Nightingale schools

[Crimples]

In the same way they knocked up all those hospitals in next to no time, why can’t they do the same with schools?
Genuine question, apologies if it’s has already been discussed

The same warehouse they got the extra NHS staff.

You mean the extra staff that they couldn't find, which is why the Nightingale hospitals couldn't open?

They had many returners didn’t they? Whitty was right.

There’s not much effort for fixing the schooling issue so far is there, unlike NHS capacity

Think it was this thread I've already said it on, so sorry to repeat, but seeing as you won't read back:

There are over a 1000 hospitals in the UK. 7 nightingales were opened. Vast swathes of the NHS has gone into hibernation or gone online in order to cope.

There are over 32000 schools in the UK. See the problem?

I am a semi-retired/supply teacher who would be more than happy to teach anywhere. I would have my own childcare problems (single parent) but if they could be sorted I would love to teach again.

I’m sure there are plenty of supply teachers and early retirees who would be willing to do their bit. There was a major reorganisation in my county several years ago and 100s of teachers were made redundant or took voluntary severance.

@MarshaBradyo

They had many returners didn’t they? Whitty was right.

Did they have half a million? That's how many teachers we'd need.

What would Starmer do. He has asked for an education task force. Some consideration at least to look at the issue for children.

For those suggesting... use school buildings over the summer.

Many schools look like building sites over the summer, decorating, rebuilding, renovating etc etc.

These jobs are planned well in advance. They could not have been brought forward as builders had other commitments/weren’t working/schools weren't sure when they would be reopening.

The builders usually move out just before school starts in September and even then it’s a bit of a panic.

These are usually essential jobs and can’t always wait until summer 2021.

When it all goes tits up, or there's a huge outbreak linked to schools government will throw their hands up and hold individual school's, or more specifically governors and head teachers responsible

This is just what the academy system was made for, I guess!

@sunshineanddaffodils

You can use transport as a reason to keep dc off school. There’s loads of coach companies desperate for work at the moment this is a non issue.

This is 2020 corona-crisis. You can use any completely invented spurious excuse going to deny children an education. Shortage of annoying black and yellow stripy tape incoming as the next crisis preventing children going back to school - I'm calling it now.

Supply teachers would be a partial solution, but still doesn’t solve the issue of funding, as I assume they wouldn’t be working for free

@MarshaBradyo

They had many returners didn’t they? Whitty was right.

They didn't though, and the ones that they didn't have weren't necessarily suitably qualified.

This is what you aren't understanding. The Nightingale hospitals didn't have ITU trained staff - which is what they needed.

Bums on seats aren't enough. Same with teachers. You need them to be suitably qualified plus have current DBS checks and references. And in the required numbers, which is God knows how many - at least the same number we currently have.

*I am a semi-retired/supply teacher who would be more than happy to teach anywhere. I would have my own childcare problems (single parent) but if they could be sorted I would love to teach again.

I’m sure there are plenty of supply teachers and early retirees who would be willing to do their bit. There was a major reorganisation in my county several years ago and 100s of teachers were made redundant or took voluntary severance.*

Nice to read.

Even if Johnson is foolish enough to reduce social distancing to 1 m that still means classes of no more than 15.

The virus is still with us. Classes of 30 would be irresponsible madness.

@Howaboutanewname

When it all goes tits up, or there's a huge outbreak linked to schools government will throw their hands up and hold individual school's, or more specifically governors and head teachers responsible

This is just what the academy system was made for, I guess!

Exactly.

@marshabradyo The staff is the problem, and we don't have any. I've posted about this before but my school can't even recruit in normal times; we repeatedly have maths, science and english being staffed with long term supply who last a week. We advertised for 3 teachers in one subject and only 2 applied. Staff leave the profession in droves either after decades service or within the first few years.

And teaching over summer; nope. We aren't paid then and I just couldn't do it. My own teens barely see me as it is. Most of our staff are in twice a week on rota, including all of the holidays so far (so 3 weeks) and we are working full time from home. I've worked all day today replanning my A Level Chemistry and Biology lessons as we had planned to return next week for face to face, only to have the head delay it due to a local spike. So back to Teams for me Wed/Thurs/Fri after I've been in Monday and Tuesday with vulnerable and KW kids.

