Can’t see how children will be able to go back to school in 2021

[Ouchy]

Let’s face it. The R0 may not be controlled for months. Vaccine unlikely until 2021. Teaching unions up in arms. People unwilling to accept the risk of the virus (low for many). I’m getting more and more concerned and the government haven’t published any forward plans for how school can be restarted in the various scenarios we may be facing come September (have they?). What on earth are the DfE and the Education Secretary doing during the working week if they’re not planning this stuff? Is there something I’ve missed - am I mistaken? I’m getting more and more concerned. The children are low risk - there needs to be a plan and fast as their educations and social development are being kind of ignored for something they’re super low risk for as individuals themselves. Looking for reassurance really - am I mistaken or being silly?

Where people can’t work from home, they will need to return to work now that businesses are reopening to kick start the economy

Exactly so what do they do for the 3 days their kids are at home ?

Gawd only knows how people are meant to juggle.
I imagine that people will start babysitting other peoples kids. Or we'll have a return to the days of the latch key kids. Neither are ideal situations

Lostmyshityear9

I like the way that you are thinking about TAs and how they could support classes in this.

Ours at the moment are contacting various pupils.

In lessons the main issue would be the number of TAs required to help in the lessons, we don't have enough for every class.

In your scenario a possible solution could be that there are a reduced number of live lessons to match the number of TAs that could be timetabled in.

@TrustTheGeneGenie - that’s why schools need to reopen fully. The virus isn’t going anywhere so we are all going to have to cope with it but get on with our lives - home, schooling and work.

I would love to return to work but school isn't open for my DS right now. I don't have a partner so I don't even have someone that I could try and work my hours around.

I’ve no idea how it’s all going to work op. I’m in Scotland and work in community nursing, already work part time and on a flexible working policy to allow me to drop off and pick up. 3DC across differing years and schools and a husband who does a specialised job only he can do which can’t be done from home and works away a lot. We have a childminder for holidays but she has 2 Dc of her own with SN who she will need to homeschool so may not be keen to have other kids at the same time not to mention the cost.

My Off duties are done months in advance due to things put in place by the health boards for the pandemic so I can’t even plan for different days/weeks etc.

And I know I could ‘stand up for my rights to work as woman’ and make DH take shorter weeks etc but they would simply replace him and we can’t afford to lose his wage. I did contact my MSP for more clarification, I am in a Tory area of Scotland, and he said as he understands it provision will still be available for key workers so I am hoping so, it is going to be up to individual authorities how they plan who is in when. My area is thin on the ground for childminders/nurseries with spaces for more than one sibling etc as well and if everyone is going to be in the same boat there will be even less space

My DC are also reluctant to do work at home now as well, the first few weeks they were really keen but not so much now, my 6 year old seems to be really struggling with the disruption to the routine. Before the schools closed he was getting referred for help dealing with his emotions etc but that had been forgotten about. I’m so angry for my children

@Edujaded

Having read through every bit of D of E guidance, the tone seems set for the plan to be remote learning for the foreseeable future. It would be far more helpful I think for the government to commit to this publicly so everyone can prepare themselves for the long haul.

I agree this needs saying publically. The govt also needs to remind everyone that they told schools to suspend teaching the curriculum.

I’ve had two teacher friends contact me today to say they are offering private online GCSE lessons and would my daughter be interested. If my child isn’t going back to school until next year then I’m going to have to consider taking up this option.

More constructively from my previous posts I do think schools have a duty to at least try and teach the children in keyworker bubbles especially if the situation continues into September.

At the moment I can see that some non keyworker children in the non returned years are having no teaching At all either and no childcare so it’s not hugely unfair but when all years return even if only part time then keyworker kids will be the only ones receiving no education (assuming something like home learning continues for shielded kids)

Regarding buildings, could some schools take over other buildings not being fully used if there is a change in the sorts of business that can operate in the next 12 months?

Herecomesthesun,

I posted earlier about the sheer number of buildings that would be needed - not to mention the number of staff. Essentially, if the guidance remains the same, you need as many classroom spaces outside as inside the school for primaries, and 3x the number outside as inside for secondaries....

However, since then I have wondered whether other spaces could be used for keyworker childcare.

Currently, many primaries could teach 'half class sized' bubbles for half a week each (so every year group in half time) if they did not also have to provide full time childcare for vulnerable and keyworker children (the number of these continue to grow, to the extent that if every child eligible takes up their place in September full time and classes are half normal size, we can open to very few other children at all).

If another provider, working in a different location, could provide the keyworker / vulnerable child childcare (in suitable groups, and co-ordinated with school, to avoid total mixing of in-school 'bubbles') for the days when children are not in school, then the logistics of opening to everyone at least half time would be hugely simplified.

So the thinking is children aren't going back to school? For over a year? No wonder our economy is fucked.

Press reporting today that the government will reduce the social distance to one metre.

What effect will that have?

I’m assuming the schools will be able to take twice as many children?

Rosebel,

I think that all children except those shielding will attend school for some of the time from September (though if full-time keyworker childcare remains the absolute priority it is now, it may be VERY part time for the others), but I don't think that full time schooling for everyone will start in September, no.

CountessFrog

Only if they increase the guidance to above 15

Countess - it will make no difference in schools already operating bubbles of 15, as these don't have 2m social distancing within them.

It will make a difference to secondaries, who would be able to go up to half the children attending 9classes of 150 rather than the current quarter for 10 and 12.

It won't allow for full time return for all, as 1m social distancing within the classroom still won't allow the usual 30+ children into each room.

"If another provider, working in a different location, could provide the keyworker / vulnerable child childcare"

Many of the vulnerable children are in school because they need specialist support and/or they need the familiarity of school. You cannot just put them with some other provider.

Well it would be some improvement wouldn’t it?

WHO has suggested 1m social distance.

I think the difference for schools will mean they can actually fit.15 kids in a classroom with 2m distancing some schools are struggling to get 6 kids in a room.

Another crazy thought could be that if SD is going to be a thing for a number of years. Then surely that means that we need to look for long term solutions.
Massive building programme or convert other vacant buildings into schools. Kick start the economy too.

It maybe things will just have to go back to normal. People won’t stay apart for years.

@Blackbear there are many schools not social distancing within the groups and are operating with 15chn Max advised so the difference of 1M will make no difference

Rainbow I hope you are right.

@Rainbow12e

Fingers crossed.

Can’t keep away

So they keyworker kids still don’t get an education?

Why are they totally forgotten about?

Spikey,

I completely see your point. Those children would still have half time in school each week - i wonder whether it could be got round for the other half of each week with a use of the same 1:1 support staff across both settings?

Obviously not for special schools etc...just thinking aloud, really.