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?

That sounds heartbreaking. :( I feel sorry for teachers and schools who are trying their best right now and getting abuse in return.

As a parent, I am getting so tired of having teachers jump on threads being so defensive, trying to stifle every opinion other than their own, and using every excuse under the sun because parents expect them to do their job

As a teacher, I am getting oh so tired of parents not recognising that we are living in the same world as you are. For example, I am a single parent with 3 children at home, I am classed as 'vulnerable' and have a child who is 'vulnerable' and I have a elderly relative I am also trying very hard to support. Between trying to secure supermarket delivery slots, supervising my children's work (or ignoring them, as is more the case), I am teaching lessons during my lesson times via teams as are all my colleagues. I have no choice but to adapt existing, proven, tried and tested classroom resources to work online. Takes me hours. I am marking bloody everything. I am fielding emails from people like you who have no fucking clue what some of my colleagues are going through. One has just lost her husband (not covid related). One has an elderly parent likely to die of covid at any moment (hanging on in there for quite some time now, surprising everyone). One is also a single parent but of 2 toddlers and trying to work online is very, very difficult for her. The father is absent. Life is going on around us - we are doing the best we can. We cannnot all deliver the same service we could in school because, you know, life. Some of us wouldn't even be in school at the moment because, you know, life. There are discrepancies in the quality of work being set and how it is being marked - you are not wrong to pick up on that. But you know fuck all about what is going on in the background and you have no right to know that. By all means, report poor service to the Head and if it is justified, it will be dealt with. But for fucks sake, just think a little bit, will you and recognise that we are dealing with the same shit as everyone else.

Oh bore off @BeetrootPicklePlease . People are fed up with the special treatment and blanket victim act. Some teachers are awesome. Some are crap. Everyone is working extra hours and has extra challenges. Simple as that.

What "special treatment" are teachers asking for, over and above what has been asked for, and given, to workers in other settings?

@Lostmyshityear9 That sounds tough, but it’s not the norm. Perhaps you should be asking for more support from your school in either covering work or explaining the situation to families otherwise how are they to know? I’d say I am in regular contact with around 20-25 people who are teachers, none of whom have the circumstances you describe, more than half don’t have kids at home. If someone is struggling to cope then I’d expect their employer to support them, and if they needed something from me I’d expect them to tell me.

@CallmeAngelina again, boring. Been done to death.

Perhaps you should be asking for more support from your school in either covering work or explaining the situation to families otherwise how are they to know?

What support do you think my school is going to give me, exactly?

The whole point is teachers are living in the real world just like you. And as a parent, you have no right to know the personal circumstances of any teacher in school. FFS, it's really not hard.

No one wants to know your personal circumstances, they really don’t. But if you can’t do your job (I’m not suggesting you cant, I’m responding to your defence of inconsistent provision on the grounds of personal circumstances) then either your employer needs to put something else in place or they need to manage people’s expectations. If you haven’t asked or you have and they’re not doing either of those things, then you can’t expect parents just to sit nicely and suck it up just in case there’s something going on in the background.

You made the allegation, noforks, not me. You said that teachers want "special treatment." I asked in what way and you can't be arsed to back up the claim so accuse me of being boring?!
Ffs, that's about the level this thread has sunk to.

I rest my case.

Schools will more that likely, not be back to 'normal' in September. At least in Wales I have been informed about this by my headteacher (I am a TA) today. In September, we will probably still be looking at a phased return for the children.
OP mentioned the risk to children is small and whilst I agree , it is not just about the children. It is about the staff also, and what they could be catching and passing to their families.

Teach your kids about black history, tolerance and living off the land. The schools can't keep up with the changes coming. They're still planning how to get back to being soul destroying exam factories. This generation will need so much more than that.

The number of deaths announced today is the lowest so it looks like the risks are dropping. Everyone needs to get back to a new normal life at work and school or there will be nothing left in the economy to come back to. It’s no good schools opening in a part time way in September as that doesn’t help those employees who will be back in their workplace- some employers don’t operate by home working so if people want their salaries they will need to work.

