The government is trying to make you think schools will be socially distanced

[noblegiraffe]

The government are currently running a (well publicised) propaganda campaign to say that schools are safe. They are using social media influencers, journalists and friendly scientists (firmly ignoring any unfriendly ones like the Royal Society). Branwen Jefferys of the BBC tweeted “So how high is government anxiety about school return? A PR company acting on behalf of the Cabinet office is now emailing media offering experts to support the “messaging”. Strange way to approach news journalists ..”

And just about every news outlet running stories about schools seems to be rotating stock footage of half empty classrooms with teachers miles away from the kids. There have even been photos of kids getting temperature checks (not allowed). I was watching Sky news where a commentator was saying how awful it was that kids would be sent back to socially distanced schools. The PM gave a rambling speech to carefully spaced kids in a library. And in a visit to a classroom it’s clear that the kids were all shoved down one end in order to give some lovely spaced kids at the other end for the PM to pose in front of.
metro.co.uk/2020/08/27/boris-johnson-staged-school-visit-social-distancing-13188600/

Matt Hancock was on the news saying it was really important for teachers to stay 2m from the kids to avoid spreading the virus between all the bubbles they’ll be working in, despite knowing that this will be utterly and hopelessly impossible.

Why are the government lying? Why are they sending the ‘right’ experts to the press? Why are kids being spread out for staged photo shoots instead of honest pictures?

And why are the press largely going along with it?

Schools are going back, in a lot of cases to an estate that is unfit for purpose. Old buildings, no ventilation, large class sizes. Pupils will be crammed in facing a teacher who won’t be able to stand 2m from them. If it’s so safe, why aren’t they showing and acknowledging the reality?

YABU: what they are doing is fine and there are perfectly reasonable explanations for all the suggestions of socially distanced classrooms and schools in the media

YANBU: the lying liars are lying to us again

Why can’t I vote? It’d be ‘The lying liars are lying to us again‘.
Too much propaganda. It’s even making my kids question what’s going on. I’ve not heard anyone say they’re not returning to school so banging on about it being safe to do so All. The. Bloody. Time. Is very very suspicious.

Oh bloody hell have they done the bank holiday thing again?

Re your OP noble I am of the opinion that anyone who believes anything the government says is either just not paying enough attention or is so rich they don’t give a shit.

No one who has listened even halfway carefully to them over Covid - and for the previous 10 years in terms of education - could have any faith. They are slippery, unethical and completely ignorant about how schools work.

@Oldbagface

Ballard that up bit you bet the point

This is the funniest correction ever. Thank you @Oldbagface

They are slippery, unethical and completely ignorant about how schools work.

That's on a good day....

Noble is a Maths Teacher?! If so, you'll have no problem strengthening your position in your current school, or in finding a CV19 safe position in a different school; we all know qualified Maths Teachers are like Gold Dust - hard to find.

I haven't read back much since this thread moved (working) so don't know if it's still up for discussion or is it just another place to eviscerate the Govt and all who 'sail' in it.

If still open for discussion, over the past 15 years of DS's education in a wide variety of Schools (more than necessary due to his ASD, but that isn't relevant to CV19), I have noticed how vastly different each School is and how some of these Schools would be greatly challenged by providing a safe CV19 educational environment and some would find it reasonably easy.

I think the most practical way forward is for each and every school to determine how they can 'safely' open aand to state where they clearly can not.

In reality, very few people just blindly follow what they are told and are a bit ingenious, thoughtful, community-minded and capable than the OP and many other PPs here give most people credit for.

Rather than throwing your arms up, running around like headless chickens squawking about the 'shit govt', etc.; maybe put your efforts into making things happen - in spite of the shit govt, SLT, etc.
That's what most people do in most adverse situations.

Rather than throwing your arms up, running around like headless chickens squawking about the 'shit govt', etc.; maybe put your efforts into making things happen - in spite of the shit govt, SLT, etc.
That's what most people do in most adverse situations.

That's fucking patronising. What do you think schools have been doing? Get over yourself.

@HateIsNotGood are you going to provide the funding?

Oh @SaltyAndFresh my kids keep telling me I need to ditch android and get with iPhone.

This old bugger of a phone needs binning. Glad it gave you a laugh

Rather than throwing your arms up, running around like headless chickens squawking about the 'shit govt', etc.; maybe put your efforts into making things happen - in spite of the shit govt, SLT, etc

Oh stop it. If we’d had the luxury of running round like headless chickens, schools wouldn’t be opening at all. They will open (some already are) because of the efforts of teachers. Doesn’t mean the government aren’t duplicitous bastards.

That's what most people do in most adverse situations

Someone should tell the government. They’ve done more panic-deciding/ u turning/chucking guidance out at the last possible moment than any SLT I’ve ever worked for.

@ineedaholidaynow

I know I would prefer *@noblegiraffe* to be one of DC's teachers than some of the horrendous posters on here who claim they are teachers.

Agree.

