What are schooling conditions like in Sweden? I've just watched a video to prepare children to return in the US and I'm wondering if it's a spoof?

[Strangerthanstrange]

This is the video. m.youtube.com/watch?v=-gI1Oi_rJSc
I'm hoping it's a spoof. Have Swedish schools adopted these practises does anyone know?
My kids school is small, but that's both in number and indoor space. The keyworker children have enjoyed school as far as I know here.

mine would not be going if this was their school
Great then more room for the children to social distance that have to go and have no other choice.

So... They can't use half the school, sit miles apart, have a teacher who is wearing gloves (why?)

But they can all use the same toilets.
Load of nonsense

@freddiefox that’s the conclusion I’ve come too, if you don’t have too send your children, you shouldn’t. I’m a SAHM, and I feel my children are better off not going than going like this. Then there’s more space for children who have no choice and less stress/juggling for teachers.

I'm really interested in how Swedish schools are running things, so I hope someone can tell us. I'd rather we followed their model, they are doing ok, and seem pretty sensible about the whole thing (all countries could do a lot better wrt carehomes so let's not follow them on that perhaps)

Not meant to sound antagonistic but wondering where you think the work for your DC will come from if schools return and some DCs don't?

They are still banning gatherings of over 50 people in Sweden and have social distancing so I doubt schools are quite 'normal'.

Not a chance would my 5 year old cope with that set up. Her school aren't socially distancing at the moment because it's not possible with little kids.

We’ve just been sent worksheet packs and given links to online resources. To be honest, we’ve been doing our own thing for the most part anyway. I’m happy to buy workbooks, textbooks etc. I don’t expect the school to provide any work if they reopen and we choose not to send them, or remove them and reapply at a later time if needed.

Surely all children who are old enough to understand already know that there is a bad illness about and you have to stay away from other people so that you don't catch it (or whatever age appropriate language you've used to explain it to your child)?

I'm not sure why it's harder for children to understand this at school (once they've got over the initial instinct to run over to their friends) than when they are out for walks? All the children I've met while out know they should keep away from me, and that they aren't (for example) allowed to play in the playground at the moment.

Personally I'd think it was more upsetting for children to be at home with no contact with anyone apart from immediate family, for an extended period than to go back to school with "rules".

I don’t think it’s a legitimate ‘welcome back’, but neither do I think it’s a spoof.

It looks to me as though a teacher/school is making a serious point and trying to illustrate the reality of what schools would have to look like with social distancing and simple hygiene measures in place.

Sweden have not excelled at pandemic planning.
They have excelled at schooling and have been world leaders in good practice in schools for years. Sweden have a fabulous school system with lots of government investment, small class sizes, high status for teachers who are extremely well trained, I believe to manage a nursery there you must have a masters degree.

They’ve kept the schools open because they can as a result of years of investment in the buildings, layout and class sizes. They can implement good corona virus practices without many changes.

For some reason I can't get the video to load. But I do live in Sweden, and I'm a teacher but for older children with a younger son. Schools and preschools here for children up to 16 have remained open. Social distancing is supposed to be happening but it's pretty much impossible in practice. My son's preschool - like many others - have switched to being outside for everything except meal and nap times basically, which is essentially what is being advised here (i.e. try to be outside whenever you have to be around people). No masks here - the main guy advising policy has said that he thinks they would give a "false sense of security" and really we must all just try to keep 2m away from each other.

Clearer than what I was saying above beer, thanks .

I do think parents who want DCs back could also mount campaigns to get proper proper investment in the fabric and building of fit for purpose schools. The default here is cramped, overcrowded and very poorly ventilated buildings with very uncomfortable furniture and poor cleaning regimes.

Thank you MuffinFace that's very interesting. Are older children in classes of 30 like here, or 15, like we could change to, or less?

@piggywaspushed I want my children to attend school. I appreciate there has to be some sort of adaptations but I think these should be as minimal as possible, and to learn from those who have done it successfully. Mental health matters too, and to be treated all day like you are something to be feared, and for small children to miss out on vital play is a big problem.

I think the problem there though red is (some ) parents who are very much giving the message to their DCs that if they just hold on a few more weeks they can go back to school where things will be 'back to normal' and Daisy and Johnny and Bobby can play together and have fun .

And the flip side is the parents who have allowed their children to play freely together with friends during lockdown (glares at neighbours over fence) whose children definitely will not understand when they go back! And these are the ones who will present the defiance and behaviour issues.

Our education authority is currently sourcing PPE and informing schools that when the reopen more fully it will need to be used. So they either buy it themselves or join in the buying with them.

I agree OP but the return to school in other countries very much to me looks more damaging to mental health.

The default here is cramped, overcrowded and very poorly ventilated buildings with very uncomfortable furniture and poor cleaning regimes shocking considering how much public money probably went on the "Building Schools for the Future" initiative...

I do think, however, that the younger children can't so it is a bit of a myth. Little children are more biddable in lots of ways and tend follow teacher instructions and games. I think the 10 - 15 year olds will be the bigger problem!

OP, of course they play. They have mostly been outside. They still play ball games and races and all sorts. They are spaced out in the classroom but mine haven't been doing and work in school, just arts and crafts so not 'sat at a desk a lone all day'. I don't expect the social distance between kids to be maintained at all times despite them doing their best, and I really am not in the least bothered. My kids are at greater risk of me giving them the virus since I work with positive patients; rather than running too close to a child who may be infected.

As I said in my previous post, parents who send kids in have to accept the risk. However teachers should not have to and should be allowed to protect themselves. If that means wearing a mask when needing to be in close proximity to kids, then that is ok with me.

I completely misunderstood your perspective to be honest, I thought you live in Sweden. You mention Sweden and the US in your title but actually you live in neither country, is that correct? The video is actually from Canada, not Sweden or the US? I think you are getting yourself tied up in knots unnecessarily here, you really need to see how things are going to look in the country that you live in. If it is the UK, no one knows yet how it will look.

The BSF initiative was absolutely awful. Hardly any schools got that funding. The one near me has a lovely exterior shell but behind it is the usual crumbling 1950s crap. Everything in schools is done on the cheap.

The government already rushed out produced a report that said teachers do not need any PPE (note : if they observe stringent social distancing!) so I don't think masks will be A Thing. That said that report was published before the thinking started shifting on masks.

Personally, I would rather not wear a mask,as I think I would be more inclined then to touch my face and fiddle with the mask as I have bad hayfever. And schools are very hot places .

Not meant to sound antagonistic but wondering where you think the work for your DC will come from if schools return and some DCs don't?*

Our school is still setting work for those who choose to stay at home. It’s three form entry and children who attend will be split into two groups in the two largest rooms in the school.

Also, “going back to school” here has turned out to mean one day a week!

private that is one of the best and most balanced posts I have read on schools from a non teacher on MN for some time! Thank you for thinking of the adults!