Schools opening in the summer holidays!

[Biscuit0110]

GAVIN WILLIAMSON confirmed the Department of Education is looking into the possibility of propping up summer schools to help pupils catch up with their work after the pandemic.

It seems that after ruling out using the summer holidays to allow the children to catch up, it is now firmly back on the table!

What a positive development - will you send your child to school over the summer?

I would. DS1 is going into year six in September and am concerned that he is still (2 months in) only doing revision activities and not new learning.

I'll send DS in

IF it's run by qualified, up to date teachers
IF he's in a class with his peers - not a mixed age class
IF I can see an overview of the teacher's background (like Oaks Academy) so I'm satisfied the teacher is as good as his current ones (if it's a 'new' teacher using the school facilities)

But

If it's going to be run by a 'Dad's Army' group of parent volunteers supervising work set by a teacher - no thanks. I can do exactly the same from the pleasurable surroundings of our garden in timescales to suit us. I want people who are qualified to teach - not a bunch of babysitters.

I'll stick with the teachers and TAs that are working hard for him at the moment thanks.

I would use it, if safe. Summer isn’t going to be much different to now, it’s probably a write off. My 6 year old transitions to juniors and he is struggling in some areas so would benefit.

Agree only if run by teachers.

@peoplepleaser1 perhaps you need to wonder why it is so hard to recruit and retain teachers? It seems that it's a big problems in your child's school, as it is in many schools across the country, so ask yourself why that might be the case.

LondonJax
I'll send DS in

IF it's run by qualified, up to date teachers
IF he's in a class with his peers - not a mixed age class
IF I can see an overview of the teacher's background (like Oaks Academy) so I'm satisfied the teacher is as good as his current ones (if it's a 'new' teacher using the school facilities)

Don't be so negative.

Where is that "can do" attitude that has been spouted by so many on various school threads.

As a recently early-retired teacher, I seriously doubt many will be persuaded to risk their health and even their lives to join a summer childminding scheme to help working parents. I enjoyed teaching, but I'm done now. Some of the rude, disrespectful attitudes of the type displayed on this thread hastened my leaving.

I wouldnt put mine, all they have been doing is school work during this lockdown, children and teachers need time off.
Teachers have been putting alot into the home schooling so they deserve their holidays
My children have had alot of work and we have been doing it so if parents have been doing it children shouldnt be behind.

I’d volunteer my time to help in some capacity. I’m not a teacher. I’m NHS. Maybe I could be a dinner lady!

(Lots of retired nurses signed up the the nhs in the covid response).

Lots of retired nurses signed up the the nhs in the covid response

Were they paid for their work?

As this is asking retired teachers to come back to volunteer.

Daffodil101

TBH. You would serve much better in the office where the whole school first aider is situated.

My sons school lost its school nurse as she rejoined the NHS as part of the covid recruitment. (special school)

Are the MPs going to work over the summer? I bet they will have some time off by then.

I won’t be volunteering. I’ve only just finished work for the day, I’m working really, really hard to provide high quality lessons and feedback for my pupils. I’m on a 0.6 contract and I worked part of Easter and will be doing some at half term too. I need my holiday and my young children need me to be there for them. It’s not fair on them if I work all summer and who will look after them? I can catch pupils up next year. Also, if they’ve been keeping up with the work I’ve been setting they won’t really be much behind anyway.

bakingbernie,

REALLY??????

You're on these threads, sounding off as if your opinions are fact, and then you blow it all by showing your complete ignorance on a very basic fact of life.
Being paid a salary over 12 months is NOT the same thing as being paid for work carried out equally over those 12 months.

I wouldn't send mine, but they're only at the start of primary and doing ok. If they were in an exam year, or I felt they were falling behind in some way then I would.

Damned if they do and damned if they don't!

Undoubtedly some of the younger DCs will have little/no benefit from this..but for those in Years 7/8-10... a very different matter. Very proactive indeed if they're aiming at pre-GCSE years.

@jaguar67 I don't see how GCSE students will benefit from being taught by non qualified volunteers?

How will my year 10 benefit from a non specialist volunteer when she has had online lessons from her actual teachers who will assess gaps on her return and teach accordingly? She has been working really hard and is looking forward to her summer break.

I actually think a lot of staff at my school would agree to do some work in the summer if it’s paid and probably for year 10 students to bridge the gap. We already do a one week summer school for new year 7s. We have already given up our Easter holidays, may half term and not been paid for them. I am working about 6-8 hrs each day from home and 4 hours a week in school there is a huge amount work going on in schools. My dh however primary school teacher is working 3 days a week in school and 1 day a week from home the remaining one days are being given in lieu of holidays and which to me is totally rubbish.
My dd1 in year 8 is doing full time lessons set and marked by her teachers each day- state school and my dd2 year 5 is doing some work set by school and lots of online learning too.
We will all need a break away from school completely from work to be able to actually relax. It’s actually very stressful working in education at the minute(as I know it is for lots of other sectors) but no one is suggesting anyone else should just have to work for free without any holidays.

Not a chance! DS (10) is in year 6 at a fantastic state school and is still receiving a full timetable via google classroom but extra year 7 topics via Oak Academy. He’s working really hard! It should be SATs week this week so he wouldn’t be learning anything new and after that it’s fun stuff, transition etc which he’s likely to get if they go back on June 1st. Then he needs a break before starting at his Grammar School which I’m sure will be exhausting in that first term! He’s had enough of primary school now, which I think is natural. The only way I’d send him is if his new school wanted him to go in and lessons were taught by the school staff, which I wouldn’t expect to happen.

Not a Chance
My ds has had a full timetable
And it’s killing us
There are tears and tantrums every day
I feel like I’m drowning
Our health is suffering massively
I’m counting down the days til July

I don’t think it will work anyway
No-one to staff it for a start
Most teachers I know are still working in some capacity, worked through Easter hols.
Kids across the country will be at different stages, some with no work, some with full timetable, some with minimal.

I definitely would I will need to work. Il have so much to catch up on after being furloughed so long. Cant exactly go back and take holidays, I'm guessing we dont accrue them anyway when furloughed?

Not sure teachers will want to work though.

@Siriusmew - I thought they're attracting graduates with specialist knowledge and ex-teachers?