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?

My eldest is due to start college in September been told to expect 100% on line till January.
School seem to think part time will still be part be here in September as they say they can't social distance a whole school or provide enough staff for the smaller class sizes.

@cantkeepawayforever our LA is only offering part time, agreed between all schools?

All children to return isn't possible otherwise in any school?

No dc headteacher told me social distancing would be in place til December so children would have to be part time

Of course, as soon as more children are added to the mix, and the issues in secondary with pupils not being in 'fixed groups', it is impossible to deliver a 15 pupil 'bubble' model.

65 covid deaths in the education system but no one seems to be upset about that.

@Barbie222

It's difficult, because the clear guidance was only released this evening, so headteachers have been thrashing around in the dark since Sunday, and then again since the first guidance was issued....

It is only guidance. It doesn't have the force of law, but it is very clearly stated that FOR THIS FIRST PHASE:

"Eligible children should be offered a full-time place. "
"Schools should not plan on the basis of a rota system, either daily or weekly."

If / when the other year groups return (and the document is not particularly positive about this), then either the group sizes will have to be bigger OR children will have to move to part time attendance OR schools only offer places to those year groups they can accommodate in full [the latter seems to be the direction of travel at the moment].

@cantkeepawayforever I agree, the introduction did seem to want to distance themselves from the government decision.

I said to my DH it’s almost like the government wants schools to fail in getting children back so they can say ‘well we tried but schools didn’t think it was possible’ 🤷‍♀️

@cantkeepawayforever thanks for clarifying that. My ds is reception I want him back soon as he can be . I'd be ok for him to be back part time , rather that than nothing but long term its not ideal for our children Is it, the effects of this virus is going to affect our children for years long after it's gone

@Rosebel, but what does he think will happen in October? If he can’t open because of socially distancing in September what will be different in October? Surely worst case scenario on that logic is we aren’t opening till we have a vaccine?

I just think it’s odd thing to say.

It is also very clearly stated that there is not an expectation of social distancing:

"We know that, unlike older children and adults, early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff. In deciding to bring more children back to early years and schools, we are taking this into account."

Instead they are aiming to 'minimise contact and mixing'

So I think that there will be no presumption that schools cannot open because of a lack of social distancing (and any planning for the time of opening / part time opening based on this would be on the wrong basis), though there may be some acknowledgement that group sizes have to be smaller to reduce contact and mixing.

I am not saying any of this is right. i am just saying that is what the guidance is stating - there is no expectation of strict social distancing within schools, even at this first phase, so the bubble concept is being used instead.

social distancing is not going away any time soon.
our school is looking at half days or 2/3 full days rest of the week off for different years, classes to 15 max or week on and week off ..nothing set in stone but thats what we've been told from our school.

The problem is we can see exactly how much teachers are working from what our dc are receiving in their home learning. A few worksheets with no feedback (guidance from union apparently), no contact from school at all. This is not just our school but a friends at different schools have said exactly the same. How can you explain that? Please explain. This cannot carry on for much longer our dc are suffering.

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

ODFOD there are so many, many threads where teachers have expressed concern both for their own safety and that of the community. Convenient you have only read the bit about our safety, eh?

I think over the summer teachers need to admit if they will be in or not in September and if not give their notice in. You can’t expect to get paid for a job your refusing to do

ODFOD. I am delivering all my lessons live online every day. I am marking way more than I usually do. I personally will be making the 'everyone else can go back to work and I will - and that includes MPs in a non-socially distanced Parliament because that is what I will be facing in school. Until then, I will be paid for my work by my school as always. Why do you think it should be any different? You need to get used to the fact that teachers and school staff are not some going to accept roll over and literally die. Schools will not be returning as normal either in June for September - do have a look at what is happening in the rest of the world.

65 covid deaths in the education system but no one seems to be upset about that

Yep, a very inconvenient truth. Medical professional and bus driver deaths are unacceptable. Teacher and school staff deaths are just collateral damage. The rate of resignations is going to increase. I would hate to be a head having to manage that on top of everything else.

This is not just our school but a friends at different schools have said exactly the same.

For every parent saying this what is happening with their school, there will be one who is happy with the work being sent.

People are much more likely to complain than compliment. Just because you're seeing negative comments, it doesn't mean all parents are unhappy with the work being sent.

@Lostmyshityear9 we’ve been told time and time again on here that online live classes are not allowed. How come you can?

For every parent saying this what is happening with their school, there will be one who is happy with the work being sent.

Uh yeah, just to chime in, I'm happy with the work we are being sent. There's no deadline or request to send things back. DS is in YR.

I am expecting things to be different in schools until at least early 2021.

@Prontypridd, Yes I've been working from home. Hang around these boards long enough and you'll find a gazillion posts listing all the sorts of things we're doing. I'm not going to bother repeating them now.

No contact from any teachers. How are they working? What are they doing? I
I've no idea what the staff in YOUR child's school are doing. I'm busy with my own. But if you're not happy with the level or quantity of work provided for your child, how about you get in touch with them and discuss it, instead of making a tit of yourself on here by slagging off the entire profession.

@GrimmsFairytales I can see what is going on because it’s online in front of me.

I can see what is going on because it’s online in front of me.

Do you mean the work for your child's school?

Or do you mean you've seen other people online agreeing with you, and they too are unhappy with the amount of work being set?

@CallmeAngelina I’m sure there are teachers working hard at the moment but I’m also sure there are many who aren’t and you know it.

I can see what is going on too. There’s no way teachers at my kids schools are working.

I can't see August/ September being much different to June. Going to be some sort of part-time schooling.

I can see how primaries can kind of make it work, partly by focusing on the academic stuff and letting parents do PE and art stuff at home.

No real clue how High schools make it work.

One strange thought of mine.
Primary schools seem to love the idea of kids sitting in social groups and then wonder why the disruptor tries to socialize at the wrong time the distracting the group.
I kind of hope they go down the very old fashioned route of rows of kids facing the front, and less opportunity for the distractor to disrupt.

Btw I also suspect the DoE are kicking themselves for allowing classrooms to be built 11m2 smaller than before.

I'm also happy with the work being set.

DS is Yr6, he's happily getting on with his work, and able to communicate with his teacher and classmate.

DD is YrR, she does seem to get a lot, we don't always get through everything, but her teacher is fine about, there is no pressure. I think with YrR they give out a lot to make sure that we (the parents) aren't constantly having to keep them entertained.

I’m sure there are teachers working hard at the moment but I’m also sure there are many who aren’t and you know it

How would we know it? We have our own classes to manage and work with. We are not working with our colleague's classes (unless we are aware of illness, for example, and are supporting in that capacity). We are not in the job to police the work of others, even assuming we could work out what other people were doing from their own homes.

As previously stated, if you are unhappy with what your school is doing, take it up with your school. Complain to the Head and then to the Chair of The Governors if need be. But make your complaint a very real one not something based in fiction because you happened to read it on the Internet.

How can you explain that? Please explain.
I can't and won't explain what an anonymous school I've no knowledge of whatsoever is doing. YOU need to find out and take action if you're not satisfied.
All I can tell you (as can many other teachers on here) is that at MY school, like thousands of others, we are working hard to give good quality, accessible and meaningful work out to our children, and the feedback we are receiving from parents is overwhelmingly positive. They say it is pitched right, with extension work for the more able and differentiated options for those who might struggle, and the quantity is manageable.