If You Could Choose Any Education Option for Sept

[IDSNeighbour]

I'm getting so confused by what parents actually want to happen with schools right now (I'm not a parent, I'm a teacher). I want to know what home opinions my classes are going to be coming in from in Sept - whether they're likely to be nervous or confident, whether they will want to SD or not, etc.

I know parents aren't one hive mind but the 'loudest voice' seems to keep changing its mind. Or I hear different ones, idk.

I'm sure there used to be a board for polls and surveys but, if I wasn't imagining, I can't find it.

So, if you're up for an unscientific straw poll to help me gauge general feeling, can you post A, B, C, D or E in the thread (you can explain if you like, I don't mind!)
A - I want full time schooling as close to the old normal as is allowed
B - I want full time schooling but with safety measures such as social distancing and masks for all who can and are old enough.
C - I want blended learning (half in the classroom and half online)
D - I want to keep my child at home all the time, home school them and not be penalised (ie, I want my place back when I think it's safe)
E - I think schools should remain closed for most children for now.

Right now D but that's based on the huge rise in cases in my town. Otherwise C I do not think it's ok to subject teachers to work with 30 children and maintain SD whereas reduce it by half allows more space for teachers.

DD has finished school now but I would have said C until October half term then review, then hopefully B until Christmas then review, then hopefully A from January onwards.

God it's all a minefield isnt it? I answered d above. I'd adore A,my kids need it but it's just the chance that your kid will be the unlucky one. And maybe only a tiny number of children will get it, but then they got it because the choice was made. I dont know. Hugs to everyone, hoping this time next year we're all discussing what a huge deal was made of nothing

[quote sunseekin]@askmehowiknow it’s at the lower end of risk because the proposals haven’t happened yet.

Teachers never stopped working and are just asking for - quite rightly - covid secure workplaces.

I want a safer classroom for them and my children.

Nobody knows the effect of moving from asymptomatic carriers to autumn classrooms. Exponential growth is quick.

At best there is reasonable doubt that the plans aren’t safe. A slower plan is therefore essential.

I imagine there will be a lot of last minute early retirements / resignations in September and a lot of people off with stress. Or maybe even a cough or a temperature. And I wouldn’t blame anyone.

What’s on the table is unreasonable and very, very unfair.

If you’re happy with the risk then that’s fine but I believe that you should think about the most vulnerable when you vote. That’s the kind of caring world I want my children to grow up in; who knows when us or one of our descendants might need some compassion.

Doing the right thing tends to get the right results eventually.

Numbers aren’t that low. A cluster of over 300 doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the track and trace system either.

OP I found the survey very interesting but if you know very little about your sample (e.g. who uses mumsnet and votes in polls etc... what are their political allegiances...maybe you should have paired it with a question re favourite newspaper etc) then it’s very hard to infer much from it.

I would love A. Love love A. But it’s pandemic so it’s not a sustainable option. I’ll have a D and hope the rest of the country can have a B, C or a D.[/quote]
Absolutely agree. Should think about must vulnerable when vote. Which is why I voted A. I'm thinking about the most vulnerable kids in our society. C wouldn't work well for them. Would it

A please, could live with B if necessary

A please.

I am officially on the shielded list but I fully intend to go back and so are my kids, who are asthmatic.

I believe the risk of CV is minuscule and I am also vehemently against mandatory masks in school.

@sunseekin thank you

Definitely C with the caveat that my children are secondary school age so are more at risk of catching and spreading the virus and are also more able to self-study and learn online (plus fewer childcare issues than primary). One week on, one week off so all classes are half the size would be a good way of getting all students back without cramming them in, while planning some teaching online means there is less disruption if schools have to be closed completely at any point as things like making sure everyone has a laptop etc will already be organised and in place.
Tbh it's the disruption from staff and pupils having to isolate for every cough and cold I'm particularly worried about. If some online is already part of the plan, children stuck at home waiting for covid tests to come back won't drop so far behind.

what are their political allegiances...maybe you should have paired it with a question re favourite newspaper etc Yes people will write the Daily Mail and fall into your evil trap

A. Some measures in place as feasible, but not masks or social distancing beyond what is practical. Bubbles for each year group. Daughter is going in to Y11 and I really hope she will take her GCSEs as normal.

@askmehowiknow

We all have jobs. None are risk free. Teaching is on the lower end of covid risk

And your evidence for this is????

Why do teachers not deserve a safe place of work?

As you can see from the many teachers who have replied on this thread alone, we all want to teach the children. We want to be able to do it as safe and sustainably as possible.

All you posters saying A , only A, nothing but A...... I despair!

