What is the long term plan for schools?

[TeaAndASitDown]

My 5yo is back at school and it seems to be a nurturing and calm environment so far. However, the school is only running at about 15% capacity I'd guess.

With no further lockdown planned over the summer, what are the govt planning to do about education come September?

Will they scrap social distancing in schools, or will all children only attend half the time? I can't think of any other real option?

Personally I would like to see a strict lockdown over summer, eradicate community transmission, properly quarantine people coming in to the country. Then we have a fair shot at restarting education properly in September.

I don't think the government let alone schools even know yet.

There was an education committee meeting on Weds (3rd) and it was discussed that it may be well into Nov before schools are back to normal.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52895640

I did wonder once schools break up in July if we would lockdown again but I think it would screw the economy. But having said that there doesn't seem to be many Holiday clubs open (may change in next few weeks) so I don't know how working parents are meant to work 🤷‍♀️.

Yeah the holiday clubs thing is going to be really hard. This sort of half lockdown is so frustrating. I really hope they lock us down. Nhs is currently coping. They need to stop the key worker childcare provision in this lockdown I think. Do it properly and get rid of it. Tourism industry worried about losing the summer but we are going to be in lockdown over Xmas at this rate, with all the damage that will do to retail, tourism and our mental health. Never mind the safeguarding of vulnerable kids and the education of all kids.

I think the partial opening of schools is going to be dragged out for as long as possible to force women to give up work as there won't be any childcare and working from home will be reduced, furloughing will end. If women who are living with a DP or DH give up work they won't be eligible for unemployment benefits and therefore won't show up on the unemployment figures. It would be classed as underemployment.
Its a way of hiding unemployment.

We are opening to all pupils in Wales at the end of the month but on a rota system which will probably extend to the Autumn term. With max 1/3rd of pupils in but realistically lost schools are planning 1/4. So that could be one day a week or even a fortnight physically in school and the rest of the time continuing with distance learning.

I'm not sure why you think we will go in to another lock down. There have only been a few localised spikes in other countries that have relaxed the rules more than we have. France has just declared it under control. If r number remains where it is or lower hotels are set to reopen in July. Shops are already reopening. I think the quarantine from abroad is silly at this stage- should have been done it at the start.
Our school has got 80% of the r, y1 and 6 back with more expected next week and Y10 and 12 coming in part time after the 15th.
And why stop provision for key worker kids? You do realise key workers are not just hospital staff but the people who keep the electricity running, bins getting collected and food production? If the schools do not get more children back they need their kids to be somewhere.

I don’t think anyone really knows, but I expect things won’t be back to normal before November judging by the education committee meeting the other day.

If cases and deaths have dramatically dropped by autumn, it’ll be a different plan than if things are similar to now.

No one knows.

It's a shame isn't it. I feel for the vulnerable children and for the shielding people particularly. With this strategy we are pinning our hopes on a vaccine and if there is no vaccine, waiting for herd immunity. Life will be limited for months or years for some people.

I don't think there will be another lock down, sadly. I think there should be. I am fully aware of who key workers are, being one myself and my children's father also being one. I think there could be some good workforce planning by keyworker employers so that any parents who need to stop work during a summer lock down would be, in essence, furloughed. They managed it in NZ. We could do it.

'November' is basically breaking it to us gently that things won't be normal come September.

Transmission isn't going to reduce as lockdown eases. That's not how R works. It's going to increase. And then slowly fall again as local lockdowns happens. But this isn't going away for a long time, without decisive action.

Oh fedup, I hadn't thought of it like that.

With no further lockdown planned over the summer, what are the govt planning to do about education come September?

No idea, no one knows.

Will they scrap social distancing in schools, or will all children only attend half the time? I can't think of any other real option?

No idea, no one knows.

Personally I would like to see a strict lockdown over summer, eradicate community transmission, properly quarantine people coming in to the country. Then we have a fair shot at restarting education properly in September.

Good for you. That won't happen. No one will respond to it after the piss poor effort made by the government, and that's not the answer anyway.

My honest opinion is they plan on having a vaccine. I think they are anticipating the vaccine will be available in September (all being well) and that will allow the total relaxation of all social distancing once those who are high risk are vaccinated.

Govt haven’t said what will happen, very tight lipped on long term plan

I really hope they lock us down. Nhs is currently coping. They need to stop the key worker childcare provision in this lockdown I think.

Are you on glue?

The NHS definitely wouldn't be coping if all NHS staff with children had to stay home because there is no key worker childcare provision.

If there’s any chance that social distancing may still be a thing surely the govt need to provide as many schools as possible with mobile classrooms and some groups be taught by TAs.

I appreciate in cities space may not be Available for such classrooms but round me j can’t think of a single school which wouldn’t have the space.

I'm still waiting to hear about plans for 15th June from my school. I can't even think about what September will be like

If you are a key worker then your job is "key" who is going to pick up the work when you are looking after children. The spare doctors, nurses, police, etc that we have on hand

I'm leaning towards them scrapping social distancing in schools. It's obvious that the government want children back in school ASAP, look how they are rushing it now.

I'm not on glue, that's very rude.

I work in the nhs. My hospital planned to have lost 40% of staff to absence at the peak of the pandemic, for reasons of illness, quarantine or caring responsibilities for sick family members. We managed it. Currently, we are not overwhelmed. We could manage with parents furloughed. There are not too many two key worker parent families that we can't cope if it's done correctly. Don't be so negative.

Wax yes I see where you're coming from. Hopefully the data from this period will help them to model what will happen when schools open more widely.

To everyone saying 'no one knows', thank you, I know that too really.

It just really worries me!

DD2's primary school have postponed opening from 1st to the 8th and now the 17th and they are only opening to a very small amount of pupils (most people have decided against returning - NE so still higher infection rate) No idea what it will look like in September. Can only hope things are in a slightly better position by then but Im not holding my breath.

I would be comfortable with 2/3 days a week and me home educating for the rest but I understand thats not helpful for families without a parent at home.

Then my eldest attends a sen school for autistic children who find social distancing, ppe etc very difficult and involves transport to school so thats a completely different ball game altogether.

I'm sorry Sabrina that all sounds quite unsettling for you all. X

Nobody knows yet, nobody really knows how the virus will go so we can't say but I think.....

Sept all children will be in half the week with 15 in a bubble. The children not in will be linked to Teams (or similar) and will participate virtually so will still have access to the same work.

After half term, all children will be in, the "bubbles" will now be full classes but will remain separate so separate playtimes. Lunch eaten in class, staggered starts and finishes and no assemblies or visiting teachers. Children will still have their own equipment packs and will sit in spaced out rows facing the front (though not 2m apart by then) and will have hygiene drummed into them.

Teaching will become a lot more "chalk and talk" even for little ones because that's safer than moving about, interacting and discussing things.

No idea about foundation stage though.

No idea about foundation stage though

We are anticipating not starting our EYFS until after October half term.