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?

No social distancing at all in primary schools. Vulnerable school staff who need to shield be allowed to do so, otherwise no PPE. Secondary pupils to socially distance but facilities like local libraries and sport centres which currently aren't in use to be utilised to provide additional space.

Normal school, no social distancing. PPE for staff if they want it. Stay home if have a cough or fever

Plus lots of handwashing!

Increase the bubble size to 30 so every child has the opportunity to go back. Give parents the option of sending their children to school or keeping them at home and that also means class sizes would most likely be less than 30 anyway.
No assemblies of mixing classes for the time being and hand washing being encouraged. Kids to take a packed lunch.

twinnywinny14 because the government has made a complete cockup of this whole lockdown and are now using the kids as a cover for their inadequacies. Schools also don’t provide them any income, so they don’t give a shit. Cynically also perhaps most of the people in charge are middle class/ upper class older gentlemen that the need the open pubs, golf courses and garden centre was seen as more pressing. Given that the majority of deaths are in the over 50s surely these should open last?!
Also in Europe some places opened schools first- others hairdressers- this government seems happier to ignore children and put them bottom of the pile!

As they can't open fully just yet I would prefer part time for all......

Out of interest, who here's ready to scrap social distancing altogether?

It would be awesome if the government were to value the kids and make an effot, ad the schools already are doing.

This thread shows why its important for the govt to speak to actual headteachers rather than those with ideas or other mps.

Adelais

How would that work in secondary schools ?

Just scrap social distancing and bubbles and go back!

Out of interest, who here's ready to scrap social distancing altogether? I’m happy to say no mass gatherings eg. Concerts, football matches, protests ... queuing outside Aldi seems utterly pointless. We all know to jump out the way on a pavement, we all know to sanitise our hands and meet outside where possible, let people work from home if they can - otherwise back to normal!

Scrap social distancing in primary schools (try to discourage hugging if possible). But adults in supermarkets etc are more than capable (or should be) of understanding the 2m rule.

Completely scrap social distancing and the ridiculous bubbles. PPE for staff if necessary. Temperature checks each morning for children. No large gatherings of school children e.g. assemblies. All perfectly doable if the government just stop their nonsense and get on with it.

Rota for kids...1 or 2 days a week. That will significantly improve children morale.

Allow kids to go to grandparents. Children don't spread it anyway so won't be an issue. That will relieve some of the childcare issues.

Why blame the government? The lybtried to get schools to open

It was parents kicking off and teachers and unions setting too many conditions due to the scaremongering across society generally

Parents stopped schools opening

Most didn’t want them to open

For children to return to school in full without socially distancing as they are not at risk.

For vulnerable staff to continue to shield and non-vulnerable to support in temp contracts - this would be good work experience for many. It wouldn’t be as good an education as pre-covid but better than nothing and certainly better for kids wellbeing, to have routine and social interaction.

For parents to be able to make the decision whether or not to send their child in to school by being given the choice to weigh up the child’s personal and household risk.

It’s not rocket science - we already trust a whole nation to make risk assessments daily wrt driving cars, taking on pets, making homes safe for children etc.

Time to acknowledge personal responsibility and end nanny state nonsense that’s damaging children’s current lives. Total lunacy.

If children are attending school, vulnerable or older people can make a personal informed decision whether or not to keep away from them (ie. grandchildren) based on a personal assessment of risk and personal preference.

The incompetence of Gavin Williamson and this government is breathtaking. Like I said, it’s not rocket science.

Open and now. It’s bad enough they cancelled all exams. If it has to be part time and mix in class and on line fine. At least 2 days a week would be better than nothing.

I realise I'm perhaps in a minority here but I'd like to see primary schools on a part time attendance initially, following guidelines of social distancing etc
I'd also like to see the option of homeschooling in partnership with the school if this is even possible. However this is just based on my D.C., who despite regularly getting overwhelmed at school to the point of needing me to collect them has been 100% calmer and happier and more responsive to learning at home. I'd like to see if there's a option for this for parents willing in order to ease pressure on schools for parents who do need to return to work without the option of being able to wfh.

