School from September

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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.

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 don't know if I am in a "just accept the risk" group but -- Yes I would completely accept those conditions at work.

I'm ancient admittedly but some of the descriptions I have seen of the expected behaviour of secondary school children make them sound feral.

I am also pretty sure that when I went to school I had to sit at a desk along with my fellow pupils and pay attention to my teacher.

Everybody seems to be saying that children can't be expected to sit and listen and behave themselves.

Why?

mandatory for kids to go back in spet gavin williams just said

williamson sorry

So why isn’t it being funded properly?

They've just announced a billion £ of investment....

But yes, funding before all this was shocking. That's not down to me though, and doesn't change my opinion that the education of an entire generation is more important than covid.

They've just announced a billion £ of investment....

I think it takes us back to 2015 levels of funding for school buildings. First thing the Tories did when they got in was cancel all the new school buildings planned under Labour.

And the building schools investment is as likely as the building hospitals plan.

Totally agree with Gav . We cannot just keep children out any longer .

Those who totally agree with Gav, why do you agree with no masks?

It would be impossible to learn properly for a child wearing a mask. I’m not opposed to it, but I can see why it’s been deemed unworkable .

@ZeroSumTrap

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 don't know if I am in a "just accept the risk" group but -- Yes I would completely accept those conditions at work.

Good for you. Presumably you're not a member of the BAME community, over 50 and have been identified as 'clinical vulnerable'.

Many teachers and TAs have. For you (and others) to decide that you're ok with them having to risk their lives is shocking. Those posters crying nothing is more important than our children's education!...remember this when teachers start dying will you?

@tootyfruitypickle

It would be impossible to learn properly for a child wearing a mask. I’m not opposed to it, but I can see why it’s been deemed unworkable .

Amazing how so many other countries have managed it then, isn’t it?

It would be impossible to learn properly for a child wearing a mask

How come other countries are managing with it then? Impossible would appear to be a claim without evidence.

Clearly Black Lives Matter.

Unless you're a teacher.

Maybe it hasn’t worked and that’s the lesson that has been learnt from other countries.
As I said I’m not opposed. I have no idea how it’s worked in other countries. I would send my child with a mask if asked no problem, we wear them when in a shop.

At the moment we are sacrificing the mental health of a generation. I don’t care how they go back and I would follow all guidance. But they must go back and not social distance.

Actually not that I don’t care but that I have no expertise and no access to research so I will follow the guidance however it works.

I do absolutely feel for the shielded teachers and I don’t know at all what the solution is there because I cannot see how they can be safe.

Maybe it hasn’t worked and that’s the lesson that has been learnt from other countries.

You mean you don’t know and you are assuming that the government are competent and aren’t simply too cheap to spend some money on nation’s children.

You’d be wrong.

My head has said all along they want to go back without restrictions except no large events. So I listen to him.

I can see the issue with masks in primary but I really don't understand why they aren't encouraging their use for secondary students - many of which will have to wear them on the school bus/train anyway.

Everybody seems to be saying that children can't be expected to sit and listen and behave themselves.
Why?

Some children have specific SEND that makes it harder for them, others are just young for their age. 4-6 year olds would still be in nursery in much of Europe.

DS1 is starting reception in September and doesn't have any additional needs...I'm doing my best to help his teachers by getting him as independent as possible over the summer, and practising doing worksheets with him...it's not the start to reception I would have wanted for him but I'm just going to try to make him as prepared as I can.

Funny, because other heads are concerned that the guidance on making all other workplaces Covid secure aren’t being applied to schools and they are worried about their staff and community.

The guidance has so many caveats that it's like a sieve.

The special school guidance basically says "Get them all back in. Socially distance if you can, but you probably don't have space and your students probably won't understand it. We want the children to stay in bubbles, but they've got to get to school and won't be able to be in bubbles for transport, so we've decided they don't have to worry about the school journey.... they'll be alright, maybe, well..."

How will these bubbles work at mainstream secondary? My DD2 has a large group of children she has a lot of classes with, but then there's maths, science, PE, English, French where the classes are mixed up and moved around. They have 2 classes sharing changing rooms at each lesson.

They're eating facilities are rammed - they only get 2 half-hour breaks and there are 1262 pupils at the school. Even if they make them choose which break to eat at, that's 600 pupils to cater for in half-an-hour.

To the parents shouting school must go back how will you feel if you get the phone call to immediately collect your child because their is an outback on their class. Bear in mind tests can take days to come back. Your child could have been sitting right next to Coronavirus for 2 weeks. Big viral load.

How will these bubbles work at mainstream secondary?

They won’t-they just can’t.

@Kitcat122 IF and it's a big IF I need to collect my dc from school due to an outbreak then so be it we'll all have to deal with it. However the majority of the time when that isn't happening they'll be in school with their peers getting an education. Its better to stop and start than to never start at all.

Sorry CarlaH just saw you were talking about older kids, slightly different!