School from September

[16943389ao]

What are your thoughts on the newly released information on schools returning in September? I agree that children need an education but can’t understand why other than putting the children into class sized bubbles that no other major precautions are being taken. There are no other circumstances where groups of 35 can mix without social distancing or PPE. So why is this ok for schools? I know we keep getting told that children aren’t too badly effected but they can obviously spread COVID-19 and the school in Leicester have all been closed down for this reason. I can’t help but feel cases will rise hugely putting everyone at risk.

What is going to happen to children if you do a rotation? Parents have got to get back into their workplaces.

I am pleased scools are opening...

@SqidgeBum - why do you have no childcare when all childcare has reopened? if you're 32 weeks at the start of school, surely you have maternity leave coming up after 5 weeks so you'd only have one period of a few days off for this regular fever your DD gets (which is actually infections, see the NHS advice: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/teething-and-tooth-care/), your partner could take that one off work and then you have no sick leave. You're trying to rationalise a feeling of general anxiety by layering on random non-problems instead of recognising that you have anxiety. Do you know the figures for your local area about how many people are actually infected with covid?

This is quite simplistic but a solution could be that people decide, taking into account their own personal circumstances, if going back is a risk worth taking with no judgement or fines. So some (maybe most) children and teachers will go back to school but everyone has the choice in these unprecedented circumstances with no judgment. Teachers who don't go back to school can work from home providing online lessons and resources, marking work and generally monitoring the pupils who are at home. Pupils who are at home can arrange socially distanced meet ups for socialising if they want.

@MRex I was saying about the rules regarding if a child has a temperature they have to go home. I am in the same boat with my child. If she gets a temperature and by protocol has to be off for a week I have no childcare, but I am a teacher and need to be at work. My DH cannot take time off in his job.

And yes of course I am looking at things and layering problems and getting anxious. If you were facing 300 kids a week coughing and spluttering on you at 32 weeks pregnant with the risk of getting covid and having to have a premature section all because the government want parents back in their offices (all SD of course) you would be anxious too. There is more to this than 'kids dont get covid that bad. Lets take the risk and send them back'. Staff have been completely forgotten. We just dont matter.

Some of the comments on here are just astonishing. Teachers just have to take the risk etc. I've hardly been out of my house since March (teaching from home) apart from school 3 times and a few shops, in an attempt to keep myself and daughter safe from the virus ( had a shielding letter up to June ) In September I have no control over that anymore. Desks will no longer be apart. My only protection is to stand at the front of classes of 30 . All my family and friends continue to go to work in places where social distancing can continue, but I'm expected to mix with bubbles of hundreds . It's easy for people to say they are fine for schools to return but you should understand why teachers have concerns.

What is going to happen to children if you do a rotation? Parents have got to get back into their workplaces

The complaints about this guidance generally relate to it being totally unworkable in secondary schools.

Primaries get bubbles of about 30. Secondaries get no protection at all. No bubbles, no PPE, no distancing.

And secondary pupils do not usually require childcare.

I work in a special needs department attached to a mainstream school. We have 8 members of staff, three small teaching rooms, one office and two cupboards. The office is about 16 square metres, 1 teaching room is the same with the other two smaller, all with plenty of furniture reducing the actual amount of floor space.

The only way we can social distance from each other is to have two people in each room for breaks and before/after school. Except the photocopier and kitchenette are in the office. So I don't get to photocopy any resources or have a hot drink in the day if I'm not allocated to that room? Or do we have to arrange a rota, so I'm allowed in to photocopy and get a cup of tea between 8:15-8:25am only and 3:10-3:20pm as long as I disinfect everything afterwards? We have one toilet between us that is also used by one of the students before and after school, so we'll be spending a lot of our break times cleaning that I expect.

But it's okay. Schools will return because it'll be safe for the children. No mention of us staff. "No need" for PPE. Social distancing "where able to".

