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.

[Stella8686]

@FATEdestiny

Regarding the possible 50% uptake of places.

I think this is the governments secret back-up plan.

Knowing that plenty of parents will not send kids back in but through their choice

It is then a win-win for the government who will claim the infection rate stays low and say they were progressive at the same time.

It's the head teachers and teaching staff I feel sorry for.

I work in a school but not as a teacher or TA I also have a year 2 child who will go to school when I go back to school.

The younger kids will NOT benefit from these strange new classrooms and ways to behave. I think it could be quite upsetting for them.

I'm very confused by the reasoning other than thinking it's politics for show and economy not for children's well being and learning 🤷‍♀️

[Destroyer]

My DD has been in throughout. Within the groups kids are fully free to play. They are not mixing the groups.

That’s what was happening. That is going to have to change to follow new guidelines.

[teaandajammydodger]

If a school cannot makes the bubbles work without denying staff a lunch break then their plan is unworkable (and illegal). My school will have two members of staff per bubble. If that means fewer bubbles then that means fewer bubbles. If they means fewer children in school then that means fewer children in school.

[Destroyer]

My DD has been in throughout. Within the groups kids are fully free to play. They are not mixing the groups.

That’s what was happening. That is going to have to change to follow new guidelines.

I mean the 'fully free to play' will have to change from now.

[reefedsail]

purchasing temporary partition walls - to split rooms and create extra classrooms

Are these floor to ceiling with a seal? Not that long ago they were cheerfully telling us that if somebody coughed in one supermarket aisle the virus would travel over the top of the shelves and infect someone in the next aisle.

[reefedsail]

Like this:

[user1000000000000000001]

They can't stop 4 and 5 year olds from playing. They can't keep them at desks. Letting them play normally within their bubbles has been working well. Her school have said they will be maintaining it for the reception children especially.

[CallmeAngelina]

So, whilst the "bubbles" within a school might reduce the number of children mingling with large numbers on the premises, what assurances will there be that they haven't been mixing with who knows who on the way home and in the evenings/at weekends.
Every single person/child/family in school raises the risks for everyone else.

[FATEdestiny]

reefedsail no they are not sealed. They are not meant to be, that's not expected in school. It is just to seperate the groups do they don't mix, not to hermetically seal them in a space without germs

[GrimmsFairytales]

what assurances will there be that they haven't been mixing with who knows who on the way home and in the evenings/at weekends.

There won't be any way to monitor this. We already have several sets of siblings in different bubbles, and we know of quite a few families who have been very lax about staying away from other relatives / friends.

[SallyLovesCheese]

There aren't any assurances, Angelina! They leave their school bubbles and go home and mix with their family bubble, who themselves have mixed within their own school bubble or work bubble for several hours that day. Plus the teachers will also go home and mix with their family bubble. So yes, all the bubbles overlap anyway.

[reefedsail]

no they are not sealed. They are not meant to be,

Well, I think there is absolutely zero point in keeping groups of 15 children on either side of a low partition. You may as well treat them as one group and reduce the hassle. Can you explain how you think that is preventing cross-infection between the two groups?

[ineedaholidaynow]

@FATEdestiny will each child have a separate desk in your classrooms?

[notchickenagain]

Although all bubbles are to be kept separate and we know that part-time rotas of children are not allowed, how does that work with job-share teachers?

[CallmeAngelina]

Yes, I'm keen to know that, as I job-share with someone who's shielding, so won't be in for her part of the week. I won't be covering (for sure!!!) so there will be a procession of random people through on those days of the week, I presume?

[CallmeAngelina]

And can parents dip in and out of the week, as they choose? Or is that if they sign up, that's it; their kids must be in all 5 days of the week, as per normal?

[FATEdestiny]

Can you explain how you think that is preventing cross-infection between the two groups?

There is no suggestion that the groups of 15 children should socially distance. Infection control in schools is to be done by cleanliness and cleaning. So between the groups of 15 children won't share equipment between groups (unless disinfected between uses). Multi-group areas (door handles, toilets etc) regularly cleaned throughout the day by the cleaners. "Catch it, bin it" followed to use tissues and throw away. Regular hand washing.

It's all in the guidance. You just need to read it:

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

From the above notchickenagain, it says:

"assume that the staffing model will be one teacher per group (or 2 teachers sharing the week if you have existing jobshares)"

[SionnachRua]

Well the Dept of Ed have said parents won't be penalised for non-attendance so I guess you could, yes. But you would be unreasonable to expect the teachers to do any catch up sessions on work the kids miss due to your choices.

[FATEdestiny]

CallmeAngelina. It's all in the guidance document. They will use supply or borrow teachers (if MAT for example) for shielded. Suitably experienced TA's can also be used.

For a job share the usual job share arrangement will be in place but the one off school will be covered in a consistent manner.

[notchickenagain]

Thanks

[ToD101]

Although all bubbles are to be kept separate and we know that part- time rotas of children are not allowed

And how does it work with children who require an additional adult? I work with hearing impaired pupils. Some need a CSW or ToD with them to communicate. We are currently down on numbers due to vulnerable/shielding staff, so have some adults doing everyone's lunch cover. I just can't see it working. It's tiring signing and interpreting for an hour or two, let alone all day.

[ineedaholidaynow]

A lot of schools are working on the basis of social distancing and smaller classes than 15. In fact at the briefing yesterday Dr Jenny Harries did talk about children sitting at their own desk so certainly gave the impression that they are expecting some social distancing.

[Cherrypie32]

I’m a TA and it has also been discussed at my school that a class will be split between a teacher and TA. But I only work mornings as do most TA’s so don’t know how will pan out when all years are back. At the moment, and year 3 staff, we will be looking after the key worker kids. I can’t (and have no desire) to suddenly start full time as have my own kids to sort out including a year 7 son who’s at home for the foreseeable

[CallmeAngelina]

So the bubble will be compromised in my scenario above, then?

[Danglingmod]

I don't know any primary school who have TAs in for anything more than mornings (except, obviously for EHCP children's 1:1s - but they often have fewer than full time hours, so, again, usually mornings only).