Noble and piggy were amazing a few years back when my ds has issues with secondary involving knife crime (he was the victim)

Very scary asking teachers for advice when it's slagging off teaching staff but they were professional and helpful and have proper advice not just defending teachers/school.

I'd much rather have someone dedicated and honest who can think critically than an airhead one flouncing around pretending all is ok and Covid doesn't exist!

Thank you, sincerely .

@Rumbletumbleinmytummy

A question for the teachers on this post, what can we as parents do to help make your job easier in the return to school? If parents sent in PPE for you to wear? Face masks, visors, packs of disinfecting wipes? 5L bottles of hand sanitiser?

I'm sure many parents would want to help, but many parents dont really know what the situation is in the classroom for teachers. I certainly wouldnt know if it wasnt for Mumsnet.

Number 1 thing that parents can do: Do not send your child into school if they are unwell, even if you think it is just a cold. Symptoms of Covid19 are different in children so make sure you know what to look out for. Err on the side of caution if you are in doubt.

It isn't all about 'funding' though - rather than pitting yourself against everything - recognize that schools are very central to communities and that most communities are very keen to get their local schools open.

As I've said over and over, each school is different - never mind the buildings - but the age groups too.

I recognize the differences and currently I am very happy with the Guidance and Strategy/Plans given byf DS's FE College; and I'm also very aware that what how they Plan to open just wouldn't work in a Primary School environment.

And salty I'm not being patronizing nor do I need to get over myself. If you actually read what I post you'll see that I am fully aware that schools have been putting great efforts into fully opening.

@Kaktus

Matt Hancock also announced grandly that schools in Leicester could reopen after the local lockdown... the day they broke up for the summer holidays. Twat.

That's the day I found out about differing term dates.

Then laughed and just thought why did I expect any better?!

DD gets poorly a lot, reception wiped her out for weeks at a time with one bug or another. If I keep her home every time she has a cold (which I will by the way, religiously) will the attendance policies be as harsh? I had a lot of attendance calls etc last year even when they knew she was in hospital. I forsee this year being even worse attendance wise. Surely the overzealous attendance policies have to be relaxed a little this year?

@TheKeatingFive

Ultimately and honestly, I think any alternatives such as continued closure of schools or part time schooling would be so disruptive and difficult to coordinate that sometimes not perfect solutions are needed.

This is one of those times.

This sums it up perfectly.

If they don't get the infection control right (and the government has not supported this) then avoidable school closures are what we will get. Along with sick and dying vulnerable children and teachers, community spread and sickness coming home to families.

So I'd completely agree that this is not a perfect solution, but boy, we don't need this.

recognize that schools are very central to communities and that most communities are very keen to get their local schools open

I had no idea, thanks

what can we as parents do to help make your job easier in the return to school?

Don’t send your child in if they, or anyone in the household has symptoms. Get a test.

Impress upon your child the importance of following any covid sage rules - to the letter, without argument, every time.

If your child isn’t following these rules and you get a call from the school - please back us up.

Make sure your child knows we’re doing this stuff to keep them safe, not to piss them off.

Tell your child to talk to us if they’re finding school stressful- or if they’ve found lockdown stressful. We want to support them.

Tell them to give the teachers a break. We’re not enjoying this stuff. We all need to work together.

Tell them to wash their hands. Properly. Give them anti bac, but they need to wash their hands also.

Tell them there will probably be a lower tolerance in school for behaviour that makes “covid safety” more difficult. Pushing and shoving, yelling, fighting, winding each other up - that kind of thing.

I’m secondary- I’ll leave primary colleagues to answer for themselves! (They may already have done....)

We’ve had a letter today saying our children are expected to have at least 96% attendance (allowing for one day off per month for illness) and we should send them in for minor illnesses, as usual.
I won’t be sending them in with symptoms, but you can see why parents do with that sort of communication.

@Beebityboo you expressed on many threads that you may need to home educate.
Just incase you are not aware I have just been told that Oak academy are going to be free for 20/21.

Not sure it that's useful.

Can I also just point out to show you how shit education is in general.

Out of 6 parents I know in my county that are still waiting for finalised ehcp plans for September

• 4 got emails bang in 5pm today basically giving news they knew was against what was discussed.

I actually joked to one kn phone that Bk think there is a training course that directs them to set the email on a timer to do this!

@Kaktus

We’ve had a letter today saying our children are expected to have at least 96% attendance (allowing for one day off per month for illness) and we should send them in for minor illnesses, as usual. I won’t be sending them in with symptoms, but you can see why parents do with that sort of communication.

Ugh. It's a losing battle with policies like that.

Inside Science has a really clear explanation of Covid symptoms in children.

@HateIsNotGood teachers have been doing their utmost to make things work. But they aren't the ones in charge. The government's shit 'guidance' and lack of sincere effort to help are the problems here. And yes, the word 'squawking' is patronising. and is only ever used against women. Bad form.

If schools are meant to be so safe, why are they introducing rotas in Secondary Schools in lockdown areas. Surely it shouldn't make any difference.