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.

Sorry, got distracted whilst posting - the third teacher will provide learning for those at home.

OP, just read your thread about mental health. I have read many threads on here about children with anxiety and poor mental health due to lockdown. My children are not phased in the slightest by it all and are as content, happy and well adjusted as ever. Despite attending school with social distancing measures in place. They do not 'fear' each other as you suggest. Healthy children with good mental health are more resilient than you seem to anticipate? Again, we cannot make policies around a small minority. If your dc have poor mental health, hence your concern, then obviously you will have to decide what is best for them, but please do not suggest that schools should have to base decisions on a minority.

Perhaps it is the responsibility of parents to be explaining all of this to kids in a way they can understand, rather than building up fear amongst their children.

@PrivateD00r we live in a world full of policies made around a small minority though. Parents are of course responsible for helping them manage the world, but perhaps part of that is to question it on their behalf.

I am pleased to hear that your children are currently enjoying school. That is very positive.

I would also mention, without wishing to sound insensitive to those who are experiencing stress and anxiety because of CV and lockdown, large large numbers of children state that school is a huge part of anxiety and stress during 'normal' operation, especially older ones. There are lots of children who are thriving , or at least coping very well, in lockdown. Kids are actually, on the whole, pretty tough.

Piggy, for sure wearing masks is awful. Sometimes I feel so short of breath with my mask and visor on, I can barely finish a sentence. I am thinking screens might be better and just masks for a short time when needing to be closer to a child?

We started off wearing no PPE with asymptomatic patients, but now wear it for everyone, just in case. We only have to wear it if we are within 2 metres of the patient though. A well ventilated room helps too but I don't know if that is possible in all schools, they always seem very warm and stuffy?

No easy answers and I do think a September start would be better to allow schools time to put measures in place and to see what works in other countries.

My DS is quite happy at home. Thriving with remote learning. He will be disappointed when he has to go back to school, and he wasn’t unhappy at school. And I assume he will be one of the first back as he is in Y10

** OP, just read your thread about mental health. I have read many threads on here about children with anxiety and poor mental health due to lockdown. My children are not phased in the slightest by it all and are as content, happy and well adjusted as ever. Despite attending school with social distancing measures in place. They do not 'fear' each other as you suggest. Healthy children with good mental health are more resilient than you seem to anticipate? Again, we cannot make policies around a small minority. If your dc have poor mental health, hence your concern, then obviously you will have to decide what is best for them, but please do not suggest that schools should have to base decisions on a minority.

Perhaps it is the responsibility of parents to be explaining all of this to kids in a way they can understand, rather than building up fear amongst their children.

I don’t think that this is a very kind or insightful post.

I am also very pleased for you that your dc have robust mental health congratulations.
It is wrong to insinuate that parents are responsible for any dc who are not so robust Mentally.

Your post was quite, smug and preachy tbh.

I just don't have faith in schools (unlike supermarket leaders!) to source screens and put them up really. But I guess that is another issue. essentially, I guess I have to park myself somewhere in a room and keep my distance . My room ahs no windows!

I certainly won't be foraying into the corridors too often. Which will be a problem if I want to wash my hands !

Strange, I know what you mean. I suppose I more mean it doesn't sit right with me to never use masks in case a child relies on lip reading, or to not implement social distancing measures in case it impacts on a child's mental health.

We need to do what is right for the majority.

We have implemented changes in my work that I never thought possible. Initially we all resisted the changes, citing various reasons why. But actually it is all working. The service is continuing safely which is the main thing really. Hopefully we can eventually return to our old way which definitely has a nicer and fluffier approach, more holistic etc. I miss that side of it but now understand why we had to make the changes we did.

We are all going to have to adjust, anyone returning to a job will find the same. I genuinely believe children will manage better than you think.

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I think everyone’s circumstances are different and some children will be happier in school even with the new measures whereas some will be happier at home.

Beer, I am sorry to hear you feel that way. I was really trying to get at the fact that those of us for whom life has continued as usual have a different perspective. I think if we had all cocooned in the house and let fear build up like so many families I have read about on here, then yes I would expect my children to be suffering. I see it as my responsibility to try and not let that happen. I certainly don't expect everyone to feel the same. Seeing me and DH go to work unafraid has clearly prevented my children from being afraid.

I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to continue as normal and still send my kids to school, albeit only 2 days a week. I can see from this thread, many would not tolerate these school conditions. Personally I find them very beneficial to my children. I am not offended that some say they would not send their kids the way I am, just as I don't think you should be offended that it is working well for my family.

