What will schools catch up be like over summer?

[pontypridd]

BJ is saying the summer will be catch up for all kids - or just some?

I wonder what this will mean.

I think schools will be pressured to set work over the school holidays. The only kids that will do it are those that are not behind.
Or schools are going to be open throughout the holidays on a reduced basis so all children can see their teacher. However he won't have asked schools if this is feasible.

I doubt teens who aren't engaging now will magically engage in the summer break!

Reading comments across many mediums I’m confused. Do parents want their child taught by teachers? Or do they just not want them in their house anymore? Because one is pretty impossible on account of the fact teachers will not be working in the summer holidays because that’s their holiday and they don’t work for free just like doctors, nurses, delivery drivers and the police don’t work for free. The other is easy. Go and dump your kid in a socially distanced field with an unqualified and vaguely police checked adult and not have them in your house for a few hours a day.

Where the government need to do is stop giving out statements on ideas where there isn't a plan and actually come up with and publish a sensible plan for September. In fact I think they should have 2 plans: a current expected (things continuing to improve) and worst case (2nd wave). This plan should be published soon so schools can act on it.

The current expected plan would then allow schools to sort out things like improved hygiene. So the government could give money for things like extra sinks to be installed outside classroom over the summer (like they have in other countries). It would address things like transport and what to do if you have a confirmed case. It would also describe what will happen to GCSEs and A levels, as you either have bubbles or specialist teachers at secondary, you can't have both.

The worst case would set out priorities if you cannot have all children attending together (is it childcare for workers, exam groups, having all students in part-time - a combination of these). It would give schools resources for making sure all children are getting an education whatever their family circumstances.

I don’t want my teenagers taught by a mish mash of volunteers. I want them in full time in September being taught by their teachers and catch up happening then. No ifs, no buts.

The focus on primary and ignoring of secondary exams is just dreadful.

There's absolutely no way this will be more than directing families to BBC Bitesize or similar.

I expect holiday clubs will be allowed to open, which will make a mockery of resisting the full reopening of schools, but amazing what people will do when it's the only way to get paid (not necessarily a good thing) but they won't have the IT or the skills to do it well.

The focus needs to be on having a proper offering for all children from 1 September, stop pretending we can do anything else now but get it right for Sept.

I'm in Scotland. It will be non-existent, and they're promising part time until at least Christmas.

It's not acceptable and I've written to everyone I can think of to complain about it.

Go and dump your kid in a socially distanced field with an unqualified and vaguely police checked adult and not have them in your house for a few hours a day.

Mine are too young, but that sounds like the youth clubs I used to go to in the summer, one adult leader and a few teenage helpers and hours long games of capture the flag or treasure hunts. I bet a lot of older primary and tweens would jump at the chance to do this and their parents could get some work done while they are somewhere safe.

I know it doesn't solve the education problem but its better than nothing at all.

I'm getting more and more angry the more the government says anything. They just keep talking without knowing what they are saying.
My year 5 needs to see his friends now. I would be happy for him to be back in school just for the social aspect alone, his home schooling is going ok but he needs proper feedback on his work. My thoughts are bring them back part time but use the sports coaches the schools bring in to do "p.e" for part of the class/bubble. Frees the teachers up for teaching and gets kids seeing their friends.
I'm not sure if that would work but I feel like the government has thought about this far less than I have.

I saw an article where a previous head of OFSTED (Wilshaw) was saying he hoped schools would be able to pay teachers extra from their budgets to do catch up sessions over the summer. I doubt they've got spare money hanging around to pay extra to teachers!
amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/education/2020/jun/10/ex-ofsted-chief-michael-wilshaw-failure-reopening-schools-england-astonishing-coronavirus?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Feducation%2F2020%2Fjun%2F10%2Fex-ofsted-chief-michael-wilshaw-failure-reopening-schools-england-astonishing-coronavirus

An army of the willing. Make of that what you will

I don’t know how this will work out.

Kids who weren’t able to engage with school work will probably not have a sudden change of circumstances or attitude to start engaging over the summer. If they do, great lots of resources available.

Those who worked a bit and are not in year 10 or 12, will probably still work a bit over the summer and be fine.

Those who have worked will be ok.

The only kids who need it are yr 10 and 12 if the gcse exams are still going to go ahead.

It's no good sending yr10 and 12 to some rando in a newly transformed community centre or museum, who doesn't know the kids, syllabus or exam technique, which is what some are suggesting. They need their own teachers, who I imagine are pretty knackered and need time to prepare for the next school year.

@CountessFrog

Why would teachers be willing to work for 6 weeks for free? A large number of us have already worked three weeks for free.

Says in the Independent "Andy Gregory11 June 2020 14:28

1 hour ago

Schools will not run through summer for children of key workers, Downing Street confirms

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has told MPs that schools will close over the summer holiday months, with Boris Johnson's official spokespersonconfirmingthis would apply to key workers' children too.

"There would have been a reasonable expectation that parents would expect for schools not to be open over the course of the summer," he told reporters.

Schools stayed open during the Easter break to help parents keep working through the crisis.

Schools stayed open during the Easter break

And the half term 'break'.

Outdoor holiday clubs should be open over the summer for childcare. Outdoor being the key element that doesn't work in school. Sports clubs, forest schools with gazebos etc. Those coaches who have not been working over the last 3 months will be DBS checked and able to use schools grounds (like they always do) to run things. They'll have to do the same as everyone else, and bubble things/clean things, but it's a chance to make a load of ££.

Many schools have building work done over the summer, the schools I am a governor for have works scheduled which couldn't be done if the pupils are in school.

The only kids who need it are yr 10 and 12 if the gcse exams are still going to go ahead.

What they need is their own teachers, whether that is in school or with properly set lessons at home like my year 10 has been getting. What he doesn't need is anything at all during the summer holidays unless it is is taught by his own teachers. If there is any provision that is not his own teachers then there is no way he will be accessing it. If there is provision from his own teachers then I will let him engage with it but it will not be with much enthusiasm.

What I hope will happen is that the students and teachers all have a proper summer holiday and start back in September to pick up from there.

My yr7 grandson won't do a stroke of work over the summer hols. He's already told us that and I agree with him. They've had a shit time at home, no mates, rubbish lesson-setting from (a lot of) his teachers and very little support from the school. His mum sets up lessons for him to do the night before and is now supplementing his pocket money as an incentive. If he was asked to do schoolwork after the end of July he would self combust.

My DC don't particularly need their own teachers TBH. Most of them have gone AWOL other than sending badly thought out worksheets borrowed from Pinterest with no Mark scheme or feedback. I've lost all faith in them.

A clear direction to access bitesize or oak academy from the start would have been more beneficial. At least these offer some interaction, videos and answers to questions.

I hoping for a reply to multiple emails from the school asking if I can begin to set work myself.