Government reportedly considering schools going back in 3 weeks

[FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue]

On BBC News 24 now, article in tomorrow's Sunday Times says that ministers are considering schools going back in three weeks time. Plus allowing some shops and social gatherings, but not pubs and clubs.

Hadenoughfornow I think that's a very sensible idea. Close in the winter months open through summer.

I’d agree this is open to interpretation. I’ve no skin in the game, my daughter is 22, so I’m not putting a bias on what I hear. I don’t think anyone will know till the next review mid may.

I’d guess if we keep the numbers declining it may be after may half term for all healthy kids with no under lying conditions.

DBML he is deliberately being vague. He is a politician.

Its always possible to read into their statement what you want. Doesn't mean that is what will happen though.

And this bunch are not exactly known for telling the truth.

Remember this man got sacked for breaking the Official Secrets act and the lied about it.

Over the summer holidays - I dont know why people would want them open over it but I still think he didnt actually answer it with a no. He was a consumate politician in that I think with currently no plans its an answer with wriggle room

I dont trust him as far as I could throw him after that performance!

I don't know if any local school who is providing lessons. My setting is running like a holiday club so no official teaching taking place.

My own children are not attending school for the above reason (I would prefer to school them at home) and also because my husband is working from home and he can be with them when I am in school. I don't want to put added pressure on the teaching staff by sending mine in unnecessarily.

@Hadenoughfornow I'd prefer next January onwards, home learning until then. Possibly even through the next academic year. All pupils back only when there's a vaccine, hopefully Autumn 2021.

However September as opposed to June at least means another four and a half months for knowledge about Covid-19, it's spread and possible treatments to advance. If lock down were to be lifted late summer my children could have a few weeks of getting out and about locally a little more before being expected to return full time to school.

I think in July they will allow the re-opening of private nurseries, out of school clubs etc because of childcare necessities.

Most kids use tablets not laptops

Very difficult for kids over a certain age to do their work on a tablet. I’ve an iPad Pro but if I was using a normal one I’d struggle. A Lap top is much more efficient.

I'm with you @Appuskidu

Bluntness, every time time the education secretary said vulnerable children he meant those with a social worker or those in care. In terms of school speak that’s what we use velnerable for. The laptops are going to those children. He did not mean medically vulnerable to a Covid-19. It’s very clear that in education terms, vulnerable is a different meaning to the medical use that has been used a lot.

@Hadenoughfornow I had forgotten that! He was awful to watch

@Appuskidu I think that would be the earliest time as well and a sensible approach

I assume no teachers are happy having him after that performance

Surely your headteacher is talking about during the Easter holidays?

No. Very clearly "childcare" only.

The clear attitude is we shouldn't be using them. But what else is there to do. I have "mission critical" covid related work and need to do that work from the office.

Even the day he had his own teacher, he painted, played, then she put him in front of a movie. Then talked to me about all the homeschooling they were setting up online. For home.

It's so frustrating.

Picsinred I'm with you on this. I'm critical to the support that's needed, I need my daughter even though she's 13 to have some adult in put into education. I hope her two days this week go well!

Why not bring forward the summer holidays and send all the kids back at the start of August?

Surely this would solve the problem.

PicsInRed there would be an outcry from certain sectors of parents if they thought some children were being taught in school and therefore 'getting ahead'.

Even in schools where there will be teaching going on, they will only admit to doing exactly the same tasks set for 'home learning' a bit like homework club.

Watching the conference, as I did the Andrew Marr show, is a politicians way of saying " schools are not opening next month"

That's how I interpreted it

Me too. I thought the opposite of Bluntness. Nice to have another perspective.

I also took the vulnerable ( as a teacher would describe) as disadvantaged children with a social worker or other disadvantaged to have laptops not necessarily the physically ill children in the sense the government mean.

And he certainly didnt answer about school holidays at all

He said no plans for that.

Disadvantaged children with a social worker should have laptops if they need them.
To answer the person who said some parents would sell them for drugs - kids in that kind of situation have already been offered a school place.

And if they have schools going back before the school holiday forget about expecting people not to holiday in the UK during the holidays. Because no one will see why they should send their kids back, but can not go on holiday.

This means that the kids of those of us working full time with our kids in school childcare will receive zero education - even whilst it recommences online for those at home fulltime with fully available, furloughed or SAHP parents.

They can access the same as children at home surely with access to printers at school and teachers to help with queries , they certainly can at my school.

Why not bring forward the summer holidays and send all the kids back at the start of AugustSurely this would solve the problem

It doesn’t seem like the government are in support of opening over the summer.

reefedsail

I can assure you there is zero teaching in my child's school, by policy of the Head.

Even my child's own teacher did nothing with him and then informed me there was now a full daily workload online. I'm not in a position to facilitate that. I work fulltime in a role which will not be furloughed as it's critical work.

I feel like working women are being put in a really impossible bind here. Were effectively told to keeping working and let our children fall behind over the next, what, months? Year? More. Or ask for childcare furlough, take the career risk that entails or, worse, resign and brave U.C.

Also, I'm starting to wonder, is this why "childcare furlough" was designed?

Were they expecting the schools to remain closed and online learning to be long term?

Are the mothers being tacitly expected to step back, go home and homeschool?

To be fair, I'm wfh and my kids are receiving zero education, because I'm teaching all day. My kids are primary. They share the family laptop. I tell them.what's been set and off they pop. They make their own lunch now, so they're learning good self management skills.

Reefedsail I agree they shouldn't be taught and get ahead but please don't forget picsinred and I are saying we are giving nothing to our children in school support. We are not wfh, sahm. We are full time working and struggling with extra work loads and pressure, so having our children in school is essential so that they have access to an adult to help them. By doing two days a week my daughter will hopefully have some chance at keeping up with others rather than getting ahead. I'd like to think a teacher would help her rather than say no.

It's so so hard for all of us, I imagine those wfh and sahm are also struggling with this but they are at home to have a watchful eye over their children. No one has it easier or harder and I'm very mindful of that. It's not a one size fits all solution unfortunately. I'd like schools back soon, even if phased.