What can I do about a school not following their own risk assessment?

[Anniemabel]

First day back at school today, “bubbles” or so called bubbles were breached all over the shop - TAs moving between bubbles and kids in separate bubbles eating lunch together in the tiny dinner hall.

Despite saying desks would be spaced as much as possible my child is on a square desk of 4 (two tables of two pushed together) and is face to face rather than side by side with two of the others.

What’s the point of a risk assessment if it gets ignored and who do I complain to? (not the head because he’s impossible).

Can you just talk to the class teacher, rather than the headteacher, as the classroom isn't as it is stated in the risk assessment.

School staff are allowed to cross bubbles if it is needed to deliver the full curriculum. However they are supposed to social distanced as much as possible if this is the case, though obviously in a school this is often not possible.

I teach every class in my infant school, so I cross into every year group bubble (90 children) and into every class within the bubbles (3x30) I will try to SD but with 4-7yo this is very hard. I can choose to wear a mask or visor in class is need be as I am classed as clinically vulnerable, though obviously the children won't be.

Not all of our classrooms are large enough to have all tables forward facing, and all children sitting side by side. Where possible we are doing so.

The government guidelines has a lot of 'where possible' disclaimers within it!

@HipTightOnions

Please report/complain. Parents tend to have more influence than staff.

Yes I agree, send a letter, you can write it as a query initially. Explain how you’d explained to your child and now he’s confused - you make a very good point, that would be so unsettling for them.

Schools fall under the remit of the Health and Safety Executive. Fill in the online form and a local inspector will visit the school to ensure compliance with the risk assessment

www.hse.gov.uk/contact/concerns.htm

@ClimbDad thanks, I didn’t know about this. Do schools come under this as a ‘workplace’ i.e. only in relation to their staff, or also in relation to their pupils. The measures I’m concerned with have regard to the children mainly (and I guess the teachers and wider community by transmission).

Most of us on here who work in education tried to warn you, but the mumsnet hive decided we were workshy bastards trying to create problems instead of solutions so we can stay in the house on full pay doing fuck all.

"Most of us on here who work in education tried to warn you, but the mumsnet hive decided we were workshy bastards trying to create problems instead of solutions so we can stay in the house on full pay doing fuck all."

^^

[quote Anniemabel]@ClimbDad thanks, I didn’t know about this. Do schools come under this as a ‘workplace’ i.e. only in relation to their staff, or also in relation to their pupils. The measures I’m concerned with have regard to the children mainly (and I guess the teachers and wider community by transmission).[/quote]
@Anniemabel parents can file a complaint with HSE. Don’t have to be staff. HSE is already investigating multiple schools.

@Pumpkinsarepurple

Most of us on here who work in education tried to warn you, but the mumsnet hive decided we were workshy bastards trying to create problems instead of solutions so we can stay in the house on full pay doing fuck all.

@Pumpkinsarepurple I’m not a teacher but I could see what was coming. Shame on everyone on MN who lobbied for schools to be opened as normal and who abused teachers. Things are about to get very ugly because once again we’ve failed to follow the science.

This virus is airborne, it does affect children and they can transmit it to each other, school staff, family and the wider community. The latest research is show cardiac damage even in mild paediatric Covid19 cases. But at least folk on here will be happy they’ve got their childcare sorted. Well done.

@Pumpkinsarepurple completely agree, sorry but schools are awful at the minute! No social distancing in younger years and very little higher up. I desperately would love to be able to keep mine home and educate them they've asked me to and that's no mean feat to teenagers but I need to work and frankly I'm dreading it. It's depressing to actually see it in practice how different schools are!

You have been naive to believe what you were told.

Ours are putting the hand gel on the kids hands. Which i feel the teacher would be getting too close.
As it's airborne i think putting them all in a canteenis silly.

Surely packed lunch in classroom school lunch in canteen. Voila some SD too.
I agree it feels frustrating when the gov/or school could do more.
Ours is bubbling before/after by key stage so thats my kids exposed to pretty much all 400 or so kids.

Pumpkinsarepurple
Most of us on here who work in education tried to warn you, but the mumsnet hive decided we were workshy bastards trying to create problems instead of solutions so we can stay in the house on full pay doing fuck all.

Well said Pumpkins. I can’t believe it wasn’t obvious to everyone that the government were talking a load of old tosh. It was never going to happen. I also can’t believe how quickly the outcry has started. Anyone noticed that they’re still SD in the House of Commons? Wonder why.

I am very happy with what is in place in my school with the students, they have done the best they can. My issue is with the parents at the moment.

Something went wrong yesterday (first day) school sent out a new email, detailing what people should be doing, seem to work well today.

I have a feeling my school is resigned to the fact that they are fucked and just trying to do the best they can with what they have.

Is your school a part of an acadamey? That might be another place if you are not comfortable talking to the school

@guilttripjourno

You have been naive to believe what you were told.

It is not 'naive' to believe that governments and school leadership will tell the truth.

I realise this has been said already but it’s worth emphasising that staff are allowed to move between bubbles.

Bubbles do nothing. Social distancing in schools is impossible. The government and media have been lying about schools all along.

I'd look at the HSE route, that sounds like what you need really.

Is it actually possible for schools to social distant

(I am not the UK so there is no point telling about the schools where I am but I cannot imagine them actually physical distancing etc. with that many kids)

@guilttripjourno it not naive to believe what is written in a letter sent from the headteacher of a small primary school to its parents. Nor is it naive to believe that the school risk assessment produced by the school will be followed by the school that produced it.

The issue isn't whether the situation you describe meets the Government guidance: it does. Staff are allowed to cross bubbles if needed. No social distancing is expected in primary schools at all within a bubble and a bubble can be set at whatever size you wish. The only distancing would be between bubbles and that would only be 2m required at most so sharing a dining hall meets that requirement as long as they leave one seat between two bubbles.

The issue here is that they have said one thing and are doing another. The only effective course of action is to ask why that's the case. It may be that their internal risk assessment has changed to reflect what they are now doing practically. If so, that's fine and in line with the guidance but it would be good practice to share this with parents given that it's changed from the initial risk assessment.

E-mail the headteacher / business manager / health and safety lead and ask what the situation is.

@Keepdistance

Ours are putting the hand gel on the kids hands. Which i feel the teacher would be getting too close. As it's airborne i think putting them all in a canteenis silly.

Surely packed lunch in classroom school lunch in canteen. Voila some SD too.
I agree it feels frustrating when the gov/or school could do more.
Ours is bubbling before/after by key stage so thats my kids exposed to pretty much all 400 or so kids.

If you'd ever seen the floor of a school canteen after infants have been in, you'd know why this wouldn't be a good solution.

You might be slightly reducing chance of covid, but risking the school getting a rat infestation due to all the crusts squashed into year 1's carpet!

Our school has all year groups in the hall for lunch, but at different times and with 5 mins between each for cleaning. Covid risk probably slightly higher than if they ate in their classrooms, but it's the best practical solution for our school. OP, I'd say your first step would be to ask if you can see the updated risk assessment.

@ChanceEncounter

I'd look at the HSE route, that sounds like what you need really.

From what op has said, they're not breaking any of the guidelines. She should not go to HSE unless she actually knows that they are. There are many more important cases for HSE to deal with.

I find it concerning that the OP doesn’t feel able to contact any of the adults at the school

The staff have to try and social distance not the kids it wouid be impossible!! Our schools have told us this so we are aware.

Head or school governors.

Schools will do their best to limit risk, but there's lack of space, staff (even though ours have taken more in) and in the first few days assessment to see if things can be done better.