Every child in every year group will return to school in September, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said.

[itswhereitsat]

I didn't catch the briefing but read the above comment in the news. The big question is, did he say whether children returning would be part-time or full time? Or did he just gloss over that bit?

Bus drivers? They are round here... Maybe you live in a particularly rebellious part of the country but nothing you say resonates with me.

So bus drivers are watching passengers throughout the journey are they? What do they do if someone takes the mask off during the journey - do they stop the bus and make them put it on or get off?

How about on a train? How's that being enforced?

Reports didn't say a very small minority at all?

Really? How many are being identified and contacted then?

How would you identify people that you stood or sat next to on a bus or tube?

So bus drivers are watching passengers throughout the journey are they? What do they do if someone takes the mask off during the journey - do they stop the bus and make them put it on or get off?

How about on a train? How's that being enforced?

If you're that concerned I suggest you write to the companies that run your local service and ask.

Really? How many are being identified and contacted then? 67% being contacted and 85% of those contacts been traced apparently. Not a tiny minority.

How would you identify people that you stood or sat next to on a bus or tube?

Well round here you can't sit next to anyone on a bus. I don't know what tubes are like because we don't have them here.

Initially thought great, after a few posts agree yep it’s the usual big get out clause looming.

They need to deliver on this.

I haven't read the whole tread... but the only way this works is if kids go back part time.

Covid-19 is here to stay.

*Again though, why can't secondary teachers wear visors? Who is saying so?

Government*

This is crazy. Why? Would school buy them now with the extra £

67% being contacted and 85% of those contacts been traced apparently. Not a tiny minority.

But what are those percentages based on? On a thread the other day a tracer was describing the problems -

some people who are tested don't give accurate contact details so can't be told they are positive - none of their contacts traced

Patient doesn't answer the phone - apparently after four attempts they stop trying - none of their contacts traced

Patient contacted - try to identify contacts. Some are known, others aren't (strangers that are unidentifiable)

Of those known contacts some won't answer attempts to make contact.

So 67% of what group are being contacted? Initial figures that I saw suggested only about 1/3 of potentially infected people are contacted.

Why can’t they Zoom or record the lessons for the shielded. Those that can and want to send their kids send them, those that can’t or don’t want to get them to watch at home. Same homework put online.

Masks, tables, chairs and doors wiped after each lesson by teacher like primaries are doing. No dinner hall or assemblies. Lunch in form room.

The risk for the maj with measures is far less than the mental health and academic damage of not returning. Those shielding easily catered for.

Not seeing the problem.

@Petun1asShoes

Why can’t they Zoom or record the lessons for the shielded. Those that can and want to send their kids send them, those that can’t or don’t want to get them to watch at home. Same homework put online.

I'm guessing for all the same reasons why zoom lessons aren't suitable or sufficient or secure now? Also, lessons aren't lectures are they? Teachers aren't talking at a class for an hour. They talk, then students do the task set - maybe a practical, experiment, group work - what does the shielded child do?

What happens for practical lessons - science, tech, art, music, drama?

Oh for goodness sake you’re looking for problems. Teams then. My dd has had teams lessons as a class with plenty of interaction.All schools have it. Some schools have managed really well with technology. Plenty of time for gov to survey how many shielded kids and ensure it’s all set up and running for those without facilities.

You are not going to get a perfect scenario and you’re not going to get all kids off indefinitely because your child would need to participate in lesson online whilst the maj dont.

The kids in school will be sucking up a load of adapting to a new way of working, everybody will be. Needs must. We didn’t get through the Second World War continuously finding reasons not to adapt to difficult circumstances.

You are not going to get a perfect scenario and you’re not going to get all kids off indefinitely because your child would need to participate in lesson online whilst the maj dont.

Who says we are talking about my child? My children are adults.

It is possible for someone to identify discrimination and speak out about it without standing to personally gain.

I am an adult who is shielding but I'm disgusted by how willing many of you are to just withdraw education from some children. You are complaining that the current level of education isn't good enough for your children but are happy to promote it for shielding children if it means that your child can go back to school.

Did you just ignore my entire posts.

