Review point of a year 1 teacher

[Snuggles81]

So after reading a 101 negative posts about schools, teachers and so on I thought I'd offer the view point of a year 1 teacher and one people might not be expecting.
I welcome the move to get schools opening for more children BUT with realistic expectations on what can be achieved and the reasons behind opening.

As a teacher I have a duty of care for my pupils that includes both their physical and mental well being.

This means that social distance between myself and my pupils will not be maintained! Working in year 1 many children will be tearful coming into school, I can not and will not leave a child tearful and without comfort. When teaching a concept to children, modelling and scaffolding with resources generally won't be done at a 2m distance.

Year 1 learning has changed in many schools and like mine offer continuous provision similar to EYFS which means children don't sit at tables all day, in a highly stressed situation like we are in, is no time to introduce formal learning to the children.

Having smaller classes of 15 children means the children can not be offered a full time place, we don't have the staff and space. The guidance states we have to clean the areas the group are working in after the session which means it would be impractical to have a group in the morning then a different one in the afternoon (also if you work with children you will know that afternoons are challenging for learning and focus is harder).

When the children go back, it will be based on their well being not delivering the curriculum.

The government needs to be honest that they are sending the children back for childcare reasons, hence the younger children back first, the two year groups which are the most difficult to social distance. That I don't have a problem with, I am already offering that.

Parents and teachers need to be able to make an informed decision about going back to school for their personal situation.

If schools are back on the 1st June, I will be there as I have made the informed choice and weighed up the risks for physical and mental well being for myself and pupils. BUT I am honest in what I can safely deliver, I can't social distance from the children, I will be putting myself at risk. The parents at my school will make their own informed choice about whether they send their children back based on the information given to them

If other teachers choose not to go back because they feel unsafe, they are within their rights, the same as any employee in the country that do not feel safe.

People need to stop condemning teachers for fighting for the rights of children and themselves. Our work conditions are extremely different from most. We aren't lazy, we are being honest about what we can realistically offer for our youngest children. The government stated today they have been working with unions, that hasn't happened. All the unions are asking is that the government work with the unions to produce guidance that is actually workable in schools.

I am also a parent of primary and secondary children, if neither have the chance to enter their school buildings before September is going to have a negative impact on their well being and make September challenging. That doesn't mean they should all be back at once and back to normal lessons but the opportunity to have some time in school for their well being.

We all need to be honest about schooling and be realistic in what can safely be offered to pupils.

We want to go back and are not saying no with no alternative. We are saying wrong age group to experiment with and how are the children being protected in the best manner and then ourselves. Social distances with the older ages is easier, get the routines established, introduce the younger ones slowly going down the years observing how it goes, what works well and does not and then moving down to the youngest. Each stage carefully monitored so that by the time the youngest come back school is generally running on a smoother line and the youngest fit back in just as they do when they join in nursery and reception

I'm so stressed out now by all this on top of everything that's going on. So upset

purple its not going to benefit your child if you are so stressed sending them.

I am considering it because I am not overly scared of the virus. I do have some fear of course, but our risks are pretty good as a family.

But I may not send him if I am worried about how it will be.

I do understand the concerns of the teachers but that's a battle for them to have.

If I think it will do more harm than good then I won't see him.

But then I really can't see anything changing in September. If anything I think it will be worse.

I agree @meercatmama, I think it should be have been y6 and 5 to start with. Smaller numbers initially and easier to implement some sort of social distancing. Then gradually introduce more year groups. But no we have got all the tiniest in. I must admit I'm worried. As you, I am pretty sure I've had it as ill before lockdown and I still have breathing problems 9 weeks on too.

OP, you sound lovely and like you really care about your class, like all good teachers do. However, I am a bit shocked that you imply you won’t even attempt to keep children to socially distance... What does your line manager say about this? And your colleagues? How will you reassure parents you’re doing all you can to keep them safe from the virus?
I know it would be hard if not impossible, but to not even try? We’ve know children can transmit the virus even if they don’t suffer from the affects. I hope you’re in a part of the country with a low infection rate and not somewhere with a large BAME population or lots of multi-generational households.

