Why are primary schools obsessed with social distancing when it’s not a requirement?

[whenthejoyreturns]

I’m sure I’ll be told I’m stupid but I’m genuinely confused.
Our local primary will only allow 8 in a class because apparently there’s not enough room to socially distance more. I thought dc were supposed to be in bubbles of 15 or so dc. Why have our primaries gone down the route of sitting dc at desks spaced 2m apart?

Ds is in school at the moment and there isn't any social distancing within his class although it wouldn't be possible with his group anyway.

Kids are far less likely than adults to catch, suffer from, die from, or spread the virus but hey ho...

Children are as likely to catch it as adults, they are less likely to suffer and die from it but the jury is still out on if they they are as efficient at spreading it.

Because as a nation we appear to be terrified, far more terrified than any other European nation for starters.

I’m not sure that’s true although certainly there are some very outspoken articles and comments from people who fall into that category. However, I wonder if those who are terrified feel that way because we have had so many deaths in this country and our confidence in our government and it’s response is falling. Many people in this country are obese, elderly or have underlying health conditions combined with living in close proximity to others. The media can be scaremongering and there seems to be lots of confusion about what you can or should be doing right now.

“Where settings can keep children and young people in those small groups 2 metres away from each other, they should do so. While in general groups should be kept apart, brief, transitory contact, such as passing in a corridor, is low risk.

For pre-school children in early years settings, the staff to child ratios within Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) continue to apply as set out here, and we recommend using these to group children.

For primary schools, classes should normally be split in half, with no more than 15 pupils per small group and one teacher (and, if needed, a teaching assistant). If there are any shortages of teachers, then teaching assistants can be allocated to lead a group, working under the direction of a teacher. Vulnerable children and children of critical workers in other year groups should also be split into small groups of no more than 15. Desks should be spaced as far apart as possible.

For secondary schools and colleges, the same principle of halving classes will normally apply. It is also sensible to rearrange classrooms and workshops with sitting positions 2 metres apart. Where very small classes might result from halving, it would be acceptable to have more than half in a class, provided the space has been rearranged. Again, support staff may be drawn on in the event there are teacher shortages, working under the direction of other teachers in the setting.

Each setting’s circumstances will be slightly different. Any setting that cannot achieve these small groups at any point should discuss“

Because the gov advised them to . The same gov has also been cramming far too many children into rooms that are far too small for years. You reap what you sow. I suspect it’s a struggle to fit 15children and tables a metre apart in some, let alone 2 metres.

Perhaps primary heads would quite like to keep their staff alive?

Our primary have said they have worked it out on floor space. 10 in a bubble. Desks against the wall, kids sat facing the wall

Is that at joke??

@Waffles80 Perhaps primary heads would quite like to keep their staff alive?

Most of the photos/videos I have seen from other countries have shown social distancing in classrooms, including the current flavour of the month country Denmark! Danish nurseries stipulate groups of 3 children in the youngest age bubble, unlike the 15 in England.

I have listened to some press briefings/interviews where the advisors/ministers have talked about separate desks for children, so they do actually advocate this.

@FourTeaFallOut

Hot off the press

Kids are half as likely to catch coronavirus compared to adults

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52770353

So social distancing still needed then. Glad to see that confirmed.

How erudite @whenthejoyreturns.

School leaders are in the utterly impossible position of being forced to reopen schools despite this not being safe for their staff. This is so that when school staff do die of Covid the Govt can deflect the blame onto schools.

Also, can fuck right off with both your pathetic biscuit and your equally pathetic goady thread.

For goodness sakes. It's perfectly obvious why the government isn't advising social distancing in schools. And it's perfectly obvious why schools are trying to social distance where possible. What I don't understand is the mentality of the moaners on here.

So when schools didn't shut at the start of the Coronavirus outbreak, parents were signing petitions and pulling their kids out of school left, right and centre. Utter outrage and accusations of the government not caring about the children.

Then lockdown happened and after two weeks at home with their dc many parents started realising that actually being at home wasn't a holiday after all, which coincided with the realisation that it's hard work teaching your own children, especially when working from home, and that they wanted to get back to work because it's easier than dealing with their own dc each day. They then started demanding schools open because the children were missing half a year of education (even though it had only been 10 days). Teachers were apparently having a jolly at home in the sun when really they actually should be sacrificing themselves for the youth of today on a pyre of SATs papers and ancient old computers...plus the teachers needed punishment for having long unpaid holidays and a jammy job babysitting children for 6 hours a day.

Then the government decided that they were still following the science but not really, and decided schools should open from 1st June and that social distancing was no longer required for children or the adults working in those schools...but only during the hours of 9am to 3.30pm. Outside of those hours the virus could attack and kill at any point. Apparently the school buildings are so well built that they are like a fortress to the 'rona and teachers/tas/cleaners/kitchen staff etc are immune to the virus whilst inside but as soon as they put a foot outside the school perimeter...bam! The virus gets 'em. So everyone in the whole land must social distance apart from school staff and children because the virus is terrified of the word "school" and flees at the merest mention of it.

