If Covid is going nowhere what is the plan for schools?

[Marcellemouse]

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/covid-here-stay-even-develop-19095194
Just asked this on a different thread but no response.
Bearing in mind the above, at what point teachers be happy to teach a full class of DC?

I teach well over 30, every day, with the normal expectations of academic progress and curriculum. I currently also set online work for whoever isn't in the following day, and of course have to fill gaps from lockdown and accelerate the progress of anyone who has fallen behind.

Yes, this is double / more than double work. No, there is no option. Yes, I am clinically vulnerable. No, I am not allowed to wear a mask. Yes, my windows are open. No, I cannot SD from my class. Yes, I scan the job vacancies nightly. No, I have not resigned.

I don't know if any local schools were they're not teaching g a full class. I work in preschool and we're as busy as ever. I don't understand where you're getting information from that teachers aren't teaching full classes?

The only circumstances under which I would not teach a full class is if i were to be teaching online and in class simultaneously - same well over 30 children, just 2 totally separate plans and workstreams.

@Thehogfatherstolemycurry

I don't know if any local schools were they're not teaching g a full class. I work in preschool and we're as busy as ever. I don't understand where you're getting information from that teachers aren't teaching full classes?

Has the OP maybe fallen for the ridiculous DfE claim that schools are Covid secure because they’ve made class sizes smaller

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.tes.com/news/covid-teachers-condemn-safety-ads-small-class-sizes-claim%3famp

@MillieVanilla that sounds hard but what’s the solution schools can’t just close. If your son is vulnerable can you homeschool? The risk to the vast majority of children and teachers is very low and the benefits of school far outweigh the risks.

Oh it's you again.

Teachers don't make the decisions on closing schools/bubbles/ class sizes. But you do keep coming back to what they say and post as if it influenced policy.

Proverbs 26 11 comes to mind.

No other industry expected to work in non Covid secure environment

Have you seen inside the average meat processing plant?

DH works in a variety of these up and down the country every day. No social distancing, it's not possible. Cold, damp environment full of stainless steel ideal breeding ground as shown by so many outbreaks. Hundreds and hundreds of staff, different every day, many agency staff, lots who don't read English well enough to follow the signage. Packed close together on production lines for hours on end. He tells me about staff wearing PPE incorrectly under noses (just as bad as not wearing at all) staff ignoring hand sanitizer station going from room to room without handwashing and it not being picked up on by management.

All schools are teaching a full class, shall I tell you the results of that? I’m knackered having been covering all over the show. Two of my children’s bubbles popped at the start of term. There has been a massive outbreak in the local secondary this week, on top of that, my youngest at primary, there is a case there. Announced at 20.20 tonight.

Tier 1, low incidence, South West.

Until people get a grip, the government get a grip; all the goady bollocks in the world will not stop schools closing by Christmas.

It’s a shame it came to that really, but that’s the reality.

I’m teaching my own primary class. This last 7 weeks is the best pupil attendance I have ever had in over 20 years! I think that all the hand washing and less sharing of equipment has certainly helped with that.

We had one class off For 14 days when one teacher tested positive but apart from that no major absence of staff or pupils.

I think definitely it is easier in Primary than secondary. My school has been well organised with lots of staggered timetables, so I only really see my year group colleagues. It’s much less sociable for the adults, but the organisation has been very good.

I’ve been teaching a full class since September. As has everyone else I know.
What do you think has been happening?

@MillieVanilla why on earth should everybody else’s child stay at home because your child is vulnerable? You have the choice to keep him at home if you’re that concerned but don’t expect the rest of us to do the same! 🙄

Yep another one here. I teach my usual class in the usual way except with masks/visors whenever we can and no contact between classes. I don't love the extra measures and the uncertainty but I do love my class and my colleagues and I have no plans to go anywhere.
None of my colleagues want the school to close or bubbles to burst because home learning (done properly) is much harder than being in school all day.

