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.

Do you know anybody who has had the virus?

With no distancing with children, you solve the lack of space overnight. We will be going back to normal schooling, normal numbers.

The damage this has done to the creditability of the teaching profession is considerable.

Some teachers have been great and have been setting work and keeping in contact, and in some cases live teaching. As for the others that have simply checked out for six months, that is really unforgivable in my view.

If I'm sure I heard right the secretary of education is doing the briefing tomorrow

Good. Let it be something more than a superficial bandaid for a few children.

Thank goodness. Many of us parents are also saying this.

It seems ok for shops to open etc etc but schools are deemed 'unsafe' by some regardless of the evidence that children have a very low risk of dying/serious complications and the main risk group is the over 65's and teachers are not over 65. The extremely vulnerable teachers should be kept WFH schools opened and supply teachers plug the gaps. Yes not perfect but far, far better than the shambles that has been allowed to happened.

There's no plan in Scotland either. It's also just been dumped onto individual councils and schools. With mentions of a year of "blended learning" aka mostly at home.

PS no distancing for children too - it really isn't needed - good and regular handwashing.

We have 1 case in our local hospital of a very old person that has been in there for 2 months and no new cases

But I like and agree with the letter other than that point.

My 15 year old dd returned for one morning yesterday but obviously nothing is like it normally is. She is in a bubble of about 12 pupils most of whom she barely knows and none of whom are her friends, obviously no socialising. I think it was actually stressful for her, she likes to be well covered up in her blazer but that wasn't allowed, no bags allowed. I understand why it's all necessary , it just didn't feel like normal school which she loves.

The telegraph has the article from Prince Charles which is excellent, we need this kind of support.

[quote twinnywinny14]@Aesopfable so you think that most schools have more than double the space they normally need? Most schools I know locally are barely large enough to accommodate pupils under normal circumstances, many of which have had ‘excess’ spaces sold off or already built on the expand the school[/quote]
I am talking about outside space for marquees. All our local state schools have more outside space than most of our local private schools. Certainly space for a few marquees. A lot of private schools are not able to open full time either.

In my view the risks to children and the harms they’re already suffering such as those outlined in that letter matter. It’s so easy to write it off by shouting ‘safe’ to avoid the ethical questions of which portions of society should be harmed in order to reduce risks to others. Clearly other people think differently to me, but I see it as a question of ethics and I believe children’s needs as a group should be prioritised.

We need an inquiry after this is over. This should never ever be allowed to happen again.

The 'full time places for priority years ' plan made it impossible for more children to go back. Wales came up with a part time plan. Jersey has as well.

It does feel like it 2-5 have been abandoned (and Yrs7-9, and 10-13). I don't understand to secondary school plan either. 25% of 20% of an 11-16 school can attend at any one time.

Our local primary - which was one of the email once a week brigade constitutes working only took back yr 6 - totally failed our children here. I know that there are many good schools and many hard working teachers - I just speak from my own experience of my local school - and yes to all the take it up with the school - I did many times as did other parents - growing anger here.

Get the schools open now for the sake of the children

I’ve just emailed my MP and signed the petitions

@RickOShay

Do you know anybody who has had the virus?

That’s not a top trump card that gets you out of all reasonable debate you know. Just own your position. You think all non-Covid harms done to children are fine. I don’t agree.

I am glad there is such a swell of support for our children, we need all the help we can get to prise open the schools in the autumn.

Is this really true? Did teaching unions really do this to obstruct teaching children? If so an enquiry is vital - how dreadfully sad that the union (if true) would do this to chidlren.

"Aesopfable Thu 18-Jun-20 08:11:28
Teachers unions are being obstructive throughout. It was the unions who told teachers not to do virtual teaching (either live or recorded), that councils couldn’t tell teachers when to do their work during the day (so they don’t have to be available to respond to children during the school day), and now setting unreasonable demands to return. Yet other sectors just get on with it."

How do schools pay for these marquees? Schools have not been given any additional funding.

Not sure why people keep talking about schools being closed, most schools are open and have been for the duration of lockdown. They may be restricted to number of pupils but they are open.

The 2m rule may be on it’s way out but I assume it will be replaced by 1m rule. I can’t see pubs etc opening without social distancing so why should schools not have it. There are plenty of adults in a school not just children.

Again shops are open but with social distancing, so why shouldn’t schools have social distancing?

I feel for you and your children from our experience has been slightly better but not by much. The pressure this has caused to families that were already just about managing is immense and dangerous.

I am so sad for our children - so unbelievably sad. When the 4th of July comes I will be even more angry when everything is open but schools.

Those that are too young to be heard, they have been completely ignored in all of this - there is nothing for them, no support, no care, no education for six whole months, how can anyone anywhere think this is okay and justify it?

@Aesopfable where are you? That is interesting because where I am in east Kent, that is not possible. Coupled with the DFE telling schools not to increase staffing or use budgets to expand or use community spaces it’s a very muddled situation

Bumped to the end of the thread for people who read the end....

I've signed:

I posted a thread about writing to your MP - here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3931348-Those-concerned-about-ongoing-lack-of-education-in-Spetember-and-onwards

I would urge everyone to do this. Also there is a campaig being run here:
www.usforthem.co.uk/

and a petition here:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/305525

@RickOShay people lose family and friends all the time without saying goodbye. My dad died suddenly quite young after. My gran dropped dead from a heart attack in the flash of an eye while out and about. My friend lost her son in a car crash quite a few years back.

I can see the headlines now - 'Fit 7 year old dies after only 2 weeks back at school without proper safeguarding - how many more must die?'

Headline in the Sun/ Mail/ Mirror - it's easy to demand things if you're not the one being held responsible for the outcome.
But hopefully 1600 paediatricians will help make the change.

@RickOShay

Do you know anybody who has had the virus?

I do. My unlce (elderly) died from it (or at least COVID was listed as the top cause of death) in March. I also know several other people who have had it, mostly very mildly, one hospitalised for a week - now fine. I also know young people who have been admitted to mental health adolescent units with increased self harm and suicidal ideation, and a family where the mother tragically took her own life. So yes, there is plenty of sadness and tregedy around isn't there. Does that help???