‘Will we have to homeschool again?’

[Teainagreenteapot]

My DD overheard the news and asked me this yesterday.

I said I hoped not and the government (who are useless - I didn’t say this bit) are trying to keep the schools open.

Are anyone else’s kids wondering about this?

My kid would be happy as well. Not to worry about getting the virus when everything else is in lockdown.

My dc are happy in school and we haven’t talked about more homeschooling.

@MarshaBradyo you asked if the closed year bubbles have been given any work....

It's a mixed bag unfortunately and seems dependent on the teachers involved. So my son's year has six separate science teachers, some have set work, others haven't.

I appreciate it just be so hard for the teachers but I do think a more cohesive organised approach would help. So for example, if a year bubble has to work from home could the work not be set by one or two subject teachers rather than all six teachers separately.

I despair, really I do.

[quote Char2015]@Mippi

This isn't just 50% off the work this is 100% of the work which the school already had ready they are now just getting it all uploaded. They are preparing for a full school closure and been told to have this all online by the end of next week. They are ensuring all children have their logins and collecting names for keyworker children.[/quote]
Is this a high school or primary? This is not the case at our school at all.

[quote Chaotic45]@MarshaBradyo you asked if the closed year bubbles have been given any work....

It's a mixed bag unfortunately and seems dependent on the teachers involved. So my son's year has six separate science teachers, some have set work, others haven't.

I appreciate it just be so hard for the teachers but I do think a more cohesive organised approach would help. So for example, if a year bubble has to work from home could the work not be set by one or two subject teachers rather than all six teachers separately.

I despair, really I do. [/quote]
I see. Yes a shame if it’s not consistent.

I presume their year is empty, unlike last term when teaching resource was often elsewhere (KW / other bubble).

There should be time to deliver resources daily (unless ill)

@UnaMujer

It's primary based in London.

I wonder why there’s such a variation. I’m a parent governor and our primary school are not doing this even though we’re in a local lockdown area.

[quote Honeybobbin]@RainbowParadise my point is that the work in primary school is more accessible to teach than the higher level stuff. I'm working too, so I agree it's pretty impossible. And obviously childcare is a massive problem. I'm not saying I have all the answers or anything, I don't know what the solution is to any of this. I'm just saying I think teenagers taking exams will be suffering the most if schools close again. Perhaps just having exam years in would be an option if we go to another lockdown?

@UnaMujer I didn't mean to sound argumentative towards you, I only addressed you because I was responding to your point.

The whole thing is just basically a shit show, isn't it?[/quote]
@Honeybobbin I agree, it's a complete shit show and I feel very sorry for teens at the moment, the effect on them has been horrendous. I agree that something has to be done to make sure their education, exams and life chances aren't fucked even more because of this. I'm disgusted by how little planning (basically none) has been given to how we can educate children during this time. No imagination at all from anyone in the department for education in what alternatives there could be.

But I'm really concerned about my Y1 child too. He missed half of reception and was starting to get to grips with reading/writing, he isn't natural with it like his older sister. And I'm concerned about the delay in those building blocks being in place, which are the foundation for everything else that they learn.

Isn't it terrible as well, to be thinking of it at that most basic level of people having to choose whether to work, and that's if they're even lucky enough to work from home, or look after/educate their children.

What makes it worse to me is that children and young people in their 20s/30s, have been so badly affected in so many ways, but I highly doubt anything is going to be done to help the generational divide when this is all done.

Sorry for the derail, it's just one massive bloody nightmare and I've felt very negative recently.

@UnaMujer

I wonder why there’s such a variation. I’m a parent governor and our primary school are not doing this even though we’re in a local lockdown area.

I've noticed so much variation across the board both primaries and secondaries. This particular trust however has great links with the Gov so I am not sure if that is why the variation with this.

@MarshaBradyo yes the year is closed completely.

What really upset me is that it was highly likely that this would happen. Yet decision makers and the government haven't properly planned for it, preferring to allow everyone to feel over optimistic about how things will play out.

I'm sick of being told everything will be ok, and everything is in hand. Everything is not ok. Everything is not in hand. I'm not suggesting for a moment that there are any easy or ideal solutions, but I'm so fed up with no one in government actually properly trying to come up with the best workable plan possible.....

