My cynical view on why they are making sure they open primary schools ASAP

[DebbieFiderer]

It's simple really - if they get primary school pupils back before the end of the summer term then it is business as usual in terms of childcare and they don't have to keep schools open over the summer holidays for keyworker children. Anyone else think I am right, or am I being overly cynical and they genuinely think it's the right thing to do for the kids?

@Hadenoughfornow I would love mine to go back as we could do with a break! However one is quite clingy & has lapped up the time at home so will take some time to settle. I would like to maybe try a morning session etc & then see how it goes. We've also made considerable progress in the younger ones reading which could be just that it's clicked but we have spent 1-2 hours a day on reading, phonics etc. For me the benefits are socialisation & play with others but I'm not sure how much of this they will get.

@Ciwirocks have you read the guidance?

Of course they want to get a bit more herd immunity over the summer. I wouldn't be surprised if all primary school children are back by the end of June.

The school I work in will be taking half of the children in the morning and half in the afternoon, focussing on English and maths - there won't be time to fit in other things.

The classes are far too big, 30 young children for 1 teacher, with sometimes a TA, is ridiculous at the best of times.

I am just curious where we are going to find the teachers to manage smaller groups? and where are we going to find the space?

@ciwirocks
The children in my class regularly sit together on the carpet while I explain something, or show something on the whiteboard. It’s the only place where they can all see. Otherwise they’d be too far away, or have their backs to the board. It’s where I teach all of my phonics lessons.
We also do lots of activities in small groups where we all sit around a table and I show them concepts using manipulatives (practical resources) and that just wouldn’t work if we’re social distancing and having to clean the resources between each use.
On the other hand I could space all the kids 2ms apart, give them worksheets and tell them to get on with it.

@ricekrispie22 I don’t mean to be snappy I am just getting stressed and feeling like I am letting my kids down. There can’t be social distancing in schools between children, parents need to accept that but something needs to change to allow children to be taught properly. If they go on like this for another year or more they will be massively disadvantaged. This is going to still be here in September so a way to work through this needs to be found. My understanding is that children will be in in classes of 15 but part time. My brother in law is a primary teacher and is ready to go back and expecting to teach not supervise worksheets that parents have been doing at home.

Yep and I agree, better to have a second wave in summer when you can have the natural break in August and it’s not cold and flu season.

People seem to think something dramatic will happen on the first of September and it will be safe for kids to go back. We need to work through this now. Not have everyone like back in September as we go in to cold and flu season.

Just like so many others, teachers will need to adapt their classrooms and teaching to do the best they can for their children within the guidance as far as possible.
I’m sure the vast majority have the interests of the children and their education at heart and will be flexible.
The unions (especially NEU) have been trying to whip up the membership for their own long-term political agenda but I hope teachers are able to make their own assessment of the national situation and their key part in any move towards normality.

I really don't get the "we want the second wave over the summer, not in winter" argument. If the second wave is the summer the chances of a wave during the flu season are no lower - we'll just be calling it the third wave instead. We're nowhere near the levels of infection required for herd immunity, so whether there's a wave between now and winter makes no difference.

I am surprised by teachers on this thread already saying they won’t be able to teach children and will just be supervising online learning. Other countries have sent their children back to school and they aren’t just supervising online learning. Yes it will be different, but if schools are suggesting all they are going to do is supervise online learning then there will be questions of why we are paying teachers and why not get lower paid people in to “supervise” and just expand the online provision like Oak National Academy?

You may also find parents deferring school for a year and keeping children in nursery, which will impact schools budgets (and therefore teaching staff can afford).

I’m not saying it will be easy, but I think teachers won’t be doing their cause any favours by just announcing they will not be teaching and will just supervise online provision.

Just like so many others, teachers will need to adapt their classrooms and teaching to do the best they can for their children within the guidance as far as possible.

Well said. How about the teachers coming up with solutions instead of throwing obstacles in the way all the time?

@Ciwirocks the guidance says

"It is still important to reduce contact between people as much as possible, and we can achieve that and reduce transmission risk by ensuring children, young people and staff where possible, only mix in a small, consistent group and that small group stays away from other people and groups."

"For primary schools, classes should normally be split in half, with no more than 15 pupils per small group and one teacher (and, if needed, a teaching assistant). If there are any shortages of teachers, then teaching assistants can be allocated to lead a group, working under the direction of a teacher. Vulnerable children and children of critical workers in other year groups should also be split into small groups of no more than 15. Desks should be spaced as far apart as possible."

Very few schools (state) have the resources for the above so I can't see how learning can be delivered in the way we are used to. Also lots of parents won't send their kids in & due to staggered timings online learning will still need to be provided so the staff will be spread very thin.

It does make more sense to let there be another spike over summer where they can lockdown again while schools would be closed anyway.

I was thinking last night, everyone is going on about not sending kids back until September, like September is a magical month when covid will be gone or something! But September is the month when kids start getting ill again, when seasonal illnesses start. I imagine even in September there will still be restrictions and people will still be expected to self isolate if there is any sign of an illness...this would mean the seasonal things likes standard colds and bugs will mean keeping kids off schools and whole family again for any sign of illness.

