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Schools guidance released

794 replies

Orangeblossom78 · 02/07/2020 10:48

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53253722

No dropping of subjects at GCSE then. Posting for info

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
netflixismysidehustle · 02/07/2020 13:02

Where is the offer to fund the extra cleaning of schools? What are schools going to have to cut to fund the cleaning?

netflixismysidehustle · 02/07/2020 13:03

Is there any money to fund extra sinks and loos? Use the tax money from the people going to be pub from Saturday or something Angry

user1471530109 · 02/07/2020 13:04

This just isn't a feasible safe plan for secondary schools. I say that as a parent happy for my primary age children to return. I feel completely let down as a secondary teacher.

MarshaBradyo · 02/07/2020 13:04

This is just the opening position from the government, they know it won't happen

I expect I’ll get an email confirming all this from schools in a few days as I did after the last announcement.

The vaguer ‘all classes back before summer’ was easier to overturn because it hadn’t been reacted to by school.

ListeningQuietly · 02/07/2020 13:07

In a 6th form with 2000 students per year group
where they travel from a catchment 60 miles across by bus and train
yeah right

In a comp with 300 per year group coming in by bus and train
yeah right

And boarding schools ?????

Orangeblossom78 · 02/07/2020 13:08

We already had an email from the schools trust saying about opening full time and hoping to get the school clubs going too.

OP posts:
VickyEadieofThigh · 02/07/2020 13:08

"Focus on handwashing" - in secondary schools that's a complete joke.

As are these massive "bubbles" - let's be completely honest, it's nonsense, isn't it? They're saying 'All kids back, there's nothing you can actually do to prevent infection, crack on."

I'm a former secondary headteacher - so grateful I'm not in the job any more.

OldLace · 02/07/2020 13:09

So I have two kids with Autism and Dyslexia (so SN and SEN) who get a public bus 20 miles each way.
How the heck is that going to work then?

Aargh.

hashtagbollocks · 02/07/2020 13:10

Imagine having one child at 8.40 and another at 9.40. And then having to do the same again at home time
our school already does this and they just make sure that siblings and also children being picked up by the same childminder all have the same arrival and leave times.
Works very well with no problems

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 02/07/2020 13:10

@ScarletZebra

The secondary school DD goes to has vertical tutor groups. How will that work?

Also the buses are usually full, as are the bus stops. Will they be able to use the buses?

Our buses here currently have restrictions of 10 passengers on a single decker and 20 on a double decker. I wonder if tfl plan to return buses to normal occupancy and whether transport unions have a view, especially given how badly affected bus drivers were by Covid.
Autumnwalksx · 02/07/2020 13:11

They have found the risk of serious infection to children is low. That's fantastic. But children live with adults between the ages of 20-50 on average. Is it low risk to the parents? Not being funny but we don't want the odd kid left without a parent and we don't want a rare case of a child dying.

I know life has to get back to some sort of normal. I just feel disheartened by our government. I'm not saying they are not doing their best. But it sounds like it's still s very risky situation based of the kids not being allowed to mix with other classes. Whilst it's important that we limit risk. What about the kids and their emotional well-being. I know most will be ok. But it's a huge change. I can't speak for everyone's kids or everyone's circumstances. But personally from my point of view. My child was only just settling into reception. She was finally grasping the routine but wasn't quite ready for the work side of it. Then suddenly she was pulled from this new way of life. We've spent months indoors. She's hopefully going to say goodbye to her teacher on the 21st for a couple of hours. But then it's another 6 weeks home. Then they expect her to go back. New class. New teacher. New kids (mixed year groups) new rules. No bags. No pe kits. No reading folders. If her best friends are in another class she won't be able to see them. Lunch time will be different. No hot meals anymore. No assemblies.

Ofcourse it's doable and they will adapt. But they are expecting 4 year olds to do the same as 11 year olds. It's going to ruin the love of school for alot of kids.

