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

[Concerned7777]

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?

I’m a teacher and parent of a year 6 and year 9. Can’t wait to get back to school and my daughter will go back in June. Really wish my year 9 was going back then too. We cannot stay like this forever. It is really worrying reading all these threads.

It's quite horrendous that you think teachers are doing nothing. At my school we have been open for key workers children as well as recording videos, making PowerPoints, creating worksheets and projects for children at home. Everyday this is sent to the children via SeeSaw, uploaded to the website, sent home through a text as well as printed off and delivered in weekly packs to children who don't have internet access. As well as this, we've been delivering food packs to vulnerable children. This is on top of the 15 hours per week of directed tasks we have been given to do my our head teacher. I'm working longer hours than I was on a normal school day. I'm reluctant to return to work due to living with an immune compromised person who has ended up hospitalised the past two winters from having a cold. I've visited the shop once per week for the past 8 weeks and that's it. But now I'm expected to spend 6 hours per day in an enclosed space with 15 children who j have no idea if they've been following lockdown rules. They're not expected to social distance from me and I'm not allowed to wear PPE. I'm not sure of anyone in my position who would be happy to go back in.

Deelish we have to agree to disagree then.

I for one don't think its at all practical to repeat a year. And it would be incredibly unfair on the children, especially the older ones.

So no, I don't think he's thinking of his students.

This is why I think the government need to row back a bit. We need to get R low and cases down and test and trace working first. If R goes above 1 we will have to lock down again. There's no point pubs opening if they have to shut again 3 weeks later. I actually doubt pubs etc will open then because I don't think the government criteria will have been met.
If R goes higher but still below 1, cases will still have reduced by September, but just not as far. A good test and trace will also help. I think that will go a long way towards making some kind of schooling reasonable in September.

If there's no need to socially distance in schools, then come on, lead by example and fill up the chambers with hordes of people

This ^^

@Rosebel did they say why October? That seems a very odd time to say the would open.

It's not going to be normal school in September according to our secondary head.

He's sending us details tomorrow but his plan is y7,8,9 return September. Might not be day 1 of term but definitely September. They will be getting a mixture of in-school lessons and online learning

Y11,13 get transition support online. They are going to work with primaries with y6s

Y10,12 are getting some teaching and face to face meetings after 1st June. They are starting UCAS advice online from this week.

I made the mistake of engaging on social media in an argument about schools reopening. There were wails of “won’t some think of the children” and hyperbole such as sending kids back in June was akin to sending lambs to slaughter.

When I asked what difference people expected by September, as it’s sure as heck there won’t be a vaccine, I was met with accusations of not caring about teachers/children/the world.

Fact is that CV-19 is not going anywhere, we ARE gong to have to adjust to a new “normal”. I couldn’t care less what decision other people will take regarding their children’s schooling, I will be making a risk-assessed judgement call on what is best for my family circumstances. I won’t judge anyone else’s decision, and in turn expect no one else to judge me.

Its criminal that we don't have a good test and trace now but that's for another thread.

I don't agree re pubs. I think the govt open them as I think the damage to the economy will become more and more of an issue and actually worse than the virus itself.

I also think household's will be mixing quite extensively. Which is completely and utterly non sensical as its how it will spread. And I don't just mean within their social 'bubble'.

Hadenough

Agree to disagree

I think they will be open, but not 'as normal'. Hopefully we will have some more information by then as to how best to do it. My kids are currently Y4 and Y7, so I don't expect them to be back at all before then.

Pontypridd, Are you really that hard of thinking?

"Why are teachers more special than any other profession?"
Who has claimed that they are? Turn that around; why are they less special than transport workers who are now afforded better social distancing measures and PPE.

"Why are teachers on full pay and doing nothing? They are in our schools anyway. Will they continue to be paid if schools don’t go back in September?"
BECAUSE WE ARE STILL WORKING!!!! Are you really unable to comprehend that even if we're not actually on the premises (although many of us are as well), we can still be working from home.

Fucking hell.

But if the R value goes above 1 we will HAVE to lockdown again or else overwhelm the NHS etc.
It is surely better for the economy to wait another couple of weeks than have a second ( or third or fourth) lockdown.

No. It looks like we are planning for more social distancing. Half classes; rotas; no clubs...basically the measures we plan to use if we go back for June/July.

Covid-19 is looking to cause disruption for the foreseeable future.

Our school is looking for all learners to wear masks provided by the school. Their desks will be 2m apart. Maximum class sizes of 10. Pupils to have a staggered start and finish time. No food on site.

I hoping that all this does not materialise and that it’s deemed safe enough not to take these measures. But this is what my LA is planning for.

@CaveMum my fear now is that our choice will be taken away .
My school have made it clear today that IF (they capitalized the IF) school opens in June they couldn't accommodate all the 4 year groups prioritized and those that would be invited back would be part time only. It was then my thoughts went ahead to Sept and it seemed everyone expected all years to be back. How can my school do this in sept if they cant accommodate 4 school years in June?

