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Original poster

Are we expecting schools to be open as normal by September?

272 replies

Concerned7777 · 14/05/2020 19:18

So many threads on here about whether to send dc back in June or not....totally not the reason for the post I dont care your thoughts either way about June .
But what about September, many saying they're keeping dc off til September but are we expecting everything to be open and normal as it was before? Do we think all classes will return in September full time?

Schools are having to implement changes to open in June with many saying the changes aren't possible or not safe. Some saying it may be child care only not education, part time only and not even able to accommodate the priority nursery reception yr1 and yr6 classes at this time with the current guidelines. If we cant accommodate them now how can they accommodate the whole school a few months later. I doubt the virus will be eradicated by then although the R rate will be lower there is still going to be risk even then.
It never occurred to me until today that a September full school open may not be possible or safe? Am I the only one who thought this or am I late to the party?

OP posts:
Drivingdownthe101 · 14/05/2020 19:21

No, I think there will still be additional safety measures in place in September.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/05/2020 19:24

I hope so. I've got no idea what I will do regarding work if DS can't go back full time in September.

Discobar · 14/05/2020 19:25

No. New Year at best

Original poster
Concerned7777 · 14/05/2020 19:25

What measures do you think will be in place in September? ( I know it's all guess work at the moment) and what happens if it's not possible to implement the measures

OP posts:
OneJump · 14/05/2020 19:27

No. I don't think they will be able to. Maybe they will rotate half in, half out if they keep safety measures in place.

This is going to take a year, maybe 18 months to sort out.

Qasd · 14/05/2020 19:33

No, it’s why I support trying something small scale in June because how to run a socially distanced school is a problem that is with us for the long term so we need to work out the best way to do it!

Deelish75 · 14/05/2020 19:50

I do not think that any school will be running to full capacity on a full timetable in September. I think there is going to be disruption until Christmas at the earliest.
There is a school in my county where the head has said he’d rather the children repeated the academic year than go back too soon.

www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/kent-head-teachers-brutally-honest-4129384?fbclid=IwAR11JKjVjUnrdLN6O2yXsDbMny85BDCX7dpgtgj_BNl6k9hHH4gppbDW3uw

Bigfishylittlefishy · 14/05/2020 20:01

👎 no, definitely not. Certainly no wraparound. Maybe early 2021? (Bloody hope so) 🤔

Ylvamoon · 14/05/2020 20:04

I think the children will be on "reduced hours" in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines for the foreseeable future.

Hadenoughfornow · 14/05/2020 20:05

Deelish I saw that in the news. He was really laying it on thick.

Repeating a year would be worth it to prevent a child dying.

If course that would, but the chances of a child dying are miniscule.

Let's get rid of all the crap that school closures are to save the lives of children. It is to protect school staff and teachers.

I do wish that parents were not being manipulated in this way.

Keep schools closed as it will protect the wider community- fine. But at least be truthful.

user1497207191 · 14/05/2020 20:06

No, it’s why I support trying something small scale in June because how to run a socially distanced school is a problem that is with us for the long term so we need to work out the best way to do it!

Likewise. We need to start in a small scale manner to discover what works, what doesn't etc on an individual school level. National guidelines are fine for the generics, but each school is unique and will have to deal with things according to their own circumstances. Start in June small scale, then ramp it up a bit for September based on each schools' experience from June/July, then a further ramp up after October half term and hopefully some kind of normality for the start of the January term.

MrsSpenserGregson · 14/05/2020 20:07

I don’t think schools will be back on full timetables in September. We will be having another peak in July/August.

I think the reason this magical September is being talked about is because the professor (?) leading the Oxford vaccine trial said she thought it was realistic that a vaccine could be available by then.

SunbathingDragon · 14/05/2020 20:08

Of course not. I wouldn’t be surprised if schools aren’t open in September or else they close again before the Christmas holidays.

Gallacia · 14/05/2020 20:11

I'm starting university in September, all going ahead as normal (so they've said). I know it's not the same as a school, but I assumed they'd be the same.

No idea on safety measures yet tho

Bigfishylittlefishy · 14/05/2020 20:11

@Hadenoughfornow agreed.
I read that article and it is most certainly for the teachers safety, which is fine, but then don’t make out it’s entirely for the children’s benefit. I’m glad my kids don’t go to that school.

thelockdownbellyisoutofcontrol · 14/05/2020 20:11

People mention September as that would be the next milestone date in terms of the school year, but obviously no-one knows where we'll be in September. Psychologically, it's easier to think in short chunks of time so September feels manageable, longer is too much to bear at the moment.

Goatymcgoaty · 14/05/2020 20:13

You haven’t been on this board for very long! September is this magical mystical month when everyone will be happy to send their kids back “to normal”.

I hope January, but fear 20/21 might be a bit of a write off too.

SpeedofaSloth · 14/05/2020 20:13

I struggle a bit with this. I don't think the teaching unions are thinking of children, they are thinking of staff. Whereas I am thinking of my children. My children miss school.

Hadenoughfornow · 14/05/2020 20:14

I do not think the R will be lower in September.

I can't really see what they can do to socially distance in school. So I think we will have another battle with the teachers not wanting to go back in September.

I really can't see that the kids will get any worthwhile education until as a country we get rid of the hysteria that has taken over. I don't mean fear, fear of this virus is good and needed. I mean hysteria that is so evident here and everywhere else.

The lack of trust of the government really doesn't help things - I didn't vote for a cheat and a charlatan - did you?

But rant over. Quite simply the kids are not going to be at their healthiest in September as they will have been separated from other kids for so long. The little germ factories as so many like to call them actually need to pick up germs to keep them healthy. So I really can't see how it is going to work.

Whaddyathinkofthis · 14/05/2020 20:14

No idea but this week I've been into my classroom and have removed all the exercise books, reading books and learning resources from the classroom. So any talk of returning before September has little to do with children missing education!

Hopefully the R rate will have reduced enough by September to be able to manage any rise better.

I don't think we'll be back to normal for a while though.

CoronaIsComing · 14/05/2020 20:19

I hope so as DS has been waiting impatiently since he found out he’d got into his Grammar School in early October to start.

If they made them repeat year 6, I’d have to take him out and homeschool him for the whole of next year as he’s more than ready for high school.

TheABC · 14/05/2020 20:24

My guess is that the summer holidays will give us enough time (if the political will is there) to work out a safe system for schools to re-open. I personally expect it to be partial days and for women's earning power (as we tend to take the childcare hit) to be fucked this year.

On a cheerier note, there is now a reliable antibody test available. So, at the very least, we will be able to measure immunity and find out more about this disease.

||www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52656808||

Chalkduster · 14/05/2020 20:25

I think they'll open for September and early October with the safety measures practised in June then close until February when the flu season passes.
Some of the key safety measures next month, we've been told, are ventilation with all windows open at all times and the children asked to layer up with extra clothes on, outdoor lessons/lunches as much as possible and lining up outside waiting for entry one at a time.
In Autumn and winter this isn't going to be practical or healthy.

Original poster
Concerned7777 · 14/05/2020 20:25

I am very pro getting them back in school asap and probably naively assumed it would happen in June regardless of the hysteria but now I'm not so sure

OP posts:
MadameMinimes · 14/05/2020 20:29

I’m part of SLT in a secondary. We are expecting to be open to all students in September but most likely on a part-time basis. Perhaps half of each year group on any given day, perhaps less depending on the situation. As time goes on we think it’s becoming less and less likely that September will be school as normal.