No mention of withdrawing lessons or denying education at all but children participating in the same lessons via online means in the same way many have already been doing throughout.

How would you do it Hear and for how long? Until vaccine (if we get one)?

@Petun1asShoes

Did you just ignore my entire posts.

No mention of withdrawing lessons or denying education at all but children participating in the same lessons via online means in the same way many have already been doing throughout.

Where have students at home been participating in the same lessons that students in school are having?

That simply hasn't happened has it?

As I asked, how does it work? 29 students in a GCSE class conducting chemistry experiments and one shielded student at home skyping in. How does that work?

Drama classes, music classes, art classes?

Classes where any group work or discussion takes place - how does it work? Is it just as easy as sticking a camera in a class and relaying a lesson to a student at home?

You're just dismissing it because it won't affect your child and so you aren't really concerned about the students that it will affect.

Why can’t they Zoom or record the lessons for the shielded. Those that can and want to send their kids send them, those that can’t or don’t want to get them to watch at home. Same homework put online.

You can't just video one of your lessons in school and send it out to everyone at home or stream it live. You wouldn't be allowed to have pupils' faces on it. Have you ever seen one of the "Educating..." TV programmes? Many of the pupils have their faces blurred because their parents didn't give permission for their children to appear on TV. Yes, this isn't for national television, but by allowing the video out there anyone could do anything with it. So it would have to show the teacher and board only, but teachers would have to ensure no pupils got into the shot during the lesson. And trust me - with some pupils the camera would be a big draw!

Plus, if schools are opened up to everyone from September, it can't be voluntary anymore. Only those who are vulnerable and absolutely must not go into school should remain at home. They will need providing for properly, of course. Technology should be given if they don't have it, decent textbooks sent home and proper contact with their teacher/s regularly. Everyone else will just have to be in school.

@MarshaBradyo

How would you do it Hear and for how long? Until vaccine (if we get one)?

I don't think there can be a two tier system that's allowed to develop.

If government and or society, aren't willing to implement measures that will make it safer for everyone then at the very least enrol.students in something like Interhigh.

As for advocating sacking any shielded or vulnerable teachers - well words fail me.

Why can’t they Zoom or record the lessons for the shielded

I teach, using my laptop to model/demo things on and I move around the room continually, supporting children where needed. Unless I had a cameraman to follow me round, I would have no equipment on which to record myself.

We didn’t get through the Second World War continuously finding reasons not to adapt to difficult circumstances.

You know a LOT of children missed a LOT of school during the Second World War, right? It certainly wasn’t a case of dusting themselves down and marching a class off to the village hall. Education was severely interrupted and led to great changes in the education system in the post-war era. I suppose even they just didn’t have enough of a can-do attitude.

@hearhoovesthinkzebras

Look. It's clear that you don't believe anything anyone says unless it's negative. It's clear that you're worried about being left behind. I get it. I sympathize.

But.

I say this kindly. The whole world cannot revolve around shielded people. It would be nice if it could and there will come a day where shielding will be a thing of the past and that will be great.

But everyone staying at home because shielded people have to won't work. Workplaces need staff. Children need teaching. Taxes need paying.

There's no NHS without taxes and that is something we all actively need.

I get what you're saying but it won't happen. It can't happen. There's lots of good reasons why it can't happen.

Hear I agree safety is key for teachers. Visors for teachers and class of 30.

Funding used for shielding students - how best could it be used?

My dd has participated in teams lessons with her entire class and faces off every week. Teacher shielding. That same teacher could continue teaching with the kids on laptops in form room.Teachers not shielding could do the same in school for those at home, other children would simply be in front of him/ her instead. I don’t understand how a laptop right in front of a teacher facing his/her face would have other children in.Parents could sign a waver ensuring their kids behave properly before starting just like we normally do with a behaviour policy.

Gravity thank you I’m aware. My fil had a bomb land in his playground and was evacuated away from family. He had to adapt. Continual drills under desks, lessons all over the shop. They did their best with a big can do attitude and got on with it. They certainly didn’t say little Johny you can’t go to school because the school down the road no longer exists. He’d be appalled that we’d even consider giving up on the future, education and mental health of children with all the tech and advantages we’ve got.