How/when did the tide turn on schools?

[LaceCurtains]

In the beginning the mood here was almost desperate calling for schools to be closed.

In the last week or so there's been a marked shift to getting them open (from peope here).

Is it the same people who wanted the closed, now calling for them to get back to normal or have the original campaigners gone quiet/new people got louder?

FWIW I always thought schools closed as early as they did because of public pressure and it seems to me that "other" things are getting back to normal more quickly than originally planned/expected (because of DC and the need to distract?) but schools don't seem to be included in that.

I'm at a loss as to why schools are being treated so differently. I'm SLT in school, if that makes a difference and the government guidance is a shambles. Changes daily but doesn't seem to have any clear aim.

I am also concerned about secondary schooling. Mine are in years 9 and 11, these appear to be the lowest priority at all for return. It is not normal or right for teenagers to be cooped up at home for 6 months, no school, no part time work, no sport or other hobby participation, no proper social life, no proper transition to 6th form or college and no promise of a return in September. I supported school closure initially but am pretty pissed off now. I can see what a huge problem it is for schools, this is not their fault but I don't think the government has any idea of the harm it is doing by not prioritising a return to education.

Yep, @Nihiloxica, it's just nuts.

Lockdown must never happen again.

Destroying society for a disease as dangerous as 'flu.

Fucking madness.

I agree lockdown must never happen again, I firmly believe it was too bloody late anyway and hasn't had any significant impact because the NHS went and cancelled pretty much everything else. The government should have stuck to their original plan and protected the vulnerable. There was a huge call for retired doctors and nurses to come back, we could have done the same for schools so vulnerable teachers and TA's could shield.

Youtube isn't a silly comment.

My kids' teachers have recommended hundreds of Youtube videos in a variety of subjects during lockdown. There is some fantastic content on Youtube if you engage with it.

I think the same people who want them to stay closed are the folks who have gotten quite comfortable being at home (whether SAHP or furloughed or whatever).

I am thinking about the parents I know from school and I know exactly which ones will be crowing about schools staying closed. There is a certain contingent that whinges about every little thing to do with school, whose dc have horrible attendence records because they are 'off on holiday' or 'Billy is just too tired to come to school today' (at least twice a week). Some of them certainly are vulnerable (which is worrying) because their family life is a bit chaotic, but some of them are just the ones who have one or both parents at home and who don't have the same pressures as working parents do. I suspect they are liking the less pressured days and having a lie in every day (and probably not doing a lot of home schooling).

I never wanted them closed but I'd have accepted a couple of weeks.

This is now beyond ridiculous.

I'm incredibly apathetic about politics and current affairs but I'd happily march over this issue.

I think the worry had subsided in those who opposed opening once it became very clear it’s not mandatory. Not so much that opinions changed just that the worry and strong feeling settled

Whereas the strong feeling from those who want them open is naturally growing.

I don't think the government has any idea of the harm it is doing by not prioritising a return to education.

Err - the Govt want schools to re open. It's the teachers and unions that don't!

What I dont get is why some schools are banning face coverings. My DD works as a secondary school TA and their headteacher has taken the decision that no one (staff or pupils) are to cover their faces.
I work in a hospital and from June 15th will have to wear a mask even when not engaged in patient related tasks. Fair enough, not sure how I will eat lunch but ok.
However if a need to wear masks at all times has been identified why wait until 15th? Why not implement straight away?
The govt are shambolic with their unclear decision making.

I don't understand why it's fine to reopen everything else but not schools. Shall we just shut hospitals and supermarkets because they don't feel safe?
Children generally get less ill and I thought it had been said that they don't pass it on but that might be wrong.
I'm literally tearing my hair out and have told the school I can't home educate after the summer as I'll have a baby. Not expecting them to do anything but I'm very worried. Y7 is so far behind ((she was before lockdown). Y9 is bright but she needs school in September as,she's loosing motivation and starting GCSEs. Looking at a computer is not equal to being taught.
I'm on maternity leave and midwife keeps telling me take it easy and relax but how can I when I'm trying to support my children's learning even though I don't understand it myself.
The government need to tell schools to go back. Clearly they want all mums to be out of work but don't know why. Our children have been massively failed. They continue to be failed. In a few years we'll be asking why children aren't getting in to university. It's because they aren't being taught. So this,virus will affect us for generations.
Just get them back. Teens are already killing themselves as they can't cope, but that doesn't matter.
My children really really hate school but even they know they have to go back.

Err - the Govt want schools to re open. It's the teachers and unions that don't!

No, if the government actually wanted schools to go back, they would provide the support needed to impliment the neccessary changes. As it is they announced a few years would be going back, with guidance that most schools cannot adhere to. They need to take lead and decide what they want and make sure schools have the staff and resources to do so.

And to respond to accusations of those home schooling above. Wow bit of a generalisation. Our two primary kids do school from 9-3.30 every day. Husband is working from home. He starts early so he can look after the kids from 3.30. Then I work till about 11pm. They’re having a15-min playtime at the mo. I never keep them off unnecessarily and have never had a term time holiday.

I’m only saying this in defence of the attack above. I’m not doing it to show off it’s because the routine works best for us. I know not everyone can do this nor do I expect them to. But I do take offence at nasty generalisations!

I support those who want schools open.

We’re all different.

We all have different situations.

We’re all in this together.

Be Kind.

People on here just want to fight and get angry.

