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.....

Unless of course they are just saying that teachers will have to continue setting and marking remote learning, which is pointless for those who

a) dont have a laptop for every individual in their house
b) have learning difficulties or SEN
c) havent engaged in online learning so far, and
d) dont have parents who are either bothered to make them, or are working from home and are physically there to supervise them.

Basically, continuing online learning throughout summer would be a gesture that is a waste of time, nothing more.

A lot of schools near us/sports centres run paid holiday clubs, I think guidance should be towards getting these opened as safely as possible, and provide funding so vulnerable/low income children can attend for free. These are usually run by a rota of teachers/TA’s or sports coaches (all paid obviously). If they can’t get enough to make this work, how about asking newly qualified teachers/sports graduates or retired/bank staff to help. The emphasis this summer should be on getting kids out and active for their physical and mental well being, so come September IF schools go back, they are ready to sit and learn.

I am hearing that it may be a programme that is outsourced to a tutoring company thereby allowing private companies to make money whilst it looking like something is being done to catch up. I would imagine that would mean online 1:1 or small group tutoring.

I think there'll be a half arsed attempt to get School’s to remain open for key-workers and vulnerable children over the holidays and maybe offer 1-1 or small group tutoring sessions at the same time all for free of course. They'll come up with a nice slogan that manages to insinuate that we've done sod all so far so it's our time to make up for it now.

If we're lucky they might give every school a tiny pot of money to run before/after school catch up sessions to help children who've struggled over the last few months. More likely they'll try to guilt/pressure us into doing that for free too.

I’ve read that it’s only for the vulnerable children.

This isn’t good enough really is it? My SN kid has had a good education through this as I’ve been supporting her 1:1.

My other child has had to fend for himself and I don’t think has learned much at all - which I feel awful about. He would not be classed as vulnerable though so there will be no catch up for him.

I thought we were all really worried about vulnerable children on mn? Well we were last week when we thought we could use them as leverage. Very confusing!

Pontypridd - the briefing this week, Or rather the q and a, made it clear it would be for all pupils not just the vulnerable.

Yes upon further reading it will not just be for the vulnerable, and I doubt it will be online. We have already had online provision, and this is a supposed “catch up”.

We’ll see.

Many schools are still refusing to allow childminders to collect or drop off because of mixing bubbles.

If schools remain open for the holidays, parents who rely on childminders for wrap around care will be affected. Some of the schools in my area are offering just one or two days a week for non-keyworker children and they can't even make up the rest of their week with their childminders because they will lose their school place if they mix settings.

@pontypridd

I’ve read that it’s only for the vulnerable children.

This isn’t good enough really is it? My SN kid has had a good education through this as I’ve been supporting her 1:1.

My other child has had to fend for himself and I don’t think has learned much at all - which I feel awful about. He would not be classed as vulnerable though so there will be no catch up for him.

This. Vulnerable isn't one neat little group of children where the parents have been unae to support them but would definately engage in sending them to school over summer.

Like pontypridd my "Vulnerable" child is doing roughly 7 pieces of work sent home each day plus extra. His 6 month old brothers are neglected but I don't think catch up school includes rolling and sitting 😂. We're also shielding so I'd have to think carefully about sending him in "early"
Other vulnerable kids are vulnerable because their parents don't care, so won't engage I nextra schooling.
Or their needs are extremely high and they need 121 which may not be facilitated.
Or or or.

They're a group of diverse children with diverse needs, not a homologous mass.

Whatever the answer, there isn't just 1 needed.

And that's before we get to non vulnerable kids who will be behind because their parents have worked full time through the pandemic.

@cansu
I am hearing that it may be a programme that is outsourced to a tutoring company thereby allowing private companies to make money whilst it looking like something is being done to catch up.

Where have you heard that from please?

Comments from my headteacher. Don't know where he got it from.

It will be more Oak Academy. Children needed to have time back at school with their teachers and friends before summer for their education and their mental health. The government completely messed up that plan and continue to fail to focus on children's wellbeing. The last thing they now need after being cooped up for months is a summer of online catch up tutorials. They should have plenty of time outdoors with friends and families - as normal a summer holiday as can be possible in these circumstances.

@Hopingforsummer1
I agree. If the government want to help working parents and take care of children's well being in this way, maybe there needs to be some state support for holiday childcare in the form of holiday clubs / activity days. The problem will be time and making it socially distanced.

Interesting article in the Times today. They seem to have been on the right with a lot of things in relation to schools.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/camps-for-pupils-aim-to-give-parents-a-summer-break-lg3dxbkvr

Should be more about giving the children a summer break!!

My teen DS has been working at home but he would be thrilled to do maths and English with a real teacher to guide him.

Every day we have tantrums, tears and howls of anguish because he doesn't understand something. His mental health would be better served by actual learning and finding his confidence again. I can drag him out for runs to keep him healthy, but I can't teach him.

Interesting it’s being sold as a ‘summer break’ for parents?

I could understand it if it was childcare
I could understand it if it was for education

But a break for parents...? Is that really the government’s priority this summer?

@Appuskidu my thoughts exactly.

I'm wondering if the Times puts these things out to test the water.

The reality will be this type of offer is childcare for parents who are working, childcare for parents who need a break and those vulnerable pupils the government claim to really worry about falling behind won't be offered catch up lessons and are also unlikely to attend.

I'm not sure why they have been suggesting this summer offer will be anything else tbh.

They should have said they were planning on developing an offer to support the wellbeing of children across the UK in order for them to be ready to access academic learning in Sept.

Sports camps? Sounds great. My sons love football and I might actually be able to have a piss in peace.

Fingers crossed.

I want the summer camps to open and run. For me, it’s less about education and more about

1. children having a chance to mix and have fun
2. getting children to do something physically active and ready to follow rules again
3. giving working parents childcare and yes o think this should be a priority as otherwise lots of people will find their jobs in danger. I know so many people on the brink who are struggling with working and childcare.

But a break for parents...? Is that really the government’s priority this summer?

it seems the priority for most people, who have always resented having kids home for the weekend, let alone the school holidays!

Giving opportunities to the kids is great, but it really shouldn't be all about lazy parents.

Giving opportunities to the kids is great, but it really shouldn't be all about lazy parents.

Oh for crying out loud @TheGreatBritishLockdown

Where is the need to be so nasty and dismissive of people? Many parents have knocked themselves out over the last few months juggling demanding full time jobs, school work and needy children of all different ages. Often they work well into the night after the children have gone to bed to compensate for their lack of time during the day. They are absolutely entitled to a break without halfwits like you sneering at them.

Personally I love the idea of the govt programme being a range of sport, Forest school, drama, dance etc style summer clubs. Many kids have been cooped up at home often doing worksheets or using technology whilst their parents tried to juggle things as best they could. Letting the kids socialise and have some fun and letting parents catch up on work and maybe recharge their batteries a bit. This all sounds great. They'll be in a better frame of mind then to work in September.

Plus, all those providers who earn money during school holidays will have a much needed boost to their incomes.