May half term or September?

[Ricekrispie22]

Of course, nobody can say for sure, but if you had to hedge your bets, based on what other countries are doing, do you think schools will be re-opening and the end of May or September?

@FlamingoAndJohn you actually think any of that list is a good use of their time ? Wow.

I think we’d completed year 5 by last Thursday. It’s amazing what 1 to 1 support from an adult can produce.

I think it will be June as they need to parents who are at home currently with their children to go back to work. The longer the children are off school surely the worse the economy will be hit, I don’t think we can wait till september.

I haven't seen the actual, so she may have said it.

I really don't know.

What teacher in the right mind wants May? Let’s all get sick yeyyyyy

Interested to hear what actual medical professional say, would you send your own kids back?

I think that they will open to more children, but not all in June. At the moment it is only children of key workers and those with ECHP (or EHCP - I can never remember which way round it is) who can go in. I think this will be extended to year 6, 10 and 12 plus maybe more children who parents have to go back to work in shops or factories etc and therefore can't be looked after at home.

This would be unfortunate for all my children as DS is in year 10, DD1 is in year 7 and DD2 is in year 3. So only DS would go and DS really doesn't want to go back but both DDs do.

Then I think it will be Sept for full schools. Unless we are back in a lockdown again after relaxing it for a second (or third) wave to hit. However, September really is too far away to know anything just yet.

At end of may half term. 1st June.

I’m hoping that there’s some limited return to school for a few weeks before the summer holiday (in England). Back early July for example. Allows for isolation to kick in for the summer holidays again but gives three weeks of seeing what “normal” looks like on the curve to enable planning for the autumn term (ie if it doesn’t make much difference in rates, then continue with the same approach in September, if it’s disastrous, a completely different approach to September term etc. Also allows vulnerable children to be seen by an adult outside of their family for the first time in many months which would be good for a child protection angle.

There are many reasons in favour of opening schools up again (as there are for keeping them closed) but leavers' events/sports days/transition are not priorities. Nice to do, sure, but not essential.

I guess its very dependant on personal circumstances. My eldest DD is autistic and struggling hugely with lockdown. But she also has cerebral palsy which makes her vulnerable. Travels to school by minibus (sen school transport) so spending a hour each way on a transport with x amount of other pupils, escort and driver. Small amount of pupils in school compared to other schools but due to sen social distancing would be pretty much impossible. I feel like Im stuck between a rock and a hard place and that's without considering the needs of my other mainstreamed child

Our school assumes may half term.

you actually think any of that list is a good use of their time ? Wow.

Meeting their new teacher and learning the stuff they have missed, yes.
But what do I know, I’m only a primary school teacher.

If we go back at the end of May/beginning of June, what will happen during the normal 6-week summer holiday? Presumably key workers will still be needed so will the schools remain open for those children? Or will parents take leave like they have done in other years? Will grand parents be looking after children like lots do during school holidays?

If we go back at the end of May/beginning of June, what will happen during the normal 6-week summer holiday? Presumably key workers will still be needed so will the schools remain open for those children? Or will parents take leave like they have done in other years? Will grand parents be looking after children like lots do during school holidays?

I hadn’t really considered that! If school is back as normal, I would think not.

@Ricekrispie22 children being looked after by grandparents was one of the big concerns about shutting schools. Even if restrictions are lifted I am sure the guidance will still be children should not go to grandparents to be looked after .

Wow @ChrissieKeller61, if that is your attitude no wonder you think school is pointless.

I would say parents should sort it out like they would anyway. You cannot expect schools to be open every day of the week when things are ‘back to normal’. Education staff need some time off, also there is the issue of pay. Contractually most staff have that period accounted for in their pay.

End of May/beginning of June!!

@StrawberryBlondeStar I agree with you about the grandparents thing, which is making me slightly inclined to think that schools might be asked to stay open over the summer.

Other forms of childcare, such as holiday play-schemes would presumably be open, so no, schools won't need to be asked.

September. They won't have sorted widespread testing by May.

There will always be people who would like a source of free childcare over the summer, but if it is considered safe to open schools for "business as usual" (to a degree), then summer holiday cover can run as it usually does.

Also grandparents looking after kids won't be possible until post vaccine

@ChrissieKeller61 slightly offended! I’m a teacher and there’s nothing ‘pointless’ about the summer term.

Schools won't open over the summer. Teachers don't actually get paid for holidays – their pay is averaged out over the year – you'd be expecting them to work from whenever schools reopened to October half term for no extra money, when the vast majority are currently working now supporting at-home learning, doing reports etc. The teaching unions won't allow it to happen.