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.

Not A
Either d/c

The way people are going there could be a peak of younger people but i dont think it should be forcing parents into putting kids in an unsafe environment.
Why should your kid have to sit next to the one
Whose parents were abroad
At theme parks
Parents were hugging everyone in the pub
Never hand gel the kids hands after play equipment

If people are allowed to choose take the risks others should be allowed to choose not to. So including ppe

B please. Would like A but can't see why high school children shouldn't wear masks when you have to wear one in Asda.
Worst scenario is one week in and then isolating repeated throughout the year..

@ineedaholidaynow

I wonder if more of the As are parents of Primary School children or KS3

I voted A and have two going into year 10.

For people who voted A do you think schools will be staying open under the conditions of A particularly in areas of high rates of the virus?

A

D although if it were an option to do C but only meet up for outside stuff like forest school or pe that would be my preferred option.

I reckon most people in charge have close to zero tolerance for any cases so A absolutely won't happen. What I want is far from what I'll get.

A

A or b I guess, I mean I want them back full time I am pretty relaxed on any safety measures deemed necessary to make that happen including mask wearing And social distancing but not measures which meant that they couldn’t have in person education (so not social distancing if as in June that means most children cannot return in practice).

My primary school child was not given remote education in any meaningful sense and that is pretty fundamental to my reasoning here (if you did offer a genuine remote offer last term you may find the parents at your school think differently I do tend to assume those arguing for “continued” remote learning got a better educational offer last term than we did)

As of 00:11

A - 24
A/B - 3
B - 5
B/C - 9
C - 14
C/D - 2
D - 7
D/E - 1
E - 1

ALittleOdd - Don't be sensible, dear!

@Qasd that is why the Government should have put something in place for remote learning as a contingency plan. I would love option A to be possible but I just don’t think it will last in many places so voted C, but something should be in place to ensure a level playing field across the country.

@IDSNeighbour sometimes I forget I'm not still running a department and I feel a genuine grip of panic in my chest when I read the education news. If I had a hat it would be off to you and to everyone else still in teaching.

My primary school child was not given remote education in any meaningful sense and that is pretty fundamental to my reasoning here (if you did offer a genuine remote offer last term you may find the parents at your school think differently I do tend to assume those arguing for “continued” remote learning got a better educational offer last term than we did

That's an interesting point. We did a full, live timetable via MS Teams. Including all the clubs and assemblies and tutor periods etc. And adapted exams (open book, skills based assessments as we couldn't prevent Googling!) I don't think many of our children have fallen significantly behind where they would have been. However, our parents also pay eye watering fees so I think the majority are likely to be in the A/B camp regardless, I'm not sure. Although we also don't fine for absence and have to continue to provide online learning (albeit not live) for any children who do not attend due to Covid worries.

Hmmm, there really is an (additional) unfair advantage in being in the private system right now isn't there

C with option of D

In Scotland so ours are back A.

My ideal would have been C for a couple of months and then a move to A if all ok

Remote learning isn't possible for some children. If ds isn't in school any teaching is done entirely by me without the space and all the practical resources that are available at his school.

Part time would be very different to the full time learning in lockdown, if they’re with a teacher In school at least half the time, motivation would be up and much of the actual teaching would be done in school. Progress would be tracked etc. It wouldn’t be a breeze but it’d be much better than it was if done right. It’s be like half teaching half intense homework.

And better than schools closing altogether for 14 days in and off all winter because full time meant increased infection.

For those voting A (if you don't mind sharing) I'd be really interested to know why you didn't opt for B?

Is it because you actively don't want extra measures (believe they're ineffective, cause more harm, aren't necessary etc) or because you don't think they're possible?

Or is there other reasoning I haven't spotted? I'm really interested now!

B and or C.

I prefer all staff and pupils especially secondary and above in visors. Aside from giving some protection it just makes people remember Weare on pandemic situation.

I'd like clear guidance on sick dc, and some slack cut. It seems if we err on the side of caution and keep them off too much, we will have the tyranny truancy officer at the door.

People who want to keep dc at home should be able too as long as no issues.
Schools must get on line provision sorted in case of more trouble.

Op our primary, couldn't even issue us a work sheet every week.
Suddenly with 3 weeks before holiday we were swamped with work. No other support. Secondary just issued homework with power points. Barely no actual teacher contact at all.
Where I work however, we all managed to get on line within a day, teaching a full time table.
So yes, I feel the schools who couldn't, wouldn't, refused to adapt have now got this backed into a corner situation.

C

C for now, then progress to B, then A if cases remain low.

In the circumstances when schools reopened here in Western Australia I was happy with A (there were some modifications such as no parents on school grounds, extra cleaning, no excursions or assemblies, no shared food).

Having read on here about the set up of schools in the UK, and knowing the daily case numbers I would probably lean towards option C, but wish there was the flexibility and additional funds (mostly additional funds) for option B.

C with the option of D. I am still concerned about the long term affects of Covid. I also live in Northampton, where I don’t personally feel levels are very well controlled currently. I was feeling more positive until Greencore happened. If you’d asked me before that I would have said option B.

I secretly wish it could be option A though.

A or C. Definitely not B. Kids in school but masked and socially distant? After 5 months of this?
No thanks.