So...what do we all think of what Gav had to say?

[Eileithyiaa]

Gavin has just given his briefing, apparently all children will be back in September however he looked reluctant to admit they would scrap social distancing in favour of full classes, although this does seem to be the plan.

What do we reckon? I'm chuffed, think some voices are finally being heard.

He said early in that there would be a hierarchy of measures in place to reduce transmission.

So that will be similar to the current guidelines for primary schools: good personal hygiene and sickness exclusion to start; then stopping different bubbles mixing and staggered start times; then distancing where possible.

All makes sense, and adaptable to each age group and setting.

Ultimately it comes down to getting the kids back, and doing whatever is feasible to reduce transmission given the circumstances.

I can see what will happen. They will announce these plans for bringing all children back in September. Let everyone think that is what is going to happen. Then a week before school starts, completely change their minds and say it can't happen.

I can see what will happen. They will announce these plans for bringing all children back in September. Let everyone think that is what is going to happen. Then a week before school starts, completely change their minds and say it can't happen.

Or more likely-they’ll leave it up to individual schools to decide.

Things are moving on rapidly in treatments so the likelihood is schools will just go back as normal in September /washing hands etc, but if you catch it treatments available. If you want to hide under a rock and on a fat pension, fine, do it, but everyone else will be back to normal.

I hope it happens. I actually think they should do it now and get these children back to school next week. The damage being done just makes me want to cry.

If seconday schools go back full time, for all kids, then people need to know that their kids will be coming in contact with literally hundreds of kids a day. They rotate groups every lesson, and its impossible to get bubbles of kids who all take the same subjects at the same streaming level in groups of 30. Also, I dont know if people realise how jam packed with bodies a corridor in a school of 2000 kids gets during lesson crossover. SD is just not an option.

Staff who are extremely clinically vulnerable will need to be replaced because we would need full staff levels for every kid to be back. Considering schools struggle to recruit for September when they advertise in March thats going to be difficul, not to mention as a PP said, schools dont have the money to pay those at home shielding and those who replace them, so teachers will need to be on unpaid leave just because they have a medical condition. Also, as someone who will be 30 weeks pregnant in September but not labelled clinically vulnerable, I am NOT prepared to go into school to face 750 different students a week in my classroom if the virus is still around. I am a teacher, not a 'hero' or some martyr to the cause. I would not be able to SD, like I have been advised to do, and I am not risking a premature cesarean if I get covid. I will have to take maternity leave early, and my school currently has no replacement for me. I wonder who would be around to teach my year 11 English class?

So, in short, the reality is no SD, no bubbles, and substitute teachers supervising lessons until staff can be found to replace those who cannot (and should not) be working in a school filled with students. Yes, students would be back in education, but its not going to be a walk in the park.

It seems like schools are the last in the list but get the pubs open and the shops and let people fly in and out of the country
September is still a fair way off yet. I'm trying to be hopeful but not succeeding.

It sounds to me as though they have been thinking about primary and have not been thinking about secondary at all.

Bubbles just cannot work in a secondary / College setting.

You could teach all students mixed ability for all subjects to be taught in their tutor / form groups as a Bubble up to years 8/9 (depending on whether schools have a two or three year GCSE), with just the teacher that changes and they could be kept 2metres from the students,

However, it cannot work for Years 10 upwards. With so many different option groups, students cannot be in Bubbles when they all study different subjects. Again, if you abandoned teaching in sets, and went for form groups, you could teach the core subjects - English, Maths and RS (if taught), but you'd have to have all other subjects taught in different Bubbles. At my school that would be, 5 Bubbles + core bubble.

The only way I see secondary working (if they don't get rid of social distancing for everyone) would be to have all secondary pupils in part time, but socially distanced, combined with part time learning at home.

Its going to be a bit awkward if England schools are back as normal whilst Scotland, Wales, NI and doing the part time 'blended learning' bollocks.

If he scraps social distancing in schools he'll have to scrap it everywhere. Don't see that happening.

So social distancing will still apply in schools - part time for all.

Squidgy I’m happy with that. Supply is better than hours all day every day at home. I’m happy with any risk too. The mental health and future prospects just aren’t worth the very slim prospects of Covid for my dc.

You will have to do what you need to do. This can not carry on any longer.

