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?

Nightingale hospitals went up extraordinarily fast.

But those buildings already existed & a hospital serves a different purpose to a school. I live in inner London, I can't think of a building near my dcs school that could be commandeered. Realistically it needs to be relatively close.

@headstrong27

Use other spaces like the government told schools that they weren't allowed to do even if offered for free. The NEU want Nightingale Schools.

So you mean build new schools? not really a quick fix

We're short of teachers for the schools we have now! Like the nightingale hospitals... We couldn't just suddenly magic up more teachers anymore than the nhs can magic up more nurses.....

@OpheliasCrayon

I'm an SEN teacher. I can't be 2m away from anyone. I do personal care, manual handling, medical procedures and when needed, restraint. I hope I'll be exempt from these plans!

Indeed we should split out plans according to settings.

Primary/secondary/sixth form or college/SEN are very different settings with different risks and possibilities.

Secondary teachers shouldn't be told that it's impossible to implement plans to keep 2m from the kids in classroom because it can't happen in primary, just like primary teachers aren't told they need bubbles of 100s because it's impossible for them to be smaller in secondary.

As @OpheliasCrayon says where do you get the teaching & support staff to run the new schools?

For older students that can be taught online this should be done.

Registers to be taken every lesson and pupils not logging into the live lesson parents to be called by pastoral to have to come into school.
Any SEND plan children could also attend and log in like they did in lockdown.

Lessons should be front loaded and then a task set that doesn't need 100 percent screen time to be set for the remainder of the lesson.
When numbers are low enough the track and trace should be utilised so they can all attend again.

We could use Ofsted inspectors to check that they are receiving an appropriate education at home
What does that look like in reality?

Shift system. Half in at one time and then the other half. Not sure if it could be done morning and afternoon or one week on and one week off. 20 pupils in a classroom that normally has 25 or 30 is not enough social distancing. There should be enough space between each pupil so only half full.
Masks when walking around, no mask when sitting by desk - having them on for a full day would be horrible.

Wearing a vest is not enough. LAs are going to have pay for HEATING if they want windows to be open.

We're short of teachers for the schools we have now!

You misunderstand. The teachers and pupils we currently have could be put into larger rooms.

I know of several schools with split sites and teachers travelling between them.

headstrong27

What ideas do you have to make schools safer?

Lots and lots of ways to be safer and ensure more consistent education for secondary schools. I cannot understand those who equate any desire for improvement to wanting to close schools.

It's ways of keeping schools open without spiralling infection rates in the community we're looking at. Something more sustainable than pretending everything is fine.

So you move a whole class to a new site?

Mandate that any child off with symptoms shows the message/email showing negative result before returning to school. Extend that to any household member getting a negative result showing the message before a child returns to school.

Give the teacher and heads the power to do what us best for their school, pupils and staff. What is right for one school usnt necessarily right for another for physical, or social reasons.

Fund schools, including salaries, to ensure they are safe, fit for purpose, and attract and retain the right staff.

Remove 50% of the administrative burden, and allow teachers to teach.

@headstrong27

We could use Ofsted inspectors to check that they are receiving an appropriate education at home What does that look like in reality?

Well they could monitor the quality of the work being done by the student. They are trained to do this after all.

Social distancing in secondary schools should be compulsory not "if possible". Smaller classes to facilitate this. No more than 15 per class.

Masks to be worn all the time.

Windows open. If classrooms can't be ventilated they shouldn't be in use.

Or

Three hours each day for half of a school each. May need extra staff so not sure how it would work. Get rid of marking as teachers would have more contact time and focus on more whole class feedback.
Have one break and no lunch time but vouchers for free school meals oh hang on wait forgot parents may spend it on lsmbrini and 20 Rothmans.

6 hour day for staff though but maybe time for free periods like on a normal time table. Not sure of the logicistics just an idea.

@SmileEachDay I already said upthread that my DBs school wear masks in all "public" areas, they have gazebos for rain & try to keep the windows open. DCs school has no wraparound care to limit bubbles & outdoor sinks near the entry. Those measures seem to be working.

Personally I think it would be useful for pupils to have to tell the school if they are positive which I believe they currently are not required to do so.

@headstrong27

So you move a whole class to a new site?

Why not?

Well they could monitor the quality of the work being done by the student. They are trained to do this after all.

By looking at their work over Zoom?

Add 'extra sinks' to the list of ideas. Thanks, headstrong

And extra toilets, so that bubbles don't need to share them.

Agree with all of Nobels suggestions. My dc school (secondary) has been great they’ve:

• put 3 massive marquees on a field
• screens around teachers desks
• all windows / doors open
• teachers wear PPE in class
• everyone wears PPE in communal areas
• changed time table to 3 lessons a day

and various other things and fingers crossed all working well.

North Yorkshire has not banned its schools from using hand sanitiser.
This tiny school is prioritising soap and water because of one child's allergy: www.grantleyfountains.co.uk/MAP.aspx?pid=SchoolNews_en-GB&aid=nn_290082406_266505616

@headstrong27

Well they could monitor the quality of the work being done by the student. They are trained to do this after all.

By looking at their work over Zoom?

I did a whole bunch of marking over lockdown. Lots of ways to do this.

Also, actually implementing a system to avoid hundreds of parents mingling together at pick up and drop off. Can't speak for every school, obviously, but at DS school it's meant to be a staggered drop off and pick up, and a 1 way walking system, but parents just huddle together chatting, moving on to chat to the next group of people. People walk at you, get in your space. No masks. I'm certain that's where I contracted the virus from. Because I've not been anywhere else that I could have contracted it.

I think schools and parents needs to assume alot more responsibility.

Forgot to say they also have outdoor hand washing areas / sanitizer etc

@noblegiraffe because logistically how does that work? Most schools only have a small team of behaviour offices, SENDco support & safeguarding. So do you just send classes of to various sites dotted about without any of that provision? Surely the locations also have to be convenient for the staff & pupils?