Just been told dd’s school is only opening for year six

[gingajewel]

Just having a rant! Just had communication from the school that only year six will be in on 1st June and it has really annoyed me! How can things ever go back to how they need to be when schools are ignoring government guidelines! And yes I’m prepared to be flamed but it has annoyed me that I now need to tell my place of work that I still can’t go back to work!

My local council have declared that schools here won’t be offering wider provision from June 1st. My DS’ school have explained why, when they reopen to more children and due to them trying to follow government guidelines, they can only reopen to a maximum of two year groups.

I have seen what the staff have had to do to their classrooms to follow the guidelines and it was very upsetting. I can’t imagine how unsettling it would be for my DS and the other little ones. I know they are not exaggerating their approach because I teach in FE and we were asked to come in to rearrange our classrooms to see how we could accommodate our age 16+ learners and it was bad enough stripping my classroom bare.

I don’t want my DS and his friends used as an experiment to see how a wider opening of schools effects the R.

If the government were really concerned about trying to find a safe approach to a wider opening of schools, why not open to year 10 or year 12? Colleges and high schools are bigger buildings and have more staff. So they have more chance to adhere to social distancing.

If they’re bothered about vulnerable children why have they cut funding to so many children’s services, decimated Sure Start centres and snuck out cuts to free school meals?

If it’s safe for schools to fully reopen why isn’t it safe for parliament?

If I can teach (on average) 150 learners a week, my little boy can mix with 15 other kids a week, why can’t I see my mum?

Gove swore that teachers would be safe, then immediately admitted that wasn’t the case.

I don’t trust the government has the best interests of children or teachers at heart.

I don’t think it’s unusual my child hasn’t seen anyone else, we have been told not to socialise with other households so we aren’t. For the pp they asked about childcare in holidays, my mom and sister are teachers so have my children.
Further guidance has been released which send to suggest that nursery won’t be going back till September. I feel disappointed in the school and unless government guidance states we should work from home for the next few months I am screwed!! Hopefully the government have thought this through and will still keep this as guidance for a while!

*seems to suggest

@OfTheNight

Does parliament need to go back to function - I would say not really it can all be done via video conference so why increase the risk for no reason.

Do schools need to go back to function? Yes for primary at least they do. Online learning has not been able to be provided to all children in the country and the important aspects of peer to peer socialisation, physical exercise and free meals are hard to replicate online anyway.

Therefore there is little benefit in physically opening parliament But much in opening schools.

For older children (senior age and university) I can see That if sufficient electronic resources were put in place then education for these groups may be able to be provided at home on a more long term basis in many subjects. Older children are also less dependant on adults to facilitate then socialising with their peers so this may be able to be replicated in some way without adult exposure - such as “teen only” areas in Parcs perhaps where they could socialise with each other, risk of bad behaviour however would be massive!

That's a shame for your child and definitely unusual for them to have not seen another child.

How is it unusual? There are lots of only children - what other children would they have seen in person unless their parents broke lockdown rules? I hope you’re not counting ‘occasional waving from at least 2m distance’ as proper interaction, because it isn’t.

The government can't win. Too much, too soon, not enough.
We simply can't plan our lives. They are never going to do the right thing because some parents want the schools to open some don't.
What are they to do?

Open schools and tell people who don't want their kids to attend to home school? Leaving hopefully enough space for the kids who do attend do be able to distance etc.

And give teachers bloody ppe if that's what they want honestly.

Bookworm I am counting waving and being 2m away and chatting as seeing.

I agree completely that EYFS children really need socialisation and they have missed that. I am pleased settings are reopening. I can also understand the anxiety around social distancing (which some schools have taken to extremes).

@Nonotthatdr but if it’s safe why don’t parliament return? If it’s safe there’s no need for them to work remotely? Yes they can work from home. Myself and my partner are successfully teaching from home. My DS’ school is providing us with some amazing remote learning. But if it’s safe let’s all just go back.

If it’s safe why do we need to socially distance?

For me there are far too many unanswered questions and poorly explained reasoning. I’ve done my own wider reading and I’m happy with my personal view that I do not feel it is safe for my DS to return to school.

If someone could show me comprehensive and verified factual answers to my numerous concerns I’d allow him to return. I wrote to my MP and his reply was meaningless lip service and the bulk of my questions were ignored. I emailed my son’s school and they were totally honest about the measures they have been asked to take and the negative impact they fear it will have on the children.