I really don’t want to be angry, and I don’t want to fight but I’m thoroughly tired of trying to provide any level of education for my kids with minimal support, trying to find ways to help their social development, support their mental health and wellbeing while also being unable to do my own job.

What the government are saying is that in two months time they still don’t see progress being made in terms of providing a realistic education for my children, with I assume a knock on to after school care, clubs and activities. There doesn't seem to any account given to process elsewhere where kids are back full time without provoking a second wave, or any consideration to kids who need to be in school and parents who, having accommodated all this for 5 months face continued chaos after summer. How on Earth are working parents supposed to do it?

Government is blaming unions, unions claim to represent their members, teachers say they want back. Lobby your unions then if they aren’t representing your views.

I personally think the schools should have closed two weeks earlier than they did, and stay closed until September. (I don’t know why September by the way, that’s just always been ‘the month’ for some reason)

With regards to the economy starting back up and parents going to work, if the parents household has been staying in apart from a walk a day and going to the shops for essentials and so has another household, like grandparents or the next door neighbour for example, then it’s unlikely for those two households to have the virus, so can mix, ie watch the kids.

That’s how I thought it was going to go anyway, but obviously not!

I agree if we'd just been told remote learning for the vast majority until September, we'd have done it much better. Yes it was typical dithering and changing the goal post with this govt. Some decisive decision making would have made such a difference. They seem to make decisions on the run, make an announcement without letting providers know (shools/NHS/care homes) and just think things can magically be sorted overnight.

It's the teachers and unions that don't!

Nonsense.

There is some fantastic content on Youtube if you engage with it.

Agreed. In ADDITION to proper teaching, it's great.

As a SUBSTITUTION for proper teaching, it's unacceptable.

No, if the government actually wanted schools to go back, they would provide the support needed to impliment the neccessary changes. As it is they announced a few years would be going back, with guidance that most schools cannot adhere to. They need to take lead and decide what they want and make sure schools have the staff and resources to do so.

I agree saying schools can go back but with maximum class size of 15 is ridiculous, where do they get all the extra teachers and classrooms from?

@Jellycatspyjamas

In that case union members need to be telling the unions they want back - a union is a membership organisation set up to represent their members. If the unions are falsely representing their members views, the members need to set them straight.

We are talking to our Unions and as Teachers we are telling them its not safe!!!! Stop making out we want to be at school putting our lives at risk!!!

With regards to the economy starting back up and parents going to work, if the parents household has been staying in apart from a walk a day and going to the shops for essentials and so has another household, like grandparents or the next door neighbour for example, then it’s unlikely for those two households to have the virus, so can mix, ie watch the kids.

Most families do not have access to this level of support with childcare. In normal times few families have grandparents close enough, fit enough and willing to provide even part time childcare let alone 9-5 5 days a week. As for neighbours, it, just doesn't work like that. They probably work or have their own children or grandchildren. If they wanted to be a full time childcarer they would be registered as a childminder and getting paid for it.

As always, there are massive socio/economic differences too.
DH teaches at a private school and has taught his entire timetable over Microsoft from our kitchen.
It's been exhausting for him as he has had to work until 11pm some nights preparing resources and exams.
He even still has registration twice a day, when the kids get to chat to him and each other.
Meanwhile the local state school kids get nothing like that. They have been provided with web links to the curriculum and left to it.
DS is still awaiting a reply from his (state school) head of sixth form that was sent in April. He has given up now.
From where I am it feels like the state school kids have been abandoned.

Media and public pressure and now government is worried about that sentiment so they are being cautious. You can already imagine what headlines would be, government kills children etc. Mumentters would be having a field day over it.

Instead of people using critical thinking and being realistic it's all been hysteria and fear and now it's hard for the government to move along as they would.

First the hysteria over being too slow so they locked us down because media and people screaming for lockdown. They wanted to ease things up much earlier but again the media and public screaming how it's too early, now they are doing it in stages suddenly its too slow..well reap what you sow.

Instead of behaving in a more balanced way we have lurched from one extreme to the other and this is the result and the government is having to go with it otherwise there would endless amounts of tearing them apart..oh wait that's already happening

Maybe people will look back and next time be more balanced and realistic. Dont demand lockdown, demand it's too early to ease up but then suddenly complain its affecting your child's education when only last week you werent going to send them to school because it's too much of a risk.

People should be ashamed of themselves for behaving in that way. Cos blame the government all you like but they listened to the public and we are where we are because of that.

I am thinking about the parents I know from school and I know exactly which ones will be crowing about schools staying closed. There is a certain contingent that whinges about every little thing to do with school, whose dc have horrible attendence records because they are 'off on holiday' or 'Billy is just too tired to come to school today' (at least twice a week). Some of them certainly are vulnerable (which is worrying) because their family life is a bit chaotic, but some of them are just the ones who have one or both parents at home and who don't have the same pressures as working parents do. I suspect they are liking the less pressured days and having a lie in every day (and probably not doing a lot of home schooling).

What a horrible judgmental post. How would you feel if people were saying, "I know just the parents who want the schools open, the ones who can't be bothered with their own kids, the ones who put their career above their children, the ones who are living a chaotic life style and want the kids out of their hair for several hours a day." Not nice is it, you actually don't know what is going on in other people's minds.

I know two families with kids in primary school who haven't sent them back. Both families say taking the pressure off little ones has been good for their mental health and has improved their learning. Neither family is chaotic, vulnerable and neither have terrible attendance records. You are wrong to make such sweeping generalisations.