Welsh schools are back for all childre........for one day a week. I wouldn't count on anything

Staff who are extremely clinically vulnerable will need to be replaced because we would need full staff levels for every kid to be back. Considering schools struggle to recruit for September when they advertise in March thats going to be difficul, not to mention as a PP said, schools dont have the money to pay those at home shielding and those who replace them, so teachers will need to be on unpaid leave just because they have a medical condition.

This is a huge issue. If we need to replace all ECV staff for September, but we don’t find that out for another 2 weeks, we won’t be able to recruit in time. We won’t be able to afford to pay both sets of staff out of our budget either, so the government need to come up with a plan for that.

If shielded people don’t come back and no more money is available to schools for staffing, they simply won’t be able to open in the way that parents want-no latter what the government ‘aims’ to happen.

I suspect that in September, as on June 1st and June 15th, parents will not get what they think they have been promised.

I work in secondary. We are planning for four different options at the moment - a) everyone back full time b) half back each week so two week rota c) 1/4 back each week so four week rota d) some Year groups back some weeks . Sure there are other options too.

But it’s ok as we will get the guidance in two weeks - which is 3 weeks before schools close for summer so plenty of time to get everything sorted.

It’s ridiculous. I want to be back. Most kids want to be back. We just need an actual plan and trust in the government.

I got the distinct impression the government have yet again made a big people- pleasing statement ('all children back in school by September') with no thought or plan as to how this will be achieved.

And like their other big people- pleasing statements (e.g 'world beating track and trace' 'ppe for all those who need it' etc) they will fail to deliver what's needed. And blame schools/ teaching unions/ someone else.

They’ll announce an end to shielding so they can get teachers back won’t they .

I agree that presser was outrageous in its vagueness

It's an impossible ask for secondaries:

• bubbles can't work (subject options, setting)
• if all are back no social distancing is possible
• shielding and clinically vulnerable teachers will be thrown under a bus and have the choice between quitting work and being put in a stuffy packed classroom with multiple different groups of children a day

More handwashing stations could probably go in (or antibac stations) and a strict 'isolate on first signs of illness policy' which in itself would be a nightmare to police but that's about it. Staff like me (clinically vulnerable with 2 conditions on the list but not quite shielding) will either be put at huge risk or if they can afford to not work, quit, leaving schools shortstaffed. I guess at least we might find jobs with the online academies...

They're building up to blaming the teachers when it doesn't happen. Some fools here will believe them.

Appuskidu surely shielding teachers just need to go sick? I thought teachers sick pay provision was pretty generous?

I for one won’t be blaming teachers. It’s the government’s job to sort this.

They’re playing with fire over this one. Parents are a pretty strident bunch when dealing with their children’s mental health and education. Most are at their wits end.
They promised it they have to provide it, we’re not daft and have frankly had enough.

Also, my children's (state) primary school has all year groups back from Monday. In bubbles of 15. My children can't wait.

but we don’t find that out for another 2 weeks, we won’t be able to recruit in time. We won’t be able to afford to
So change the recruiting rules! No other 'profession' had the Byzantine ruled around teaching recruitment. No reason why should not be like elsewhere - one month's notice at ant time or the ridiculous 'have them all in on the same day and make a decision that day that is binding on the recruit' Just adjust to normal recruitment practice.

What about the small problem of funding @UmbrellaHat?

I think they should open week on week off for term 1. If no increase in teaching staff outbreaks/issues, then because staff will have been exposed to whole classes/mixed classes, we can say more honestly that children are low transmitters of COVID. At that point, full time for everyone as normal, from Term 2.

Some schools have already been able to do this because they have bigger buildings or all staff available, so we have that information to start my plan above with. Ie, if not many school staff outbreaks between now and the summer holidays, then it's safe to do that for everyone.

The government is going to provide significantly more funding for schools. It's obvious in the same way that furlough was obvious. We'll know in 2 weeks but I suspect they are putting proposals together now hence gav's stilted presentation. Schools are needed at primary level for childcare hence why it feels they are the focus. It's all about economics and the government needs the country to get back to work. The majority of parents, teachers and children aren't in vulnerable categories (underlying health issues excepted) and need life to get back to normal. But secondaries cant be left out in the rain either otherwise that will be Bojo's legacy. To be honest better funding for our schools may be the silver lining in all of this. But in return they will need to break some of the union stranglehold which will take teacher support.