Schools guidance released

[Orangeblossom78]

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

No dropping of subjects at GCSE then. Posting for info

I understand that people want the kids back, I do too, but it's an incontrovertible fact that if they go back 'as normal' with no extra measures to prevent virus spread, what will end up happening is lurching from lockdown to lockdown (we already have schools closing in Leicester and this is only with some children returning). This would be far more disruptive to education and everyone's lives than wearing masks, or the government paying for more cleaning, extra sinks etc.

Unless we have a vaccine, of course, but I really can't see that happening by Sept.

I do not know what our family will do after reading that guidance. I fully support the opening of schools to all pupils in September, however only if it can be done safely. No member of school staff that is vulnerable should be given no option but to work in those circumstances.
All children who are either vulnerable, extremely vulnerable or who have family members that are should be given the option of learning at home even if the support available to them is limited due to constraints on teachers time.
And before people say it’s simple enough to de register, it is not fair for children to lose their school places or face fines due to the misfortune of health issues.

Without wrap around care, I won't be able to work (as a teacher) so I really hope that doesn't go.

If secondary schools can have bubbles of 240+, surely most primaries can have large bubbles to include wrap around care?

Having masks on is not practical. I wore one for an appointment and within ten minutes my face was hot and I was uncomfortable.

Imagine kids with masks on. What happens when a child throws up (it happens) or it's snack time or drink time. Or they are upset. Or they are only little and they are afraid and freaked out by it all. Got to think that school age is 4-16 years of age. Children under ten especially may find masks scary of uncomfortable

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 agree with this.

Unless you are in an at risk category (and I mean an actual at risk category, not one you have interpreted yourself), then feeling "petrified" or "sick" at the thought of this is a massive overreaction and you might look into why you are feeling so anxious about an extremely minimal risk.

@user1471530109

Without wrap around care, I won't be able to work (as a teacher) so I really hope that doesn't go.

If secondary schools can have bubbles of 240+, surely most primaries can have large bubbles to include wrap around care?

Absolutely-the guidance says it’s fine.

My school won’t be running it though as the staff members that ran it don’t wish to continue as it is too risky for their health.

@PymChurchBeach

Unless you are in an at risk category (and I mean an actual at risk category, not one you have interpreted yourself), then feeling "petrified" or "sick" at the thought of this is a massive overreaction and you might look into why you are feeling so anxious about an extremely minimal risk.

This. With bells on. Thank god schools are going back.

Have people looked at the actual death stats? Even accounting for underlying conditions, the biggest risk factor by a million miles is age, and you are most at risk if you are over 80. The risk for a generally healthy 60 year old is still pretty minimal.

And yes, I know that covid has long term effects for some individuals, but again that is a minority.

They need to wait until it's safe. It's like they've decided September is the magic number. how do they know what cases are going to be like in September? They could be worse they could be way better than they are now. Putting plans in place like they have done is just jumping the gun. I'm personally worried for my little girl and I'm sure other parents are also worried. Parents and quite rightly are wanting normality back. Me to. I can't wait for life to be routine again and have some sort of structure. The loneliness is horrible and worrying about my daughter missing out so much on socialising is also horrible. But what autumn is when all the colds and coughs start again. Fevers stomach bugs you name it. I can't imagine many weeks where there isn't a concern about a kids symptoms

@PymChurchBeach
Unless you are in an at risk category (and I mean an actual at risk category, not one you have interpreted yourself), then feeling "petrified" or "sick" at the thought of this is a massive overreaction and you might look into why you are feeling so anxious about an extremely minimal risk.
I don’t know who your post was aimed at, but yes I am shielding.

Beach I am clinically vulnerable. And no, not 'midly asthmatic' as some mn posters throw around as a come back.

I totally want to get back to work. I very much want to be teaching with all kids back. But the whole secondary school guidance is a joke! I was talking to a primary head yesterday who agreed that we had no chance!

Off-topic - I can see and have just clicked a link to show all the OP's posts in this thread - yay!

Back on topic - can't see the staggered starts working for secondary schools like DD's where a large number of the pupils use private buses - they can't afford to run every half an hour! If they go back to school (and I'm certainly hoping they do) I can't see them being able to do that and implement a lot of these measures.

