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?

Yeah, can't think why

stressbucket1 both staff and children.

You're assuming that other country's schools are the same size as uk ones. My kids go to a school with lots of entrances and exits but the corridors are not 2m wide and as a secondary school, there's a lot of walking every day.

Realistically schools are trying to prevent infection because of lawsuits. Don't forget that if someone in the bubble gets CV, the whole bubble needs to stay at home. Considering how easily nits and d&v spread, I think it's wise to do this. Don't forget that some kids live with grandparents or people vulnerable and shielding.

What I do know is that two people close to me have died of COVID -19 with no known underlying health conditions. One was in their thirties and one in their late forties really sorry to hear that, but you have been very unfortunate as I believe there have only been forty-six victims, aged between 35 and 96 years old, were not known to have any underlying health conditions.

What does 'scalable ' mean?

Realistically schools are trying to prevent infection because of lawsuits

No. School leaders and teachers do not want children, staff or the wider community to become ill. That’s why we are trying to plan so buildings are as “covid safe” as possible.

We do actually give a shit.

You must know two of the forty six victims.

Were they related?

Did they get around to saying where the r0 is one and if they are doing anything to protect those areas or if they just expect them to forge ahead on the national timeline of reopening schools?

Just watching the news now and they talked about French schools - children kept apart, temperatures taken at the school gate and staff wearing masks. How many of those restrictions have UK schools been told to take?

FourTeaFallOut

No, that was a nationwide R number. They are still maintaining that the country will be treated as one entity, not dealt with in areas.

My school is doing small ‘bubbles’ of 8-10 children but not really doing social distancing within the bubble. I’m fine with that as long as the parents are (and they are!). I can’t imagine the stress of trying to keep children 2m apart, it’s just not possible (I teach year 1).

Thanks starrynight I heard of one in manchester yesterday.
A lot of our local schools are saying keyworker and vulnerable children only at first then one year group at a time. Seems sensible to me they need to know how many key worker children they need to accommodate first and see how that goes.

Surely taking the temperature of kids is just the theatre of giving a shit? We know it doesn't make a blind bit of difference given the number of asymptomatic carriers in children.

They are still maintaining that the country will be treated as one entity, not dealt with in areas

Bastards

UK schools have been told no masks.

@RhymingRabbit3 I'm really concerned that you are continuing to draw your salary while viewing your role in lockdown as akin to a "holiday". On behalf of all the teachers who are working hard during lockdown to support students and prepare for next year, I think your actions are disgraceful.
teachers get a longer paid holiday.
Yes I am a teacher.

@whenthejoyreturns no idea, tbh. I'm not sure if they'd tell us, and as mine are not in every day I wouldn't know from other families. I hope not! It's only around 16 kids, so 8 families.

Re teacher PPE, teacher family are having training on how to put on PPE (and remove it, that's the bit that can go wrong). Whether there will be enough PPE provided or the opportunity to put it on when kids fall over, remains to be seen, but there is clearly an intent to provide PPE in that school.

I think it is clear that every school is different.

No, that was a nationwide R number. They are still maintaining that the country will be treated as one entity, not dealt with in areas.

Although they seemed to be shifting on that at today’s lobby briefing - or at least giving themselves room to manouevre.

@Mistressiggi I'm currently on maternity leave so not drawing a salary, you'll be pleased to know.

Planning online learning takes far less time than teaching a class. And in any decent school the work is being shared across teachers, so one teacher preparing all the year 7 lessons while another prepared for year 8 etc. Even taking into account marking time there is no way it takes long enough to be considered full time working.

Because despite people arguing it's safe.

There's a risk and all it takes is one person to spread it and then you infect others. Therefore they should stay shut for now as its either safe or it isn't.

They are doing 8-12 at my DD school. But it seems really strict so I'm not sending her. They are stripping everything away! Plus no guarentees of teachers, classes etc. Abit daunting for kids only a few months into school!

Rhymingrabbit so you've not done it then? And yet feel able to comment on how long it takes? Righto.

I'm currently on maternity leave so not drawing a salary, you'll be pleased to know

To be fair then Rabbit you don’t actually know what teachers are doing. I’m working my full time hours.

Weekly phone calls with my tutor group of 30. That’s a day.
Setting work each morning, sending solutions out, being available by email to clarify and answer questions.
Planning work to be delivered online - that is scaffolded and has stretch. This takes longer than you’d imagine.
Planning specific work for students who struggle to read - recording audio etc.
Making online work into hard packs - reformatted with answers into a booklet.
Dealing with individual students who are vulnerable that I teach.
Delivering hard packs of work to students in the community.
Dealing with safeguarding issues.
Supporting KW children in school.
Rewriting the curriculum plans for next year to try and make up time - without really knowing what September will look like.

I’d say I’m doing my contracted hours - not working the stupid hours I normally do, but definitely full time.

I believe there have only been forty-six victims, aged between 35 and 96 years old, were not known to have any underlying health conditions.

Where did you get that info from OP? I am a nurse and it sounds very unlikely from what I have observed first hand/talking to relatives etc.

I think those of you who are so very keen to let teachers risk their lives just so your DC can go back to school before the disease is under control should be ashamed of yourselves to be honest. If you could see what I see every bloody day maybe you would change your minds? I certainly hope it is ignorance rather than a total absence of giving a shit about your childs teacher

@sophiestew so what would it take for you to go back?

Because they'd rather not die? That might be one reason. Remember it's not just a rule but serves a purpose.