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?

@FrippEnos

The general consensus is that nothing is going back to normal for a long time. School for pupils is already only half to 2/3 of a working day so school will become what? 3 hours per day? Nobody can possibly work around those hours so if that's the long term, then many will pull their children out of school. Therefore there won't be a need for as many teachers and redundancies would be likely. There's no law that says that you have to wait 6 months after a redundancy to re-recruit and changing terms and conditions is possible through a process of consultation with SOSR dismissal and re-engagement as a last resort to resolve.

That's not Definite though is it? Although I suppose a slight rise is to be recorded

Expected not recorded!

Saw this quote about Boris today. If the economy is to restart, which it has to, it’s going to need to include schools reopening properly.

“Boris Johnson will soon set out plans to “rebuild Britain” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, amid reports he wants to ease lockdown restrictions quickly to save millions of jobs”.

I am so glad I came across this post. I was saying to my mum I was worried as I was feeling like the only person who thought this way so I'm glad to see other like minded responses. I've emailed my MP today as it seems the guidance is almost all coming from them. I'd like to see studies/evidence that they've considered all of these things as it feels like tunnel vision on COVID with no consideration for any other factors that are/will affect the children.

The truth is there is no easy answer and every option carries risk for some groups. For me personally we will be in quite a bit of trouble if schools don't open in September. I work part time, thankfully have been furloughed so I can focus on home school. My year one son goes back tomorrow and I have no worries about sending him back. My 9 year old is still at home and he is struggling a lot. He was borderline school refusing before lockdown and is now under CAMHS but all the support has slowed right down. I have no idea how i am going to get him back in September, assuming they open then but his mental health has really suffered. We have the added complication that my husband runs his own business and he has now earnt no money for 3 months, and we don't qualify for any benefits for a number of reasons. We rent as we lost house we owned when he was made redundant a few years ago, which is why he runs his own business. We are living off savings at the moment but even when that drops below the threshold so we can claim UC it will not be enough to live off. If my children don't go back in September I might have to quit my job, if the business still isn't making money my husband will probably have to try and get any job he can.

My worry is if we don't find a vaccine then covid is here to stay and there is nothing we can do about it, so how do we run a society with covid circulating permenantly, in a way that allows the economy to function, children to access the education they are entitled to and the NHS to treat everyone, not just covid, whilst keeping covid deaths as low as we realistically can? My dad, who is just under 70 with no underlying conditions is slowly going blind, because the operation that will save his sight has been delayed and delayed and the longer they leave it the less successful the operation will be.

I completely supported lockdown , I understand the reasons behind it, and I support it carrying on for a bit longer in its currant format. But if covid is here to stay, we need to start working on the new normal for our society that isn't just about covid but about life.

My dd is probably one of those “outbreaks” in schools. She tested positive last week, but since DH has tested postive a week before we had been isolated at home since he had symptoms and so she’s been at home and hasn’t Infected anyone. Still told the school and they told phe.....

We have also between us accounted for one of the hospital outbreaks (DH) and on GP surgery (me) so with dd being one of the school outbreaks I feel like we are the super spreader family!

However we all isolated from whenDH lost sense of smell two and a bit weeks ago. He may possibly have infected someone in his asymptomatic period but as dd and I were inside in isolation (other than for our tests) for over a week before we got symptoms I know we haven’t infected anyone. So if one person is truly an outbreak then three is the reported outbreaks last week are rubbish

Pawsandnoses

Genuine question.
So has the law changed or was I completely misinformed?

Either way getting rid of teachers would be a very short sighted view given the recruitment and retention rates.

It may be that they don't need to "get rid of" many more. I for one may well walk.

PawandNoses that's why its makes more sense to do what some councils are proposing. Group 1 in Mon / Tues, clean schools Wednesday Group 2 Thurs / Friday.

It also gives families half a chance to work on those two days. I just hope they sort afterschool to give parents two full days at least.

nonotthat - it says in the link that it's 2 or more cases linked to a particular institution so your dd wouldn't count alone.

It also says from serological studies:

Prevalence varies by age group with the highest prevalence in adolescents and young adults (only 17+ as from blood donors), could have implications for sixth form / secondaries?

I think a lot of teachers will walk, I think a lot of them probably ought to.

If schools don't go back then there needs to be consistency in provision.

