Schools Reopening?

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

The predicted peak is mid April.

The predicted peak is 12th April

Although I've seen a scientist on twitter saying actually they now think yesterday and today is the start of the peak so the flattening will happen a week earlier than predicted 🙏

Local peaks will be different though - they think it will be peaking end of May in my region of the U.K.

I actually think it is worth going back to school for a week or two. Otherwise 6 months is a hell of a long time to be away. They won’t get much work done in that week or two but teachers will be able to assess where the pupils are, and it will be nice for the children to see their friends and finish up the year.
Whether it can happen or not remains to be seen, but I think even if they deem it to be ‘safe’ at the end of June then its worth doing.
It will also enable the experts to see what effect the schools going back have on the numbers without the pressure of having to order another closure, as the holidays will be coming anyway.

Local peaks will be different though - they think it will be peaking end of May in my region of the U.K.

Mid May for the NE I was told.

(Whilst at the local, enormous hospital last week.)

If they went back early to mid June then the schools here don’t break up until 23rd July.
That’s definitely worth it for the economic benefit/ the educational and the social benefit.

I wouldn’t just write off 6 weeks of school as worthless if it’s possible for them to go back.

Ours finish on the 15th July but even if they didn’t go back until the beginning of July I’d think it was worth it.

@Delatron I agree - my DC have been given a very basic A4 sheet with tasks for each week. No contact/feedback/ marking.

It’s very inconsistent. The school my DC attend are working 1 in 3 weeks. They could be providing more work and support imo.

I’d think it worth it for even one week. My DC would be on cloud 9 if they could have a week with their friends and the teachers they adore. A little bit of normality and a reminder that school is still there and will carry on eventually.

Agreed SpokeTooSoon. We don’t tend to say that it’s not worth going on holiday for a week, do we? I think a week with their friends would do most children a lot of good.

I have the nicest class in the world this year. I would dearly love to go back to school and spend some time with them before they move on.

I don't.

I have one of the most challenging classes ever, in one of 'those' year groups.

I still don't like the idea that this may be it for their year 6 and they may not be able to see their year out.

I'm biased because I'm not a teacher and my daughter has had a horrible first year at secondary school (although she'll obviously have to go back at some point) so I'd like to keep her home as long as possible. I can see that especially for Y6 it would be nice but I think it would be quite disruptive to return for a ,couple of weeks then leave again. I don't think it'll happen but as I said I'm biased.

Contractually state school teachers can only work 195 (including five 'Baker Days' days per year, contracts would have to be amended - this won't happen). Independent Schools would probably have an easier time going into the Summer Holidays, but teaching from home is more exhausting than being there in person. Teachers will need a break!

I think it might be useful to share exactly what the National Education Union have told teachers not to do while schools are closed:

1. Teachers should not be asked to personally contact their students

1. Teachers should not live-stream lessons from their homes, nor engage in any video-calling

1. Schools should suggest activities that children can complete on their own

1. Tasks that require no access to technology are preferable

1. If schools have systems set up for online lessons, these should be kept to a minimum

1. Teachers should not be expected to carry out marking or grading of pupils’ work

So there should be no contact with pupils, no online lessons, no use of technology, no marking, and children should be doing independent work.

Remind me again what teachers are actually going to be doing for the next 6 months and why they are still being paid full wages?

Remind me again what teachers are actually going to be doing for the next 6 months and why they are still being paid full wages?

You know teacher would not refuse their pupils feedback right?

You also know teachers have constant work to plan and improve schemes?

Also there are 13 weeks left of which teachers would love to teach.

It is hard during these unprecedented times so why be an ass h?

@StormyClouds that's the NEU advice for the past two weeks i.e. the end of the Spring term, a fortnight in which the requirement for schools to teach the curriculum has been suspended and they have been repurposed to provide childcare.

The guidance is changing all the time and it's expected to change before/as the Summer term starts. Meanwhile, every teacher I know has been busy adapting their lessons for online platforms whether that's recording an input section of the lesson to be followed by independent student work, using Google Teams to teach, setting work on Show My Homework or some other method. The secondary teachers I know, including DH, have absolutely been providing feedback/marks on submitted work as well as responding to endless questions and clarifications by whatever messaging vehicle the school uses. Department and SLT meetings are happening by video call and welfare check phonecalls or even visits are taking place regardless of the NEU's advice.

