I don't understand this idea of all the teachers going into school to look after the YR, Y1 & Y6 children

[UndertheCedartree]

The DC will want to be in their classroom, with their teacher. Otherwise I see little point. Aside from the purely childcare point. But I mean in terms of the benefit to the DC.

Surely it makes more sense for the DC to go in maybe one week in, one week off with a thorough clean at the weekend. The survey at my school suggests around a third of parents won't send their DC in so schools may be able to get away with splitting classes in half.

That's without even considering where will all the extra classrooms come from considering the vulnerable and keyworker DC will still be in? And that the teachers of other year groups will still be sending home work and supporting their usual classes.

[antipodalpizza]

At my DC's primary school they are having a teacher+TA looking after Reception, another pair looking after year 1 and then 2 TAs looking after the key worker children across all year groups.

[SallyLovesCheese]

I agree TAs are not paid for full-time teaching, but many if their contracts will state that part of their role is to take groups with planning provided by the teacher (I don't have the exact wording). So technically they can be directed to do this. (I don't agree they should.)

However, TAs will definitely need the breaks defined in their contract as they're unpaid. So that'll be another adult needing to go into each of their bubbles. Teachers have a "break of reasonable length" in their contracts, not sure how they'll get around that.

[GrimmsFairytales]

There will be no breakfast club, no after school club,

I think this is worth repeating. Even if places are offered full time, many parents / carers rely on at least one, if not both of these in order to work.

[Clavinova]

As others have said, this isn't about education - it's about childcare. There will be no 'education's- I've removed all the books and learning materials from my classroom in preparation. And I mean - all. I just have empty shelves now.

Government guidance:

"On 10 May the Prime Minister announced a roadmap towards recovery, including plans for the phased return of some children to school from the week commencing 1 June" ...

"11. Planning what to teach, and how"
"The priorities for young children at this time are resocialisation into new style school routines; speaking and listening, and regaining momentum in particular with early reading."

"Each school context will vary and needs are likely to be greatest where children have not been able to access remote education consistently. Children who have had limited opportunities for exercise should be encouraged to exert themselves physically, making use of supervised non-touch running games within their group. Youth Sport Trust are also offering some support to schools."

"For younger children, the resources made available for child-initiated learning should be carefully considered. For example, malleable resources, such as play dough, should not be shared and consideration should be given to their safe use, depending on circumstances."

"Resources for activities such as painting, sticking, cutting, small world play, indoor and outdoor construction activities should be washed before and after use (more detailed guidance on this will be included in the guide for early years providers) and where possible, children should be discouraged from sharing these." ...

"During the coronavirus outbreak, schools should use reasonable endeavours to meet the existing EYFS learning and development requirements. As far as possible, children should benefit from a broad range of educational opportunities, but this also provides schools with the flexibility to give additional focus to fundamental areas where support is required following time spent out of school, such as reading."

^"For year 1, where possible schools should ascertain where children have fallen behind or have progressed further against the school’s existing reading curriculum. If they have forgotten aspects already covered, then reteach and practise this material, where necessary reteaching phonics and using appropriately matched reading books to practise reading...

"In year 6 it is unlikely that many of the end of term traditions will be able to take place, for example, whole year or class assemblies with parents, school journeys and trips. Schools should provide opportunities for children to discuss this as it may be a source of anxiety or sadness.Though visits to secondary schools for induction will not take place this year, some secondary schools may have capacity to undertake remote induction briefings or other types of sessions for pupils, for example to meet form tutors, heads of year, or other key staff, or have a tour of the school virtually. You should discuss the options with your secondary schools"...

"Year 6 teaching during this time should focus on readiness for secondary school, including academic readiness, which could involve additional teaching in any subject, but in particular mathematics and English to make up for any losses to learning incurred while at home."

www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools

[ineedaholidaynow]

Teachers still need a toilet break! I know most of them develop a bladder of steel but a whole day is pushing it.

[reefedsail]

Unless you have two adults per bubble the children can't go to the toilet either as they are supposed to be supervised and 'assisted' to wash their hands.

[greathat]

@reefedsail nah, the all important R value will be up, but suddenly "the science" will say that it doesn't matter any more

[greathat]

And the toilet is supposed to be cleaned each time it's used

[ineedaholidaynow]

Isn’t the plan for supervised loo breaks for children, especially as different bubbles will probably have to use the same toilet facilities, and the adult will have to clean them.

[GrimmsFairytales]

nah, the all important R value will be up, but suddenly "the science" will say that it doesn't matter any more

I saw something that summed it up well.

If the R is low then that's all we'll be talking about
If the R is high then we don't need to talk about it.

