What would you actually like the government to do on schools.

[StatisticalSense]

The demands on this site with regards to schooling are simply incompatible. Schools physically do not have the room or staff to reopen to their normal numbers of pupils with any form of social distancing in place, so it clearly isn't possible to get all kids back to school full time with social distancing in place.
What exactly would you like the government to be doing on schools that is actually feasible?

If portacabins, additional hand washing facilities and additional paid staff need to be found for September, that’s what Gav needs to be focused on finding money for now.

Schools taking over the church hall if it’s next door to the village school is one thing.

We have 5 schools along one main road where I teach-there is one church (which the c of e schools could use), but no library, children’s centre, sports hall or other church halls to commandeer. There are others further away but much much nearer to another 5 schools than us. Logistically, it’s not feasible for most schools to do that.

"My neighbours children can go in because they are adopted. Their school is allowing all adopted children back in regardless of year group. With one parent saying how much they have enjoyed having the break. V unfair"

So you think it is unfair that a vulnerable child is getting support. Nice.

@Jellycatspyjamas

I'm in Scotland, and the plan here seems to be reopening to all year groups in August but on a part time basis. Don't know for sure yet but most likely seems to be half the kids go Monday and Tuesday, deep clean on Wed other half of kids go Thursday and Friday.

A number of authorities have already published their plans come August - what’s on offer is 10 hours of education offered across 2 days so shortened school days eg 9-2, primary children will be in school either Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday and Thursday, they haven’t said what will be happening on Fridays. High schools will be identified by year group with S1&2 in for 2 days, S3&4 in for 2 days and S5&6 in for 1.5 days - primary schools will be split alphabetically to keep children in the same family at school together.

That’s certainly the plan in North Lanarkshire, Glasgow - someone else posted West Lothian who were pretty similar.

10 hours a week ?

That is fucking disgraceful!

1. Scrap social distancing in schools.
2. All year groups return as normal w/c 15 June.
3. Heavy promotion in schools of hygiene re handwashing etc.
4. Remember not to vote for a bunch of incompetent wankers next time there's a general election.

The government are totally shafting a generation of kids; I am incandescent with rage quite frankly. Education is a basic human right, the current situation will lead to inequalities that will last a lifetime if it carries on beyond July.

Gav should have been focused on finding the money 2 months ago. He is beyond incompetent. Doesn't appear to give a toss about children being educated.

Schools need to go back to all years as soon as possible. I am in the lucky position that my children are in the years that have been able to go back. The change in them is immense. The School are being pragmatic and social distancing within the bubbles is encouraged with strict hygiene levels and cleaning but it is acknowledged that 4 year olds will not stay 2 metres apart. I feel so sorry for anyone who can't send their children back. Why can't they have bubbles of 30? Ideally, social distancing in schools would be scrapped altogether. Children can roam around town in large groups, go to McDonalds, go shopping, and to zoos and pubs/restaurants from Monday but not go to school. Teachers should be issued full PPE if they want it but most don't seem to want it (of those back). If this continues into September, it will be ridiculous. All schools needs to be back full time from September, with an emphasis on hand-washing etc. This talk of part-time schooling helps no-one, teachers don't want a "mixed load" and for many children and parents this is unworkable. I'm not even sure it, in any way, reduces any risk and the kids (especially at secondary school level) will be mixing out of school anyway.

Scottish parents!

Councils have surveys online asking for views, I've just completed mine, saying I want a full time return as normal in August.

Normal return to school with no social-distancing measures. Better hygiene routines and strict illness policy.

Exactly as pps said. Realize social distancing not necessary for children.

One of the big issues around all children returning (and would be complicated further by moving children to other sites) is transport.

Due to SD we currently have three times the amount of children (bus places applied for by parents) than we have buses and that is just the children who are in school now.
Due to government cuts in home school transport bus companies went bankrupt or decided it wasn't viable to continue 'the school run'. There are no more buses or staff for us to commission.

Working in education (7 days a week during this) we are trying our hardest to make this work, we want as many children back, but the naive view of parents really doesn't take account of the challenges under safeguarding, legalities, insurance liabilities, transport, catering... we can't just click our fingers and magic up buses, drivers and transport assistants,new can't find enough portacabins, have theses sited, electrics, plumbing for toilets and sinks, we haven't the staff to teach in them...DBS, recruitment safeguards, experience.
Your children need to be safe.

Open them on a rota basis - even one day a week is beneficial to the kids. And strictly adhere to the social distancing.