I’m not satisfied that it’s safe or in the best interests of my child’s mental health for him to return.

ofthenight if you define safe perhaps someone will be able to explain

(p.s there is no such thing as safe, we are never totally safe, we never will be)

Yes, do you listen to the daily briefing? I listen every day and it’s been clear for some time that the uk is reporting all deaths in all settings. I thought it was deaths in all settings if it had been confirmed by a test?

but if it’s safe why don’t parliament return? If it’s safe there’s no need for them to work remotely? Yes they can work from home. Myself and my partner are successfully teaching from home. My DS’ school is providing us with some amazing remote learning. But if it’s safe let’s all just go back.

Partly because of what’s already explained - a key factor is reducing the number of overall contacts/interactions at a population level, to help reduce transmission. People have posted links to 50% and 75% models which detail their impact spread of the virus.

Focusing those contacts on where the need is greatest and/or where contacts are more likely to be consistent/ predictable/traceable (eg school v train).

Is virtual Parliament as effective as in person? Probably not, though PMQs is a breath of fresh air. But a large part of the business can be done remotely, without disenfranchising the constituents of any particular MP who falls into a risk group (a particular issue given the age profile of Parliament which is well above the vast majority of workplaces). EYFS cannot be delivered remotely, realistically. It’s great your kid is getting amazing home learning. My 8yo’s is adequate but the impact on his mental health is enormous; my 4yo is getting nothing - because there is not an adequate remote alternative to EYFS.

The Parliament comparison is a rhetorical device for political and populist impact, it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny and it’s already hackneyed and tired.

I thought Parliament were going back June 2nd?

Just stop faffing about and open schools from 1st of June. The idea that they can social distance is a nonsense but they can make sure other hygiene measures are strictly enforced as was happening pre lockdown. The worst of this has now passed and the numbers will be even lower by then, the risk of death or injury from an accident getting to school is probably higher yet we don't all stay at home. It is impossible to eliminate all risks. The kids need to get back to education as much soon as possible as there may be further closures later in the year.

Every council are doing it differently some are going back 1 June, others are delaying a few weeks, others aren't extending places at all. Perfectly within their rights.

Those angry that their children aren't going back, have you looked at what school is likely to look like? A school local to me is having staggered starts and finishes - the latest class will arrive at 10.30 am, the first to go home will be at 1.30pm.

There will be no playtime or lunchtime.

Due to staff shortages TAs will have sole responsibility for some classes. All groups will spend their day doing worksheets.

All toys have been removed from the classrooms.

A toilet rota is being drawn up. Each bubble will have allocated toilet breaks, as a whole class. No access outside of these times.

No lunch break possible for teachers as no staff to cover.

No mixing of bubbles so children will have to stay within their group. If they go onto the playground for any reason it will be only one bubble at a time.

That doesn't sound like it will address any of the concerns parents have and sounds pretty miserable.

Why didn't you just post err you sending your kids back are mean it'll be awful and pointless and you're basically abusing them because that's clearly what you meant

Ps not every school is going to operate like that so I suggest anyone considering sending their kids back ignores that load of old tosh and asks their school directly what their plans are.

@TrustTheGeneGenie I was extremely specific in my letter to my MP about what I feel constitutes a safe school environment. As I have said, I’ve taken a detailed look into as much verified and authentic information I can on the subject. I’m comfortable in my viewpoint that I don’t want my DS to return as there is so much conflicting evidence. I don’t need help from fellow Mumsnetters because I don’t need help. I’d like some comprehensive, factual, non conflicting evidence to be published before I reconsider my decision. But thanks anyway !

Well nobody is ever going to be able to tell you it's safe. Nothing is ever completely safe!

Well nobody is ever going to be able to tell you it's safe. Nothing is ever completely safe!

But people are losing trust in the government. They have twisted and turned so much, aren't publishing the evidence that they are basing decisions on, aren't following what other countries are doing, are giving contradictory advice - it's hardly surprising people are now starting to question what they are saying.

People can question it but you'll never get reassurance everythings safe again because it never was in the first place.

@TrustTheGeneGenie I’m just waiting for evidence to address my concerns. That’s it. I don’t think anyone can say that’s unreasonable. You aren’t particularly concerned or you feel any concerns you may have had have been assured. I’d like to feel the same way and I’m sure I will when more is known and understood about the virus and how to mitigate its transmission.

Well latest is that pressure from unions, labour council areas defusing to open schools means they are going to abandon june 1st, so congrats peer pressure.

With businesses needing to downsize and parents not able to work productively or at all alot of people are going to find their situations even harder when they are let go.

Time to start being more balanced.

Have you seen the death rate in the age bracket published....0-9 disnt even reach 5ppl a day. Weeks of 0 deaths and then maybe 1 or 2 the another consecutive sef of no deaths. Same with 20-39 ahead groups, highest daily death was 9! Days of zero or 2 or 3.

Risk is so low in those age brackets, get people back to work and kids back to school.