Sorry depressing thread. Are the Government deliberately drip feeding us on schools? So sick of it.

[purplerain2020]

I think I read somewhere that there is a schools review on 11th August. A while ago we were promised summers schools, not that I believed but they never happened. They promised laptops for those that needed it, only a few get it.

We've been promised that schools will fully open in September. I believe they will open and they won't back down on this. But, I think they are fully aware that within a few weeks, schools will be closing left right and centre and working Mums are going to be scrabbling around looking for someone to look after their children while they work and praying for the goodwill of their employers. The Government will have done what they promised, got everyone back in September, after all, they didn't say how long it would be for did they? Surely they must be getting advise by the Scientists of what is likely to happen with the procedures or lack of them for schools in September?

I keep hearing Mumsnet poster say but how can we work? How can we pay our bills? How will we keep a roof over our heads if the schools don't open full time? I am beginning to realise that it may well be the case that indeed, we won't be able to work and we won't be able to pay our bills and there is nothing we can do about it. It will be down to us to step up and educate our children when schools are shut because the government has been underfunding our schools for years. I work part-time from home, 25 hours a week, even that is looking rocky at the moment. DH's job is ok but I feel like he is hanging on by the skin of his teeth. So sick of our lives being turned upside down.

I'm in my early 40s, I was a child in the 80's and my family was hit hard by the recession. I've got a sick feeling in my stomach that the future is going to repeat itself.

Sorry name change fail!

And the government need to prioritise getting laptops to children who do t have them. This should have been done for the first wave and must be in place for the Winter. I think it might be best for schools to work out how many are needed for their pupils and then get the funds to buy them and loan them out to pupils as needed.

What would you like them to do ? We have to try and open and as others have said scotland go back soon as do some european countries so i am sure they will watch them closely but no doubt we will have local lockdowns during winter bit cant see what options they have

@CallmeAngelina

But I'm getting a little tired of being told to resign if I have issues with the way schools have been treated. Why should I? Why can I not continue to do the job I trained for and have been doing very successfully for over 30 years, AND STILL EXPECT TO BE SAFE? Or at least as safe as workers in other professions.

Absolutely @CallmeAngelina.

There is a shortage of teachers - plenty of schools have problems with recruitment and retention which most schools manage to cover up.

And there are now threads on MN of office workers complaining they don’t want to go back to the office because they don’t like the commute anyone or the staff restaurant isn’t open.

One rule for some and something very different for others.

@CallmeAngelina

But I'm getting a little tired of being told to resign if I have issues with the way schools have been treated. Why should I? Why can I not continue to do the job I trained for and have been doing very successfully for over 30 years, AND STILL EXPECT TO BE SAFE? Or at least as safe as workers in other professions.

Well said.

How to get schools open...

OPTION 1
A) You need to get daily infections right down - government hasn’t done it
B) Then, simultaneously, you need an almost infallible track and trace system - government hasn’t done it

OPTION 2
A) Miracle/widely available vaccine

@emily how are gcse pupils ok at home they are ones sitting exams next year after already missing 4 months , they haven't covered the content yet and will be expected to sit exams with not a lot of change
Some kids have had great onljne provision others haven't ,im now worried about my year11 , i think if all was back to normal sept he could catch up but as its likely we will have days off due to poss symptoms and have to wait for all clear and possible closures etc due to pupils or teachers being off ,I think it will be a big task for him. But the thing is there is no easy way to manage this , the kids ideally need to go back but we also need to keep them and teaching staff and extended families etc safe ,im glad I am not the ones making all these decisions

@emilydickenson our school has handed out laptops before the summer

@mosquitofeast no summers schools here in south west area where i am and i dont know anyone who has mentioned having one near them either

@Lifeafter50 is just happy to be a goady fucker martyr to the cause. Like most of the ADs

There’s a fair bit of evidence that young children, ie primary age, are significantly less contagious than older children. Secondary school kids should go back to school with masks. Other countries have managed it perfectly fine.

Long term, track and trace needs to be perfected and community daily infection brought down to double figures. These two tasks should have been what the summer was for. The government has failed badly on this. Woefully.

When (if) those two can be achieved then the masks can come off. Otherwise you basically have a choice - secondary school with masks (which is still a risk of worsening infections and deaths in the community - not to mention the poor teachers).

