1600 paediatricians have written to the prime minister

[havefunpeleton]

Demanding schools reopen or risk scarring a generation. Reported in Times today.

I am hoping this will be the push needed to ensure this madness ends and all our children can go back to school full time in September.

@lemonsandlimes123

I am a great parent. Both me and DH work full time. Kids in school while we work.

During the weekend we visit parks, swimming, friends, family. We go on holiday. They play sports. Keep fit. We eat out with them. We go shopping altogether.

Except. None of this is now possible...,

[quote havefunpeleton]@carrieblue

I am appalled you are suggesting recently retired teachers would not be signing up to return to the classrooms if this is asked of them in this national crisis. This is what thousands of doctors and nurses have done. I think you are doing your retired colleagues a huge disrespect to suggest they wouldn't do the same [/quote]
My retired colleagues have been treated with disrespect for a long time now by the government and the general public, and your faux outrage at me reinforces the likelihood of my assessment of the numbers who would return as being completely correct.

havefunpeleton - come now. You just need to be creative, have a can do attitude, be flexible and find new ways of doing things.

And my kids are the lucky ones. They have a garden. They're only primary so not missing out too much.

My concern is for those children not so lucky

But even mine are becoming bored and demotivated

@Aesopfable

Dom this isn’t about you personally. You were the one who bought your shielding into it. I was just shocked by all the people you seem to be happy to want dead as you expect them to work.

Eh? Where on earth did I say anything like that?

You're making it up as you go along.

The last thing I want is more deaths. I don't expect people to work without sufficient safeguards, although some think that teachers should.

PPE, social distancing, shields and visors are all in use in shops and offices and will be in other places as they open.

Yet schools not meant to have that. Doesn't seem right to me. I find it hard to believe any rational person thinks it would be ok.

crowdedhouse - vulnerable children and those in poverty are not going to move out of those categories because schools are open. The fact that some children live in poverty is not in any way the responsibility of schools.

@nicenames
You are absolutely right that the level of hyperbole in the face of the actual statistics is really concerning. I have no idea what to do about that as any sensible discussion about risk does seem to get derailed by those who purport that Covid means certain death to all, but there are many of us who would agree with you - we're just perhaps not quite as vocal as those who are shouting loudest that nothing is possible until the world is Covid-free.

@countrygirl99

My husband is 60, very overweight, diabetic and has high blood pressure. He is working, has been for weeks. His clients recently have included teachers. Are people like Dom really thinking that those teachers wanted him dead? Because that's the logic presented.

Utter bollocks.

I said nothing like that. Get a grip.

Your analysis is pathetic. I want fewer people dead, unlike some on here who think teachers should take more risks than any other group.

I hope the government have realised just how entrenched the position if the unions (and some teachers posting) is. Hopefully it will encourage them to finally step up and lead!

Schools have been open all the time for vulnerable children, I also know local schools have also tried to encourage children who didn't exactly fit the government guidelines but who they were still concerned about to come into school. However, I think only 10% of these children have been in school since the beginning of lockdown. Instead of blaming the schools maybe people should be asking why there are so many rubbish parents out there.

Schools have been doing as much as they can for vulnerable children. I am assuming the majority of children who will be most impacted by lockdown will be these vulnerable children.

havefunpeloton - so great to hear of your concern for all those vulnerable children. Luckily they have been prioritised by schools and have had ongoing support through this period. In many cases because of the numbers of vulnerable children being supported that has impacted on the number of non-vulnerable children the school can support.

If your children are bored and demotivated then I suggest you put your thinking cap on think about how you can support them to be a bit more resilient and engaged

Feel free to start a thread about the other services vulnerable children are missing out on. I would support that too

DomDoesWotHeWants

Apparently wanting to take precautions means that we think that covid is certain death. Its an interesting twist.

havefunpeleton
I hope the government have realised just how entrenched the position if the unions (and some teachers posting) is. Hopefully it will encourage them to finally step up and lead!

What is the entrenched position of the unions?