And perhaps satellite centres around the community - sports halls, community halls, libraries etc.

Pleasance what percentage ot prjmary age kids travel to school by bus?

I am not saying there are no issues/ problems.

But the govt need to find solutions.

Why would you just go back to normal with no distancing measures? Maybe the mass return to school will not cause an outbreak, but it might and we would find out too late and have to lock down again to prevent overwhelming hospitals. Why not pilot going back with good testing and look at the data?

Agree the govt should come up with additional support plans to help catch up. I think it is more efficient to do a centralised online offering with perhaps personalised online small group support. It would need more teachers though.

I'd like them to alternate days so that children get 2-3 days a week. Better than nothing.

I'd like them to have teaching in the open air if the weather is ok. We have good forecasting and texts can be sent to parents on a daily basis on who can attend.

4 hours per day zoom teaching for all pupils at home or shielding.

Downloadable and printed daily lessons for kids at home to complete.

Portacabins?....employing a load of TAs, temporary contracts, short notice, doesn’t necessarily need any experience. Overseen by teachers within the school of course.

(Just waiting for the patronising “you haven’t worked in a school have you” comments). When actually, I have worked in schools.

They need an unprecedented response for this come September!! They do have time to plan.

I appreciate that might sound ridiculous but it would be better than NO school at all.

They need a huge recruitment plan for TAs come September.

Hadenoughfornow agree government needs to come out with a well thought out strategy for our kids, consulting with teachers and unions properly this time. i feel totally at sea, 3 at home, not "deprived" luckily but still challenging with work. feel awful for those kids in more challenging domestic circumstances can't believe boris hasnt come out with something! irresponsible/winging it/lack of leadership/spent all his political capital on cummings, take your pick

Sorry forgot to mention, of course all staff DBS etc!! I work in safeguarding ..... but there needs to be A proactive plan now from this government.
People are just getting sick of the buts!

Get schools back fully utilising community venues so that classes aren't overcrowded.
Test staff on a weekly basis. Schools run 4 days a week so that the final day can be a deep clean and to enable 3 day period for testing.
For those children who walk /cycle to school organise crocodiles to get them home so that you are avoiding parents congregating. For those who come by car staggered start and finish times.
No child with a temperature or cough or any symptoms allowed near school.

Why wouldn't you try it Namenic, when the benefits, if successful are so huge and there's no indication that the restrictions lifted so far or going back to school in other countries have created any kind of spike?

We may have to lockdown again, but nothing to lose for the children in this appalling situation at the moment and it seems increasingly unlikely that would happen anyway.

texts can be sent to parents on a daily basis on who can attend

I mean that's great if you don't have a job but how is anyone supposed to work around that?

Get children back and schools open asap. Scrap social distancing, ensure good hygiene routines and get back to normal. Child mortality from Covid-19 is miniscule, apparently they are statistically more likely to die from being struck by lightning, asymptomatic children don't spread Covid, soon we will be able to go to pubs, restaurants, theme parks, zoos and shops while a nation of children are being denied their education. And I'm a teacher.

This is how it has worked successfully where I live in Switzerland:
From 11th May
Primary/first 3 years of secondary: class in 2 groups (max 15)
Each group does 2 mornings and 2 afternoons.
Lunch is at home or in private childcare anyway.

Good hand hygiene - all classrooms already had sinks. Classroom cleaning over lunchtime. No PE, no mixing in break times or lessons with other classes. Lower secondary is streamed rather than setted here, so it makes it easier.

There is a line on the floor that the children must not cross, so that they can stay 2m away from the teacher. For close contact with a teacher a plexiglass screen is installed on the teacher's desk.

This opening of schools has caused no rise in infections in the last month. So from this week full classes are back, PE is back on, but the hygiene measures remain the same. Older secondary are now starting back in the half classes.

All vulnerable teachers and children stay at home and have online teaching / learning.

employing a load of TAs, temporary contracts, short notice, doesn’t necessarily need any experience

They deserves a massive BUT.

We struggle to recruit one or two TAs at short notice (eg when an EHCP is issued) let alone every school trying to recruit them in large numbers.

Who at the moment, is just sitting round not working at all, who wants a temporary short notice contact to work as a teacher on minimum wage?

It is all very well saying parents have to adapt, but no one can give any helpful suggestion as to what that actually means. Other than the elephant in the room that is workers (mainly women, let’s face it) will have to either work less or not at all. These people are also tax payers - vicious circle. That is not a feasible position long term.