Are the unions going to kick off about back to school in September?

[Flippetydip]

Is there going to be a big hoo ha from the unions about the "everyone back to school at full capacity" announcement from the PM today?

Any teachers on here care to give a view?

The corridors😱🙈
Classes lining up on either side to get into rooms. That leaves space for just about 1 person to walk down the corridor.

But we’ve got millions of kids and staff trying to squeeze through. And loads of kids are really tall. It’s like a mosh pit on those corridors. It’s insane.

And in non Covid times it can be quite fun. But not at the moment...

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

The corridors😱🙈 Classes lining up on either side to get into rooms. That leaves space for just about 1 person to walk down the corridor.

But we’ve got millions of kids and staff trying to squeeze through. And loads of kids are really tall. It’s like a mosh pit on those corridors. It’s insane.

And in non Covid times it can be quite fun. But not at the moment...

Fair point. But what is the answer? We cannot have children not in school forever.

I have no idea. I’m paid to teach not solve problems like this.

What do you suggest?

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

I have no idea. I’m paid to teach not solve problems like this.

What do you suggest?

I would suggest that the "science" suggests that children carry the virus very rarely and are even less likely to spread it and that everyone goes back as normal.

Since the government has such an amazing track record of clear, well researched, achievable and fully funded plans and aims for schools during lockdown which they fully discuss with education leaders, local authorities and unions before announcing them, then yes the Unions would be unreasonable to kick off. I mean, for example, look how well that they have dealt with the promise of laptops for all children without Internet access, promised to deliver those waaaay back in April , and here we are, getting towards the end of June and ..........

Oh, just a minute, I see the flaws in my own argument , silly me.

Still, I expect the government has been busy working on providing PPE for care workers, sorting out contact Apps, getting Covid 19 testing up and running, keeping an eye on care homes, making sure social distancing guidance was clear enough even for government advisors to understand. Like everyone else I fully trust their judgement and can't wait for a general election to demonstrate exactly how I feel.

[sceptical]

If 1/2 the school were in at one time and we had staggered end of lesson/break times. It may be possible.

But if 1 in 1700 have it, then there would be 1 and 1/2 people with in in my school. 5 days later the school would probably have to close for deep clean, then have to disrupt lessons through ill staff.

Flippetydip
So I guess I have my answer. Our DC will not be going back to school because there will be too much opposition to it and doubtless strikes.

Given that it was the only answer that you will accept even though no one has said that.

What was the actual point of th ethread?

I would suggest that the "science" suggests that children carry the virus very rarely and are even less likely to spread it and that everyone goes back as normal

I agree.

I would suggest that the "science" suggests that children carry the virus very rarely and are even less likely to spread it and that everyone goes back as normal.

You can suggest it but the science says no such thing. As the science is not fully out on this.

But you already know that.

I didn't read that as schools going back full-time, tbh. He was very careful about saying it was "what he wants", about "all children back in school", but did not say "every child will be back in school every day, for a full day, from September".

Yet in another thread about who has had the virus, a large amount of people caught it from their children......

And whilst small children may not spread it which l doubt, teens probably spread it faster than any other group. Mixed classes, mixed friends, mixed teachers, mixed transport. One of the reasons secondaries haven’t really opened is that teens are thought to spread it like adults.

And have significantly more opportunity than the average adult.

It depends on lots of things.
The Union will demand that staff are just as safe as they are in every other workplace, whether that is a hospital, shopping centre, beauticians etc.

I assume social distancing will be abandoned to make this consistent. We can't expect social diatancing PPE in supermarkets, shops, hospitals and not schools, and if we did the Unions would move to protect the health and safety of its members.

Judystilldreamsofhorses

That is exactly it.

He has been vague enough so that he can blame other people.

Sadly people are buying in to it.

Here's what he said
"Wrap-around care for school age children and formal childcare will restart over the summer.
Primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance
and those children who can already go to school should do so – because it is safe."

Is anyone else really bored of this shit? Seriously.

The head at my DD's school said that the unions were being very unhelpful as they are trying to get more years back now.

I have also seen that TES online are reporting that 100s of teachers are being recruited to work on the Oak Academy online resources ready for September!

Make of that what you will.

I'm not at all, by the way, arguing that this has been handled well by the government. It hasn't, in any way shape or form.

But I feel that children have been thrown under a bus and to have had a national teaching union celebrating their success of not getting as many children back to school as they can looks poor. And no, that's not from the press, it's from the NEU's own twitter feed.

Are all years in Secondary schools Included in this please?

@GarlicSoup

Are all years in Secondary schools Included in this please?

Seem to be.

It absolutely wasn't my intention to upset people, I was asking for a view

I think it absolutely was, your title alone is upsetting and needlessly provocative.

Can you copy and paste the specific Tweet, please?

I’ve just read similar. The government have just contracted Oak Academy for another year, for a huge sum.

Doesn’t sound like full time schooling to me...

I'd also welcome the source of your knowledge about what exactly The PM will announce today.

Sounds like a nice supportive head at your school🤨

My school work with union not condem them as ‘unhelpful’. Bet it’s a great place to work....