School re-opening under threat

[jomartin281271]

Headline in the London Evening Standard today that this new surge could threaten re-opening of schools. I'm not surprised. The government know that it's not safe to open schools under their current guidance. Cramming children, teachers and admin staff into those tiny spaces could cause a catastrophe. I feel sorry for teachers. Most of them are really committed to the job and their lives are being put at risk. Scary times.
www.standard.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-second-wave-schools-september-a4511516.html

@Kitcat122

Boxer how is your children's school safe?? Do you actually know our have you just had the upbeat positive letter. My school has lovely positive letters to parents. All staff told be positive with parents. But in reality it is far from safe. I find it astonishing so many parents are so focused on there jobs that they don't want to hear from the people who actually work in a school. Also I have children so I totally understand the want of getting our children back to some sort of normality but not at the sacrifice of safety. My children go to different schools to me so I could very possibly have the same working dilemma.

Many think the risk to children is minimal so want the free childcare whilst they work.

The consequences to staff and families of everyone seems to have either been forgotten or deemed to be irrelevant to the wants of others it would appear. What about the parents, teachers or children that are newly out of shielding and are now at the mercy of all those who haven’t rules?

It doesn't matter initially if a cough or fever isn't Covid-19, from what I can make out school will send you home until you have isolated for 10/14 days or you get a negative test result which could be more difficult the more remote you are. Plus it might be Covid-19 then all sorts of chaos kick in.

If kids wear masks in school but not at home, you mix with family members that have an exposured job, or you visit a petrol station this can come from anywhere, which is why to have any sort of schooling next school year everyone has to play their part.

But not everyone will, so it doesn't matter what you do as a family you could still end up with kids home for weeks on end.

We have to live with Covid-19 but living with it right now means disruption with school and jobs and holidays and Christmas and plans. This is just how it is going to be whether we agreed with it or not.

And it's pants.

But thank you to all education staff trying to create some sort of solution in these difficult times whilst the goalposts are running around the field.

The consequences to staff and families of everyone seems to have either been forgotten or deemed to be irrelevant to the wants of others it would appear.

I think it is this that i find difficult, as a teacher. If I were a nurse, or doctor, would it be acceptable to deny the risk to me from my work? If someone even said 'I know it is risky for you, and we're doing our very best to make it as safe as we can within the constraints but we know that isn't VERY safe. PLEASE could you return to work in schools because it's really hard to know what to do otherwise and it's best for the children?' I'd be OK. It's the constant belittiling and pretence that the risk don't exist that I find really hard.

@MarshaBradyo

I suppose it would be a lot easier to work around with employers if you could be certain every other week etc they would be in

This works when you can wfh but (ironically) not for teachers. How many I wonder would not continue due to cc issues?

I also wonder how many will quit after all the negative comments surrounding teachers and the fact that people are willing to risk them as their wants come first.

But thank you to all education staff trying to create some sort of solution in these difficult times whilst the goalposts are running around the field.

Thank you!! That has made my day, and I suspect may end up being quoted in a staff meeting or two....

Yes. Thank you frozendaisy
It means a lot to have the support of parents like you.

I also wonder how many will quit after all the negative comments surrounding teachers

Negative comments I doubt many. Who cares? Loads of us work in jobs that others comment negatively on. I wouldn’t leave a secure job over that.

Perceived risk? Well if you’re in the low risk category I doubt it. If you feel it’s high risk up to you.

One thing for sure is that closing schools impacts women more. We do more cc and will go backwards in terms of what we have achieved in the last couple of decades.

On the positive side if you can get the hang of masks correctly, wash hands because the soap breaks down bits of the virus that are vital (excuse the science language here!) and contribute to reducing community transmission then things might not be so bad.

Whilst many clever folk work out if there is an effective treatment or better an effective vaccine (come on biichemists), hopefully we just need to give this a bit more time.

It's the constant belittiling and pretence that the risk don't exist that I find really hard.

Well said @cantkeepawayforever

I am actually really happy with one of our schools. Sent messages to say thank you and it was appreciated. They are doing everything they can to open for all students.

I feel more put out on here as you see the silly ‘free childcare’ posts. I don’t even want or need childcare I do want equal education for dc though.

"I also wonder how many will quit after all the negative comments surrounding teachers and the fact that people are willing to risk them as their wants come first.".
As a teacher I would have to quit a job i LOVE with part time learning because unfortunately childcare is a very real issue. It isnt a luxury to go out to work you know? It is a necessity for many to keep a roof over their kids heads. Can you provide a solution for working parents so that they can look after their children during part time learning and earn a living? School is not childcare you are right.... Though it kind of is isnt it? Along with wrap around care, schools have allowed many many women to return to work and have their own careers.We need to balance these issues.

Jrob exactly

But thank you to all education staff trying to create some sort of solution in these difficult times whilst the goalposts are running around the field.

Agreed. I'd much rather the adults thrash out the safest solutions during the summer holidays than the classic Johnson government strategy of diving in and adjusting things later (reacting rather than planning). I want my kids to have a stable return to school and I completely understand why teachers want things sorted before September rather than in September and disrupt the kids.

