Why do secondary school teachers need to go within 2 metres of a student?

[whenthejoyreturns]

Such a fuss about teachers being collateral damage and in danger. The majority parents want their secondary school dc back asap and would be happy with no social distancing, why can't teachers just stand at the front of the class and at a distance acceptable to them and teach?

caringcarer

Safeguarding means many schools don't do direct online lessons. The teachers have no choice in the matter.

No but I used to go to school!

I've been on a plane hundreds of times. I don't profess to know how to fly a plane

My issue is I don’t understand why it’s ok for Reception and Y1 children to go in who are incapable of social distancing yet it’s not ok for Y10 to go in who can social distance if asked to. I’m a TA in KS1 and I’ve been in the whole time for keyworker children. We have obviously encouraged social distancing, hand washing etc but I can guarantee I’ve been closer than 2 metres to them at several points during the day including sitting near children helping them cause you know that’s kind of my job. I’ve also changed children when they have had accidents and cleaned up cut knees...all of which require me to be closer than 2 metres. You can tell me that 15 year olds require closer contact than that? If I and many many other primary staff can do why can’t Secondary teachers?

why can't teachers just stand at the front of the class and at a distance acceptable to them and teach?

Any idea how far droplets of saliva carrying coronavirus can travel when you are talking very loudly to those children say at the back of the classroom who are not paying attention?

why can't teachers just stand at the front of the class and at a distance acceptable to them and teach?

I do easily 10,000 steps a day teaching.

I’m not sure what you think teaching is, but I spend probably 10/15 minutes across an hour’s lesson delivering content, then the rest with a few centimetres if whichever pupil needs help, reassurance, the evil eye, a pen, further explanation, a gentle reminder, a friendly word, another pen, a presence hovering in front of their desk, a sticker on their book, a massive grin because they nailed it...

Teaching is not just telling people stuff.

Year 10 ARE the year group going into secondary schools.

A pre recorded lesson or even a PowerPoint would be nice.

So do you think all of the schools who do online lessons are breaking safeguarding?

This lockdown has made me question what a good school is. My niece goes to a run down school in a not very nice area and have only in last couple of years managed to get Ofsted good but they are doing online learning and marking work.

Clearly some schools are making far more effort than others.

I understand why primary would be far more difficult and also for practical subjects too, but really academic subjects at secondary should be straightforward.

I have just gone back to work in a preschool, had children wanting cuddles, wanting to sit on my lap and a child sneeze right next to me.
I dont understand why secondary children are not back. I have a 5 yr old just gone back to reception (and is having a brilliant time) and a 13 and 17 yr old. 13 yr old is more interested in going out to see her friends than doing her homeworrk!

If I and many many other primary staff can do why can’t Secondary teachers?

Tbf it’s not secondary teachers’ decision....but also I think it’s about public transport and the fact older kids have wider social circles so they are more likely to add to overall transmission.

iheartttc, I totally agree with you

You can tell me that 15 year olds require closer contact than that? If I and many many other primary staff can do why can’t Secondary teachers?

I thought the plan in primary was to keep children in their 'bubbles' and not have any teachers going between bubbles.

How do you keep 15 year-olds in separate groups with only one teacher when they all do different combinations of subjects in different sets in different rooms (with no sinks to wash hands) down different corridors?
And what on earth makes you think that all 15 year-olds will 'do social distancing if asked to'? Have you met many 15 year-olds?

In secondary schools there is the issue of multiple subjects, multiple block scheduling and not enough teachers to around the various combinations if everyone goes back.

My year 10 DS is going in for 1 hour between now and September...not 1 hour a week but 1 hour full stop with his form tutor. Many many other schools are doing similar. They are not being taught in any way. My point was if R and Y1 are in full time in bubbles with limited social distancing then the same should be considered in some way for Y10.

Oh yeah - and it's not the secondary teachers themselves who are deciding what happens anyway.

iheart

It’s not about schools. It’s about limiting the spread of CV. I’ve explained a few posts ago.

Clearly some schools are making far more effort than others.

All of these issues are decided by the government, heads of the academy chains and the LEA's. The teachers get no say in it. If there is a way one particular school has found to do things better then redirect those questions to the correct place.

@whenthejoyreturns

Such a fuss about teachers being collateral damage and in danger. The majority parents want their secondary school dc back asap and would be happy with no social distancing, why can't teachers just stand at the front of the class and at a distance acceptable to them and teach?

You can try all the reasoned argument you like. Teachers have no intention of returning any time soon.

I’ve met plenty of 15 year olds...I have one. I can guarantee the ones who will mostly want to go back will be able to social distance as much as is necessary. If there is only Y10 in the school then something could be done to ensure they get some teaching at least in the core subjects. Our school has at least 6 English Teachers...so it would be relatively simple to split the year so they all get something.
Please understand this isn’t me teacher bashing...I know how hard teachers work cause I see it every day. I just don’t understand why more isn’t being done to get Secondary students back to school. And I appreciate some schools are but there are an awful lot who are not.

My point was if R and Y1 are in full time in bubbles with limited social distancing then the same should be considered in some way for Y10.

Again .... bubbles are impossible when the kids are doing different subjects! For example, my year 10 dd starts the day in her bubble for an English lesson. Then her two mates have music next, but dd isn't doing GCSE music, she's doing drama. And the boys next to her do tech. So they all need to go to different places. How are bubbles possible?!

Year 10's in my school are in now.

Different LEA's, academy chains and governors are making different decisions depending on local needs. Teachers get no say in it.

You can try all the reasoned argument you like. Teachers have no intention of returning any time soon

Teachers have been working throughout. Teachers have zero control over which year groups the govt decide will go back.

Some of the bubbles are still being taught online due to all the different subject block choices. So the teacher at the front of the class may not be the one teaching them - just supervising them getting an online lesson.

iheart

Please read what I said. There is an entire page in the govt schools guidance devoted to transport and social contact outside school, all of which has to be factored into our risk assessments.

It’s about reducing spread.

Teachers have been going into school on a rota basis throughout the crisis. You do know this don't you?

@EnlightenedOwl and that’s kind of my point. Why are Primary Staff having to go back (which I’m doing happily) yet Secondary staff are for the most part not.

I understand it’s about not spreading the virus but at what point does this stop? When the number of deaths is at 0? When there is a vaccine? Before the flu season or after?