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.

@EYProvider I don't think they would do that as teachers are contracted to have the summer off. They are paid accordingly. It is unfortunate if some schools aren't providing work. But I know loads of teachers and every one of them is still working at the moment, including through the Easter holidays to accommodate key worker children.

The only reason the government won't want to open up in August is purely money driven.
The wage bill for staff would be huge as teachers etc are not paid for the holidays.
I'm not knocking anyone; I only learnt this myself from reading threads on Mumsnet!
I bet it's a big factor I bet. Have to see how it pans out I suppose. Will be interesting to see what they decide.

How would you manage the teaching of children though? You have children from different year groups, with different children in everyday and different adults everyday? Not sure how it would be workable ( and maintains social distancing at the same time)

every time time the education secretary said vulnerable children he meant those with a social worker or those in care

This makes sense, but I think it was confused by vulnerable kids not going back soon, which would be medically vulnerable.

I’d be worried about vulnerable kids With a social worker or in care getting a lap top. A too high percentage of those kids will be at risk of loosing it fairly quickly,

My brother went into a care home for a period and he also had a social worker for a period. He’d have had that laptop sold or stolen the day after he got it. Likely same day. And every lap top they gave him. As would every single kid he was friends with. And there is no way the education department don’t know that.

@bluntness Very few children are in care homes these days, they are in foster care.

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

If the government is still instructing holiday parks/hotels etc not to open, then it’s irrelevant what people will ‘expect’. There will be nowhere for them to go on holiday.

GW non committal about schools opening to more children - listening made me think ' no plans at all - so not anytime soon'.

Children 'falling behind' - I don't get - falling behind who/what - it isn't possible? - there will be a new 'norm' when we return to school.

@HoffiCoffi13 okay days out then to the seaside.

Schools won't open until September earliest.

HoffiCoffi13 okay days out then to the seaside.

Visits to second homes, playing in the park and the street. Going to mates houses.

People going to second homes and privately booked cottages.

Very few children are in care homes these days, they are in foster care

That’s so untrue, the number is huge, and escalating annually. Over 2k children’s care homes in the uk.

In fact the more I think about it, the more his statement saying he’d give kids in care and with social workers laptops the more it indicates they are going back to school. It will never happen.

Many of These kids will have their laptops stolen or sold. Sadly enough. Many of them even have parents who will sell them at the first opportunity..

The last resort would be to give these kids laptops, and not just the logistics behind it, the it support required, the logistics of bulk buying and distributing, getting them up and running, teaching kids to use them, fixing them when they are not working, It’s hundreds of thousands of kids.

@Bluntness100 75% of children in care are in foster homes. I know what you googled, you did not read that report properly. The over 2k homes includes any kind of place children live in away from a family home. So it includes all boarding schools, secure training centres, residential holiday provision for children.

The amount of children in what are known as children's homes has been falling for decades. Most children in children's homes are there for a very short time. The ones who arent are those that are almost impossible to place in foster homes.

7,890 children live in a children's home or in semi independent living accommodation. Only 11% of children in care. And those in semi independent accommodation will be 16 and 17 years of age.
The most disadvantaged children should have already been offered a school place.

From the beginning of this the government in wales stated that schools are unlikely to return before September. I honestly think that will be the case for the whole of the U.K.
They have put a massive amount of time and expense into developing online resources for a reason. The welsh government were already looking at children who need laptops and internet and have done since the beginning. Our daily deaths and cases have not decreased enough and we are not even past the peak yet. There is no way schools are returning in may. I would be surprised at June as they have lengthened furlough to the end of June. Come July with only 3 weeks left of the school term they may possibly trial everyone back in schools to see if that causes a massive spike in cases. 6 weeks holidays then back in September. This is all total conjecture mind.

Yes with furlough I think anyone with a furloughed parent will just keep their child off school. Or most will anyway. I am furloughed but making my kids do school work.

To those who say, home learning until January or even throughout the 2020/21 academic year - for some children that would be disastrous.

In my DH's class, there are a number of children who are not classified "vulnerable" but about whom he is extremely worried.

I feel it's really sad how badly some kids' lives will have been impacted.

And since nothing else can really start back properly before schools, I just can't imagine a 6-12 month complete school shutdown. The impact and fallout would be horrendous.

And since nothing else can really start back properly before schools, I just can't imagine a 6-12 month complete school shutdown. The impact and fallout would be horrendous.

A huge portion of the work force don't need childcare. So not strictly true.

@Jourdain11 why is he worried, are those kids not doing school work at home?

I have teenagers. Loads of people I know with primary school aged children are saying they are happier and more relaxed.

@Bluntness100 I really cannot see how you have interpreted today’s briefing as kids are going back to school soon. I really can’t. A lot of effort and money is being put into online learning. I took the news and the briefing as a sign that schools won’t be back soon.

why is he worried, are those kids not doing school work at home?

A huge number of kids aren't doing work at home, including those with parents at home, as the parents are so busy trying to get the work done.

Loads of people I know with primary school aged children are saying they are happier and more relaxed.

Not the still actively working ones.

Loads of people I know with primary school aged children are saying they are happier and more relaxed

Not my experience at all. It may be different if I was furloughed. It may be different if DH wasn't still going to work.

By my own personal situation is plonking the 5 year old om front of tele or table whilst i try and work.

Eldest can be a bit more independent but that's hard work too since it's a battle and I can't have battles when I am supposed to be working and often in meetings.

why is he worried, are those kids not doing school work at home?

In some cases, it is because of this - and they have little ability to do anything about it in these circs.

But in other cases, it is because he suspects or knows that the kids don't have a good home life. Lack of attention, lack of stimulation, lack of care, lack of money, lack of control... Not to the extent where they are officially "vulnerable" but to the extent where it is concerning that they don't have any regular contact with another adult during this period.

@alloutoffucks I suspect they are not - chaotic home lives, lack of computers etc means they risk being left behind

This is not those vulnerable to coronavirus. It those who were vulnerable before and who will be after for whom school was a constant support