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Schools Reopening?

999 replies

Liveforever86 · 31/03/2020 08:13

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

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PurpleDaisies · 31/03/2020 09:07

What is that based on, given no one knows and schools found out on the news?

How long other countries needed to stay in lockdown. I think everyone is being very optimistic at the moment because of the tone of yesterday’s conference. It’s going to get much worse.

Chosennone · 31/03/2020 09:08

Teacher here. Planning for September.
What I'd prefer is a partial opening in June if we are on the other side of the Peak.
Maybe start with 7s and 10s in. Hand sanititation at every door, compulsory hand washing, lunchtime and breaks spread out so kids aren't packed in together. Then introduce 8s, then 9s.
It will probably mean another mini peak but until we have a vaccine what else can we do? Also if the shielded staff and children are still not allowed to attend schòol hours and timetable would need to reduced.
School, but not as we know it, until we have a vaccine.

fedup21 · 31/03/2020 09:10

My daughter is in Y6 and there is so much important stuff at the end that requires minimum organisation

Some people really have no idea about how much time these things actually take! Or don’t understand what ‘minimum’ means.

DD starts reception in September and she won't get to say goodbye to our fantastic childminder who she's been with for 3 years.

Why not? Can’t you go round with a bunch of flowers and a card to say goodbye when this is all over?

HoffiCoffi13 · 31/03/2020 09:10

The problem is none of us can possibly have any idea, as the government don’t know yet either. They’ll have a vague plan, but this is a constantly moving situation and all measures are being regularly reviewed.
They will be open as soon as they can be... when that is no one knows. If our current measures work and the peak hits sooner than expected, maybe June. If we don’t see numbers drop significantly before then, June won’t be possible. I’m a Chair or Governors... our Head teacher is planning for certain scenarios, but she don’t know either. No one knows.

Vaginandtonic · 31/03/2020 09:10

All these things might be 'important' but they're not essential, and they certainly require more than 'minimum organisation'!!

Try having a dc in Year 11 missing their GCSEs and your definition of 'important' might change

I think that's a bit harsh. I would be devastated if my child was in Year 6 tbh, especially if they were all going off to different schools. I know it sounds really silly but their whole primary school life cut off like this is really difficult, and I do think an 'ending' is very important actually.

namechangenumber2 · 31/03/2020 09:11

@tenlittlecygnets , I've got both (yr 6&11) and whilst I am worried about GCSE's etc I'm also worried about the transition my yr 6 isn't going to get, the closure etc.

Just because someone has it harder doesn't make it tough on others

HigherFinish · 31/03/2020 09:11

They’ll open in May.

Our curve is so flat now compared to Italy, Spain, France. We’re levelling off. Give it a few more weeks to come back down the other side of the curve and they will be open in May.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 31/03/2020 09:12

Realistically though, I take it vulnerable staff would still be required to stay away? At our school that was over a third of staff. So I don’t know how school could function.

namechangenumber2 · 31/03/2020 09:12

Easy not tough! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Lifesbetterwithwine · 31/03/2020 09:12

I’m a TA In Reception. Really hoping that it’s safe enough for schools to reopen mid June. Would be lovely to get the class back together - even just for a few weeks - before they head into Year One.

tenlittlecygnets · 31/03/2020 09:12

I think that's a bit harsh. I would be devastated if my child was in Year 6 tbh, especially if they were all going off to different schools. I know it sounds really silly but their whole primary school life cut off like this is really difficult, and I do think an 'ending' is very important actually.

I have one dc in their last year of primary and one doing GCSEs, so I can see it from both sides, but I know whose life is being - and will be - more affected.

Eggcited · 31/03/2020 09:13

They’ll open in May.

Your source for this?

As I know 2 headteachers who would love a source with such clarity.

Vaginandtonic · 31/03/2020 09:13

Our curve is so flat now compared to Italy, Spain, France. We’re levelling off. Give it a few more weeks to come back down the other side of the curve and they will be open in May.

Aw, bless!

fedup21 · 31/03/2020 09:14

Most schools cannot open safely whilst those on the vulnerable list of people cannot work. That’s why schools were starting to close the days before that Wednesday schools announcement.

If the government says those vulnerable people are now completely safe and can go back to work, then schools can safely staff their classes and open. If that happens and things are completely normal again, the holidays can take place so all the poor kids who have been working their socks off from home, can have their summer break as they deserve.

HarrySnotter · 31/03/2020 09:14

I hope things open up in the next few months. DD starts reception in September and she won't get to say goodbye to our fantastic childminder who she's been with for 3 years. I'm sure you can take her to see her childminder @pippong. I hope they're shut for as long as is necessary to ensure the safety of the wider community.

