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Original poster

If You Could Choose Any Education Option for Sept

999 replies

IDSNeighbour · 14/08/2020 22:54

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.

OP posts:
Looneytune253 · 15/08/2020 09:36

A maybe B I have a dd who has suffered with her mental health in the pandemic and she is heading into year 11 and needs the support of her teachers and peers.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 15/08/2020 09:38

E - it seems the safest option for staff, vulnerable children and family members.

Children may not suffer as badly as adults butt some still get a nasty bout but it’s the spread from them to others. No SD or other measures when they are needed everywhere else can only mean cases will rise ad quickly.

Hummmmming · 15/08/2020 09:45

C

Thepalebluedot · 15/08/2020 09:49

B for primary with class bubbles
C for secondary with D for those that want it

duffeldaisy · 15/08/2020 09:52

For secondary then C (with social distancing and masks), or going by school sizes, perhaps a version of C with just 1 week in 3 at school, the other two at home.

Not asking for work to do from teachers. It would be vital, though, that the government got round to distributing the laptops it said it would for children who need it.

But also a vote for D for any parent who needed it.

I know some of the A answerers will think that’s not enough, but I think it’s the only sustainable way of keeping school going. If we just go straight back it’ll be rammed with children and teachers again, it’ll put them and their families and community at risk and there will be illness, deaths and shutdowns.

I’d much prefer something less but safer from the start that means less chaos and risk for the longer term.

lorisparkle · 15/08/2020 09:54

B for primary, C for secondary, D as an option for families. However whilst I think C is a good option at all ages - the challenge for working parents and for families with children at different schools would be huge.

PiataMaiNei · 15/08/2020 09:54

I'd rather planned part time: two cohorts in each class, one in Monday and Tuesday, deep clean on Wednesday, second cohort in Thursday and Friday. Each child then has twice the space: most school building sizes make B impossible.

They did this at my DC primary at the end of last term. It's not ideal and would fuck over lots of working parents, but my thinking is it would make school closures due to outbreaks less likely, and impromptu school closures with no notice are worse than something that some people might be able to plan for.

For the sake of fairness I probably should say that even before this, I would've been at least somewhat interested in the idea of my children being in school for half the time in a half sized class.

Wait4nothing · 15/08/2020 09:55

Oh I put D for 6th form and collage when I meant fully remote learning

CloudsCanLookLikeSheep · 15/08/2020 10:00

A. My kids need an education and I'm not a teacher

PiataMaiNei · 15/08/2020 10:03

Also it seems a no brainer to me to allow D, while we're still dealing with this situation. It's all very well saying people have the right to homeschool so this isn't necessary, but of course wanting to do it temporarily during a pandemic is a totally different kettle of fish to making a longer term commitment. The reality is that some people live in areas where school place provision is really patchwork and complex.

CKBJ · 15/08/2020 10:03

@Marmite27 ...”I voted A because I have a reception starter, in and out would immensely confuse and disappoint her. She’s nearly 5 and desperate to be at big school.“

Let’s hope then that schools in your area are not opened and closed throughout the next term (Possibly longer) at very short notice with no pattern, you’ll have a very disappointed and confused 5year on your hands.

duffeldaisy · 15/08/2020 10:04

What would be fascinating to know on top of the A B C D E is:

  1. Are you answering for primary or secondary?
  2. What has been your local area of risk? Lockeddown hotspot/Threatened with Lockdown/average/low
  3. Are you working full-time/under pressure to get back, so need schools back for that?

I do wonder how many A answerers are in low risk areas, or have work pressures or are answering about their small local primary.

For us with Secondary age children, in a fairly high level area, close to a hotspot, (and also being very fortunate to be able to work from home), A sounds utter fantasy (much as I’d love it to be possible again)

MarshaBradyo · 15/08/2020 10:06

1. Are you answering for primary or secondary?
2. What has been your local area of risk? Lockeddown hotspot/Threatened with Lockdown/average/low
3. Are you working full-time/under pressure to get back, so need schools back for that?

  1. Both
  2. Very low
  3. Not the main reason, wfh pt. more about receiving education not for cc
clopper · 15/08/2020 10:09

A

latticechaos · 15/08/2020 10:10

@PiataMaiNei

Also it seems a no brainer to me to allow D, while we're still dealing with this situation. It's all very well saying people have the right to homeschool so this isn't necessary, but of course wanting to do it temporarily during a pandemic is a totally different kettle of fish to making a longer term commitment. The reality is that some people live in areas where school place provision is really patchwork and complex.
It isn't in the national/local interest for people to leave the mainstream education sector either for short term reasons, as it just creates potential disruption/pressure down the line as those children re-enter the system.
SengaStrawberry · 15/08/2020 10:12

*1. Are you answering for primary or secondary?

  1. What has been your local area of risk? Lockeddown hotspot/Threatened with Lockdown/average/low
  2. Are you working full-time/under pressure to get back, so need schools back for that?*
  1. Secondary
  2. V low - Scotland and there were 2 reported cases in my local authority of 177000 people last week
  3. No - my youngest is only 11 and while I wouldn’t be happy leaving him 5 days a week, I am not working as I was made redundant and my new role when it starts is wfh.
CKBJ · 15/08/2020 10:15
  1. Are you answering for primary or secondary?
  2. What has been your local area of risk? Lockeddown hotspot/Threatened with Lockdown/average/low
  3. Are you working full-time/under pressure to get back, so need schools back for that?
  1. Both
  2. Very low
  3. Work ft

B for primary
C for secondary

SengaStrawberry · 15/08/2020 10:16

I also think C should be called what it is which is just part time school with extra homework. Before our kids went back full time our school told us there wouldn’t be teacher support on our kids non school days as they’d be teaching the other kids - which is clearly understandable as it’s a nightmare for teachers anyway and they can’t split themselves in two. But it does mean “blended learning” wouldn’t be happening.

MarshaBradyo · 15/08/2020 10:16

Oh and I said A

But I’d like option of PPE for teachers and funding for cleaning

duffeldaisy · 15/08/2020 10:16

I hadn’t thought about how being in a low risk area might affect people’s judgement of this. Having been in the receiving end of a lot of “just deregister”, I felt that those people were being thoughtless/nasty. But, trying to see the other side, I guess there are places which have had very few cases, so people might not know others who’ve had it, or people who’ve died or had life-changing injuries from it. So it feels more of an inconvenience than a threat, and all this has been a v different experience.

Perhaps (although it might be a pain for people with children over boundaries), school reopening could be decided more locally, with a D for anyone concerned, but cautious Cs in areas like ours, Bs (or even As) elsewhere, and temporary Es for areas of lockdown?

But D must be kept, because of individual circumstances.

Enoughnowstop · 15/08/2020 10:18

C in the first instance with a shift to B if things go well. Secondary.

NeurotrashWarrior · 15/08/2020 10:18

A is impossible due to government guidance and any teachers or school settings breaking the guidance are risking lives.

SengaStrawberry · 15/08/2020 10:20

I think D should only be allowed in the case of shielding/vulnerable parents and children. I don’t see why privileged families with SAHPs who are not at any particular risk should get to keep their so called “good” school place and not lose it when other families could make use of it just because they fancy spending a year at home colouring in and reading Biff Chip and Kipper.

Sanblasamor · 15/08/2020 10:20

A
But I'm expecting B or C.

Rowenberryjelly · 15/08/2020 10:25

A - primary school, with the option of online for those who choose not to come back (shielding).
Secondary schools, soft B with face masks in corridors etc but can take off when sat at desks and social distancing where possible.