Are they using R, Y1 and Y6 as an experiment?

[Crunchymum]

To see how the R rate is after these year groups go back?

Dd is y8 - the least worst year to be off like this. I would say, in primary, the three years identified would be the most in need of being IN.

Yes

They'll monitor the R value after those year groups go back and if it stays below 1 they'll open up schools to other year groups, yes.

Should send year 10/12back at the same time?

Probably not secondary yet, especially upper, because they're more like adults in terms of risk? They want to see if there's a rise in cases with children going back first: if lots of teachers, parents and their families start contracting it, they'll know they can't risk the older pupils yet either. Possibly.

Luckily the year r and 1 kids are great at social distancing so a relief all round for the staff.

No, it is about balancing risk and working towards the least possible overall harm and these years are the ones with more children most at risk through not being at school.

Yes they are experimenting with the youngest children.

There really is no other explanation. Why send these groups back in? As usual, no proper reason from the government.

Year 10 and 12 would at least make sense.

Notanotherusernumber why are those group of children most at risk out of interest ?

Why are R and Y1 most at risk from not being at school? Any vulnerability reasons aside.

I would say possibly yes for Y6, and use R Y1 as a "control" group as they are less risky

It’s a balance with the economy, R and Y1 difficult to work from home with. A 9 year old it is easier etc

Hmm I won't be consenting to this. My Yr 6 child will be sitting this one out.. It's not worth the risk.

I assumed it was because the younger kids are, the harder it is to teach them remotely, and then year 6 for the transition to secondary school. Just guessing though.

You could just as well argue that they are "experimenting" with the other year groups to see what damage six months of isolation and no education or social contact with other children does to them.

No options are risk free.

Yes! Can't see any social distancing being maintained by reception children. The classes are small and can't see of any provisions like separate desks like in schools in other countries.
Wonder what steps they are going to take to make the schools safer. Ours is a three form school - definitely will be large social gathering for pickup drop.

My daughter is in reception and she won't be returning in June as the government's guinea pig. I think they need to reduce class sizes massively for this, my daughter's reception class has 32 children. How do they expect 4 and 5 year olds to social distance?

Fern I would guess they think R and Y1 are at most risk from neglect at home (as parents try to WFH and can't give them the attention they need) and also most likely to fall behind educationally with a large gap - as six months is a very long time when you're five.

I don't think they are expecting kids to social distance

All we need to prove it is a grinning photo of a cabinet minister dropping their year R child back to school like Selwyn Gummer and the burger.

@starrynight19

Early years and year 1 are more at risk of suffering from lasting developmental disadvantage and for some children at a greater risk from potential neglect etc. Year 6 is important for the transition to secondary, children who miss this may struggle at the start of secondary which can lead to lasting disadvantage.

There is also the mental health aspect. Many year 6 are struggling particularly with missing their end of primary journey.

Overall, the current school situation is widening the disadvantage gap and the impact is likely to be worst in these years.

No they are not expecting them to social distance. They have just deemed the risk to be insignificant

@starrynight19 as a Mum to a 5yo 10yo and 13yo I would say my 5yo has been affected the most by school being closed . Purely on the experience of my own dc his emotional wellbeing, physical wellbeing and educational wellbeing has been harmed or more at risk than his siblings. Not sure if thats what PP meant but that's my interpretation and I have to agree. He needs familiarity stability routine and normality they simply dont understand why their world are upside down all of a sudden. Of course they wont social distance they dont understand it properly but I agree they should go back sooner than later.

I think what other countries are doing is things like keeping the children in the same small groups all day (so no assemblies or swapping around classes, and breaks at different times from other classes), taking temperatures on arrival and staggered drop-offs - to avoid parents socializing/being crowded. I don't think anyone would suggest that five year old are made to be 2m apart at all times. This isn't the only way of reducing risks. The keyworkers children are still in school, and these are the sorts of things they are doing too.