@Prestel

Definitely C with the caveat that my children are secondary school age so are more at risk of catching and spreading the virus and are also more able to self-study and learn online (plus fewer childcare issues than primary). One week on, one week off so all classes are half the size would be a good way of getting all students back without cramming them in, while planning some teaching online means there is less disruption if schools have to be closed completely at any point as things like making sure everyone has a laptop etc will already be organised and in place. Tbh it's the disruption from staff and pupils having to isolate for every cough and cold I'm particularly worried about. If some online is already part of the plan, children stuck at home waiting for covid tests to come back won't drop so far behind.

So whilst the teacher is teaching half the classroom who's teaching and supporting the children who are at home that week? Will the same teacher teach both bubbles anyway? or have we managed to double the amount of teachers now so half are supporting the classroom and half supporting those at home?

A

@Uhoh2020 that question re option C was answered earlier in the thread.

[quote twinkletoesimnot]@askmehowiknow

We all have jobs. None are risk free. Teaching is on the lower end of covid risk

And your evidence for this is????

Why do teachers not deserve a safe place of work?

As you can see from the many teachers who have replied on this thread alone, we all want to teach the children. We want to be able to do it as safe and sustainably as possible.

All you posters saying A , only A, nothing but A...... I despair![/quote]
Twinkle what would your choice be?

@askmehowiknow of course vulnerable children should continue to get socially distanced school. It’s a shame schools aren’t getting a more workable solution with sensible guidelines including contacting homes to find out needs - there will be more vulnerable children now not less. Instead communication has been shut off with threats of fines.

Vulnerable children can sometimes end up with grandparents - imagine how they feel perhaps as the last surviving relative able to provide a capable home. I want the classrooms as safe as possible for them.

We need safer schools for all. I think it would be naive to think the governments proposals are about protecting vulnerable children. Teachers wont be able to move from the front for lack of space!

[quote twinkletoesimnot]@askmehowiknow

We all have jobs. None are risk free. Teaching is on the lower end of covid risk

And your evidence for this is????

Why do teachers not deserve a safe place of work?

As you can see from the many teachers who have replied on this thread alone, we all want to teach the children. We want to be able to do it as safe and sustainably as possible.

All you posters saying A , only A, nothing but A...... I despair![/quote]
There his a lot of published data on this now.

Plus there has been no issues with teachers dropping like flies teaching key worker children. Or nurseries having to close.

Yes the class numbers were smaller. However as there has been no social distancing or face masks I'm not sure this is entirely relevant

There his a lot of published data on this now

Has there? Pretty much everything I’ve seen said there is no evidence children don’t transmit the virus.

[quote sunseekin]@askmehowiknow of course vulnerable children should continue to get socially distanced school. It’s a shame schools aren’t getting a more workable solution with sensible guidelines including contacting homes to find out needs - there will be more vulnerable children now not less. Instead communication has been shut off with threats of fines.

Vulnerable children can sometimes end up with grandparents - imagine how they feel perhaps as the last surviving relative able to provide a capable home. I want the classrooms as safe as possible for them.

We need safer schools for all. I think it would be naive to think the governments proposals are about protecting vulnerable children. Teachers wont be able to move from the front for lack of space![/quote]
If grandparents wish to see their grandchildren that is entirely down to them. What adult would 'blame' a child for a grandparent catching a virus. Despicable

B, with the schools properly funded and supported to make the changes needed.

@MarshaBradyo - I already said upthread - C

@askmehowiknow

Published data absolutely confirming and stating that teachers are low risk???

Smaller classes makes social distancing easier - I worked all through with keyworker children. Less than 10, outside for 90% of the time. It is not at all comparable to what is expected in September.

I am worried about the disruption.
I have a dad in another primary

2 dc at a secondary who will be in different year group bubbles

An older dc who works in hospitality

And then me...,,. How many times will we have to isolate I wonder?

I expect to be sending kids from my class for tests lots of times. Coughs, temps etc are usually rife in winter anyway. Then with chicken pox, sick bugs etc the kids will be in and out all over the place. Trying to 'catch them up' will be a nightmare. And on top of that somehow we will have to simultaneously 'teach' isolating children.

I love my job, I want to be at work. I would love option A to be a viable option. The problem is, it just isn't.

Pouring vitriol at teachers will not change that.

Obviously that should be DD in another primary

A

[quote monkeytennis97]@Uhoh2020 that question re option C was answered earlier in the thread.[/quote]
Must have missed that sorry what was the conclusion?

a lot of people off with stress.
Bingo! Yes, play the 'stress' card -strangely you rarely hear of it outside teaching.
As a teacher I am delighted that my school is going A.
There will be one way systems (which are actually better anyway and we should always have had them to reduce congestion.) Obviously we will be pushing regular hand washing as is a good thing to do anyway!
But masks will be banned for pupils and teachers and if parents ask they will be reminded that there is no science in their favour.
Only ONE child (in a population of 10 million) with no (known) priori co morbidity has died in the UK.