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Original poster

If only schools had planned for blended/part time learning

183 replies

pontypridd · 17/09/2020 23:39

I watched the discussions here, before September, and was never convinced that going back as normal - full schools, classes and timetables etc was going to work.

It seemed obvious what was likely to happen ... but so many others didn't see it that way. Those arguing for blended/part time school - so that bubbles could be smaller and better controlled said that school would be more likely to last until Christmas etc if done in that way.

What do people think now?

Will the current school plan work? Is there a possibility of changing it to something else (blended learning is just one option) if the current plan fails?

I'm dreading going back to homeschooling as before. If only more thought had been put into this.

OP posts:
Worriedmum999 · 17/09/2020 23:41

Blame the Us For Them group. Or rather ‘Us for Ourselves because we are sick of homeschooling’. They shouted the loudest and got what they wanted. Full time school with no mitigations. I hope they are pleased with themselves.

StatisticalSense · 17/09/2020 23:44

The reality is full time in person is the best option, followed by full time remote learning. Only where neither of these options are possible does it make sense to consider part time learning. The often touted idea that pupils could learn in person for some of the week and get anything more than standard levels of homework for the rest of the week is nonsense as teachers do not have the time to be teaching full time and also be setting and marking work for completion at home.

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/09/2020 23:47

'Us for Ourselves because we are sick of homeschooling’ otherwise known as 'two key workers who have worked the whole time'. In some households.

middleager · 17/09/2020 23:47

I think I might cry with rage and frustration that my healthy year 10 is home after just one week and my other year 10 is soon to follow due to more cases.

It can only be blended learning here in a high risk area.

Trouble is, by the time the Govt admits this, half the teachers and kids will be too ill.

It's a mess and even more so if you're in the likes of Birmingham or Manchester with many, many schools impacted.

Mippi · 17/09/2020 23:48

Lots of schools did plan for part time/blended learning but government wouldn't allow it.

Original poster
pontypridd · 17/09/2020 23:48

Are you talking about year groups having to isolate for 14 days now @StatisticalSense?

Who will set and mark work for them when they are at home now?

OP posts:
TheGreatWave · 17/09/2020 23:49

My DC, especially ds need to be in school and I will make no apologies for that.

StatisticalSense · 17/09/2020 23:49

@middleager
It can't be blended learning in any area. You can have full time remote learning or you can have part time learning with many subjects being dropped entirely but the possibility of blended learning is a fantasy.

Treesofwood · 17/09/2020 23:49

Rubbish. You can't work full time and educate 4 children at the same time.

AnneLovesGilbert · 17/09/2020 23:52

@Worriedmum999

Blame the Us For Them group. Or rather ‘Us for Ourselves because we are sick of homeschooling’. They shouted the loudest and got what they wanted. Full time school with no mitigations. I hope they are pleased with themselves.
When were they consulted?
StatisticalSense · 17/09/2020 23:53

@Mippi
No many schools planned part time learning with the plan of leaving the pupils to their own devices for the rest of the time, which the government rightfully rejected. The government needed to be clearer that one of the major reasons to reject such a proposal is that such proposals are more damaging to a child's education than simply continuing with fully remote learning.

applemango9 · 17/09/2020 23:53

Great idea. It’s better than lockdown. The confirmed cases have to be reduced. To go to school part time is better choice for now.

TheGreatWave · 17/09/2020 23:54

@pontypridd

Are you talking about year groups having to isolate for 14 days now *@StatisticalSense*?

Who will set and mark work for them when they are at home now?

Well as much as I love her, I'm not sure my sister is some kind of wonder woman teacher hybrid by managing to do just that. (It is the same that she is teaching to the rest of the class)

Maybe she is 1 in a million after all.

middleager · 17/09/2020 23:55

[quote StatisticalSense]@middleager
It can't be blended learning in any area. You can have full time remote learning or you can have part time learning with many subjects being dropped entirely but the possibility of blended learning is a fantasy.[/quote]
I'd take either over my teen at home unable to access the lessons and work of his peer group and just getting bits.

Evilwasps · 17/09/2020 23:55

The reality is blended learning wouldn't work because both schools and families with working parents aren't able to facilitate home learning. It really has to be all or nothing so it can be properly planned and administered

noblegiraffe · 17/09/2020 23:56

But if they are isolating for 14 days then you will have to work full time and look after the kids anyway, you just don't know when it's going to happen, and how often.

U4T's ultimate goal seems to be that no one should be sent home from school ever, even if they are displaying classic symptoms, or if they sat in a class with a bunch of kids who tested positive.
That will be the point that teachers walk out, I think.

middleager · 17/09/2020 23:57

Which is what's happening right now with some out and some in unexpectedly.

littlemsattitude · 17/09/2020 23:58

@Mippi

Lots of schools did plan for part time/blended learning but government wouldn't allow it.
Or finance it.
Londonmummy66 · 18/09/2020 00:00

Rubbish. You can't work full time and educate 4 children at the same time.

^^ This but any number of children other than a self motivated solo teenager...

Like it or lump it the school system is vital childcare to keep the economy working.

Worriedmum999 · 18/09/2020 00:01

They weren’t consulted, they just made a huge fuss and got heard. We should have had classes split into 2 with 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off thus helping to break any virus cycle that was in that class. As a teacher in a former life I could have got through double the work in 2 weeks with a class half the size. They could have then consolidated at home over the next 2 weeks. They could have put systems in place for parents who could not work from home so the children would have had supervision by TAs at school (or in another building) to do their consolidation work. It could have been done had any effort and thought been put into it at all.

StatisticalSense · 18/09/2020 00:01

Personally I think the government were right to try and get schools back open in a way that wasn't going to be more damaging than simply continuing with the situation as it was in March. Now that it is becoming increasingly obvious that it isn't working the only sensible thing to do is return to mass school closures, this time including the children key workers who live with their partner so that teachers can focus on providing a higher standard of online learning (the small numbers of vulnerable children being looked after in school by non teaching staff (TAs etc)).

Pipandmum · 18/09/2020 00:02

Our school is working just fine thanks. Comprehensive changes to facilitate all years returning full time with social distancing and bubbles etc. They operate a one way system, staggered entry and lunchtimes. But they also have online facilities in place for all years (school runs from nursery through sixth form) should there be a year group isolating or another lockdown.

Worriedmum999 · 18/09/2020 00:04

But as it is now schools will have to close in the near future and all those parents who can’t supervise the children at home will be completely stuck yet again.

middleager · 18/09/2020 00:08

I feel so sorry for the schools with the randomness.

So gor us, one student tested positive. It impacted his form. It impacted 3 options groups (including one of my son's).
We were informed on the evening, leaving teachers little notice and so work was not set for all the subjects.
He could not do English, for example, as it was from a text book that are kept in school. Also, that lesson was from a cover teacher as the main teacher is off (possibly Covid related).
In Eng Lit there was a very brief instruction, but I've had to order a study guide. I work and am not an Eng Lit teacher...
Some work just wasn't set at all.

I work in education and feel for teachers and students. My anger is with the Govt.

It was 'easier' when everybody was off as work was set for the whole class.

Bluelinings · 18/09/2020 00:09

I totally get that blended learning is a pain but so is having them home for two weeks on and off.

At least blended learning would be a set plan that employers and parents could work round. Add in some kind of financial help, protection of affected parents (so they’re not discriminated against), some kind of bubble childcare remote schooling club. I don’t know, the government should. There are so many solutions to this.

And they’d be a lot less disruptive than what we have right now.

How is any of this good for our kids?