@ohthegoats
If that was the case I wonder if people would still be so keen to get kids all back to school?!
Schools should have gone back first, before anything else opened - starting off small, and increasing if things stayed safe. Could have started that before summer half term, but it didnt fit idiot Johnson's narrative of 1st June normality. He's a dick, Wiliamson is weak, unions (particularly NAHT) didnt get their suggestions right. They need to talk loudly about evidence (if they had it) for small groups being safe. You could have easily started with volunteers, because apparently, there are at least 2 teachers desperate to risk their lives for education, then others would have been more convinced as it was proven (maybe) to be safe. They'd have needed to have been honest though, talked to the public about risk, told us about cases.. that way we might have all been back in June, parents would have been reassured, staff would have been reassured. But no, because weak leadership and outright dishonesty at almost every turn.
Whoever told me off for insulting someone - if I'd been told to stop panicking and patronised and insulted by someone to my face, I'd have responded in exactly the same way.
.....
"Schools should have gone back first"
Yup
fwiw, here's what happened in Germany:
Schools in Germany opened pt on 4 May,
on the same day as small non-essential shops like bike repair.
Education was clearly prioritised.
It was 2 weeks later before even most non-essential shops and gyms could open,
then outdoor restaurants, then indoor ones - all are still taking contact details and keeping SD today
Family and group meetings were also phased in gradually
There was a lot of consultation with education & public health experts, also teachers unions - no scapegoating -
then each school head had to get their detailled plans signed off by the local authority.
Schools had to reopen pt as classes are normally 20-24, which had to be halved despite the big classrooms.
All forms were rotated in before summer vcation started in late June
Schools already have plenty of sinks & loos, but there has been extra budget as needed, also for frequent deep cleans
- easier to do here, because school here is usually only 8am to 1 or 2pm anyway
Pupils and staff can optionally wear masks in class, but it's mandatory in corridors
No drama, probably because.....
We've had face coverings for adults and age 6+ kids since late April, so kids are used to it
still mandatory in shops, public transport, taxis etc for the forseeable future
Large gatherings banned until at least end October, likely longer
The same process is ongoing to reopen schools ft in late August, after the vacation, provided cases remain low:
consulation & cooperation, then detailled planning, official sign-off, then implementation with any extra resources required.
If any heads say they can't do this safely, even with extra resources, then I'd expect the same organised blend of pt and online as before - they aren't expected to do the impossible.
However, I do expect it to be mostly possible.
Childcare restarted on 2 June and the normal summer childcare is continuing
In my area as least, there will be normal childcare after the vacation