Parker231
The number of deaths announced today is the lowest so it looks like the risks are dropping.

Before you start celebrating lets see what happens in the next two to three weeks after all the beach parties and protests.

If you haven’t asked or you have and they’re not doing either of those things, then you can’t expect parents just to sit nicely and suck it up just in case there’s something going on in the background

How much clearer can I make it? If a teacher isn't working at the moment, there is every possibility that their personal circumstances are such that they are, for example, on leave: sick leave, compassionate leave, attending funerals etc. etc. If a teacher isn't performing to whatever standards you expect, complain. But dont' expect a head to be able to give you a reason why because it is fuck all to do with you, as a parent, and you have no right to know that I am not currently at work 'cos my husband has been in intensive care for 3 weeks (not the case, I'm just giving an example)

The schools can't keep up with the changes coming. They're still planning how to get back to being soul destroying exam factories
Hard to know where to begin with this. But just to say, you clearly have no idea whatsoever of what schools and school staff face in terms of Ofsted, Progress 8 and that minor annoyance called parents who expect that their children leave school with the qualifications to move onto the next stage of their lives. There is so much more interesting stuff I could do if only someone would remove the need to sit exams I have no say in designing. Think carefully about who you vote for. The current school/exam factory situation lies firmly at the feet of Mr Gove.

Lostmyshityear9

Unfortunately anything that is posted outside of the expectations of some posters will either be ignored or belittled.

@Lostmyshityear9 You’re totally missing the point. No one wants to know personal circumstances, really, they don’t.

Personally, I think that the schools can go back in September. All other European countries will be. The french science minister advising on their response said today that it was a mistake to extend lockdown to schools, because evidence has shown that children transmit only tiny amounts of virus, and they are planning to get all pupils back by July if they can. The french science minister said basically wear masks in public places and wash your hands and all will be fine. I agreed with the lockdown but people are now a bit hysterical here - death rate is falling and all the events that people said would lead to a second peak - loosening of lockdown, VE Day etc have not led to the spike that was predicted. Honestly, if people do lots of socialising in outdoor spaces over the summer things will likely be fine. Other countries are happy to open their borders to our citizens, so they think it is ok!

I despair at my DS and his friends in YR 12 not having to attend school when they're supposed to take A Levels this time next year. Instead you see groups of kids hanging out all day doing nothing. So much for social distancing. What's the point? Might as well have them in school and learning. This has to stop. It's insane.

@NotABeliever

I despair at my DS and his friends in YR 12 not having to attend school when they're supposed to take A Levels this time next year. Instead you see groups of kids hanging out all day doing nothing. So much for social distancing. What's the point? Might as well have them in school and learning. This has to stop. It's insane.

I agree. It's ridiculous - I keep seeing groups of teenagers walking around my town. They aren't social distancing - some in couples holding hands etc. My daughter is being really responsible and observing the rules but many of her school friends are blatantly ignoring social distancing by having parties and meeting up with boyfriends etc. What is the point of having schools closed when they're just meeting up anyway??? They might as well be in school and getting an education rather than wasting their time and potentially spreading the virus anyway. Horse racing and betting is allowed but we aren't educating all our children. If schools don't open in September and provide full time education then I for one will be demonstrating on the streets. Anne Longfield (the Children's Commissioner) was on the radio this morning and highlighted the dangers for many vulnerable children of not being at school. I've posted on here before and earned parents to write to Gavin Williamson - please do so and also write to Anne Longfield. It may have more impact than just posting on Mumsnet.

I forgot to add to this that I was a secondary school teacher and also worked for years as an LSA so I am fully aware of the pressures of working in education. I am also pretty sure that some of my ex colleagues who do the bare minimum even in normal times - will be doing everything they can to avoid going back until September. Some teachers are just coasting along until retirement and as useless as chocolate teapots.

Have the education unions threatened the govt with strikes? However if that was the case I’m surprised at Boris as I didn’t think he listened to the unions. I’m just not understanding why children are being abandoned but pubs, and soon zoos, Alton towers, Butlins and centre parcs will be open.