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.

@Bercows

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.

The issue for schools is that, unless the Government clearly signals 'this is the final version of the guidance that will be in force for September', they know from experience that much can change.

If they let parents know their plans early, then parents have time to plan ... but their plans may be wrong if the guidance is updated. If they wait for the Government's final plans, then this leaves parents in limbo. Schools really can't win.

It's shit. I've had to prepare dds for the possibility of them not going back as planned as we come under greater Manchester and I don't see how they can safely open fully. I want her back in and she is keen to go back as misses school. I feel sorry for the schools who will bear the brunt of this.

Headteachers end of the letter from.my son's school said he'd be.in touch in August and there is a government briefing 11th August but I can't see details anywhere, it's not in the Press either. I work in a school setting and we had heard this date too but can't find out if anything will be announced!

Have checked DoE and gov.uk too, nothing.

I wonder if the announcement will come later today. Schools are awaiting the new guidance which they were told would be the 11th.

Surely if there are going to be major changes like masks or SD then this will be announced in the press or press conference rather than in a document that will only in the main be read by people in the education sector

They like to leave it as late as possible in the working day so that press coverage is late in the day and it can be over taken by morning news.

Or so that all head teachers have to work through the night answering parental e-mails 🤷🏻‍♀️

My bet is we won’t see anything until gone 4pm and it will be essentially no change.

Because the government are arseholes.

@pontypridd

How are they getting away with this?

They're not "getting away with" anything. The 11th was never formally announced; the rumour has been fanned by social media and threads like this one!

@Ineedaholidaynow, exactly what I thought!

@EndofmyWeightTether, not a rumour, this is from a letter my son's head sent home at the end if term, so someone has given schools that date, at least!

The date was mentioned in a governor's meeting in July, I have written it down in my notes

This was updated a few days ago on the 7th so it seems odd that they would update again today.

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

[quote lotusbell]@EndofmyWeightTether, not a rumour, this is from a letter my son's head sent home at the end if term, so someone has given schools that date, at least![/quote]
Read the letter again - a government briefing =/= updated guidance..!

It will probably be out about 9.30pm!

Wondered about this

This link is quite useful as it lists everything that the DfE has updated / released by date.

I keep checking that link @cantkeepawayforever. I wonder whether the 7th one was the update but I don't think it had anything major in it.

Probably send a new one out on midnight the day before schools go back.

I wonder whether they are going to see how Scottish schools fare first

@ineedaholidaynow

The date was mentioned in a governor's meeting in July, I have written it down in my notes

I have it in my notes from a staff meeting as well. I'm not sure where the 11th came from, but it's clear that quite a few schools / LAs were expecting guidance to be released today.

4.50 is the favourite time- just before journos leave the office for the day!

Waiting and watching! I don’t imagine much will change. Maybe masks for secondary? Or hopefully shields/masks for all teachers when working within 1m. Some money would be nice for schools to actually buy extra hand washing basins and potentially to put extra toilets on site, afford paper towels instead of relying on children to correctly use the rolling hand towel (which we all know they don’t) and I would love for school to be able to afford cleaners to keep on top of the toilets during the day. 8 toilets for 150 children in my school! I’m going to be spending my day running out of the classroom to clean the toilets at regular intervals along with numerous other teachers and LSAs.

Can you imagine the outcry if they try and slip in that masks will be mandatory!

I can’t imagine they’d do anything major without a press briefing.

But I suppose you never know

I can’t actually find August 11th as the date for any guidance being released, but I’m sure that’s what my HT told us!

The about-face in Scotland on exam results may be preoccupying them, however..

@EndofmyWeightTether, was just saying the date isn't a rumour? I'm none the wiser about what it involves, was pointing out it was a date given to headteachers or schools in general, not made up on on sm.