Non-returning primary year groups

[Springhere]

The government has stopped mentioning the idea of all primary year groups returning for a month before summer, so I'm guessing this is now highly unlikely (and logistically impossible for many schools given the social distancing rules). Has anyone had any communication from their primary school about this?

@Springhere

I really don't understand this approach of having three year groups in as much as possible and the others not at all. Surely a part-time rota would have been best for all children's educational needs and mental health. What an utter mess.

That was one of the nine scenarios the SAGE scientists recommended. It was a scenario the unions said might work. But no, the Govt took it upon themselves to come up with their own plan, no doubt scribbled down on the back of an envelope by Dominic Cummings, and when schools went, hang on, that won't work, everyone called teachers lazy and feckless for saying so. So yes, a part-time rota WAS feasible – but the schools were instead forced to adhere to the Govt's plan and here we are, in a right mess.

I am so angry and frustrated and sad on behalf of my y4 ds, and I feel totally powerless.

The current yR/1/6 thing is working brilliantly at our school, but there is no capacity either in staff or space to extend this provision to any other year group. Part time for all year groups would have been so much better.

Why year 1 but not year 2 who would all be going up to juniors in September so a big change for them?

I think most heads and teachers would agree with you-that’s certainly what we planned for in our reopening plan.

The government have handled this appallingly.

Yes, and those of us who, you know, have some kind of experience in running schools were (in addition to being lazy and feckless) accused of not have a "can-do" attitude. Apparently, all other sectors have put some effort into new ways of working but the lazy bastard teachers point-blank refuse to, because we're more interested in having even longer holidays than usual. Never mind the actual FACTS of the matter (schools have adapted with a seismic shift to the logistics of normal service), lets stick to our agenda of bashing them as much as possible.
Oh, and starting a few petitions, while we're at it.

CallmeAngelina My OH is a Y5 teacher and I've been so upset by reading the vitriol aimed at you all. If the Govt had listened to you in the first place and then the scientists, a far better plan could've been executed for ALL years to go back in some capacity, like they're preparing to do in Wales. Instead, parents are upset, teachers are demoralised and our children are still suffering from a lack of schooling and social interaction. It tells you everything you need to know about this Govt that pubs reopening are more of a priority now than schools.

(Actually, I think I posted the above on the wrong thread! Sorry)

CallmeAngelina I think it applies to any thread where people are asking whose fault the U-turn is! It's definitely not the schools - the Govt should've consulted and listened to them before coming up with their arbitrary June 1 plan for N, R, Y1 and Y6.

Dont blame any schools or teachers at all. Such a mess.

My friends' daughter has just qualified as a primary teacher. She's looking for a job but reckons very little is being advertised

We have whole cohorts of new teachers ready plus empty libraries and community centres. Maybe they could be utilised with NQTs employed by LEA rather than schools?

@springhere exactly - like what Wales are doing. I would rather my children went in for a 3rd of the time than not at all. 4 months of missed school in isolation for our children, they have been left behind. I have never felt so let down.

Just to add I was in school today and there has been a huge increase in the demand for keyworker places (secondary)- many parents going back to work and their children. struggling at home. These children have been okay at home for weeks but as reality sets in it seems many are trying desperately to fall into keyworker categories to help their children have some social and educational contact. The rules on keyworker children will need to be tightened soon as we won’t be able to look after them and teach year 10 and 12 from next week. Looking very unlikely ‘normal’ school will return until early 2021. Years of underfunding are showing now...

@Rosie2000
I agree.
I was on the key worker rota at our high school, and we started to see more students in a couple of weeks ago.
From next week, I'm in with the year 10s, so another member of staff will have to work with my key worker group.
I think we can manage like this until September. But if they want more kids in from then, the key worker groups need stopping.
We don't know yet whether we will continue with the groups over the summer holiday, we have all holidays up until now. But they've stopped FSM for the summer holiday, so that might mean they'll stop the groups then? Who knows? We won't be told until the last minute, that's certain!

My concern is that if we try to do a rota now those parents of the years that are in will be very unhappy. They have got happy children back in school and won't want them to be back at home while another year group get a chance.

By saying it is up to schools to be flexible it opens the gates to more criticism and unhappy parents who are often to distressed to see the whole situation for how unworkable it is. It puts the blame on schools when we find out details when you do and when we try to meet the not possible expectations and fail again it's down to us for not trying hard enough and wanting more holiday.

Oh well I am going in to my bubble covered with hand sanitiser gel and my mask and try to get through another day and make my new little class happy and enjoy school.

It is a huge mess. The guidance is poor, was revised multiple times putting plans into disarray and the government should have listened to the scientists and people working in the education sector to make plans for the wider reopening.

The children who’ve returned to my local school have been brilliant at adapting to the new routines and rules. They are happy and benefiting from interaction with their peers and educationally through a catch up curriculum focused on well being. This applies to the key worker groups who are also being taught by age group in this way. The government guidance should have allowed all year groups to be on part time rotas so every child can benefit. It wasn’t recommended (except by SAGE) as it means people can’t work full time so clearly economy has been prioritised over education.

@stayingaliveisawayoflife I totally agree with you.

I am disgusted that this has been put onto individual schools, it is 100% a political move so that schools get the blame for not being able to do it.

Our school has been wonderful and I know they are doing their absolute best for the pupils whilst still following the guidelines, but to give them 'flexibility' transfers either the risk or the criticism (or actually both) onto the shoulders of the ht and governing body.

@stayingaliveisawayoflife I completely agree. It boils my blood the way the government has tried to make schools accountable for its terrible decision making.

Like others are KW numbers have increased massively since 1 June. The numbers have almost tripled, and are increasing weekly.

We are an infant school but have little flexibility in managing room size and space availability. In normal times we are cramped for space. We have 9 classrooms. We can't fit 15 in and still allow the staff to be able to distance. Due to the non mixing of bubbles and the age of our children we really need two adults in each bubble, even with reduced numbers. Logistically it's the only way for the adult to be able to go to the toilet if nothing else!

We are due to reopen to reception on Monday but this is now under review again due to the increasing KE numbers. We already couldn't offer year 1 spaces.

We had a few children start and once parents realised they were not getting vouchers they withdrew the child. Vouchers stop on the 15th and we expect they may wish to return but if we have any additional children in the mean time they may not be able to. Also looking at options like a PP group for a couple of weeks if possible. Much is done outside and the weather has been very helpful.

I am wondering what will happen in September with the current yr1 who will have been attending all term but when they go into yr2 they will no longer be in one of the key year groups. My dc is yr5 so will be in yr6 in September and presumably will have a space as the current yr6 leave. I guess the most sensible would be yr1, 2 and 6 because I imagine settling a new reception class in would not be ideal but then what will happen to the new reception class. Also the yr6s going up become one of the lowest priority in their secondary school so will they be back home again? Hopefully someone has thought this through (won't hold my breath!).

The whole thing is a complete mess but I do think that they have to prioritise the children that have had zero primary school in sept rather than just allowing the kids who have been at school (even though I know for all that may not have been full time) to continue to be prioritised while the others are still left out