[CallmeAngelina]

The "science" will say whatever the government needs it to say.

[SallyLovesCheese]

Yeah, can you imagine, ineedaholidaynow, Reception children being told they can't go to the toilet at 11:15am because "Our toilet slot isn't until 11:30am"? Unless there are enough separate toilets for each bubble, there are going to be some wet children, especially in Years R and 1.

I have no idea how the toilet cleaning thing will work. What if there's no budget for a cleaner to be present on-site all day to clean toilets? Doors the teacher do it? Who supervises the kids while the teacher is cleaning the toilet? And will the teacher even be given access to their own pair of gloves to clean with? I can see this could be something else school staff will end up buying themselves.

[FixItUpChappie]

I have an issue with the school/nursery concept being laid out as a choice. Once the "choice" is there and as restrictions ease surely many employers will insist their employees stop wfh? Also how are kids forced to go to nursery all day going to homeschool and get an education?

I think it sounds completely grim and awful for children. Go to school but your mates won't be there. If they did come you'd have to stay away from them. Here, have some random unhappy teacher you don't know begrudgingly spend the day with prodding a pool noodle at you to make sure your never too close. Don't play at the park, don't play period! Don't touch anyone! Don't touch anything! Just sit as your desk like a robot, read and do worksheets.

Either have a normal school environment go back with increased hygiene practices/masks if need be or don't bother IMO. Kids are lowest risk but we seem quite ready to compromise their mental health.

I'm just waiting for my employer to insist I have to start coming in because of all the great childcare "choices" soon to be at hand

[cabbageking]

You can't have part time or revolving provision.
The school decides what is taught. We are teaching after the first week of settling.
Unless things change drastically nothing will change for us in September. We are not taking year 6 but only two classes. The groups are decided beforehand with the teacher and SLT. Their starts and finish are staggered and hopefully they won't interact with any other groups.

[cabbageking]

There is an additional funding stream for additional deep cleans and cleaning throughout the day.

[cabbageking]

We aren't providing on line work for classes invited into school but who choose not to attend.

[ineedaholidaynow]

@SallyLovesCheese I am sure it won't go well

[ineedaholidaynow]

Isn’t the plan for supervised loo breaks for children, especially as different bubbles will probably have to use the same toilet facilities, and the adult will have to clean them.

[antipodalpizza]

There is an additional funding stream for additional deep cleans and cleaning throughout the day.

So will a cleaner be available to do this? I read that teachers or TAs were supposed to clean the toilet during the day - leaving one adult with the children and potentially one adult alone in the toilet with a child who needs help when they've had an accident. Both are safeguarding issues, one much more so than the other.

[angstridden2]

Other countries are trying to get children back to school. If nothing suggested can possibly work, has anybody got any brilliant ideas on how children can not lose out on education where parents can’t or won’t facilitate homelearning and/or don’t have the luxury of whether to go back to work or not if they want to house and feed their children?Not to mention the isolation and subsequent mh problems both children and parents are suffering....

This virus will be around for a good while..are we all going to stay inside for ever and watch jobs disappear as companies replace workers or collapse?

[ineedaholidaynow]

Other countries probably have better infrastructure and more money spent on education. Many school budgets are absolutely stretched. Many schools no longer have general TAs, so 1:1 TAs are going to be redeployed to look after bubbles. It’s not that teachers don’t want to go back to school, but the guidelines really don’t take I to account what schools are like in the real world.

[PoloNeckKnickers]

Teachers and TAs are expected to clean toilets now? Where does it say that?
I normally teach Y4. Our HT hasn't told us yet who is doing what but I'm assuming I'll be with a bubble of Y6 children and hopefully a TA so I can have a wee at some point.

[ineedaholidaynow]

Toilets will have to be cleaned more than once a day.

[Destroyer]

So, let me get this straight. Teacher’s and TAs (where the school has them) will be:

Teaching as normal (or teaching for peanuts if a TA)
Not getting proper breaks
Cleaning sinks and toilets
Getting a shorter lunch? Eating with the children?
Not getting PPE
Still providing home learning for children who are not in school
Still being in contact with home learners
Planning and preparing work (but not during lunch and break when they might normally do it)

How many hours are there in the day?

[antipodalpizza]

who is going to clean these areas during the school day when cleaning staff are not working. In my DCs school there will be at least two year groups sharing toilets.

For shared rooms:

use halls, dining areas and internal and external sports facilities for lunch and exercise at half capacity. If class groups take staggered breaks between lessons, these areas can be shared as long as different groups do not mix (and especially do not play sports or games together) and adequate cleaning between groups between groups is in place, following the COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings guidance