Is anyone not sending their secondary school child back initially?

[lastkisstoo]

I've decided to keep my 15 year old home, probably until the October hols to see what happens.

We are in Scotland. What just happened in the pubs in Aberdeen is exactly what I see happening in schools. Mostly young adults, enclosed space, no social distancing.

My child has asthma, and while not on the list for sheltering I still feel is vulnerable enough that I don't want to see him being used as a guinea pig while the government assess just how big the uptick in cases will be on schools re-opening.

Every teacher drives to work in my school. A few TAs who live near eachother car share.

Teachers aren’t addressing any issue anywhere - because that’s not what they do. It’s authority heads and at the lowest head teachers who address issues like transport. Within my own authority school transport is in the hands of bus companies and heads within the authority - literally nowhere near anyone you might call a teacher

Passmethecrisps, by 'teachers' I meant staff in terms of the head, and deputy heads who have all sometimes taught in my children's (large) school, so I do call them teachers, but tes they are obviously not just 'teachers'. I probably could have articulated exactly what I meant better.

I would expect the head and deputy heads to be addressing this,along with the local council, but there has been no communication from anyone regarding safely using the school busses and if there will be extra busses. The school busses are usually full, including the one my children would normally travel on, and unless extra busses will be provided, social distancing would be impossible. There is also the issue of them travelling daily (possibly without social distancing) with many others who are not in their 'form bubble' - although we also know very little about how the form bubble thing will work at the moment, especially as many children have siblings in other years. So will it be effective? Who knows.

Sorry - I do understand and I wasn’t intending to be snippy.

My point was that the decisions about transport are not being made by anyone who works in a school. You might have expect school staff to be involved but they aren’t. Just like when schools close due to snow. These are transport decisions. It’s very frustrating for everyone

Agreed, it is frustrating. It's the not knowing what plans will be in place come September, to keep children, and drivers too, safe on the busses. I don't particularly want my children on a bus anyway. Safe access to school should be one of the priorities which should have been communicated to parents by now (I feel). Given the local authority's track record here, in the most basic things to do with school travel, don't have a great deal of confidence that any extra measures will be put in place at all, but we'll see.

Well here In Scotland they are:
Social distancing for teachers from pupils.
Teachers/pupils can wear a mask if they like and wont be stopped from doing so.
Clean as you go will be in place - I think that's children sanitising equipment/desks before others use.
Staggered breaks
Staggered lunch
Cashless catering
Year groups stay together.

I have my son starting high school and my dd going into third year. I feel they both will go and as will my youngest who is in primary. I will play it by ear and see how they go and if I feel that there is a danger they will be withdrawn.
I am also a primary teacher. I do feel very anxious about it all but cant justify keeping my children off and me going back!

In primary there children will be in their classes and be in a designated area in the playground. They will stay with their class with minimum movement. Drop offs and pick ups are all organised and parents are not to go into the playground. They will be going in anywhere from 8.45-9.00. They have a designated entrance and exit.
No resources should be shared. Children will be discouraged from brining in toys. Pencils etc will be kept in a zipped bag and stored in their tray.

They are also allowed to come in with their gym kit on on the days they have it rather than change at school. They will eat lunch outside in their designated area or in their class.
No assemblies or large gatherings of children.
Teachers need to socially distance from children and other staff.

Oh and school lunches will be pack lunches and children who get it free it will be just a grab bag with soup and a sandwich.

Oh and washing hands or gelling every time they have a break etc.

That's the plans for Scotland!

{At least my LEA that is]

@neveradullmoment99

In primary there children will be in their classes and be in a designated area in the playground. They will stay with their class with minimum movement. Drop offs and pick ups are all organised and parents are not to go into the playground. They will be going in anywhere from 8.45-9.00. They have a designated entrance and exit. No resources should be shared. Children will be discouraged from brining in toys. Pencils etc will be kept in a zipped bag and stored in their tray.

This is not a primary thread. Primary works much better than secondary.

I have children in secondary too. Yes, it doesnt work as well. Mine are to go straight to their first class rather than register class. Double periods rather than single. They are putting on extra buses. Trying to keep year groups together too.

They are doing similarly to primary. Clean as you go distancing between staff. Think there's special rules for seniors.

they can so wear masks as can staff.

What is described by neveradull is not that dissimilar to what will be happening in most secondaries.

No social distancing required between pupils or between Pupils and teachers. No masks unless desired. Masks suggested if contact is one to one for 15 minutes or more in close proximity mm

Staggered breaks and lunched to support encouragement to socially distance without the issue of trying to enforce it with the whole cohort

@Passmethecrisps

What is described by neveradull is not that dissimilar to what will be happening in most secondaries.

No social distancing required between pupils or between Pupils and teachers. No masks unless desired. Masks suggested if contact is one to one for 15 minutes or more in close proximity mm

Staggered breaks and lunched to support encouragement to socially distance without the issue of trying to enforce it with the whole cohort

exactly!

Forgot - clean as you go. Hand washing and sanitiser available

oh and they are having keep.left through corridors or something like that. No congregating. They are using methods to avoid that.

I think it sounds quite organised except for the lack of distancing which I worry about. I also hope it all is maintained!

Neveradulllmoment99 it sounds like schools there are pretty sussed out on how they plan to keep everyone safe. My children are secondary school aged, and we have only been given very sketchy info on how the school day will be organised. There are very few shops here that stock the uniform too. The uniform has many items which cannot be bought from supermarkets, (veryschool specific with the school logo on). These shops are not allowing children to try on items in the changing rooms which is ok if you know what next size up your child/children need,but for new year 7s it will be a nightmare, as there is no way of knowing what size you would need without trying it on first. I'm not sure how lots of parents returning items of uniform that don't fit will work...I'm guessing that won't be an option either as these are only small shops, and several hundred items being returned for different sizes will be a logistical nightmare for these shops. They also stock uniform for a few other schools too, so it will be even more insane. My children's school has stated pupils will be expected to wear full uniform. ...So we'll see how that plans out. I'm concerned regarding blazers though, as I cannot get two blazers cleaned and dried daily (Ithink they are dry clean only anyway!) Usually Ijust sponge blazers and stick them on a radiator in the week if need be, but surely their school clothes should be fully washed/cleaned daily in September? Ironically we have been given this uniform info but little on how they will actually be kept safe throughout the day. I'm hoping they will have it sussed out, but it's the lack of info that is frustrating, especially when we have been told loud and clear that pupils will be expected to attend.

@user1490954378
We have only received this info this week. Mine start back on Wednesday so still time for you.
They still are asking pupils to wear uniform but its not compulsory here in Scotland.
In.primary they are slightly more relaxed and appreciate things may need washed more.

Typos and autocorrect errors sorry...very tired too.