Cyberworrier has voiced my thoughts exactly, OP seems very sure in her decision to not distance herself from the children but frankly that goes against all of the guidelines and could help spread the virus. It also doesn't help teachers and support staff who wish to practise social distancing (as they have every right to do) when there are teachers like OP who are determined not to.

And as a parent I would not be happy to see my child's teacher giving cuddles, in fact I don't think I would want my child in that class. We have spent weeks avoiding physical contact with other, even close relatives like Grandparents, so what message does that send my child who understands exactly why we need to practise social distancing. Sorry OP you sound very caring but I think your actions are misguided and potentially dangerous.

My 5 year old is a reception child and has been in throughout. She receives a lot of 1-to-1.

The children are allowed to play freely within their groups but the groups don't mix. She gets all the cuddles and care she needs. It's very different to the school they left but it's a weird new normal and it works.

And I would rather my child be given a cuddle even with the risk than being left distressed. It's madness to want a young child left distressed. Then they start fearing school and then they get anxious and it spirals. Mental wellbeing is just as vital as anything.

I understand teachers concerns, however watching the Danish school on tv today the head and teacher seemed happy and confident and the children had adapted well to the new situation. When if ever will you be happy to return if no vaccine is ever available. Surely we all have to think how we can move forward

We can not compare to other countries with very different school systems.

In Denmark, children start school at 6/7, the schools go up to y8/9. Class sizes are 20. So reduces to 10, and younger ages are as low as 5-7 in a 'bubble.' So the secondary age staff are teaching the lower years, and across a much bigger school.

From the report, not all children are in by any means, as a teacher said "the ones at home want to come in" or similar. They also have a bigger focus on outdoor learning anyway and their schools are better equipped for this.

Denmark has had 550 deaths. I can't comment on their testing

Schools are still open now and all will endeavour to make it work, but the risks are real. Children do carry and transmit it, and more are asymptomatic.

I actually would rather we trial it now rather than sept, but it's a trial, not all schools will manage the 1st as that was stated to be the earliest time they could open. It would then make sense to review and reorganise over the summer.

At the same time, staffing is going to be a huge issue. Schools were closing prior to official closure due to staff absences linked to COVID and risk factors.

Of course schools will make every effort. They are doing so. Let them get on with it.

Mental wellbeing is just as vital as anything.

Hmm, I would have to disagree with you there. Having seen the effects of losing a family member on primary aged children as a teacher, I would say that stopping the spread of the virus is more ‘vital’.

It is unnatural for children this age to have to socially distance- the government were wrong to spring this on schools. It is not the way to start the safe reopening of schools.
However, if it is so happen, schools should be working to make it as safe as possible, in the interests of all children, staff and wider community rather than burying their head in the sand and pretending everything is normal.

Children who need it will be cuddled.

My pupils haven't socially distanced as are sen, but have been in tiny groups of 3-4. Many need physical handling so not touching isn't a option.

The key thing will be regular good washing of hands and huge amounts of school deep cleaning.

A return to workbooks and working from a screen, more outdoor learning than before.

But it definitely won't be all children in full time. And no, teaching will be more akin to childcare in that teachers will give tasks that the children can do as independently as possible, revising prior learning only. You can't give children things they can't do in circumstances like this. New learning will have to wait for a while.

The children's learning will be about how to adapt to the new routines and how to work more independently with fewer hands on resources. Thank goodness for IWBs.

@Frustratedsenmummy yes but you are thinking about the needs of your one child. Which, before all this started I would have 100% agreed with. But these are unprecedented times and we cannot continue to behave as we would under normal circumstances. Why else would we all have put up with this lockdown for so long? I recognise its not natural, I understand it is very hard for young children, and actually I think that the decision to send the youngest back first is wrong, simply because they need more support emotionally. However if this is going to happen then it needs to be done properly.

