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?

I don't understand why children aren't having virtual lessons via Zoom or some other channel?

My ds has virtual cub meetings every week. Why can they manage cub meetings but not school lessons?

Back as normal for everyone
Stay at home if you are unwell, wash hands frequently etc.
That should do it. You're no more at risk now than you are in the midst of a regular winter flu season (probably less for teachers, as children don't catch or spread this like they do the flu)

Schools to reopen in stages, PPE provided for staff. 2m distance is not feasible so abandon it. Aren’t our young people worth the (very low) risk? So sick of the hysteria, the only place worse than Mumsnet is the bloody Daily Mail.

To reopen them fully by at the latest September for All children including secondary, without social distancing.

If the money which was spent on furloughing was spent on equipping schools and businesses to cope with being open, it would make for a far more productive less damaging situation.

Right now I strongly feel it should have been part time for all. I have one who’s just returned full time to reception and one in year 3 who will now apparently not get to go back at all until September and he is gutted. It would have been infinitely preferable for them to have been able to do for example 2 days each than one get all and one get nothing.

Come September I am clinging on to the hope that they can pretty much go back to normal. If they can’t then I think primary should operate each full class as a bubble that requires no social distancing within it. So back to their normal class of 30 but just don’t mix as far as possible with other classes.
If things can’t go back to normal I have no suggestions for secondary, that seems like a nightmare to sort.

They have to go back full time by September

Otherwise people will lose jobs and houses

We can't just opt out of work because we're parents

There is no childcare for closed school situations , who would do the home schooling If you leave your 8 year old with a childminder all day

Not all of us have grandparents to help

Open as usual, no social distancing.

Back as normal for everyone
Stay at home if you are unwell, wash hands frequently etc.

This

Get all secondary school students, year 7-10 and 12 (except children shielding) back part time so they can have a combination of teaching and distance learning. Would have preferred June 1, but ASAP.

Use all space, including outdoor space available to get all primary children back who are vulnerable, in need of childcare or who otherwise are better off in school, part time is better than nothing. They don't have to be doing classroom learning all the time, outdoor games, PE, outdoor learning, they can bring waterproof and warm clothing, sun protection if need be.

The answer cannot be childcare unless the state is funding said childcare. Most working families' budgets won't stretch to massively extended childcare bills.

As many have already said, I'd like schools to open to all pupils with no social distancing between them. Adults in school can distance. It's a disgrace that children are unable to to go to school. Every child deserves an education and the safeguarding that comes with it. There is no way the negligible risk of the virus spreading in/from schools justifies this dreadful situation.

@GirlCalledJames do you have any idea how long lunch and breaks would take with all classes back but not allowed contact with each other?

Our school (primary, Ireland) has approx 2 class per classroom, so send in 1 class a day. E.g. Mon Tues Wed for 1st class, the following week Mon and Tues. Other class goes Thurs Fri, Wed, Thurs, Fri. Work assigned for the other days.

A lot of schools here are newly built or extended in recent years, so junior classrooms are lovely and airy with their own toilets - no mixing with other classes.

Senior classrooms do have to share toilets but hopefully are able to handwash effectively.

Outside as much as possible- they would be at this time of the year anyway.

As only half the kids in, more time to spend handwashing, eg before lunch, after break.

We send packed lunches anyway so they eat at their desk. Already designated areas of the playground for breaks. Assembly is already outside in lines, easy to make them 2 metres apart.

No buddy work at present (they buddy up with older kids for reading etc), and also have a general buddy.

Windows open more. Most classes would have a teacher, an SNA and a resource teacher, so should be able to do a sanitise of main touch points. Prop doors open if possible so no need to touch door handles (except for toilet handles obviously!)

Let them work with their friends for groups as they will be together anyway, in their natural small friendship groups.

Good cough/sneeze hygiene, wash hands after. They do know to do this.

High risk teachers to be covered by subs, they could do the online corrections for the active teachers maybe.

We only have 2 weeks left til summer holidays so none of this is actually happening. Fingers crossed we are back to normal in Sept.

Secondary schools would be way more challenging.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers if this is the case why aren’t the government just opening schools and why do scientists say they actually don’t know the role children can play in the transmission of the disease don’t they?

Also, recognition that what my 3 year old needs to learn cannot be achieved online, or by me. He needs to learn to socialise with his peers, be looked after by other adults, use a toilet that’s not at home, learn to sit on the carpet nicely, share, take turns.... all stuff that requires a non socially distanced class in nursery. Even just access to friends/peers/playgrounds would be an improvement.

Open them for all year groups. No fines or punishment for not sending children in (as long as you let the school know you are keeping them off due to Covid - I know that if I was in years 9-11 I'd be likely use it as an excuse to hang out with friends not in school).

There wouldn't be a full school anyway as some would be shielding (or live with vulnerable parents/siblings) and some parents would be too scared to send their children back.

To anyone saying that a lot of other contries haven't opened schools - A lot of countries are really close to their summer hols now. We still have another 6 weeks (I think).

@Wishforanishwishdiash

Okay, schools can't expand, kids might be be part time all next year.

Facilitate socially distant childcare. Lots of it. Use museums, leisure centres, gyms. Start sorting staff now for Sept.

Get to grips with blended learning. The offerings have been adequate for a crisis, but now we've got to be serious.

This. The blended learning needs to be better and be the same for all schools.

[quote twinnywinny14]@GirlCalledJames do you have any idea how long lunch and breaks would take with all classes back but not allowed contact with each other?[/quote]
All kids eat a packed lunch at their desks, and you split the playground up into sections with fences. Use part of any playing fields or nearby parks if you have to.

Secondary age kids also to eat packed lunches - could they be given responsibility for keeping 2m distance themselves?

No social distancing for children because that's impossible.

Provide PPE for staff, ensure time for deep cleaning and part time learning at the minimum. Two days a week is better than nothing.

Stop the utter nonsense and re open. Pubs, theme parks and shops open but not schools?! Madness. This whole reaction to a virus is madness and our poor kids are paying the price.

I agree the government screwed up by discouraging rotas and part time places (some schools have done this anyway). They won’t now go back on what they said as they will have to admit they were wrong. It may be for September if necessary to still limit numbers they will go with this option. We do need some idea of scientific evidence re the transmission as this would help determine what is sensible/possible

Make a plan to re-open. Communicate that plan. Have "a can do" rather than a "cannot do" attitude. Be innovative. Use alternative space. Teach online in the interim. Make an effort. Value the kids. Just that really.

@twinnywinny14 Have two lunch breaks so half as many children out at once. Use other spaces such as fields and perhaps some indoor spaces on a rotating basis. For older children use existing markings such as netball courts to tell them where they are allowed to play.
Most children play with their classmates so wouldn’t be trying to mix with the others, but perhaps don’t send out adjacent years together to avoid the most likely contacts.

I want 5 days/week on school site working in groups face to face learning, just like it was in February. I'm thinking of secondary especially. And Uni. Class room learning and most the school day would be same but big assemblies, sports fixtures, performances, discos, social events, etc. would all not happen.

I imagine PPE for staff or kids who want it, and lots of social distancing between any staff member & other staff members.

Stay home for anyone with symptoms or a household contact who is +.