-councils need to take over vulnerable families and things like food delivery, ridiculous that teachers are doing this. They should be focused on providing an education

• excuses need to stop, yes it's difficult that some don't have access to on-line stuff but this should not mean that students that do have access should not receive anything. Levelling the playing field down to the lowest level is not acceptable
• clear guidelines need to be introduced because, looking at these threads, some schools are doing the absolute minimum and putting up barriers. If heads and SLT's don't really understand or don't have the motivation they need to be shown how

It seems that part of the problem is that there is no structure to pupils days. Surely check in times could be introduced - registration - work set on-line, catchup at break etc.

I think a lot of them probably ought to.

Why do you say that?

For the record, trust me, I am one who you would want to keep.
But I'm not far off taking early retirement anyway and I don't need this hassle.

@StrawberryBlondeStar

I am so angry that there is not a plan in place of how we get all children back to school. Yet the current focus seems to be about air bridges, because people’s summer holidays are far more important????

This will effect the poorest children worst. Middle class parents will pay for tutors and private schooling. Those children will never make up the gap unless something is put in place to close it.

Part time schooling for another year will only grow the gap further.

If part time schooling is looking likely from September then the first thing they need to do is flip the holidays. 6 weeks over the winter and 2 weeks over the summer. On the basis, let us hope we have a vaccine or effective treatment by next spring and children can be back full time in for some proportion of the year.

Good grief. This comment about air bridges is incredibly ignorant. Do you really think it’s just about people’s holidays?! Have you any idea how many people work in aviation, travel and a multitude of associated businesses that rely on airports and air travel? Our economy is an interconnected labyrinth and the aviation sector is a key component of a healthy economy. If you don’t understand why an issue is being discussed, consider doing some research instead of making assumptions and then spouting crap on a public forum.

I think a lot of them probably ought to.

My DC’s certainly should.

And who do you propose is going to staff schools if the teachers you happen to believe are crap, all leave?

And who do you propose is going to staff schools

Interesting question. I note you didn’t ask who is going to teach the children? The ones who aren’t teaching and progressing their class since mid March need to walk. They are clearly not interested. The evidence is there to measure progress/lack of progress individual teachers have made. I am two children in state school. One has done her job and taught. The other has done nothing. They should not both be getting paid the same salary (excluding length of service). One of those teachers should not be getting paid at all. It is clearly time to seek a new career.

@Carpedimum wow! Not sure how you have read so much into one sentence in this entire thread on education, and then to be so angry and rude about it.

Did I say the impact on the aviation industry was not at in issue? No, because we aren’t discussing the aviation industry, this is a thread about education.

My concern is that a significant vocal proportion of people in this country are more worried about going on their summer holidays then children (particularly disadvantaged children) being educated and as such that is what the government seems to focus on at the moment - ensuring airbridges to popular holiday destinations.

I would be more then happy for the government to continue working on airbridges, if they would put the same effort into coming up with a plan to educate children.

Bewil

Glad to know my family hasn’t caused 3 covid outbreaks in a week - was feeling a bit typhoid Mary

@Sittingontheveranda

And who do you propose is going to staff schools

Interesting question. I note you didn’t ask who is going to teach the children? The ones who aren’t teaching and progressing their class since mid March need to walk. They are clearly not interested. The evidence is there to measure progress/lack of progress individual teachers have made. I am two children in state school. One has done her job and taught. The other has done nothing. They should not both be getting paid the same salary (excluding length of service). One of those teachers should not be getting paid at all. It is clearly time to seek a new career.

What an ignorant goady post. progressing their class since mid March How do you suppose that can be achieved? Considering the GOVERNMENT has suspended the curriculum and the basis of provision for home learning has been set by individual heads and schools? Who gets to decide whether a teacher has been 'doing her job'? You? FFS the stupid on here really fucking burns.

Surely check in times could be introduced - registration - work set on-line, catchup at break etc
Our school essentially does this - two blogs a day so in the morning you go on to the blog say hi and read what the mornings work is, same in the pm! Out of 30 kids I'd say there's 6 of us who regularly "check in", some do their work more ad hoc hours so don't check in but do the work and many more must just not be bothering. But we're Reception so non compulsory schooling. I think the issue higher up is parents have clearly been told this schooling is optional so even with check ons etc, what happens if you do none of it? A call fro mtbe schoolfor a chat if they notice, nothing in many cases.
If this continues, then there needs to be more monitoring of eho is engaging and more pick up for those who aren't

Myothercarisalsoshit

Same school. Two kids. Two teachers. One is teaching at least some of what my child would have learned if still in school. Age has given constructive feedback highlighting errors and making suggestions for improvements. The other teacher has uploaded a few worksheets from Twinkl, not given any feedback, and told the kids to do Joe Wicks.
The people letting down teachers are their own colleagues.