So unions weren't convinced by this science, and decided to speak to the government because they wanted to ensure that their members were safe. They wanted the government to help come up with a plan to protect those who work in schools. So then many parents started getting the arse about that because how dare school staff want to be protected as much as possible from the virus that the science tells us (and that we've been following) can be dangerous to people of a certain age, certain physique, those with certain illnesses...because we all know that everyone who works in education is aged 20-30, slim and healthy as an ox.

Now schools are gradually coming up with some form of plan to open again and people still have the arse because they want school staff to take greater risks than many would be prepared to take themselves (and just because you might be happy swanning around in public and breathing in other people's germs doesn't mean that teaching staff have to feel the same) because teachers are lazy and have long unpaid holidays so they must be punished by having extra doses of Coronavirus coughed into their faces.

So to answer your question, OP, schools are attempting to social distance because that is the common sense approach given the current situation. The government want as many people back to work as possible and they are ignoring common sense to do this. Fortunately the schools are using their brains and are doing their best to protect staff, children and all related families from the virus.

As you can tell, I am sick to the back teeth of the government only following science when it's suits them, allowing the most vulnerable members of our society to perish dreadfully by allowing the virus to spread like wildfire amongst those in care homes, and I'm sick of people constantly blaming all manner of evils on teachers and schools. And no, I'm not a teacher.

God alone knows OP - they are currently open to children of key workers, with no social distancing at all, which is fine, but I have no idea why now there is this huge song and dance about social distancing, when presumably key worker children are far more likely to carry the virus than anyone else.

All you teachers with your flowers on threads, please desist - you just look stupid. People are not "teacher bashing", people are frustrated. Schools, and particularly the unions, are being criticised because they are chanting "can't can't can't" instead of saying "this is what we can do, let's work with that".

I want my children back at school. We are all struggling with their learning, but frankly I don't give a shit about that, but we are struggling more with their frustrating, lack of motivation and anxiety. My DH wants to go back to work, as a teacher, and is highly pissed off with the unions and the complete hypocrisy of the school he works at having not social distanced at all for the entirety of the lockdown with kids and teachers not even paying it lip service and now only allowing 6 bloody tables in a classroom.

Someone give Beakyface a medal! Brilliant post.

Key worker children are being socially distanced.

And schools are saying- this is what we can do. Unfortunately in many cases it doesn’t match the guidelines due to lack of resources much of which you can lay at the door of this present gov over several years.

Sorry, Flippetydip, but you need to deal with your children's lack of motivation and anxiety.

@BeakyFace well put. I'm sick of the disingenuous rhetoric here. It's obvious why people are trying to social distance, and it's obvious why the government don't want the responsibility of advising it either.

Because the government guidance DOES dpsay to keep the children 2m apart within their groups where possible. By doing this they have put the responsibility on the school to try to achieve that distance. If the school doesn't do that and someone gets ill then the school have gone against the guidance.

"Where settings can keep children and young people in those small groups 2 metres away from each other, they should do so. While in general groups should be kept apart, brief, transitory contact, such as passing in a corridor, is low risk."

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

I completely agree with you. The schools have over complicated it. The children within each bubble should be able to interact normally with each other. Keep up good hygiene methods. I also agree with the pp that said the schools have made it sound so horrible so that parents won't want to send back their children. I do see why tho considering the risks are very very low to the children but a little higher for the teacher.

beakyface absolutely spotnon 100%

The DFE has altered guidance for schools 41 times, often after senior teams have spent hours making plans.

Blame the govt!

You don't understand it because you are being willfully stupid and/or a troll OP.

Hope that helps.

My kids attend school 2 days a week due to having 2 keyworker parents who can't entirely WFH. There has been no social distancing taking place between children and other children.
The desks are 2 m apart and you are only allowed to desk share with a sibling. But kids have been piling on bikes and trailers, playing cricket, doing crafts in close proximity. Parents social distance from staff, staff social distance from each other, and attempt to do so with kids.

Luxembourg
Secondary schools are already back and PRIMARY start on Monday 25th.
This article explains what is happening.
luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/40755-hundreds-of-extra-staff-hired-for-primary-school-reopening
Quote
Luxembourg has recruited hundreds of extra staff to help out at primary schools and alleviate parents' and teachers' concerns that sending young children back to school after weeks of lockdown poses a health risk.

The youngest pupils will make their way back to school on Monday, following secondary school children who returned earlier this month. But the government plan hasn't come without controversy.

Countless petitions and letters urged the government to delay the reopening, and, while education minister Claude Meisch has acknowledged parents' concerns are "justified", he has also said enough measures are in place to justify the reopening.

Pupils will be split into two groups so that each class is only half of its size, enabling schools to keep enough distance between children.

On alternating weeks, the class teacher will teach one half and a member of the newly hired staff - 20% of whom are university students - will oversee the other half.
End quote

I believe that schools are trying to make returning to school sound unpleasant, so fewer parents make the choice to send their kids in. Unions get their way, teachers get a longer paid holiday.
^^ This! I couldn't agree more.

I should add that I imagine that most of the University Students that have been hired plan on becoming Primary school teachers.