On information available currently I do still consider schools reopening foolish and risky, yes my life would be significantly easier if they could return full time, but generally accept that the feasibility of this for schools is challenging to say the least.

Primary back with no social distancing For each class because of the data showing lower risk for this age - so bubbles of 30. Ppe for teachers if they want it. Lunches at desk. Fsm provided as pack ups. Funding for extra hand washing facilities- sinks that don’t need permanent plumbing etc. Breaks either staggered or with the playground divided. No assemblies or parents evenings. Masks for drop off which should use different entrances or staggered times.

Sheilding teachers and pupils to remain at home. A national scheme to link up a shielding teacher with a Sheilding pupil(S) in vaguely the right year groups who can provide tutoring online/phone with funding for devices and internet from government.

Senior school harder as data less clear on risks. So big push on home learning as this age group can do more independently with devices for staff and pupils and dongles provided by government. Each year back for 1-2 days per week as possible with social distancing.

Extra staff for the above provided by a big push to ask those who have recently left to return, fast track traniees, use SLT and ofsted inspectors and outside people with similar qualifications - like if pe teacher sheilding can a local sports coach or gym instructor take the class? - will need someone with a dbs in the room though.

Secondary schools may be more suited to blended learning - at least the kids can read and are pretty computer-savvy (kids with learning difficulties aside), unlike 5 year-olds. If they were in part-time they would still be more focused on schoolwork than is currently the case, even if it wouldn't be as good as having them in full-time. Would need hard cash from the government for laptops for kids without them, though.

If parents could go back to work more readily, it might free up some laptops/home computers for kids to use during the day - and it might mean that more parents could afford to buy a laptop!

Like others on this thread I'd rather see schools reopened than Primark and B&Q.

Open NORMAL. Scrap social distancing. It's a head fuck to children

Haven't RTFT, but:
(a) Scrap current premature school reopening and focus on getting infection rates down within the community. Schools to be open only on previous lockdown basis until infection rates fall;
(b) Recognise that infection rates vary widely within England, so a "one size fits all" plan for who goes back when is stupid and irresponsible. Reopening plans to take into account local infection rates.
(c) Have a fully functioning fit for purpose contact tracing system in place which can REQUIRE, not just request, people to quarantine if appropriate.

Government currently keeps putting cart before the horse - trying to reopen places when we still have high (and in many places rising) infection rates. It needs to take its own advice and "Control the virus". That's also the only way to economic recovery and schools reopening on anything like a normal basis.

I am @barbie ... already have

twinnywinny14 because the government has made a complete cockup of this whole lockdown and are now using the kids as a cover for their inadequacies. Schools also don’t provide them any income, so they don’t give a shit. Cynically also perhaps most of the people in charge are middle class/ upper class older gentlemen that the need the open pubs, golf courses and garden centre was seen as more pressing. Given that the majority of deaths are in the over 50s surely these should open last?!
Also in Europe some places opened schools first- others hairdressers- this government seems happier to ignore children and put them bottom of the pile!

I think it's because they felt like public opinion early on pointed to most people wanting schools to close. They didn't want the political flak of even 1 child dying and so shut them, and are now afraid to open them because the would have to admit they were NOT following "the" science but in fact chasing popularity with the electorate. And then they might be blamed for the economic shitstorm that is coming our way.

I distinctly remember Patrick Vallance early on (pre lockdown) saying school closures had very little impact on transmission, so it's not like they didn't know. It just didn't fit with their narrative.

Craven fuckers. None of them are fit to govern.

Open the doors let them in! Teachers do have PPE (gloves/aprons) already for any personal or medical care they may need to give. I'm not sure how masks would work in terms of teaching though it is very dis engaging not being able to watch people as they speak, and in terms of young ones learning sounds and phonics its about how the mouth makes sounds.

So basically fuck teachers and teacher health then? Nice, thanks.

Open schools normally as they were. Massive recruitment drive to make up teaching or TA shortfalls. Private schools can use their charitable status and provide teachers to state schools to cover some lessons (and yes this can be done because I've seen it happen, I work in an independent).