I don't think they'll cancel the school holidays. I wonder if they may want everyone to have some time to get out and about safely and restore their lives to some degree after being indoors for so long, before they send the children back. I think many may struggle with their mental health after this. That being said, that's bloody difficult if you are working and have to fund or find childcare. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.

BiddyPop · 31/03/2020 09:15

And in fairness, DD's teachers are still working incredibly hard, so much so that a survey was sent out from school last week to gauge the levels (there had been complaints to the Head about too much work and students being overloaded - it was a 50/50 response on overloaded/about right from students, 33/50 from parents, with 16% saying not enough Grin). But basically, still working hard as if in school - DD had a geography test last week and is working hard on the 2 "classroom-based assessments" that need to be done as continuous assessment elements for next years' state exams.

And as far as I can see, there not being much opportunity for water cooler chats these days but some snippets in passing, while DD's school seems to be working particularly hard at keeping normality, most schools and their students are actually well-engaged here in Ireland. Primary schools sent out packs of worksheets and things to work on to homes. Secondaries are mostly doing a combination of video classes (there;s a very funny Hog, Foil and Arms video going around of a maths class online - which DSis (a teacher) and DD (student) have both said is quite realistic although the girls in DD's school aren't quite so smart alec'ed towards the teachers) and sending out assignments electronically. And that schools are getting in touch with parents where the students are not doing enough.

I certainly wouldn't expect those teachers, who have changed lesson plans and learned a lot about teaching in new ways incredibly quickly, as well as continuing to just teach the curriculum and support their students as best they can, while often having their own caring responsibilities at home themselves (including their own DCs to teach and supervise alongside teaching their classes), to have to give up their hard earned holidays over the summer.

Angel2702 · 31/03/2020 09:16

I would like to think that maybe the year six could at least get to visit their new high schools before September even if the rest of the school isn’t running. To be able to do transition stuff and go back to at least have their leavers service would be good as they have missed their school week away, their leavers party, Southwark cathedral service and so much more.

Oreoed · 31/03/2020 09:16

Ah good point about the second curve, maybe after 12 weeks they will reopen, and then close for 'summer' in Autumn when it's expected. I know that is a big expectation of teachers to move the 6 weeks off, but I guess it's unprecendented times.

HarrySnotter · 31/03/2020 09:17

They’ll open in May.

Our curve is so flat now compared to Italy, Spain, France. We’re levelling off. Give it a few more weeks to come back down the other side of the curve and they will be open in May.

Do you even watch or read the news? @HigherFinish. It will take longer than a 'few more weeks'. Where is your source for this declaration please.

Delatron · 31/03/2020 09:18

I think it does depend on when the peak is? Initially they were wanting to push the peak until May/June. Now they are saying it will be April.

There will then be a second wave. Surely we want that to be in August? When it’s quieter. Hence if we peak April then I think some kind of staggered return in June/July will be likely.

Everyone going back to school and work at the same time in September as we head in to autumn and flu season wouldn’t seem like the best plan to me. We don’t want a second wave in November??!

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 31/03/2020 09:18

Our curve is so flat
Can I just check what definition of flat you are using?

SpokeTooSoon · 31/03/2020 09:20

I’ve got everything crossed for a few weeks of schools from mid-late June.

We’re not waiting for this thing to pass. We’re trying to control the spread. Getting things back to normal over the summer will help that. People will still get Covid but the NHs will handle it better in the summer months.

It’s also essential to have children at school of you want people to return to work - to rescue an economy we are destroying.

Hormonecrazyhell · 31/03/2020 09:22

If you track the uk death % with Italy, starting at the point when we had both had 10 fatalities we are 2 weeks behind them, on track to suffer as badly, adding to that the already 12 week shielding for the vulnerable schools will not be open b4 September term, I don’t know if they could bring forward the September term? I doubt it. I wouldn’t be surprised if the vulnerable (flu jab and over 70) are told to shield until there is a vaccine, so even in September schools could be understaffed

LaneBoy · 31/03/2020 09:22

I imagine September but I do think it would make sense to open for a bit in June/July, as part of the “switching lockdown on and off” process where they test things to see what happens to the infection/death rate and then stop them again. As PP have said they may do that knowing it’ll only be a matter of weeks before they close anyway, so it’s a short term measure.

They could even just have particular year groups, like the year 6 and 11s to get their proper ending.

Punxsutawney · 31/03/2020 09:22

Ds is year 11 and so it will be September for him as schools are not going to want year 11 back even if they reopen.

Ds was diagnosed with autism at the end of last year and things have been really tough. He was already massively isolated before all this started so i am worried about him.