My daughter spend last winter going from cold to cold to tummy bug.... She's only 2 so gets everything from nursery. So if all nurseries get this level of illness in their kids then most pre schoolers won't really be able to be in nursery for long!

Its going to be a nightmare!

See if kids go in part time though they will just have their usual teachers and TA’s with 2 different groups of 15? The school my kids go to are just throwing bite size links on the website so can’t see how that takes much time. Yes they will be there for reduced hours but they should be taught properly while they are there.

Instead of throwing barriers, teachers need to find solutions, lots of people have had to change the way they work to deal with this. Schools will have to do the same, there is no alternative really except sit at home and wait for a vaccine which is not feasible.

I don't think anyone believes that September is somehow magically going to virus clear. They think there will be more data available and we will have been able to track methods used by different countries.

I ordered summer school uniform last week - so I am very much planning on sending my kids in as soon as I can. But I find the disparaging comments about those parents that would prefer to wait tiresome and patronising.

I am a teacher in the independent sector with all lessons being taught live and lots of extra activities being offered. We have smaller classes , kids who are used to technology in lessons and generally have access to good WiFi, although there are issues. Students from around the world are attending lessons. I never have my camera on, but I teach live via the call; I can call students individually if necessary. The feedback has been amazing and they are making good progress. Some students are doing really well without the distraction of their peers. My questions:
Why can’t all schools deliver live lessons? - don’t need a video call. The students really benefit from the contact. Alternatively record the lesson?
Surely it is better to deliver teaching to those that can access the lesson, rather than not at all?
It is a lot of work planning remote lessons, but the students really do benefit. Even if there was one a week?
We have planned and are teaching new course to post GCSE and A level; we are marking and delivering assessments as normal
All of the above is obviously more achievable with the range of resources we have and smaller classes,, but we have to do it because we want our kids to get the best education possible and, let’s face it, we’re not guaranteed to have our jobs if parents don’t pay fees,
Some children will be disadvantaged, but surely all children shouldn’t suffer because of this. Most teachers will pull out all the stops to support students catching up etc.
Parents:
Ask for the SOW - scheme of work so you know what your child should be learning. It may give you the opportunity to feel more in control and possibly share ideas with other parents.
There are so many resources out there, YouTube videos etc. If your children are able, get them to make a plan of what they should be covering and do some mind mops with key ideas
If your children are very small, I think reading/talking to them is so important. If you can read to them every day or get an older child to do so? Listen to audio books etc. I really wouldn’t worry about formal schooling - my daughter was deemed average and not academic and went on to do really well at GCSE/A level and is on an amazing degree course. They will all get there in the end, even if it isn’t through formal education.
Please communicate with your school to make sure you are being given appropriate work and if you’re not happy, tell them!!
If you don’t have any technology, just have conversations about life, current affairs, nature, culture, celebrity, sport, bloggers - whatever they are interested in.
It is ok to ask for help on here and in real life,

@ciwirocks we are talking about children here....from nursery onwards. Sure it's easier to get adults to social distance at work when everyone knows and understands the risks, but trying to get little ones to social distance etc will be impossible. 30 kids with 1 teacher and possible 1 TA? Bit more difficult than an office full of adults!

Keyworkers must usually need to sort out their own summer childcare. It will have to revert.

But the point is not to get kids to socially distance but to mix in smaller groups? That’s exactly what they guidance says. You can’t lock young kids away until they learn to stay 2m away from others

Agree that schools shouldn’t need to be open over summer, nor should they have been over Easter. They aren’t childcare and parents would have had to sort childcare anyway or use annual leave so no different.

Children are being sent back so parents can work is the crux of it. Economy over health it would seem.

@Ciwirocks well it depends on the individual school doesn't it? In my school the TAs are largely assigned to look after the kids that need additional help. Also our primary closed early because lots of staff were ill/shielding/self isolating etc. It's not hard to imagine that staff may be thin on the ground & is it fair to ask TAs to teach alone?
My school has provided excellent online provision which I'm sure takes a lot of work.

I worry about the mental health of our youngest children when schools are set up as proposed. Unable to mix with the wider school community and half their class, desks apart, sparse classrooms with no soft furnishings, staggered start and finish times. Surely Year 4+ would be better equipped to deal with this?

why can’t they properly teach children?

Because that isn't our priority. Our priority is going to be their mental health - resocialising children who haven't seen each other for weeks; supporting children whose parents have lost their jobs/income; supporting children who have lost family members to the illness; supporting them with their fear; reintergrating them into a routine/school life.

We won't be 'teaching' them when they return for a matter of days at the end of this term. This is not the time for 'bridging the gaps'. This is a time for keeping them mentally and physically safe and nurtured.

It is not certain that having had CV, you become immune and cannot get it a second time.

That would pose a problem for the 'herd immunity' theory. Also, for an effective vaccine.