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.

Uhoh2020 I was just asking because it happened my daughters class this week already. So 2 weeks at home waiting.

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

Well I'd go pick them up, and take them home.
Call work, although I suspect I'd still have to go in unless symptomatic (NHS) not sure of the up to date policies so will have to check that one before they go back

And that's it really, I'm not scared of covid? I've no reason to be
If you are that scared of giant viral loads of covid, I suggest you deregister your kids and homeschool. Stop trying to dictate to the rest of us with your fear

Jenny Harries just explainer that anyone who was shielding will be informed if the cases are rising in the area.

I’ve had a life threatening illness and I remain at higher risk than the average person of it returning. I think I’ve just learnt to deal with health risk. For most people, even the higher risk groups, it is more likely than not that they will recover.

Stop making this about people being cowardly. I am not scared of catching Covid. I don't want to. I don't think it's a walk in the park, to be honest. However, I am much more worried about carrying it back to my parents. I'm worried that I'm not going to be able to go and visit them, that they are not going to be able to safely see their grandchildren until it is warm enough to do so outside again. Those are my real worries. Other people are vulnerable, or live with vulnerable relatives. Not all fears are irrational.

Children who are shielding or very vulnerable should be allowed to stay home. Everyone else should be fined for not returning. To many children in awful situations at home where parents are only too glad to not take them to school, Abused and neglected all day. Makes me cry to think what some poor kids have been through whilst schools are closed- literally no one to turn to for help.
Being very blunt, it’s not safe, kids do spread it, teachers and children will get ill and some will die. Horrible, really horrible but for the vast vast number of children they are at a tiny risk and they must return to school. In secondary in particular there is no way for hundreds not to mingle. The public transport to get them there is a non starter to begin with! 100’s crammed into trains and busses and Thats even before they have reached the gates.
Despite this, they must return now the risk has reduced

Well I have year 10 lessons in school last week and sixth form lessons this weeks. Some staff and pupils wore PPE and some didn’t. Pupils sat in rows and had to wipe desks etc. One way system in corridors strictly enforced. Anyone pratting about was immediately sent home.

The new rules will bring in more discipline. The staff liked the zero tolerance approach of the head who was on constant patrol - kids didn’t. He policed the gate - so staff and students only entered the site at the right time.

I can’t help but feel cases will rise hugely putting everyone at risk.

Schools reopening haven't led to a significant rise in cases in any other country so far. There have been a few minor instances of infections in schools, which the plan explains how to deal with.

September is two months away. The infection rate will be even lower than now (unless something very unpredictable happens, in which case the plan will have to be reviewed).

If it means kids not seeing grandparents or others who are particularly vulnerable for the next x month, this is how it must be- kids must be back and school because people must go back to work! There won’t be any money left in this county for decades if this goes on??! Who is going to fund care homes for these elderly people we are protecting? Who is finding hospitals to help the medically vulnerable? Keep this going for another 3/6/12 months and there won’t be anything left to pay with!!

@Greysparkles I was only asking. Wow you don't have be so rude. I'm actually not scared as we as a family have had Covid (yes confirmed).

I'm fascinated by the guidance saying teachers are at no more risk than anywhere else and in fact saying that the clinically vulnerable and the extremely clinically vulnerable need to be back at work.

Omitting the issues that both shops and the nhs are using PPE (masks mandatory for everyone in the nhs now) and generally in shops people don't spend longer than 15 minutes with people who haven't got the ability (because they are a kid) to socially distance.

And I'm torn, because kids need an education. It's just disappointing that the guidance is pretty much go back to normal because we haven't a clue.

Then why mention big viral loads then?

I'm just fucking sick of it to be honest, some people seem hell bent on stopping any sort of normality for our children, threatening their education and their future prospects. It's not on. Community spread is very low atm, and should be lower by September so there is absolutely no excuse for schools not to open

If people don't like it and can't deal with risk then they need to deregister and home school, as I've said multiple times. It really is that simple.

If people don't like it and can't deal with risk then they need to deregister and home school, as I've said multiple times. It really is that simple.

Not if you're a BAME teacher it's not. But people are still not listening.

I teach secondary and am a carer for my elderly father who has no one else to look after him.

I am completely stuck about what to do. I’m probably going to have to resign.

If people don't like it and can't deal with risk then they need to deregister and home school,

Compassionate point if view.

Your option is also to home school.

And I don’t reckon I’m the only one. We’ve been shielding two vulnerable colleagues in the department and covering their shifts in key worker school. They will probably go as well.

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.

So if people decide it is not a risk worth taking and keep their children at home, who do they think is going to provide the education? If one teacher decides they cant return do you think they are going to provide lessons and resources and mark work for children from all different age groups? Most year 1 teachers are not up to speed with teaching year 6, and vice versa. What if all staff return and nobody is working from home?
Unless they are acting on medical advice, nobody should expect schools to provide work for children not attending.

I see this much as with businesses/the economy situation. There is no ideal answer. Businesses can't stay closed forever. The government can't pay furlough money forever. Obviously reopening everything is risky, but there is no perfect answer. And it's the same with the schools. What is the perfect answer???

Let the children go back to school. Lockdown bedwetters must not deny them an education.

Community spread has plateaued this week we are no longer seeing a decline in cases and there is a massive lifting of restrictions this weekend which is likely to see another rise in cases. I don’t think anyone is wanting to prevent a return to normality for our children. I’m desperate for my daughter to get back but I want it to be safe for her too. The government’s approach seems very all or nothing there must be a safer middle ground that would allow us to test the water before such big groups mixing. If it causes a large spike in cases this will be even more disruptive to education. We aren’t hugely comparable to other countries as our testing has been poor and our figures high when we started lifting restrictions. I’m cautious and obviously September is two months away but the message seems to be that this is happening regardless. This is hopefully a once in a lifetime event and I feel parents should have the option of weighing up what works best for their family and child. I’m a stay at home parent of a young school aged child who is doing ok at home and has the company of her sibling. It’s not ideal but we are in a rubbish situation. Both my children struggle with their chests and I’d like the option of making an informed decision come September without being fined or risking loosing her school place. Why not allow parents to feel comfortable that it’s safe and then send their children back. While schools still can’t send reading books home, care for injuries without PPE and need the children to change their clothes every day and while they still can’t hug anyone outside of their household and while social distancing is in force in every other situation it doesn’t send the message that school is a safe place. As a parent I’d like to be able to weigh up the risks myself and make a decision that’s right for us. My daughter can catch up on her education.

Primary schools have been open to almost half of their pupils for a whole month now and I don't there there has been any evidence that they have had any effect on numbers, in fact the infection rate has been decreasing since 1st June.

I have been working in my school since 1st June, we have all just got on with it. It's madness to stop kids from going to school any longer. Get them all back in Sept, even if just for a couple of months, because winter is probably going to bring more chaos.

Honestly, unless your kids have fairly serious health problems, statistically they are far more likely to come to harm on the school run, than they are from getting Covid.

Yes we are seeing a decline in cases, a slow one but it's there. Look at the rolling average. Cases have been below 1000 for the past few days now.

I do think parents should be given the option of whether they want to send their children back though.

@Highperbolay

Honestly, unless your kids have fairly serious health problems, statistically they are far more likely to come to harm on the school run, than they are from getting Covid.

Again. What about the teachers with health problems? Do they not get an option?

Because Boris is saying that those people who are shielding can go back to work from August...

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

In ds's case, sweet fuck all.

What about the teaching staff???