@NeurotrashWarrior working with SEN children in very small groups is of course completely different and under the circumstances you describe I agree that these children should be given emotional support. And I admire and respect you for continuing to do so. But you can't compare that to a class of 15 NT children.

No I'm not at all horses. 15 is far too many. In Denmark at that age it's 5-7.

To however told OP she was not responsible saying she would not socially distance. She was making the point that she would continue to do her job 100%. As a parent you can't send your r/Yr 1 child into school and expect them to socially distance. Imagine a birthday with 15 child and imagine you trying socially distance them - impossible.

Completely agree, and for me this even potentially stretches to September. Parents, teachers and SLT all need to have realistic expectations of what the children might achieve academically. They’ve missed a lot of school and topics may not have been covered, and if they have been it won’t be the same as having been in school.
Also, I guess we’ll still be washing hands a lot etc in September. This takes up teaching time.

Plus the kids will need time to settle back in to full time school, obviously some parents are keeping theirs off until September and some of those children might find the transition harder (they might be totally fine).
I just don’t want there to be a situation where SLT are on teacher’s backs about how their children aren’t achieving the same as last year’s cohort (and trust me, if it sounds mad, that WILL happen in some schools). Teaching will be impacted by this for a long while.

She was making the point that she would continue to do her job 100%
Deliberately ignoring the enormous risk to the health of the entire school community, in order to be doing what was previously “100% her job” shows worrying obstinacy and a cavalier attitude to the situation we find ourselves in.

Again, I question what her colleagues think of her ideas (not to mention parents). Also as PP says, she would be giving children very mixed message as to social distancing which they will be required to uphold in other public spaces. Overall- the OP is well intentioned but her ideas are ill-thought through and irresponsible.

Horses, I'm not personally in. I have moderate asthma. I've had huge admiration for my colleagues as always. The staff have kept it as normal as possible for those pupils but it's been their decision and all staff have been consulted at every step.

If I was I'd still find myself hugging a child if absolutely necessary, but it would put me at risk.

My main point was we can not compare to other countries at all. Their class sizes for younger pupils are much lower than 15. That's been a highly unreasonable guideline. France for primary, according to a friend, is groups of 8.

The guidance hasn't been risk assessed by medical advisors and has been highly unreasonable. And yet I know teaching staff are working really hard to solve the riddle they've been set.

The criticism and lack of understanding by many parents about this on mn has been awful. Thankfully in rl it's not like that.

Also, I have no idea what's going to be much different in sept.

She was making the point that she would continue to do her job 100%
Deliberately ignoring the enormous risk to the health of the entire school community, in order to be doing what was previously “100% her job” shows worrying obstinacy and a cavalier attitude to the situation we find ourselves in.

Don't bash the op. She's working to the best of her capabilities within the guidance given. Only Criticism directed to the government is appropriate here.

I'd personally consider colourful face masks to protect my pupils from me, possibly using when closer to them.

Neurotrash agreed we cannot compare with Denmark, so annoying that people are making these comparisons, completely different set of figures to start with and smaller class sizes. Hope you are keeping well.

To those who feel I am being not being responsible, I would in every situation try to remain socially distance, and if possible the children to BUT in reality the youngest of our children are NOT going to be able to and I cannot tell children who are distressed that I can not comfort them.

The whole point of this post isn't to criticise anyone for making informed choices about what they would do next. As we keep hearing schools need to back whether in june or in September, we need to find away, but also be realistic in what can actually be achieved with those younger children.

The whole point is if we have social distance that much that we have to keep our children away from each other, is it really that safe?

Well if you expect a year 1 or reception teacher not to care for a child emotionally by giving them comfort etc when they need it then don't send your child.

You’re right- and sorry OP for being a basher (autocorrects to badger). I just felt a lot of people were reading your OP to mean business as usual and was worried that you were implying it would be. Your most recent post is a lot clearer to me.