My DD hasn't had any colds or similar bugs since school closed, so I think there will be a lot of them when they do all get back together again!

If you are clinically vulnerable then it is shit but you may need to consider it is therefore no longer viable for you to do your job. Just like the many thousands of theatre workers are currently having to do.

I know 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.

^^ This- particularly at secondary level where the bubbles won't work as students walk the same corridors, use the same classrooms and eating areas as other years.

I can't see why the factors that led to meat processing and garment factories having outbreaks won't be repeated in secondary schools.

Maybe people are worried sick about this virus because of the serious changes in schools. it's ok saying it's a minimal Risk so people shouldn't be worried. But the schools are acting like it's a plague. The government are acting like it is a plague.

No hot meals.
No reading books.
No school bags.
Pe kits must be worn on the day and not left at school.
No book bags.
Huge amounts of toys removed.
Kids encouraged to work and play alone.
Some schools are not even allowed to go near kids in their bubbles.
No physical contact with other people.
Bubbles may close if someone gets sick.
Schools may shut.
Local areas may lockdown.
Staggered collections and drop offs. To stop people going near eachother.
No assemblies.
Probably no school shows or plays or sports.

Hundreds of NHS workers have died.

Parents have lost jobs.
People have been trapped at home with just excercise for months.

Even mild cases are not pleasent.

Kate garraways husband is in a coma from it.
A man round the corner from me was in a coma for 10 weeks with it. survived but still 10 weeks in a coma..

40000 people have died with covid-19 their systems.

All the things that closed down and stopped functioning.

But yeah it's ridiculous for a parent to be anxious and worried about it.

I genuinely hope no one is relying on this happening. You are in for a huge disappointment.

I genuinely hope no one is relying on this happening. You are in for a huge disappointment.

What happens next do you think? Teachers refuse then what

@Autumnwalksx

They need to wait until it's safe. It's like they've decided September is the magic number. how do they know what cases are going to be like in September? They could be worse they could be way better than they are now. Putting plans in place like they have done is just jumping the gun. I'm personally worried for my little girl and I'm sure other parents are also worried. Parents and quite rightly are wanting normality back. Me to. I can't wait for life to be routine again and have some sort of structure. The loneliness is horrible and worrying about my daughter missing out so much on socialising is also horrible. But what autumn is when all the colds and coughs start again. Fevers stomach bugs you name it. I can't imagine many weeks where there isn't a concern about a kids symptoms

And when do you think it might be safe? Are we expected to carry on with homeschooling (or not as the case may be) until there are 0 cases anywhere? Its utterly unsustainable and unreasonable to think like that. The risk to children and the vast majority of the population of covid is very very small.The decision to reopen schools has to be taken at some point. This is not going away and everyone has to start getting used to the idea of living around covid rather than waiting for it to be gone forever.

Even mild cases are not pleasent.

Sorry but when I had it, if I hadn't known it was covid I'd still have gone to work, that's how fine I felt.

We already have summer holiday clubs running at the school this year so think should be possible for after school too

Re nurseries - there aren’t going to be bubbles anymore. They’re allowed to go back to their normal practice.

@PymChurchBeach

If you are clinically vulnerable then it is shit but you may need to consider it is therefore no longer viable for you to do your job. Just like the many thousands of theatre workers are currently having to do.

I really hope your DC doesn't have a number of specialist experienced teachers that he/she will need to get them through their exams next year. I won't be the only one, but I am the head of a core subject and the most experienced in my department by far.

I will be seeing 240 kids a week, with no ppe and from reading that guidance, no clear restrictions put in place for my safety. I can't think of another job that this is acceptable.

Nowhere have I stated I don't want to work or teach the country's teens. I just want to feel safe doing it.

I really hope your DC doesn't have a number of specialist experienced teachers that he/she will need to get them through their exams next year

Well if they do it is tough isn't it? What's your alternative?

@DomDoesWotHeWants

I genuinely hope no one is relying on this happening. You are in for a huge disappointment.

Any other predictions from your crystal ball you would like to share? Perhaps you could elaborate on when the much-vaunted second spike will be hitting us?