Strange question OP. Where are these schools who don't have full classes or are you just being goady?? My school and all others I know are teaching full classes, mostly in school but if children are self isolating they are teaching remotely as well teaching those children in front of them.

@ChristmasinJune

Yep another one here. I teach my usual class in the usual way except with masks/visors whenever we can and no contact between classes. I don't love the extra measures and the uncertainty but I do love my class and my colleagues and I have no plans to go anywhere. None of my colleagues want the school to close or bubbles to burst because home learning (done properly) is much harder than being in school all day.

Yes! All of this!

I teach 6th form. I'm teaching full classes, technically, but I've not actually had a full class set in to any of my 3 groups since the start of term - either through positive cases or isolating (last week, I had 13 of my class of 17 isolating)
But I am teaching them through Teams. Those that log on. And if they don't, I have to redo the lesson for them another way.

I don't know the long term prognosis for this, but it's unsustainable while so many are off isolating. I think my 6th form is particularly badly hit, but I can't see that improving (75% of staff and students have had to isolate at one time or another since we came back)

I work in FE. 16+ but lots of adults classes..we're teaching half classes.

Bosses think we're having an easy ride but the reality is that we prep to teach the ones in class and also prep lessons for the half at home.

Keeping track of attendance, work set, work submitted, queries etc when we're only timetabled to see students once a fortnight is so time consuming

I Loved my job and I was bloody good at it. But... I'm 20 years in and feel like an NQT. I'm on my knees and cried on the way home tonight because 3 emails hit with massive tasks due in by 'close of play' Friday and I'm covering for the only downtime I had tomorrow so haven't got time to think about them never mind do them.

I'd honestly rather take my chance and teach full classes. Of Covid doesn't kill me the stress will.

Just one of many threads in a long line of threads on schools this past month by marcellemouse. Decide for yourselves...

• It feels like people on MN are willing schools to close
• Is shutting a year group overly cautious?
• Isn't it good that lots of young people are catching CV?
• Loads of cases and thousands self isolating but how many are actually really ill?
• People worried about catching CV, are you equally worried about being diagnosed with cancer?

They won’t be open by Christmas
This was written by a teacher on another thread re schools. With mass applaud from the other teachers on the thread. What are we supposed to think? Long term closures unless there's a sudden break through and cure for Covid?

This was written by a teacher on another thread re schools. With mass applaud from the other teachers on the thread. What are we supposed to think?

So what?

Teachers. Can't. Close. Schools.

Still waiting for you to explain where you got the idea that teachers aren’t teaching full classes.

@Marcellemouse

Teacher's on MN imply nightly that we'll be back to home learning before Christmas. Constantly posting about cases in schools, how they're all going to leave and then where will we be, etc. Makes you wonder what will happen as Covid isn't going to go away.

This is, of course, clearly a goady teacher bashing thread.

Would you like to rephrase your initial question? Perhaps you mean 'at what point will teachers be happy to teach those with testing positive if they feel well enough to be in school?'

I expect that's what Mumsnet and Us4Ourselves will be demanding next.

The statement “they won’t be open by Christmas” has nothing to do with what teachers do or do not want.

With mass applaud

This is not true.

Also, does anyone else remember during lock down the number of people swearing up and down that they were teachers and they knew for a fact that schools would be opening next week/not until summer/part time/with outside learning.

Just because one person says something it doesn’t mean that they know anything or that they are who they say they are.

@Mogtheforgtletfulmum I don't know why you are trying to undermine me. I have a DC due to do important exams in 6 months and another who struggled being isolated for months, so school is quite a concern at the moment.

@Marcellemouse

*They won’t be open by Christmas* This was written by a teacher on another thread re schools. With mass applaud from the other teachers on the thread. What are we supposed to think? Long term closures unless there's a sudden break through and cure for Covid?

You can think whatever you like, I guess-it is a free country.

Teachers can’t close schools though, you do know that, don’t you!?