Part-time school v local lockdowns

[frozendaisy]

Just want to first of all clarify that hopefully with basic social hygiene measures the best outcome is Covid-19 fizzles out (fingers crossed) but if it doesn't:

Would regular reduced attendance to school (smaller bubbles reduced chance of transmission) and online support whilst at home be less disruptive to the whole family or full-time school with possibility of bubble-lockdown until tested?

Hopefully neither needed. But if it was one or the other what would your preference be?

I can just about home-school one child at a time, so I think I would prefer the full-time fingers crossed.

My son is already in a small bubble and the school already operate bubble shut down until a negative test so I'd go for full time since it makes no difference.

I have no faith in our school to deliver home schooling given what has been offered so far so would rather back full time and take our risk on a local lockdown. Many teachers on here have explained that due to technology issue with both students and teachers home learning is simply not possible so blended learning was realistically never going to work.

I would rather part time in school and part time at home tbh

Agree with a PP that if part and part, but the school still has to shut, then it’s just as disruptive so seems pointless not to try for FT in the first place

I would prefer part time until a vaccine is found, maybe alternate mornings and afternoons, something like that. Then home learning for the other part of the day. I'm not keen on the thought of huge numbers in school at once.

I would prefer part time, and certainty, over full time but lots of gaps with zero notice. Both from my working point of view, and for routine for DC.

@TimeWastingButFun

I would prefer part time until a vaccine is found, maybe alternate mornings and afternoons, something like that. Then home learning for the other part of the day. I'm not keen on the thought of huge numbers in school at once.

This would make me more inclined to send mine in Sept. Wherea atm, I'm considering not at all....

I think this is going to be an area where individual circumstances are so different that there is no pleasing everyone.

The current aim for all in with the ability to switch quickly to remote learning seems sensible. Beyond that, what works for one family will be someone else's worst idea possible. I think our school has got the most engagement they could by having clear advance daily lessons with resources and videos sent at the start of the week, so people could work around their own needs.

Full time. DS does not work well at home, and I need to work and cannot work from home so part time schooling would not work for us. If school were closed for a couple of weeks due to a localised lockdown I could find emergency childcare but I have no one who would commit to it on a long term basis if school was only part time.

Part time so fewer lockdowns.
Also reorganising classes so siblings are in linked ones.

But masks too.
My dc get a cough with every cold. Several fevers a year. Id just be constantly SI till testing.
Parents need the choice to carry on with home schooling as

• fewer kids in school
• less covid being spread
• as above it could turn out very disruptive anyway. (The whole class will surely have to be off and wait for a teacher's result if teacher gets a fever/cough. ?) even if they dont do that for children.

Certainly for reception (we have 60 inteke) they could see if any parents want PT and have one class of 30 doing half week each so 15 in at a time.

Most people don’t have the luxury of part time schooling on an ongoing basis. It is a strong position of privilege to say part time/home schooling. It’s all well and good saying yup just crack on with home schooling but it will inevitably lead to many people having to give up their jobs. I think employers will be more sympathetic to a local lock down than someone wanting a job for 21/2 hours every day.

Certainly for reception (we have 60 inteke) they could see if any parents want PT and have one class of 30 doing half week each so 15 in at a time

We have been told full time teaching and all children to be in school. So the above is not an option. I think many of us thought it would be.

What is needed is consistency. Not some children having full time and others patchy home lessons. Not cherry picking pupils worthy education based on the employment status of their parents. Not affluent catchments getting more education than poorer catchments without the same access to technology.

So if local lockdowns or part time schooling are needed, there has to be a proper concentrated effort to ensure that everyone has access to it.

I'd rather part time attendance, especially if there were higher ratios during this time. One of my DC has had this over the last few weeks and I'm a fan. However I appreciate that this would be a total nightmare for a lot of parents.

DS1 is due to start reception in September, I'd rather p/t as well but appreciate I'm privileged to want that (1 form entry primary school in an affluent area, DC have access to technology, and the school have been giving the DC a full days work every day for home learning)

I think a sudden local lock down would be worse/more stressful for us.

@TimeWastingButFun

I would prefer part time until a vaccine is found, maybe alternate mornings and afternoons, something like that. Then home learning for the other part of the day. I'm not keen on the thought of huge numbers in school at once.

Agree with this but then my studious Year 9 DD has found home learning very easy and less stressful than going to school! Blended learning for her would be perfect. But if I had a child that hadn't engaged with home learning I would probably feel very different