This isn't teachers being negative; we are simply realistic as we have felt the brunt of the cuts for so long. I have buckets in my room in winter for the roof leaks, I have a curtain stuffed in a window that fits so poorly it can snow in, and I buy my own pens/pencils/glue repeatedly. I have already been used for 'rarely cover' 7 times September-March as we can't afford more supply (when it should be an emergency and never more than 3 times in a year). Schools are falling apart and it is very sad that it has taken a global pandemic for people to actually see this.

I am a semi-retired/supply teacher who would be more than happy to teach anywhere

Cool, one down 499,000 to go.

@MarshaBradyo

*I am a semi-retired/supply teacher who would be more than happy to teach anywhere. I would have my own childcare problems (single parent) but if they could be sorted I would love to teach again.

I’m sure there are plenty of supply teachers and early retirees who would be willing to do their bit. There was a major reorganisation in my county several years ago and 100s of teachers were made redundant or took voluntary severance.*

Nice to read.

Nice to read because it suits you that someone is struggling that much that they are willing to risk their and their child’s health to suit YOU. I see you.

Why are people so offended by the public on a parenting site pontificating on solutions? It’s what people do. If we only talked about things we have professional knowledge of it’d be awfully quiet. It’s not an onslaught, I’m not picketing your workplace, standing in your living room or even posting on a teacher based website.

And I am incredibly supportive of my children’s schools, back up their teachers, volunteer many hours of my time, make a sizeable financial contribution and yes, I’ve even been a school governor. I have made my feelings on school budgets clear to my MP. I love their school, their teachers and TAs and have made sure they are thanked and appreciated and I would never suggest they work over the summer. They’re doing a great job at an individual level, my issue is with the education system more widely. I don’t see why knowing about the many and varied issues in schools means nothing can ever change, we must assume government will never alter requirements or laws or staffing requirements or provide funding and we should all just shut up, go away from anywhere a teacher might be and leave our children at home doing naff all until 2022.

@ineedaholidaynow

Supply teachers would be a partial solution, but still doesn’t solve the issue of funding, as I assume they wouldn’t be working for free

Supply teachers is only a partial solution.

A) is there a sufficient number
B) you still need safeguarding staff, a head teacher or deputy on site, staff to deal with first aid, discipline, disruptive students, SEN support and so on.

How many supply staff have worked in schools with only supply teachers and no SLT?

Isn't the number of trained teachers, that have left something like 300,000

Even if they all returned that would still leave us short.

lol at Just are at I see you haha

It was a little bit of positivity that I liked reading. So much anger from you.

Thetriangle

Believe me when I say that no-one is bothered by people putting forward possible solutions.

What is somewhat bothersome is that when it is explained why they won't work, we are accused of not having a "can do attitude" as if a "can do attitude" would solve the problem of money, staffing, rooming timetables etc. etc.

So just to clarify
Discussion = good
Being a "can do attitude" twat = bad.

Anyway let’s hope Starmer does create an education task force to address the issues and Johnson considers what next.

If nothing can be done fine, but at least get people thinking in government.

What is clear from reading thread upon thread of people discussing the same issue is that, even when we get to the point where there are no cases Covid in this country, there are still going to be swathes of people adamant that social distancing cannot be lowered/removed, its too dangerous to send children back to school etc etc becuase all it will take is one new case.

The anxiety people have developed over the situation has gotten out of control and its that which is the issue here, not the virus.

I think the cost of the portacabins would be prohibitive for any government given that a vaccine is a year or 18 months away and then we can do away with social distancing altogether. Similar with training teachers as many will not be needed just after they have trained. To be honest I'd be 🙄 at a government of any colour which thought that was a good use of the majority of the nations budget.

I think we need to look at existing buildings in the community and making use of playworkers and other employees of the childcare sector who will need less training so that childcare can be offered for the times children are not at school. And personally I think that should be fully funded and a right for all children, but I think there are plenty of Tories who will see this as a money making opportunity as parents will be desperate and pay for any care available.