Summer school catch up

[LockdownLou]

Just watched the briefing.

So how would this work then? Obviously we will have to wait for Gavins proposals, just speculating in the meantime.....

Place marking with interest! I really do hope it’s something innovative and truly useful to all children. Time will tell.

I am wondering the same! Online tuition? A team of tutors sent into schools?

We have told parents we won't be opening during the summer unless there is some sort of national scheme and even then, we won't be expecting staff to run if for free but would happily allow the use of the building.

I am a teacher. Watching with interest about what plan they have concocted this time without speaking to a single person who actually works in education.

Sqidgebum yes, I was wondering if they’d actually spoken to teachers/educators before announcing this! Surely actual lessons/clubs would potentially fall foul of social distancing rules; online learning won’t teach those with no broadband or equipment. Is there a third way and will they find it?!

If its online then I'm not doing it.

And i am not necessarily supportive of teachers having to work.

But I am tired - really tired.

We are supporting the children and keeping them up to date with their work.

They are both in Primary School so youngest needs 1:1 and the elder a lot of support.

I am working from home in a relatively stressful job and a large part of my day is spent in meetings.

Dh still goes to work.

We can do it for the next few weeks whilst its the school term. But we can't go beyond that.

Its not good for our mental health.

Poor kids will be sat on electronics many of the days but whats the alternative.

There clearly is no plan at the moment. The Government have only made this announcement after the outrage about the lack of provision for disadvantaged children.

What I would like: a plan targeting the most vulnerable/disadvantaged children. Utilising the private sector if needed (Eton College offered to educate keyworker children at the beginning of this crisis). 4 weeks of intense catch up (small classes). 8am - 6pm (with provision of 3 meals a day for FSM children). For children who are shielding/shielding parents, one to one tuition provided remotely (laptops provided as needed).

What I think will happen - schools will be asked to stay open for “vulnerable” children over the summer. Ask teachers to volunteer to run it.

I would love for Erin College to provide summer school for the most disadvantaged - it would be very interesting to see what they would do

At my school we get a weekly update from senior leaders with a list of students who have been consistently missing work and what's been done - call home, speak to student, extra support package etc. Thankfully this list is quite small - under 40 out of a school of 1000. These students are also the ones who had very poor attendance when things were normal, and whose parents are often hard to reach. They are the ones who would benefit from catch up, yet are also the ones who would never voluntarily attend. Going to be interesting to see what they come up with!

My husband is a teacher. I think any teaching staff needed over the summer holidays should be voluntary and should be paid.

Are they going to be taking away the holidays of people in other professions? I doubt it. Even people that have been furloughed at home for 6 months will probably go back with a full year of annual leave to take.

Whatever it is, why can’t they start it now? Why all this dilly dallying for the next 5 weeks - particularly secondary schools, they’re empty?

@SqidgeBum

I am a teacher. Watching with interest about what plan they have concocted this time without speaking to a single person who actually works in education.

This /\/\

I wonder if this scheme will be accessible to all, considering schools have already had vulnerable children in throughout.

Sounds to me like it was blurted out on a whim, let's see...

Lemons they can't start it now as they don't have an actual plan yet. This is just another ad lib from the PM about what is going to happen which will then fall to teachers to work out how to actually do this.

Unless they are going to pay teacher's to be in school over the summer they can't insist that they do any sort of summer school- teachers have been working all this time and need holidays just like everyone else.

Plus social distancing is still an issue - most British schools are old buildings with small class rooms that barely fit a full class in during normal situations let alone when they need to spread pupils out.

4 weeks of intense catch up (small classes). 8am - 6pm (with provision of 3 meals a day for FSM children) I'm not sure that's going to be good for any child's wellbeing personally. Some will be out the house for 12 hours

Yes it should be open to all. My children are not from a vulnerable background but have suffered. I have not been able to educate them. I am working. All children need the opportunity to catch up if they need it.

I would work some days over the summer but would want overtime.

I agree @loulouljh

IF this scheme goes ahead.
Big if, I do hope it will be open to all.

I suspect this announcement was news to Gavin Williamson who’ll now have to strain every sinew night & day to produce something that won’t have had school input

@SleepingStandingUp many of these children are currently stuck in overcrowded flats. I guarantee being stuck in their all day is doing nothing for these children’s mental health. I say 8-6 to give parents flexibility if they work. It also ensures children can have all their meals there (if needed). You could have core hours (9-3) and then wrap round for those that need it.

The fact is that this catch up (whatever it will be) will not be for all. They would not be able to staff it or physically accommodate the students in smaller groups. I am expecting them to offer something to vulnerable students whose family circumstances have meant that they haven't accessed much online work or those who are very behind in their learning. I think many parents are going to be very disappointed. Everyone's child has been disadvantaged, but clearly there won't be provision for all. Having said that, given that so many parents have declined the opportunity to send their child to school in even the eligible groups, it will be interesting to see how many parents in the vulnerable groups or those with a child who is already behind even take up the offer. We have been offering places to children who we are concerned about and have been rebuffed by many who prefer to keep their kids at home or whose kids don't want to come in to do any learning.

@LockdownLou

I wonder if this scheme will be accessible to all, considering schools have already had vulnerable children in throughout.

Agreed.

I think summer school is a must, children need to catch up, im trying to home school but im also working plus im not a teacher.
I dont know what the school are doing, my childrens teachers who are still at home are not engaging with my girls just sending weeks learning at a time via twinkl.
I think they should be on zoom every day or at least trying to engage with the kids.
Summer school would enable teachers who arent teaching now to teach during August in prep for September.

@StrawberryBlondeStar I think what you are talking about is childcare, not education.

I think 99% of people being pleased about this announcement will be disappointed.

I will hazard a guess that...

It won’t be run by their teachers.
It won’t be 8-6.
It won’t be for everyone.