[quote Honeybobbin]@UnaMujer I certainly hope they don't sacrifice secondary schools to keep primaries open. My year 11 son has already missed half of year 10, how on earth can they be expected to sit GCSEs if they miss part of year 11 as well? If anything it should be the other way round, especially as the learning done in primary school is much more accessible for parents to home school if necessary. I can support my daughter with year 6 Sat's preparation but I certainly can't support my son with gcse triple science or his DT BTEC.
Education must continue.[/quote]
So my child's education in primary is not worth as much as your child's in secondary also my 6 year old is suffering mentally now

Our primary school sent home the remote learning plan for “if the school has to close again” - I nearly had a breakdown on the spot. We had zoom school all the way through the lockdown, it was tough but do-able. This time round they’re aiming for a full school day’s worth of lessons and activities each day, I have no idea how I’m supposed to supervise 2 children on that while full time working from home (not to mention we won’t have enough laptops or bandwidth to have 3 people on zoom at once). They’ve said it’s because the dfe has said they want the full curriculum taught this year irrespective of how long kids are at home for

@Honeybobbin apologies if I misread

Our secondary plan for closure is:

mostly ‘live’ timetable via Google Classroom
Work will be set in a way that can be completed offline in order not to disadvantage children who have limited internet access at home.
Lessons will also be recorded

I actually think that it shouldn't be about how accessible it is for parents to teach as that's making a massive judgement on what parents should be able to do in any case and once again the children from poorer backgrounds, whose own parents weren't fortunate enough to get a good education, will be the ones who suffer.

For me if there is any argument in 'prioritising' GCSE and A-Level students it's that they are right at the end of their school education with their exams looming and there isn't the time to be able to catch up for them. That is massively unfair on them. There is the argument that there is time for younger primary age children to catch up, or for things to be adapted (imo the system needs overhauling massively anyway). Although like I said I'm worried about my younger child falling behind in all the basic stuff that is vital for all his future learning.

The problem is I have no faith under this government that there is anyone there with the competence or imagination to ensure that happens.

All of them are important and of course mental health is hugely important (and has not been given enough weight when any of the decisions have been made during this pandemic).

@Toomanyapplesinthefruitbowl schools have been told they have to provide full curriculum if school is closed, unlike when the schools 'closed' the first time when the Government gave no guidance apart from the curriculum was suspended so technically schools didn't have to teach anything new. This resulted in a wide range of provision from schools from nothing to full live timetables. They want to prevent this discrepancy happening again.

Unfortunately they have forgotten to give schools any funding to make this happen, but that is another thread.

@ineedaholidaynow I know, and it’s complete madness to expect teachers to be able to provide a full curriculum to children via a computer. I get the aspiration, but that as you say needs a huge funding boost to make it viable. And also an understanding that 4 year olds are probably not capable of being supervised remotely continuously for 6 hours and therefore their parents are going to have to do a lot of assisting. And that is going to affect (mainly) women’s jobs. I just don’t get the impression that anyone is the DfH or DfE have consulted anyone who understands the reality of small children in any of their recent planning or modelling

Tbh i won't again. My ds is year 9 . He was told they woukd be repeating a lot of work for those who haven't had to.

My kids are hoping so . They liked homeschooling , both their schools had very effective distance learning set up . I wouldn’t mind either , it’s all so disruptive at the moment . I can appreciate people who work might not see it the same .

@Char2015

My mum works in a school and the school have been told to put together all online resources fairly quickly. This has come from higher management from Academy trust. I don't know if this means Gov have contacted school leads/LA/Academies to say to start to prepare for homeschooling again or whether the trust themselves are expecting school closures again.

Our school consulted us for what works best based on previous lockdown - we were told all schools have been told that they MUST have a plan by end of September.

Sorry the school said that instruction came from the government (I assume fees via LAs)

At the moment, i would prefer a blended timetable. I can see if happening tbh.

My bandwidth at home just about supports me working and nothing else. How am I supposed to have 3 children at home, learning online and still do my job?

@Honeybobbin
Perhaps just having exam years in would be an option if we go to another lockdown?
Absolutely agree with this. DS is year 11 and really feeling the pressure from the uncertainty. They would be able to socially distance too if other years are home learning so hopefully avoid having to close school to the whole year group if one has coronavirus.
Obviously I don’t want this to happen - I have a year 9 who will be devastated if they have to be off school again. But the current exam year have had so much disruption already it’s so worrying.

@Ellsbells12 Unfortunately I think yes, Senior School pupils preparing for Public Exams need to be prioritised. They should be the years who need to be receiving face to face teaching. If children are really struggling and considered vulnerable they’ve always been allowed in anyway.

I know it’s not convenient or ideal but it’s very hard for anyone to argue that exam years aren’t the ones who need priority. If your children were approaching GCSE/A Level you’d feel the same. Teaching lower down the school can be caught up on in the main.