We are on our own, the government and government support for schools is zero.
Primary can manage it, secondarys cannot.
Not without the government digging deep and investing in these kids futures.
The wealthy will be ok, they will be in private schools, or have a parent at home who is academically up to the job. But for the majority, we are on our own.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss
In addition to my last point, why do you think key worker provision was provided throughout lockdown? Because many jobs are completely essential, and this provision allowed parents to keep working!

[quote labyrinthloafer]@uniglowooljumper I don't think, really, at this early stage in understanding the virus, than one parent can ask another to take that risk.

We will have to learn to live with it - but we don't yet have a clue what we are learning to live with.

You are rushing too fast.

My children's education doesn't have to stop, it just has to be different, as distancing is the top priority currently.

It isn't my child's fault the government has failed to get a grip of community transmission. But I'm not minded to just accept the risk of this when we don't know what impact it has on asymptomatic people and we really have no clue.[/quote]
Then don't. Keep yours at home. No one is forcing you. Similarly, I am not critiquing what you do and your choices and risk assessment with statements like 'You are not rushing enough'. I do me and mine and you do you and yours. I grew up in a developing nation and as a result don't see this virus as on par with Ebola the way a lot of people here do so am willing to put my kids back in school in mid-August (we live in Scotland) because to me and my h and them, their education suffered from lockdown and it's a priority to us.

You don't feel the same. Good for you. So keep yours off and homeschool them.

We are not on our own, we have amazing teachers, heads and union reps fighting with the government on our and in particular our children's behalf.

We should be supporting them, listening carefully to their very informed and experienced opinions. Assuming that what they say has not been written on the back of a beer mat one Friday afternoon.

We should be supporting them, listening carefully to their very informed and experienced opinions.

Now you are overdoing it..... we might think you are being ironic if you keep suggesting we are competent!

It isnt a luxury to go out to work you know? It is a necessity for many to keep a roof over their kids heads.

Of course it isn't a luxury. Many teachers have DC of school age who they want to be in school. But it is unfair to ask teachers to take unreasonable risks so people can go back to work, that just isn't right. There are ways of making schools safer but the government refuses to listen or spend any money to help make them safer.

Instead of people having a go at teachers, and My God on MN it is constant and relentless, maybe have a word with your Tory MPs about financing schools properly, paying for extra cleaning and PPE, hiring community halls for overflow, hiring extra staff and paying for additional childcare if there have to be closures.

But it's so much easier to have a go at teachers.

We are not on our own, we have amazing teachers, heads and union reps fighting with the government on our and in particular our children's behalf.

Why do you say on the children’s behalf? The best solution for them would be to aim for more spaces and ft education. Or PPE and ft Education. Whichever way equal ft in-school education will have the least negative impact.

Not closing schools to many or part time learning.

it's a priority to us.

As I have asked others, what level of collateral damage - in terms of teacher illness and death, and community transmission and death - are you willing to tolerate for this thing that is 'a priority to you'?

I KNOW - as a parent - that it is better for children's education to be in school.

I KNOW - as a teacher - that the arrangements in schools are not safe for teachers, especially those who are older or vulnerable (and also for some more vulnerable children), nor to the older and more vulnerable in the community through transmission via school.

How much danger to me, my colleagues and the general public am I willing to tolerate for my child - and others- to get the education that is 'their priority'?

And I know there’s no point in looking backwards but that £1bn rankles.

That could have been cleaning or PPE. I would love it if teachers felt safer with that in place.

maybe have a word with your Tory MPs about financing schools properly, paying for extra cleaning and PPE, hiring community halls for overflow, hiring extra staff and paying for additional childcare if there have to be closures.

Never voted conservative in my life and have a labour MP - probably in one if the safest labour constituencies in the country. Nothing to do with it.

Everyone is taking some level of risk now. I live with a key worker - should they have not gone to work due to risks? I’m fine in secondaries with all wearing masks. But there’s no evidence teaching staff were in the highest risk occupations if you look at the ONS data for peak deaths, 3 weeks after lockdown in the U.K. started.

I also wonder how many will quit after all the negative comments surrounding teachers and the fact that people are willing to risk them as their wants come first

I would quit if I could afford it. I am certainly weighing up my options as I have tutored for years and have a small side business that perhaps I could risk would work for me full time. I am aware of several covid being the last straw resignations and these are all experienced, older staff basically taking early retirement. I know of a couple of others who have partners who can afford to support them so have ducked out for the forseeable - shortage subject teachers so should be able to find work when things improve. It is not good. My friend works in a school where one of their departments will be staffed by NQTs and an RQT come September - how on earth they will manage is beyond me, particularly as they are going to have to deal with the Year 11 thing. They will have no subject specific guidance on getting people through exams, let alone actual support to manage exam changes etc. Not even in a MAT to get support from a sister-school.

What the naysayers need to be aware of is the impact on schools and your children's educations. It really is important that we are supported to be as safe as we can be. Losing good quality staff really shouldn't be an option.

Teachers resigning in July have to work their notice until January so they can't leave anyway.