, so that they don’t fall short over the summer.

I'm wondering if schools will stay open all summer to take care of key workers children. Maybe this will be the start of schools offering more care out of term for the children of working parents. This would be a huge silver lining.

@Petlover9

No teachers are Not paid for the weeks they are not at work due to the scho holidays.

Their Pay is Pro Rata across 12 months to make it an annual salary.

They are paid for their contracted work. Which is 195 days - 1265 hours.
It is spread over 12 months.

@Localocal

Teachers are doing it now out of good will.
I don’t think that good will will extend for holiday after holiday 😂

I don't know. If the next few weeks are absolutely crucial and it peaks then, I wonder if schools might return in areas that are not hotspots.
Secondary schools will be less crowded then - Y11 and Year 13 will have left. In hotspots, I think it will be September.

@Localocal

Maybe this will be the start of schools offering more care out of term for the children of working parents. This would be a huge silver lining.

I bloody hope not or I'll pack it in. If I wanted to be a childminder, I'd be a childminder.

@thunderthighsofwoe That's such a lot to do! I hope it levels out for you soon.

Oh if only

@DBML and @Bewareoftheblob , I should have clarified. Schools should provide care out of term time, free to parents. But not delivered by teachers, who of course need their time off like everyone else.

September might be a good target but expect the number of infections to start rising again, so 2-3 months later, schools will have to close again as number of infections increase again. Rinse and repeat the cycle 😞

This is a long term issue that is NOT GOING AWAY in September.

Two things need to happen:
1: effective vaccine to be available : another year +

1. Test: test test and isolate . A better test would be one that gives results within few hours Or even minutes rather than few days to isolate patient as quick as possible. Add to that: an antibody test serving as a passport to the outside world.
2. More herd immunity which of course is going to cost more lives sadly.

Brace.

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