Finally some news about schools

[pontypridd]

www.theguardian.com/education/2020/may/03/revealed-year-six-primary-school-pupils-may-return-on-1-june

But they think they’ll be safe the following week?

They want to monitor the test data and R rate over that week to see how much difference reopening makes.

My suspicion is, especially given Gove's press conference today, when he referred to local restrictions (first government minister to do so) is that they are worried about particular areas of the country as there are places which will be more difficult to keep the R rate below 1 than others.

So my expectation is that as they get to grips with how schools being open affects transmission rates they may end up closing schools in some areas (read this as cities - particularly London) but keeping them open in areas where the R value remains low enough.

Its basically trial and error to see what happens.

I won't be sending my Y6 child. There's non need - they're nearly done anyway! And yes transition blah blah but it's not actually that vital. I'm not having my kid used as a guinea pig.

It will cause headaches for parents who have year 6 children and younger ones not going in! If they do this I bet many won't bother anyway as it will cause too much resentment from siblings. Difficulty decisions for schools and the government.

I mean schools can’t even stop nits spreading.

And yes I also agree that any kids returning to school is the end of social distancing. No way are people going to agree to having to mix (and have their child mix) with dozens or even hundreds of other random families every day but still not be allowed to see friends and family. Or not let their kids see their friends after school. Or not let their other kids in other years see THEIR friends because the government has selected which year groups get to see their friends. Kids don't and can't socially distance no matter what and frankly I think it's more harmful to their mental health to send them in and make them terrified to go near one another than have them safely at home.

Has this been announced by government or are the press just saying it? This type of news will be announced by Boris and not through a news article.

@pontypridd
I'm assuming you're Welsh. Kirsty Williams has said today that Wales will be following their own agenda and will go back when she deems it safe enough. I think it's all speculation until the government or ministers actually says a few Sundays ago people were thinking it was the 11th may.

I really hope they do open on the 1st of June.

I think they'll use Y6 as a test of how many parents will send them in. They don't really need to be there now, no SATS.
Probably only those wanting childcare will send them in as no choice.
Those who don't need childcare can choose for themselves.

I think the independant scientists report will be good, tell us without the politics. Trouble with gov is they get the advice then decide from a political point, rather than a person approach.

I think I've heard this week talk of the government stressing about how they are going to have to have more complex messaging during the lockdown exit period.

The trouble being that there are too many people who are either too stupid to get more complex messaging or deliberately looking for loopholes or justifications about why it doesn't apply to them because they don't like the message.

I don't think the end of lockdown will go smoothly as a result. I think there will be a LOT of friction between people who take it seriously and understand the point and those who can't be arsed.

It'll be on everything from wearing masks, to continuing to socially distance and just generally being socially responsible.

I'm expecting it to be a car crash tbh.

And that is a good enough reason in itself to stay at home as much as possible to avoid all the agro!

DS is P7. I hope he goes back to school before summer holidays. Transition days are not happening. They will get some tasks to do instead and I hope he can do it with his friends before high school starts. Fingers crossed Nicola makes a decision soon. She did say she wants schools to be one of the first things to open. Now to see if she can deliver.

Sending one or two year groups may well make some think no thanks to being guinea pig. Not very enticing. Although some will still be keen I suppose.

Do you know what a spin doctor is? They've been working overtime lately. There's no doubt that the government is feeding the press soundbites like this, to test public reaction. Tony Blair relied heavily on spin doctors.

hmmm i heard year 5 would be going back as havnt they already cancelled sats for current year 6s? year 5 "need" to be measured (apparently) via sats hence potential return if stats continue to show lower infection rates etc

Makes no difference what they announce, my kids are not going back yet.

If I had a child in year 6 I wouldn't be sending them. It isn't safe for everyone else but it's ok to use them as Guinea pigs to see how it spreads. No thanks .

I'm pleased to read this, although if I lived in a different part of the country with more cases I'd be thinking twice about it. My year 6 has mild extra needs and I'm finding it difficult home educating him. I'm sure his year 1 sister will not be happy though that he is going back before her.

@Devlesko
I think they'll use Y6 as a test of how many parents will send them in. They don't really need to be there now, no SATS.
Probably only those wanting childcare will send them in as no choice.
Those who don't need childcare can choose for themselves.
Year six’s in May don’t need childcare though unless special needs. Or very immature summerborns. It’s not nice for them to be alone all day but it’s perfectly safe.

It's what my headteacher friend told me, she's an independent school.

We’ve measured and can fit 4 children in each classroom (old Victorian building) and 8 down the corridor. How big are the classrooms? If they were 2metres x 2 metres you could get 4 kids in, one in each corner, add 2 metres for the teacher so 4 metre by 2 metres, how on earth do you normally get 30 kids and a teacher in?

cantory Sun 03-May-20 21:28:19
Makes no difference what they announce, my kids are not going back yet.
.......
Very sensible, cantory. June 1st is far too soon and it would mean the end of social distancing.

The Guardian ffs - ignore most of the press at the moment I say

Apart from anything else, the government aren't thinking about the safety of teachers and their families.

Gov says they tell us on thursday exit plan...no news till someone in gov says it

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/schools-coronavirus-return-children-learning-18191180

Here's a link for anyone in Wales.