I know this is a thread about schools but noticed the comments about uni. My son will be going into his second year but roughly doing 1/3 of this year from home and I have heard a suggestion it will be Jan earliest they will go back for this year coming. I feel so sorry for them they are getting themselves into £10000 debt each year on the course payment alone and if another third of this coming year is learning from home it is very unfair.

As a unviersity lecturer I fully agree with you. Students are being sold short - to continue to charge them £9K PA for a much-reduced experience is wrong.

To the teacher who commented about the huge extent of work they are doing: uploading work to Seesaw, ensuring kids are kept on-track with their syllabus, in some cases being onsite for the keyworkers' children, keeping track of everyone as they're required to do for safeguarding reasons, must be a mammoth task for the diligent ones who do their work properly. They also have a great deal more increased contact with parents (for us done via Seesaw not phone). I know from personal experience that it's a lot harder when you can't work in your natural environment or interact with those you're meant to be teaching. I really value DC's teacher more than ever in these times.

I expect a hard ride for the foreseeable future. Many of my students have disengaged with online learning - nor do I blame them considering the pressures so many of us are under - and now prefer direct email communication to ease their anxieties. I sympathise but the increase in workload this is causing is simply colossal. Guiding them through assessments on an individual basis when you have numerous huge seminar groups just isn't manageable - especially since we're still expected to mark and return this work in the same turnaround time - and if we're non face-to-face teaching in September, it's unlikely this will stop. We'll be marking work all summer under the new 'no detriment' policy. We are not geared up for distance learning and this is very much a stop-gap and no substitute for the live experience. How will we supervise next year's dissertation students? Or properly get to know our new first-years? Not least support those in emotional distress? It's ten times harder doing this very personal work at such a distance, especially when you're (inadequately) trying to home school your own kids at the same time. But any impression that we're sitting on our arses or digging out flower beds every day is far wide of the mark.

The upshot is, we have absolutely no control over the way working life is heading over the next few months. And that's very uncomfortable and discomfitting for people, so they tend to speculate (which will make no earthly difference). I'm taking it a day at a time and telling myself this too shall pass, but at times it admittedly feels interminable.

If you think September will be fun just wait until October/November when flu kicks in as well...

Why are teachers on full pay and doing nothing? They are in our schools anyway. Will they continue to be paid if schools don’t go back in September?

Look, it took teachers a long time to get this coronavirus made up and released on society. I’ve factored in at least a 6 month feet up, so get with the programme.

Seriously @pontypridd
These are some pretty stupid questions aren’t they?

Teachers didn’t ask for this.

@MrsWhites The way I read the new guidance is that it is strictly for the first phase - ie R, 1 and 6 only, and it is clear that if full time places can't be accommodated or staffed for these year groups, then the school should not open to some of them if those children cannot be accommodated in another school (basically, youngest in first). It might, I suppose, be that a local junior school, open only to Y6, might accommodate some infant pupils - that is within the guidance [the first lot of guidance] that places might be found at other local schools, but this suggestion is given very little focus in the new guidance.

I would say that the tone of the introduction has a very 'well, the Government may have an ambition to get the other year groups in, but honestly, we'll worry about that in the unlikely event it comes to pass, let's deal with this part of the shitshow first' flavour:

"The government’s ambition is for all primary school children to return to school before the summer for a month if feasible. This position will be kept under review, and further advice will be provided as and when needed.'

How are you working from home CallMeAngelina?

I know some schools are providing good online lessons.

Here, primary and secondary is scraps of stuff sent out randomly and occasionally and nothing ever acknowledged or marked.

No contact from any teachers. How are they working? What are they doing?

Not all the priority years will be back in June or July.

No one knows what the situation will be September

They won’t be normal by September but hopefully the infection rate will be at a level where it is safe to open in a new way. The countries opening schools are at a different stage to where the U.K. is currently. I’m not against it just doesn’t feel safe too soon because I am vulnerable health wise. So many infections locally, so many of our school pictured breaking lockdown at ve parties.

My risk assessment for my family said no right how. Luckily I work from home so can make that call for my health.

However I totally understand that everyone is different and support those whose situation and assesment is different.

Me explaining my view does not mean I’m criticising anyone else’s

Fully support everyone’s view and choice

@Concerned7777 - I really feel for the school in your situation, as they have interpreted the first set of guidance just a day before some new guidance has been issued [yes, this does happen often; yes, it is immensely wasteful of time and effort; yes, all this should have been in place before Sunday].

Very clear in today's guidance that there should be no part-time offer - either a year group is in full time, or it is not in. Priority is existing keyworker / vulnerable, then other year groups starting from nursery and moving up in age groups.

Here, primary and secondary is scraps of stuff sent out randomly

So because your schools aren't up to par ALL teachers are doing nothing? Nice generalisation there!

I assume the head is saying maybe October either because he knows it'll be impossible to socially distance or because he's preparing everyone for the worst case scenario.
My daughter is supposed to go in to Y10 in September and I am worried about how much work she'll miss but feel even more sorry for those going in to Y11 or 13.