My own Y10 child has had a full timetable of work every day with work set at the time the lesson would be taking place if school was open. The teachers are online and available to 'chat' about the tasks or material throughout the lesson but also throughout the day until at least 5pm. Everything that DD has submitted has been responded to, usually on the same day and I've been impressed by how quickly they've adapted to the situation. At the same time, secondary teachers are tearing their hair out with the continued uncertainty about what Ofqual want them to provide for their Y11 and Y13 students. Courses that previously only required a sample of the coursework for moderation are likely to require the entire cohort's which potentially means lots of extra annotating and form-filling to justify marks.

1. Teachers should not be asked to personally contact their students

We aren't. There have already been several threads on here questioning the amount/reason for those teachers who have been calling homes.

1. Teachers should not live-stream lessons from their homes, nor engage in any video-calling

We didn't have any systems set up for this. It's not wise to do anything live due to safe guarding reasons (on both sides of the camera). No point when you can't guarantee that pupils will have the means or the time to access them at set points. And if a teacher has their own family, that brings it's own issues.

1. Schools should suggest activities that children can complete on their own.

This is what's taking me much longer. Sourcing activities that are suitably challenging for my class and appropriate for their year group but that are achieveable independently takes a lot longer than putting something together that you then directly teach. Then it takes longer to put it into a suitable platform and post it. And we are expected at set points to be able to answer questions from the pupils/parents about the tasks - and we do.

1. Tasks that require no access to technology are preferable

We prepped a book to send home, but had precisely 2 days on a full timetable of teaching to also put them together. So they won't last that long. We are suggesting other things that don't require tech, but that's tricky. Especially as you can't make any assumptions on the amount of support they receive from adults in their home. Many are being looked after by siblings while parents work.

1. If schools have systems set up for online lessons, these should be kept to a minimum

Seesaw/google classroom being used. But as we've had to, as many schools have in our area, put out emails explaining that we know parents aren't home schooling and they should do what they can but we understand if they can't get on to the tasks, or choose to use their time to do other things.... the amount of children who are actually engaging with what we are setting has dropped off massively!

1. Teachers should not be expected to carry out marking or grading of pupils’ work

You can't realistically level or grade work without knowing the extent of the help that a pupil has had to complete a task. But we are providing feedback for completed tasks.

In addition, there's ongoing tasks which we are being asked to spend out time on. Completing of assessment recording based on prior tasks. Researching the new curriculum requirements (Wales). Undertaking other CPD. Starting pupil reports just in case we aren't back in school.

And then we are on the rotas for being there in the classrooms with the children who are able to come to school.
Only we aren't teaching our usual classes/yeargroup. We are childminding a random set of children that is a huge age range, that changes in the mix of kids day to day depending on their parents' shifts and childcare requirements. For longer days than normal as our hub is open from 8-5.30. Including over the Easter holidays and bank holidays.

Many of our staff are vulnerable or extremely vulnerable, so not on the rota. This increases the amount of time the rest of the staff are required for.

Full time salaries teachers are paid 52 weeks / 12 months of the year. The salary is evened out, and that’s because as a teacher you don’t actually get the long holidays people think you do. This is the time preparations are done for the years lessons. They have a number of ‘contact’ school days. Supply, and some other school staff, admin and LSA may not get paid, depending on their contracts.
No news is as yet forthcoming about when schools will start back. Even universities and colleges don’t know when they will be back. They are planning for September, but it’s all dependant on the virus getting under control, people staying in, testing and a vaccine. We live in interesting times.

Tasks that require no access to technology are preferable

I know many of my pupils don't have regular access to technology so I've been trying to think of learning tasks which don't require it. This is much harder than just setting online tasks.

We have an online platform too, which I set tasks through. Fewer than half my pupils have accessed it though (I teach KS1).

What a lot of teacher bashing 
I know it's way back in the thread now but the post from @cornishdreams1 is ridiculous. Well they all are but esp the one about car parks being empty
As a teacher I would love it if schools open even for a fortnight for year 6 to get some closure and transition. New reception children could have transition in September so not as much of an issue there. I love my class and would be such a shame if I don't teach them again
As a parent, my children would love to be back in school for the social aspects. I'm concerned about the gaps in their meaning but this is a nationwide issue.
I'm shocked and disappointed by the schools who have given very little guidance for home learning.

Stormy

Ok. So do you think all school staff should be furloughed?

Well my daughter's tutors both phoned to check how they were and how they were getting on with the work set. I thought it was really nice of them. Especially as my youngest got a reply e-mail at 8 o clock in the evening.
I'm sure they don't have to do this but i I'm impressed they care enough (even if it is as I assume a blanket school policy).