@lemonsandlimes123 children are naturally social beings. Sadly being stuck at home with their dad who is holding down a full time job while I'm working in NHS, plus not being allowed to go to school to see their friends (too young to go out on their own). Has taken its toll. I'm surprised you haven't considered this will be the case for many children

@FrippEnos

DomDoesWotHeWants

Apparently wanting to take precautions means that we think that covid is certain death. Its an interesting twist.

Right. I see. Thanks for explaining that. It's so stupid I would never have thought of it, I'm glad you are more on the ball.

havefun - if we were talking about months and months of no socialisation I would agree with you, but at this point we are talking about less than 3 months of a disrupted scenario but still with plenty of opportunities for social interaction. It is not ideal but SN and pre existing MH issues aside children should not be 'damaged' by this experience and if they are that is a reflection on the parenting that is taking place more than anything.

carrieblue afaik, staff and students buy their own PPE if they wish to wear it,
because it is not recommended, merely allowed

I don't know a single teacher who wants schools to stay closed. I don't understand why some on this thread think that's true. Unless it's just goady fuckery.

Schools will go back in September, that's the plan. But classes will be 15 or less, so it will have to be part time. And home learning.

Even with smaller classes teachers, lunchtime staff and cleaners are entitled to as safe as possible working conditions. Why would anyone think they are not?

@lemonsandlimes123 - perhaps some of think outside of our own tiny minded little box and realise that there are indeed lots of very vulnerable children whose parents are indeed "spectacularly awful" and worry about them, not just about what concerns their immediate circle of influence. I believe it's called something like "having compassion"?

But Dom that's been said on here by several posters and why do you think other workers are taking less risks? Because many aren't. There are loads of people out there just doing what they can the best they can because they are self employed and if they don't get going again they won't have a business and hence income. The same with any business, big or small, those that just see the problem will go to the wall. Everyone has big problems but they have to be approached them in a how can I solve this way, not just throw up their hands in horror. And if they don't they have an income and pay tax what do you think will happen to public sector budgets across the board? There is a huge difference in approach between schools, some are busy finding solutions, some aren't. Which schools do you think will be under subscribed in years to come?
I don't have kids at school now but I do have several teacher friends/relations - the majority are raring to be allowed back. But If you had told me 6 months ago this would happen I could have predicted the 2 that wouldn't want to go back with 100% accuracy.

@lemonsandlimes123 3 months has been more than enough to affect many adults. Who have expressed their suffering on here. I find it bizarre you think the same wouldn't apply to children.

I also find this paragraph in the letter interesting.

School is about much more than learning. It is a vital point of contact for public health services, safeguarding and other initiatives. This includes access to mental health support, vaccinations, special therapies, free school meals, physical activity and early years services that help children get the best start in life. For many children and their families, these interventions are the difference between surviving and thriving. In their absence our already frayed safety net cannot function, and we risk failing a generation.

It's great that the paediatricians are so concerned about all thses things but given that mental health support, vaccinations, special therapies are the reponsibility of the NHS there is nothing to stop them cracking on and making sure these services continue to be delivered to the most vulnerable.

Free school meals are still being provided to vulnerable families and have also been available in voucher form throughout the holidays, so offering a higher level of support than normal.

Physical activity can easily be managed outside school so it's odd that they think this is a reason for schools to go back. Maybe they should send an open letter to the nations parents telling them to get their kids off the sofa.

I think what this has actually revealed is that people are far more concerned about schools secondary functions i.e childcare, plugging the gaps in social care and CAMHS and no one really gives the tiniest shit about schools as places of education apart from the teachers

flippety - as another poster has already clarified, those children are already being offered support and for them school has never been closed.

If you read back in this thread and others. Teachers are posting that all kids should be fine. Even if they're not. Vulnerable children are the responsibility of others not school. No way would ex teachers volunteer to help out if needed. Anyone who is concerned about their child's education or welfare is a terrible parent....

I cannot imagine any other profession making these statements. It's like watching a car crash