Schools guidance released

[Orangeblossom78]

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

No dropping of subjects at GCSE then. Posting for info

Actually makes me so cross.

Schools in Europe in the main are mandating masks for secondary school, France for example, it’s optional in Junior.

The Governments total ineptitude re the benefits of masks/face coverings since day one has confused the message. I didn’t understand their benefits until reading up.

In summary it has been shown covering our faces indoors can reduce spread by up to 80%. Given the reason we have this pandemic is because the virus transmits before symptoms occur (or with kids they may well have such minor symptoms as to not notice) covering your face PROTECTS OTHERS. For those and unfortunately in the U.K. they seem to be numerous, who don’t care about others, if we wore masks more often indoors the economy would get back on track faster as there would be less transmission.

I believe that the majority of older kids probably are concerned about infecting older relatives etc. Surely schools are for educating, why can they not be allowed to educate kids and staff on the benefits of covering their faces. Then because many will come up with some ridiculous reason that kids will be mentally scarred or something from covering their faces, we say ok it’s optional but at least educate staff/kids/parents first, I refuse to be so cynical as to believe when the benefits are communicated a high proportion would not adhere.

I’d imagine it’ll be more traumatic for a pupil to think they’ve contributed to putting “Mrs or Mr x” on a ventilator than to cover their faces.

I’m not a teacher but please for the sake of education if nothing else please please can we at least find a way of educating our kids about this momentous once in 100 year event and how we can all pull together as communities to get through it as best we can, given our Government isn’t going to help us. If you’re a teacher fight for the ability to wear a face covering, explain to your pupils you chose to wear one to stop the spread to them/your colleagues etc. How many school workshops etc are set up trying to teach kids critical thinking and confidence/independence? There’s a ready made life lesson here.

I cover my face when in shops/pharmacies etc, not because a cloth mask will do anything to stop me getting infected but because it’s the least I can do for others.

Look at Japan their numbers got very bad, they turned it around through pulling together as a society, mask wearing was key. Out Government won’t get us out of this we all have to pull together. Hopefully school communities can try and pave the way with this.

I’ve tweeted my Union with a similar message. Radio silence.

If all seniors and staff wore masks, IMO it would be safe to return.

what i dont get is that for senior schools how the hell do they get in!?!? Primary is fine - we walk, but my son has to get a school bus (only one runs during the morning and one in the afternoon) they are packed in like sardines and it services several schools. There is no other way to get into the school. The bus is laid on by tfl and the school fairly remote. Kids come from miles and 2 different counties! Not much point being in a bubble if you have to go through that to get in and home again. It's also a huge school - 8 forms of 30 per year. I just dont see how the hell it will work getting the kids to the school let alone who it works in the school (though i hold far more trust in the school working things out than the government who clearly havent thought anything through!)

Primary is fine, just one child i have to take, we walk and despite being a big school they have got it very well worked out.

Though honestly i really dont think it's ok to be sending them back, but i also just dont see it working at all. I can just see them all getting settled then BAM - back to lock down when it all blows up again.

Realityofsen:
Schools have no money. 1:1 tas are only partially funded and don’t (in most cases) have to be glued to the child they are with. In fact that’s often- in upper primary particularly- the worst thing for a child. So they can be an adult in a class.
My ta at the moment isn’t supporting - she’s cleaning loos, doing gate duty for staggered starts and lots of other bits. Including allowing me a loo break thank goodness.
I just don’t think people understand how much has to be in place for all this. We will do it, because (with a few exceptions) we are as keen as everyone else to get back to proper schooling - but we are broke already and the extra cleaning etc will come from the budget for staff and resources, in an already critically underfunded sector.
There is no budget for supply, or extra teachers or tas. It’s just not there. If I’m off sick my bubble will have my ta for the day but the knock on effect is huge.

And for those saying they won’t send poorly kids into school. Ha ha ha. Already happening. Always has. “ I threw up this morning but mum said not to say as she has to go to work.”

If you want to get angry please be angry with the government not schools.

Well said, *Oaktree. Honestly, the leaden stupidity some people display ion this and other issues s so depressing and damaging.

@Oaktree55

The thing is. A mumsnet demographic trying to convince teenagers they don't need to be 'embarrassed' for wearing a face covering. Is exactly why I can't see them ever being cool.

I'm sure your sons look to you for fashion inspiration though.