Absolutely Arf, but you won't know that unless you try it. I don't think people should be making assumptions. Did I forsee ever being happy to send my children to school in these conditions? Of course not! But my children are very happy therefore so am I.

I am still sending my daughter but school is absolutely not being done within those conditions for those that are in at her school. It's awful for their mental health and the school themselved aren't prepared to do it. If they get forced to by the LA or government then there's going to be clashes.

@PrivateD00r but who decides what is best for the majority. Some would argue it would have been best for the majority not to have locked down at all. The decision makers in our country have proven themselves wrong again and again.

private

It’s really not about what you think is best v’s what I think is best.

It’s about not making people feel responsible because their dc are not in what you claim is the ‘majority.

While I understand your point of view..

Your opinion is not the only legitimate opinion.

This is true beer but I do think on MN the damage to MH to children of lockdown is a line (sometimes cynically offered up by anti lockdown agitators) and I think it only fair to point out that MH is far more complex than this and that there are children on a daily basis whose MH is affected by school, friendships, social media, etc etc and a large number of children are coping fine : I think it is only correct to point out that to say all children's MH will suffer is a bit of a broad brush.

It would be viewed as that MN sin of stealth boasting if someone said their child's MH was fine, or had improved in lockdown ,and I guess that is why you are not hearing that. My DS's definitely has : he no longer has 30 GCSE exams to worry about. I actually hope this whole period allows some decision makers the opportunity to consider the punishing effect of our exam obsessed , target driven , work work work culture on young people's MH.

In the hubs, in my authority, you sign a risk assessment to say that where possible you will adhere to social distancing. Employers have a duty of care to employees and service users, therefore staff not making an attempt to social distance are at risk of losing jobs. Now within this there is understanding a wee one may need changing, comforting, but, wven thisnmust be done with consideration to social distancing. Whilst we cNnot force kids to stay 2m apart at all times we need to attempt to do and to remind kids, we also need to ensure that the environment allows for this and actively encourages this. What we do and how schools will work will be decided by those who employ us and we will have to do our best to manage all expectations and support kids as best as we can. No schools post lockdown have returned as normal so I expect we will see different for a while yet.

@Ilets Class sizes for older children are typically around 30. Though since the advice is to stay home if you have the slightest hint of anything wrong (sniff, cough, etc) and parents are able to take paid time off work to look after sick children up to 12, attendance isn't generally 100% at the moment.

@piggywaspushed I totally agree with you that school can be a cause of stress and upset, especially in the senior school years. There will be children coping fine, and here we come back to the socioeconomic advantages that some children have.
This whole thing is so complex, weighing up rights and responsibilities, mental and physical health. I'm glad I don't have to do it. I was looking for some hope for my children really.

@muffinface thank you for your reply. How is social times managed please? Are teachers in general in support of the measures in place?

There is hope for your dc strange change can be especially difficult for many children, you’re not alone.
You may choose to phase your dc back to school once you have more info about how your school will manage and what they will put in place.

I agree im concerned about these kids that they cant possibly cope with a few weeks at home (doing a bit of work and going on walks /cycling etc). That they canot play alone. Tbh that is a useful skill. Occupying yourself.

Although they say kids cant transmit cv to adults - they dont say they cant transmit to children and clearly adults can give it to kids.

The aguments are really polarising people as the im alright jack people dont care about others.
Just as older teacher vs young vs vulnerable but not shielded.
Unfortunately the reality of this shit situation is our choices (and gov) directly affect each other.
The teacher that doesnt want to wear a mas will infect colleages, children etc
Likewise the parents that dont want their child to wear one their child might infect other kids
The child who wont wash their hands properly or after the toilet may make everyone around them ill.

Only idiots would say we didnt need to lockdown.
Sweden has had a lot less deaths so either their infection was slower so more stayed inside as they had warning
They have better vit d levels
Lower air pollution
Lower bame population?? The somali there are being more affected.
Healthier citizens?
Better healthcare?

I cant see how uk schools could have them all outside the playground isnt large enough.

At this current r0 well anything over 0 we will have more people infected by sept therefore more immune people less key workers contagious.
It is very infectious but the infections will slow gradually as more people are immune.
And hopefully if all workers do wear masks we will reduce the transmission.
I think the issue is more that kids cant play together outside in parks etc even. Maybe only children should be allowed 1 friend to pair with.

I so wish we were more Swedish in approach

In what way @Ilets? I wonder if the Swedish people do when comparing themselves to the other Scandinavian countries