I don't have the answer. But my DD school won't be providing reading books. So education isnt going to be as good anymore either. Learning to read is so important.

I suppose I'm just sad kids can't go to school and be happy kids mixing and learning together anymore.
Before I'm jumped on I know many are loving school still. But my daughter's school are not allowed to play even within the bubbles!

Yellowbutterfly1 · 02/07/2020 13:12

Heaven know how much the bus fares will go up by if they have to lay on extra due to a limit of numbers.
There’s lot’s of families already struggling with the cost.

PumpkinPie2016 · 02/07/2020 13:13

@nellodee nope you have pretty much got it.

The bit in the guidance about staggered drop off/pick up says this shouldn't reduce teaching time Hmm Anyone know of anywhere that is producing 'Bernard's watch' on a large scale?

ListeningQuietly · 02/07/2020 13:14

Our buses here currently have restrictions of 10 passengers on a single decker and 20 on a double decker.
Where will the bus companies find enough buses ?
Where will the money come from for those buses ?

The 6th form I am thinking of has 2000 pupils brought in every day on buses
and 1000 by train
the other 1000 come in by car bike and foot
the buses currently hold 70 pupils each
where will they physically put the extra buses?

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 02/07/2020 13:16

@Yellowbutterfly1

Heaven know how much the bus fares will go up by if they have to lay on extra due to a limit of numbers. There’s lot’s of families already struggling with the cost.
We are lucky in London that children (used to) travel free. That was suspended, no idea if it will be re instated. At school start and finish times here five extra double decker buses were laid on by the bus company to service the schools on a route that ran from one end of the borough to another. How many extra buses will be needed to convey the students if there are staggered start and finish times plus severely reduced occupancy?
Letseatgrandma · 02/07/2020 13:16

@Jason118

I'm sure the unions will have been heavily consulted before these were released, just to avoid future problems.
Ha ha-good one. Grin
purpleme12 · 02/07/2020 13:17

So presumably wraparound care will be starting again in September?
Mine goes to a nursery place before and after school which takes children from lots of years and different schools too.

So it's just not really bubbles anyway it will just be like normal?

Letseatgrandma · 02/07/2020 13:17

@netflixismysidehustle

Is there any money to fund extra sinks and loos? Use the tax money from the people going to be pub from Saturday or something Angry
No.
Schools guidance released
Langbannedforsafeguardingkids · 02/07/2020 13:19

Give it two weeks into the term then all schools will be closed again.

Without masks or any extra resources, yes they will.

Masks for students would be such an easy, low cost solution and the efficacy in reducing infection has been proven over and over. Lots of countries do this, including Germany where they have to wear them in corridors and during breaks though not compulsory in the classroom.

I'm increasingly convinced our political classes really don't care how many people die or get ill.

monkeytennis97 · 02/07/2020 13:19

@havefunpeleton you are joking aren't you?!

monkeytennis97 · 02/07/2020 13:20

@user1471530109 totally agree. DH and I are both secondary teachers.. very, very worried.

elliejjtiny · 02/07/2020 13:21

It's ridiculous. It would be a lot safer to have the dc who don't need to be in school in on a part time basis. Then the children whose parents need the childcare or who are vulnerable can be in full time. Anyone who is struggling/falling behind can ask for additional hours in school to try and prevent children from missing out and falling through gaps.

havefunpeleton · 02/07/2020 13:21

About all kids going back to school? No I'm very relieved.

AldiAisleofCrap · 02/07/2020 13:23

@Char2015
-Take a look at the NEU's response. I can assure you the unions were not consulted at all.
Do you have a link please.

Letseatgrandma · 02/07/2020 13:25

Hopefully the unions will stop scaremongering now

No union is scaremongering. They are ensuring that their members are working in the sort of safe environments that other workers are in.

I doubt school openings will be happening as this guidance suggests in September but if it does, I think we can expect repeated school closures throughout the Autumn term.

I know that wraparound care definitely won’t be reopening at my school.

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