I was mainly taking issue with you suggesting that all those highly suggestable girls will want to wear them. But not the boys...

THe problem with the guidance is not the masks

its the rubbish around start and finish times and bubbles
and all the other things that prove the document was written by people in Central London with no kids

Spain has just announced a lockdown in Catalonia of 200,000 people so it's very clear that Covid is just biding it's time until the opportunity presents itself for increased spread.

@Oaktree55

Agree about masks, cannot understand it.

Also if kids already have to wear blazer and tie, a mask only makes them look a bit worse imo. They don't like uniform but they wear it.

It is just Trump/Bolsonaro-style ignorance I think, I can see absolutely no reason for not mandating them and it would make a decent-size difference.

I’ve been in on keyworker duty in a secondary, some boys (but not girls) had them

These guys look pretty cool.

My teen kids would wear face masks if it meant that they could go to school- especially if the school mandated plain black which would fit in with their uniform colours.

They haven't been to the local shopping centre yet but would wear a mask if it meant access to their favourite shops.

I think that adults wearing masks would make it more normal and inexcusable not to but we have leadership that's strangely anti masks.

I have seen celebs in the US trying to tell people that they should wear masks to protect others. I don't know if YouTubers and TikTokers are doing this too but it would be useful to normalise masks.

I also think that widespread mask wearing will be a big factor in reassuring visitors from e.g. Chin, Japan that it is safe to return. And they bring plenty of money to London, Edinburgh etc.

If feels like a cultural issue and we just need to move on and mandate masks.

@havefunpeleton

Students who commute to school on public transport are required to wear masks anyway, so this is really non-negotiable ( regardless of gender, being cool or "fashionable"). My teen son wears a ( very simple black) mask because he has to and he understands the evidence- based science behind it. Would be great if most adults did too ...

Students who commute to school on public transport are required to wear masks anyway

Exactly.

It seems ridiculous to them tell them that it’s clearly safer at school (with 2000+ people) than on the bus where they must wired their mask on, but they are fine to take their masks off when they arrive!

Some post make me so cross , what do people want to never open schools and keep them home forever
All these things are all able to be stepped back as well , if cases rise there will be local lockdowns
Unffortunately there is no guarantee of a vaccine or it disappearing so we have to learn to live with it
Also people that comment the goverment only care about money and economy again without it there is no nhs and services as thats what funds it
We may have further lockdowns but we have to attempt to go back or whats the alternative , we cant all stay off work , supermarket staff have been in throughout they have mostly just got on with it
So many have lost jobs already with more to come ,this can affect people hugely too , its a very fine balancing act

I received an email yesterday giving our schools guidance for September, it sounds doable and very sensible. Kids that have been shielding or kids that have shielded parents have the option of continuing home schooling with support from school, no consequences or fines.

Also you still have a choice to de register and home school if your really worried
In real life i know several teachers who arent quite as worried as ones on MN they
Also so many aren't sticking to rules fully , how many who were at the packed beaches , protests , large family gatherings are ones saying my kids not going to school its too risky ?
Sept is weeks away anything could happen or change by then

The alternative has been demonstrated very well by many other countries. It involves having a working track and trace system in place, mask wearing in public and general will of society in the main to eradicate the virus as much as possible. You do realise many countries in Africa have faster track and trace often in war zones! We need (ed) quick decisive decision making from Government and clear communication to the public. Many many countries have managed this and have not needed to lock down. Some locked down in a quicker harder manner and so didn’t need to endure a long drawn out half lock down.

There is an alternative but unfortunately our Government is acting negligently in its approach. If you read up on our track and trace and how it’s been set up and the results so far it’s abysmal.

If more people realised there is an alternative involving adequate track and trace and mask wearing in public, then perhaps we could collectively hold our Government to task to ensure it’s done. It really is frightening to realise how incompetent they are being.

@Oaktree55 can you show me the link you read where it says masks stop 80 % of infections , i thought the jury was still out on exactly how affective they are ?

@Oaktree55 again please provide link to these countries and how they work and there track and trace systems ?

@Notfeelinggreattoday

The international consensus for quite some time is that masks are effective for reducing infection rates. In looking at advice from : WHO, CDC, The Lancet, PHE etc, the evidence I've seen ranges from 30 - 50% reduction in transmission. Is this similar to the figures you have seen?

This is a good summary re face coverings.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jep.13415

@Llamazoom is the school primary or secondary and is it in England?