Or no school.

Where are you @mosquitofeast that summer schools are happening?

Notfeelinggreattoday I meant GCSE and A level students being in school one week on and one week off to enable class sizes to be halved reducing infection risk. So, in week 1, half the year would be in, in classes half the size enabling greater spacing in the classroom. The other half of the year would be at home having the same lesson live streamed to them. The next week they’d swap over.

The advantages are:

Classes of half the size - contacts reduced therefore lower risk

Greater spacing possible - therefore lower risk

Use of public transport halved - therefore lower risk to pupils using this and lower risk to public generally

50% chance that symptoms develop in the “at home” week meaning that pupils who do develop symptoms just remain at home.

Schools set up for on-line provision from the first day of term therefore children who are shielding, quarantining or have a positive test have their on-line education working from day one.

Reduced risk of school shutting.

@EmilyDickinson this makes so much sense, I couldn't agree more.

Notfeelinggreattoday your school sounds great. My DC’s school has also been brilliant, but I don’t think every child has been as fortunate

@Notonthestairs

Where are you *@mosquitofeast* that summer schools are happening?

Plenty around here, in London, and most of my family live in Yorkshire, and plenty there too

Where in Yorkshire? I'm not aware of any. Yorkshire covers a vast area.

@emilydickenson yes laptops & internet access needs addressing in some schools , also looks like we need to move to an area where all these summer sxhools are , as i didn't think schools were open just yet

@emilydickenson oh yes one week on off sounds fine as could be given work /revision for week at home

Week on week off works fine for NT year 9 upwards students as a long term option.

But there then needs consideration for students on ehcp who cannot be home alone or who need support to access education and are disadvantaged only getting it every other week.

On top as laptops and WiFi for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

I still think utilising libraries even for the bubbles wfh would be a start. Or even offices that have space.

So pupils still have online blended learning but have a space and equipment to access this.

We have a local cafe attached to a church.

I've suggested looking at a way of some of our very disadvantaged pupils (in my community) using the space and also getting their FSM provided by the cafe (or either from sandwich shop or cafe that does hot food down the road)

There's so much more than just a one size fits all.

There's gaff that are vulnerable, pupils, family members.

And some children will be provided a laptop and data and be able to stay home and learn. But they are living in a 2 bed flat as a family of 5 with toddlers running around and it's the space and quiet they need to study properly.

Schools and education have been such a low priority for the government and that's the fundamental point of the issue.

[quote Notfeelinggreattoday]@mosquitofeast no summers schools here in south west area where i am and i dont know anyone who has mentioned having one near them either [/quote]
There aren't any near me either. We have several summer holiday clubs running nearby, sport art etc, but no summer schools.

Well, I taught in summer school on Tuesday and I'm back in on Monday and Friday. It's only for those going into year 11 and 13 though and we still couldn't meet demand due to the SD rules.

@Beawillalwaysbetopdog

Interestingly there is a bit in the new guidance for death of staff in childcare settings that says if the HSE find that covid was the reason of death and was caused from school transmission, then the school can be held liable.

Difficult to prove though isn't it? Even for an antisocial git like me who goes absolutely nowhere with people except school, they could still argue that it was because I wasn't disinfecting my (online delivered) shopping, or I'd touched a gate/stile whilst walking in the middle of the countryside.

Proof would be based on without “reasonable doubt” though wouldn’t it? If there was an outbreak with children you teach and they didn’t have pictures of you dancing on tables at the local nightclub you’re family would have a pretty good case.

@Appuskidu exactly. If this doesn’t change by September my whole perception of this country and how I thought we looked out for each other will be destroyed. Although it was pretty much destroyed in March when we forgot to protect the vulnerable before letting coronavirus run through society.

@crazychemist I think the government has pretty effectively closed off the communication between home and school at the moment with all the talk of fines.

People may now be more likely to get rotating temperatures and coughs, to avoid school, than they are to talk to schools and risk fine/deregistering procedures starting.

I can’t see how fines etc are enforceable in the current circumstances (unless it’s people with existing concerns or taking a day here and there).

I do plan to talk to the school nearer the time but haven’t spoken to the school yet. I was very open before the most recent announcements, I hope that can continue, I’m not confident it can though and quite frankly I don’t want anymore hassle than this pandemic is already causing.