What changes do you think the updated school guidance will announce on 11th August?

[Lemons1571]

I think masks for secondary kids. Not sure if they’ll also go for masks in some primary years. Hopefully also optional ppe for school staff.

I agree - it's no coincidence the tone of the media coverage in the last few days. They're gearing up to ""England expects that every (teacher) will do (their) duty" by going in to battle school with no protection whatsoever.

@CallmeAngelina unless they bring in shielding for the obese, which I’ve seen in the press in the last couple of days. That’ll remove a fair few teachers / medical staff / key workers from the workforce, even if they do set a lower age limit. Where are the replacement hospital / care / school staff going to come from?

There’ll be no ppe, no social distancing, no Regular tests, nothing.

They’ve been running a propoganda campaign for the last few days to set the teachers and unions up as the big bad guys if they speak out against the guidance.

It’s so obvious.

And Boris today standing in an empty classroom to show how safe it will be full! With his arms outstretched he wasn’t showing 2m spacing, he was showing there would be 3 kids sitting within those 2m. His fingertip to fingertip Will be about the same as his height 1.7metres. He’s teaching out to three spaces! So 2metres probably teaches the 4th kids space too.

And that school looked spacious compared to dc’s

Ok in the US. My 3 year old has been in preschool for the last two months with masked teachers and coped just fine.

Our rules for reopening are:
(We are masked outdoors- it is mandatory here anyway).
Hand washing at entry.
Temperature checks daily and parents self certifying.
Eating at desks in the classroom- no canteen.

No mixing of stationery.
Outdoor activities to be encouraged.
Everyone above the age of 8 will wear a mask indoors.
Children will be given mask free time daily.

K-2 will go back full time. 3-8 so up to middle school will go back 3 days in, 2 off and high school will be remote till the end of October. Then high school also starts part time and hopefully by January elementary and primary will be on full time.

And yes teachers will be fully masked. In special ed classes teachers may choose to wear clear visors or clear plastic masks.

Oh if any child falls ill they will get a test done and if negative can come back to school. If not, the entire class bubble (roughly 20 kids at primary, 14 at pre K) will have to self isolate for 2 weeks. And kids will remain in their individual class bubbles.

I know kids in Singapore and other parts of South East Asia have been back to school with masks for a while now. Only in the U.K. is there quite so much hand wringing about mask wearing!

@ChaBishkoot

Oh if any child falls ill they will get a test done and if negative can come back to school. If not, the entire class bubble (roughly 20 kids at primary, 14 at pre K) will have to self isolate for 2 weeks. And kids will remain in their individual class bubbles.

I know kids in Singapore and other parts of South East Asia have been back to school with masks for a while now. Only in the U.K. is there quite so much hand wringing about mask wearing!

Wow-those plans seem so sensible!

Better than primary classes of 32, bubbles of 96, no masks, no temperature checks and banning schools from asking parents to see a negative test before they return!

Are those the normal class sizes?

For primary schools in my state (public schools) yes. Actually our closest private school has a class size of 15-18 and our closest public/state school has a class size of 20.

I wear a mask which ties at the back of the head, I had one of the ones that loop over ears and I found it uncomfortable but the one with ties I forget I've got it on. Maybe children need to try different styles to see what works or maybe vizors would be easier (I've never worn one so don't know how they feel.)

Do we have a rough idea of when the new guidance might be released today?

Praying they allow use of PPE in the UK. 🙏

I'm praying they u turn on fines but I don't expect it to happen .

Well I woke up expecting to see school guidance in the headlines, but it’s not there! Just the guidance from 7th August. Haven’t heard from our primary school either - I begged them for the times DS is starting and finishing but just got “it’s still being worked on” back.

So now I’m having to reply tentative to work meeting requests as I’ve no idea what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s shit.

I am pretty convinced there won't be anything today.

There have already been 2 'unannounced' rounds of revision on the original document during the summer holiday period (on 27th July and 7th August), and i don't know what would prompt a further one today.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools

Was the 11th 'formally announced by the DfE in writing', or was the date one of those 'there will be final guidance a few weeks before schools go back' deductions?

I would anticipate some further dribs and drabs of changes over the coming weeks in the light of Scottish experience and depending on whether local lockdowns / restrictions bring infection rates under greater control or not.

They need to announce what is going to happen if a case in your bubble prevents the parents working. This is not a school's problem, it has to come from Government, even if it's just a temporary year thing that you can't be dismissed if you have to self isolate / await test with children.

And a national programme for blended learning, whilst we all hope it won't be needed to think it will not be needed anywhere, ever is deluded.

Basically the potential/likely issues around continued disruption need to be addressed by the Government directly.

I expect not a word will be said though.

How are they getting away with this?

I would hope they would stop the threat of fines for parents of children who have been shielding up until August.

I would hope they would allow staggered/part time re introduction to school for children with complex needs who may struggle going in full time.

Is there an announcement today then? If so what role please?

I haven't heard anything about an announcement today. Where did people hear this?

And a national programme for blended learning, whilst we all hope it won't be needed to think it will not be needed anywhere, ever is deluded.

Schools have to get their act together with remote education by the end of September at the latest;

"Contingency plans for outbreaks."
"For individuals or groups of self-isolating pupils, remote education plans should be in place.These should meet the same expectations as those for any pupils who cannot yet attend school at all due to coronavirus (COVID-19)."

"In the event of a local outbreak, the PHE health protection team or local authority may advise a school or number of schools to close temporarily to help control transmission. Schools will also need a contingency plan for this eventuality.This may involve a return to remaining open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers, and providing remote education for all other pupils."

"Remote education support"
"Where a class, group or small number of pupils need to self-isolate, or there is a local lockdown requiring pupils to remain at home, we expect schools to have the capacity to offer immediate remote education. Schools are expected to consider how to continue to improve the quality of their existing offer and have a strong contingency plan in place for remote education provision by the end of September."

More details in Section Five of cantkeepawayforever's link...

@cantkeepawayforever when they published the initial guidance it was the published date given for this:

'there will be final guidance a few weeks before schools go back'

@frozendaisy

They need to announce what is going to happen if a case in your bubble prevents the parents working. This is not a school's problem, it has to come from Government, even if it's just a temporary year thing that you can't be dismissed if you have to self isolate / await test with children

Good point. The gov want people to engage with testing and isolating, but then suck up poverty due to job/salary loss at their own personal cost. Which is the number one way to reduce engagement. Vicious circle. What good is being altruistic and ‘all in this together’ if you and your children are out on the street? Where’s the ‘all in this together’ then? £95 SSP yes that’ll pay the rent and bills

And pay for laptops and broadband for all your children's online learning!!

Where a class, group or small number of pupils need to self-isolate, or there is a local lockdown requiring pupils to remain at home, we expect schools to have the capacity to offer immediate remote education. Schools are expected to consider how to continue to improve the quality of their existing offer and have a strong contingency plan in place for remote education provision by the end of September."

Laughable. We have quite a large proportion of rural schools without internet access. This government are unreal.

Wasn't there supposed to be some new guidance or an announcement today? Has there been anything?

Nothing yet as far as I know. We'll be lucky to have a plan from the schools themselves a week before they go back. I don't work (but hoping to do so from September/October) and feel sorry for parents trying to arrange work and childcare.

DD's headteacher was going to wait until after the guidance and then get back to me about her attendance in September as myself and my youngest DD are vulnerable to Covid. Definitely seemed to be expecting something today.