If blended learning was the thing for all of next academic year?

[porktangle]

www.thenational.scot/news/18454764.blended-learning-become-new-normal-schools-return/

This is obviously just an article and anything could actually change in the next year but I read this and suddenly the possible next academic year just hit me like a ton of bricks. I don't know why it's taken until now tbh. I think I've just been thinking about June 1st mostly!

I could still work (I'm full time main earner) but husband couldn't so we'd have significant money problems after a few months. My son is autistic and wouldn't have his EHCP fulfilled. He's done reduced timetables before and they were a disaster, he ended up out of education for over a year.

If blended learning (half in school with social distancing, half at home remote learning) is for the next academic year.....how would you manage?

I think that parents probably need to get on board with this likely being the way forward and tentatively make any adjustments they can.
My lo is also on asd spectrum, so this will cause obvious issues further social delay disruption. But tbh working from home academically is probably doing my lo the world of good.
I am lucky in that I purposely only applied for working from home jobs to be able to meet my Los needs, so that won't change per se.
If this does become the new norm though, the school are going to have to pick up the slack somewhere that they haven't so far and provide meaningful activities. Not just random website links and think that's their role over.

I'm not getting on board with any reduction in children's entitlement to free universal education.

It would be sad, but we would personally be fine. I have older teens who would be year 10 and year 13 and they are having full online school (independent school).

Our only pressing issue would be if the school itself survived!!

The government will still see it as free @Nihiloxica . Just delivered differently. Sadly there is no way they are not going to see this as a massive money making opportunity.

I'm not getting on board with any reduction in children's entitlement to free universal education

Neither am I and I would seriously question anyone who did.

I work at a large FE college - it's campuses cover three counties. We are planning for blended learning moving forward, obviously with no idea of how long it will continue. There is literally no way to accomodate thousands or staff and students in a series of classrooms, labs, workshops, offices and canteens. We need to only have a minority of staff and students in campus at any one time. The rest will continue to be taught remotely. I am under no illusions that it will be any different for schools.

It's difficult but not impossible and realistically what other option is there?

@Nihiloxica It will still be free

Half of what they get now will still be free.

It is a row back from the principle of free education.

A Tory government taking an axe to universal education with the teaching unions cheering them on.

Idiots.

Ds has severe sn so online learning in any form won't work. If he was home half the time it would trying to keep his anxiety down and trying to stop the self harming rather than any learning at home. I think social care and the nhs are going to have a lot of problems to deal with if children like mine aren't in school.

It won't be free though really will it? "Blended learning" will require either an adult to be at home part time or shelling out for childcare. You'd also need a laptop or computer probably a printer and other materials etc. Sorry but no it's not free and it won't work because the kids who are missing out now will miss out even more. The gap will become bigger.

It is INSANE that this is even being considered. Why do we not give a shit about our children?

Those sayings it's better for them are a tiny minority.

The govt have handled this terribly but so have the unions.
Say what you need - more money, PPE, venues for bubbles (Denmark used halls and leisure centres etc to create more space - I will back you 1000%

For uninterrupted face to face learning in my college we would need space - yes, as much space as several leisure centres within walking distance to the main college. They would need to have computers, desks, wifi, and ideally the workshops, kitchens, salons etc our vocational students need to learn their trade.
I guess we'd also need 50% more qualified teachers and TAs. Maybe more, I don't know the exact number of our student population.

Barring this being found by September or the virus magically disapperaring what else can schools and colleges do?

@Nihiloxica what is a better solution? We have given chrome books to many of our students. It is free. Less than ideal, but still free.

But what would you do?

It won’t, but if blended learning is the future for Scottish learning then it’s back to England for me, toodles Nicola

It is INSANE that this is even being considered. Why do we not give a shit about our children?

I agree that it feels insane, but I guess this is what happens when you're living through a pandemic. We all, I imagine, care about our children. I don't see the connection between having to practice social distancing and not giving a shit about children. It's not a helpful narrative at all. I care deeply about my own children and the young people I teach. I'm teaching them that this is a tough time and we're all trying to protect one another and doing the best we can.

What would you do if you had to make the decisions about how best to educate people in the midst of this pandemic?

Teachers be afraid be very afraid. If it works what a great way to save money. Perhaps the unions ought to think about this?

What would you do if you had to make the decisions about how best to educate people in the midst of this pandemic?

Come September id open schools normally. Perhaps keep the staggered starts and seperate lunches and play tomes. Keep them in class bubbles. Because there is no other way that doesn't mean disproportionately punishing our children (and their mothers)

I'm sorry but we are sacrificing the many here to save the few and I don't believe it can carry on like this I really don't.

@BakewellTarts - teachers still get paid. They're still teaching

At the moment they do certainly...but if blended learning works well who doesn't think it won't be seen as a permant solution. And then you will need less teachers. We are headed for dark times and hey presto a proven solution to save money.

Schools opening normally just isn't compatible with social distancing. As long as we are saying that social distancing needs to happen I don't think schools will be able to operate normally.

I'm not 'fearmongering'. This is just what is happening. It's not the fault of the teachers unions either. Look at the rest of the world - we are all facing the same issues here. The lefty liberal unions or whatever papers are branding them didn't invent this problem

@BakewellTarts but the only possible way blended learning can work is if teachers are teaching from home! So still working and still being paid... I don't put it past this government to do anything to strip our public services bare but don't see mass replacement of teachers with bots just yet

The teachers unions are contributing to it.

It wouldn't be teachers teaching at home though thinking about it. It would be some kind of company who provide resources to go alongside the curriculum that you just login to a website and access. It wouldn't need to be a real teacher would it?

It couldn't be a real teacher because they'd be in school?

And then when social distancing is over maybe classes go back to 30 kids but they still only attend 2 days a week because its significantly cheaper than paying ft teachers wages.

@Nihiloxica I'm with you. You talk sense.

@Trust - yeah I wouldn't put it past the tories!

The Independent SAGE group have said waiting 2 weeks will halve the risk, I suppose as numbers fall and track and trace gets going. I think waiting 2 weeks to halve the risk sounds reasonable.