Parents are the blockage at schools re-opening, not teaching unions

[noblegiraffe]

The government has spent months demonising teaching unions and blaming them for blocking schools re-opening, including in June when it was actually the government’s own guidelines that prevented the further re-opening of primary schools.

This has left them in a bit of a pickle because schools are re-opening in September, the unions aren’t blocking it, there are no plans for teacher strikes, but the latest survey data from the ONS says that only 90% of parents are fairly or very likely to send their kids back. If the data is similar to back in June, better off parents are more likely to send their kids back, and more disadvantaged families are less likely.

So the government are now running a campaign aimed at parents, putting out articles across all newspapers. The Chief Medical Officers have dutifully said that schools are safe. And the responses are ‘see, schools need to reopen, our kids are being thrown under the bus’. The message is being read the wrong way. It’s being read as being targeted at teachers and unions who it is supposed are stopping schools opening, and not at parents who don’t want to send their kids back.

And this is the government’s fault. Because they have spent months creating a fake war, they have dropped the ball on a real issue - creating safer schools that parents are happy to send their kids back to.

Yes schools are aiming for increased handwashing, not too sure how this will work in practice though as they haven't got funds for extra sinks etc.
We've been told no sanitizer to be sent in from home.

@PleasantVille

Well if the advice it to wash your hands & that's it in schools then I damn well hope they're making time to wash the schools too!

You wash your hands so that you don't risk transferring the virus to you face and inhaling it, totally different thing to cleaning surfaces.

From what I've read schools are increasing hand washing and all parents can educate their children on the importance of it and make sure they know to carry sanitizer around as well.

An average supermarket has many many more people through it every day than a school does, they aren't closing for cleaning nor is there any evidence that transmission is happening from surfaces alone.

How many people pass through the average supermarket per day? I have no idea. The school I work in has 1900 students and approx 200 staff I think. It's not huge. Most are there.all day. Genuinely don't know how it compares.

"after being told if I deregistered my DC then the LA have no responsibility to issue him a EHCP in future"

If he has an EHCP then annual reviews should still take place regardless of how he is educated. The LA do not have duty to provide anything if you choose to home ed but they do have a duty to review and maintain the plan if the child's needs show this- because at any point you could change your mind. The only issue would be that there wouldn't be a named school whilst you home ed and they can of course try to end the plan but you would have the usual route of appeal.

Can you say how @TestTrackEpcot ? It's just that my union has done everything it can to help my school with practical advice and your opinion seems a little off key and dated to the vast majority of posters here.

I am a teacher and member of union and they are blocking the schools from opening

How? Have you been balloted for strike action? No teacher I know has.

Also, what exactly is stopping the opening? As far as I can see no one is blocking it, although parents are pointing out concerns.

@Spikeyball that's handy to know, thank you.

The unions have reviewed our school plans and have agreed with them

@TestTrackEpcot As far as I know, all schools ARE returning, so I fail to see how the unions are blocking it?

@TestTrackEpcot

I completely disagree. I am a teacher and member of union and they are blocking the schools from opening, not the government!

Total lie and misinformation. Unless you are not in the UK.

Before the schools were told to close, we had 16 kids out of a class of 32 attending. None had covid but parents didn't feel safe sending children in.
Teachers have had NO say in any of the school closures and it's wrong for anyone to be implying that any of this is down to teachers!

@Barbie222

Also, what exactly is stopping the opening? As far as I can see no one is blocking it, although parents are pointing out concerns.

Also, what exactly is stopping the opening? As far as I can see no one is blocking it, although parents are pointing out concerns.

I should have used the word ‘problem’ not blockage tbh.

No point in schools being open if the kids aren’t in them.

@TestTrackEpcot any more details? Asking for a profession friend

@Shitfuckoh the LA cannot cease the EHCP without your agreement so don't believe a word the LA says at any point. Always double check anything coming from the LA with IPSEA/SOSSEN. Should you choose to home ed then section I would have the school removed the EHCP would stand and better still I'd be asking for EOTAS (education other than at school) so the LA funded a programme of study and educational activities/ resources and SALT and OT provision on top.

Published on Aug 23, 2020

England's chief medical officer has warned that failing to return children to school in September would pose a greater risk to them than catching Covid-19.

Whitty and the chief medical officers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland released a rare joint statement advising on children returning to schools.

Keir Starmer tells Boris Johnson: your chaos puts schools return at risk.

Reopening schools 'risks rise in cases but missing lessons worse for children'.

In March parents did keep their dc home, it won’t be as high this time, but there was also the issue with classes not having a teacher. Which hopefully won’t be as high this time, I wonder if the same poll has been done for teachers.

What’s your point, Res? We know the government is campaigning and using its mouthpieces to attempt to reassure that current safety measures are adequate. The campaign has been widely publicised.

No point in schools being open if the kids aren’t in them.

Classes will be (nearly) full, I don’t doubt it. This messaging will get more in again.

Teachers don’t get to stay at home, Marsha so it would be a pointless poll?

Polling does show a significant proportion of teachers are worried about going back, in particular those over 50.

Every day I receive emails from my union saying that it’s not safe for schools to reopen and to complete this petition.

Which union? Not the NASUWT and not the NEU, who cover most teachers.

'Only' 90%.
Since all the scaremongering that has been going on, 90% sounds like good progress.
There will always be a paranoid minority who resist logic /how does this compare with the anti/vac number? Probably the same batshit over/anxious demographic.
Let the 90% (will be more each day, most of the 10% may noisily grumble but actually comply) happily return and just fine the others and or or tell them to de/register. 'Noble' Giraffe' and his/her echo/chamber which is so heavily represented on this thread are always whining about lack of money/money/money and overcrowding in schools should be delighted to see a drop in numbers, before their eagerly anticipated and constantly heralded 'October lockdown'.

Noble I’ve read a few posts from pp on teachers signing off sick - however I think it would be a tiny amount and actually more likely to be posted about on here than actually done.

Plus in March many did stay home with symptoms, but we couldn’t test. We had a shortage and classes closed early.