Meanwhile, the rest of the country have PPE or strict social distancing measures or are still working from home. If schools need to open for economic and mental health reasons (and I do think those are valid reasons) there needs to be some kind of acceptance that teachers are a bit worried about what a return, basically as normal, may mean for us. If you don't have to worry about being in work and having a higher risk of catching the virus, then lucky you, but don't tell me I can't be worried.

@noblegiraffe

I bet if people were told to, as part of their regular job, to cram into tiny meeting rooms for meetings with 30 other adults and no protection, there’d be an outcry.

But not when its their children.

This.

I just do not understand why people don't give a shit about teaching staff.

Fining families in this position is an awful way of going about things

They have said those who have a medical reason not to be in school (including that of a family member shielding/vulnerable) would not face fines. The fines are aimed at those who just cant be bothered to send their dc back (and I'm sure every school has them parents) or have no medical reason on the family not to send them back.

The fines will also penalise parents who don't see the logic in sending their DC back to a school where social distancing is impossible while adults are being advised to work from home where possible and socially distance when out or wear some form of ppe if social distancing is not possible.

I suspect the fine thing is also so teachers dont need to lesson plan for both classroom and home settings as that wouldn't be feasible for any teacher. If they are registered at a school they're responsible for providing that education, they'll no longer provide this through home learning only in the school setting. As an education is mandatory it will be mandatory to attend the setting thats responsible for providing it.

What will be the provision then for pupils who can't go back because they or a member of their household is shielding, if fines won't be applied to them?

I think the secondary school 'guidelines' are reckless. It's back as usual. I don't see how it won't spread.

What if shielding continues to be paused but families feel it isn't safe?(because, let's face it...the govt have made in utter shit show of every thing so far).

what will the provision be then for pupils who cant go back because they or a family member is shielding

I've no honestly no idea. What happened before when a child was off school long term sick?

@MRex sadly not all childcare has reopened, my DC's nursery doesn't open until the 13th of July.

I really feel they need to be back, mine are so missing school and the preschooler is so much happier for being back - I am not entirely sure that the huge effort implementing the guidance requires will be worth it, though.

I'll have three at the same single form entry primary from September (32 per class in KS2 - not sure if that's an issue for bubble size). I can't help but wonder what happens if one of mine develops symptoms - do we potentially affect all three bubbles? Also, from them alone, there is a huge amount of overlap in bubbles and I suspect they will between them be in indirect contact with children in most year groups through siblings. Drop off/pick up is going to take ages and if there's no wrap around care, I just hope it will finish in time for me to collect DC1 at secondary 5 miles away, as I suspect I'll be standing in for the school bus. And that's before I even think of work (which i am seriously contemplating giving up....).

There is also the fact that I am fairly sure most children will be doing some sort of after school activity, so there's that to factor in too.

Can't see a way round it but I just wonder if these measures are a box ticking exercise as I can see plenty of ways for transmission to occur. But am in the fortunate position of a low-risk family - I appreciate that's not the same for all (and also agree there should not be fines initially, at least). Interesting that preschools have no restrictions on bubble size from 20 July.

Those who believe that teachers and parents who should just accept the risk - genuinely interested, if your workplace suggested you all go back to work as normal, share desks, communal areas etc with no social distancing - would you be happy?

I do believe that children should be back in school in September but not in this form. Surely a week in school and a week off for the initial half term at least would be a safer bet?

I also have concerns about children showing symptoms, would I be expected to subject my children to a test every time they got a cough. Because let’s face it, most children get at least a couple of coughs across the course of an autumn/winter!

Because do you know what? Some things are more important than bloody covid.

The education of an entire generation is more important.
If people don't want their kids to attend then they can deregister and home school full time.
But don't try and deprive all kids from their right to a proper education because of fear.

I’m pleased that they have found a workable solution.

It's not a workable solution. It's just 'ignore the virus folks, it's gone... hey look, you can go on holiday... '

We're being gaslit. Again.

The education of an entire generation is more important.

So why isn’t it being funded properly?

For those who don’t agree - what is your solution?

briefing on now

i dont know what people want this cant go on past sept

That ‘what’s the solution’ ‘what do you want?’ Literally been answered on this thread. You don’t actually care, you just want people to shut up.