Ways to make schools safer without closing them

[noblegiraffe]

Because I am so bored of the misrepresentation and lies going on on this site by people who shout down anyone who raises concerns about the current situation in schools as 'wanting schools to close indefinitely'. The people lacking in imagination who seem to insist that either things carry on as they are (with hundreds of thousands of kids not in school due to the spread in infection), or that schools close and there's nothing in between that can possibly be done to make things safer.

So here's my list, mostly copied from another thread:

We could start with an effective test and trace system, which we were told was essential for the safe re-opening of schools, but we opened without.

We could move onto making sure that all classrooms have windows. And then that those windows open. A national WEAR A VEST campaign to stop parents and kid complaining that it's cold. Germany have just invested a large amount of money in improving ventilation in schools, the UK should follow them.

Masks. Why do the government keep insisting they're not needed in corridors (from the comfort of a socially distanced parliament) and that it's impossible to use them in classrooms when the rest of the world seem to manage? What lessons can we learn from the international experience?

Marquees/covers on the playgrounds so that kids aren't inside for wet break. I know that wet break caused a whole year group to be sent home in a local school as it was uncontrolled indoor close contact.

For it to be mandatory (not simply 'where possible') that classrooms are arranged so that teachers are 2m from the kids when teaching. If smaller class sizes are needed to facilitate this, then solutions must be found even if the government needs to pay money for bigger spaces.

Parents to be supported/sanctioned to avoid kids being sent into school with symptoms or when they're supposed to be isolating.

The government to update its list of symptoms for children requiring a test to include the main ones that children experience, instead of the adult symptoms which they mainly don't.

Regular testing in schools, particularly when there are outbreaks, to enable more effective isolation.

Vulnerable kids to be allowed the option of staying at home. Schooling could be provided by Oak Academy (why spend millions on it and not use it?) and the army of 'catch-up tutors' to provide feedback on work (or ECV teachers also permitted to stay at home)

Any other suggestions?

But then you don't like other people's suggestions. Which you asked for.

Eh?

I’m an English teacher and the DSLO at a secondary school headstrong.

To be fair, the most common type of volunteers in school are parent volunteers.
And governors - but you don't see them hanging around in lessons and would have no idea of the realities of being a teacher.

Al students to be outside every break/lunch. Parents to be supported in ensuring appropriate clothing is available

I'd go along with this but only if every adult in the country was also made to stand outside their place of work every time they took a break/had lunch regardless of the weather. It's not really fair to force children to do what adults wont - the virus is just as capable of spreading in a work canteen as it is a school one!

Shit, I was hoping you were support or something.

Shit, I was hoping you were support or something

What?

Headstrong
What point are you trying to make?

I see the poster I was having problems with, other posters are now having problems with.

Call me the canary in the coal mine.

[quote headstrong27]@SmileEachDay

I’m very surprised that schools are still having volunteers in - if you’re doing gutter clearing and outside stuff that’s a bit different I guess

You need to that thing where you think about the bigger picture & not just your own little world. I'm mean straight away you assumed I was a parent volunteer. [/quote]
I’m confused why it matters whether you are a parent volunteer or another sort. You are still an extra adult in the building. Arguably a parent volunteer would be less of a risk as their child would already be bringing their contact circle’s risk with them.
I’m really surprised schools are having extra adults of any sort in the buildings.

@noblegiraffe

I see the poster I was having problems with, other posters are now having problems with.

Call me the canary in the coal mine.

You're the trailblazer

I'll let you figure it out

I’m baffled tbh.

@pennylane83

Al students to be outside every break/lunch. Parents to be supported in ensuring appropriate clothing is available

I'd go along with this but only if every adult in the country was also made to stand outside their place of work every time they took a break/had lunch regardless of the weather. It's not really fair to force children to do what adults wont - the virus is just as capable of spreading in a work canteen as it is a school one!

I believe all other places of work have to be genuinely.covid secure with masks and social distancing. Also we tend to trust adults to not jump on top of each other so much and horse around - and of they do, well they are adults. Teenagers and kids need the outside time to run off energy. I've been scrambling across a pebbly beach with my kids this morning and out to a park in the rain this afternoon. Because they need it. It's only rain.

@SmileEachDay

I had all my maths lessons in a PortaClassroom for 4 years when I was at school. 😂😂

It was ace because if it was especially windy it would wobble around which meant we were far too worried to do any maths

When I was at infant school, top infant classes (now yr 2 so 6-7 yrs) were in the "huts" it was a thing of great status and something to be incredibly proud of. Juniors I had 2 of the 4 years in a hut. I remember having to do exercises in the mornings to warm up as it was so cold. The one teacher was always that year, so she would have permanently been in there.

Teachers of today don't know they're born.

Ha my junior school had 4 "temporary" portacabin classrooms. I think they are still there 40 years later
My secondary school also had the maths block all in portacabins for 3 years due to something dreadful found about the original building.

Teachers of today don't know they're born.

I teach in a hut! One year it was my permanent classroom!

It had individually controlled heaters so was actually warmer than the main classrooms where the heating goes off centrally at 12.

It almost made up for the holes in the walls.

My primary school had outside, unheated toilets. Kids don’t know they are born either 😊

I taught in a hut from September to December last year too. It was fine.

Just wondering why a few posters have said vulnerable children should stay at home. Do you mean medically vulnerable? Only I saw vulnerable as children from homes who should definitely have the support of school, such as ones from homes affected by domestic violence, poverty and lack of parenting.

I find the idea that vulnerable children follow Oak Academy from home in order to allow the teacher to social distance from the children absolutely abhorrent. We need to make schools safer for ALL pupils. It’s not only teachers who are at risk from the situation in schools.

Do you mean medically vulnerable?

Yes.

CousinLucy

noble was referring to clinically vulnerable children.

Just to be clear, I had understood the reference to be to clinically vulnerable children when I posted my comment above.

@Endofmytether2020

I find the idea that vulnerable children follow Oak Academy from home in order to allow the teacher to social distance from the children absolutely abhorrent. We need to make schools safer for ALL pupils. It’s not only teachers who are at risk from the situation in schools.

Quite. How about if we campaign for the government to follow the WHO recommendations on Covid safety in schools. Which they are currently completely ignoring. They had to u turn the last time they ignored WHO advice, so why not this time.