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?

@tattooedmummy1 my dcs primary have closed the road to traffic & we have staggered drop offs & pick ups with strictly no mingling. So my dc finish at 3pm for example whereas my neighbour is 3.15pm.

Gosh you are so negative, headstrong. Schools regularly bus kids out for PE lessons to various playing fields without that being a massive issue.

My school has got outdoor space where they could chuck up a few larger portacabins no issues.

Thanks for such a positive constructive thread noble.

To the PP saying "few cases in my school", that's great, but with community cases rocketing/going steadily up in most areas it's only a matter of time I'm afraid.

Schools need to be given the resources and the vision now to plan in detail for blended learning. At the moment Heads seem to be making general plans and teachers are getting ready, but no one's explaining eg how TAs and other support staff will contribute if/when this happens, at least IME.

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

The question was related to Ofsted though. I don't particularly hold Ofsted in high regard but I'm not sure how much they would glean from looking at workbooks over Zoom.

@noblegiraffe how is it negative to ask how things would work in reality as opposed to theory? I call it pragmatic. Schools I know of are already doing many of the good suggestions on this thread.

@headstrong27

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

The question was related to Ofsted though. I don't particularly hold Ofsted in high regard but I'm not sure how much they would glean from looking at workbooks over Zoom.

They look at books all the time. Are you suggesting that Her Majesty's Inspectors of Education have no idea what to do to check a kid is being appropriately educated?

Is that all they do though?

@HappyDinosaur

You cannot teach young children effectively by remaining 2 metres away. Also, if classes are split into smaller groups who will teach them?

I'm lower primary. I wouldn't advocate we try to teach from 2m away. I'd be happier with the sort of smaller bubbles we had in summer, plus time to clean effectively between groups. The data showed low transmission then, but the charts released yesterday show infection levels in primary are rising a worrying amount too. As young children are particularly difficult to test, and most parents would rather chew off their own hand rather than do it repeatedly, I do think there's been some attrition in taking young children to be tested since September.

[quote headstrong27]@noblegiraffe how is it negative to ask how things would work in reality as opposed to theory? I call it pragmatic. Schools I know of are already doing many of the good suggestions on this thread. [/quote]
And maybe it would be more constructive to discuss ways to overcome issues instead of nitpick every idea?

Is that all they do though?

They triangulate:

Curriculum intent - they could do that with Oak Academy
Curriculum impact - there’d need to be some standardised Oak Academy testing
Curriculum implementation- this would be the book look

Definitely @Barbie222.

So maybe we should add immediately available saliva tests for primary age/SEN to the list?

Money from the government. So schools can individually work out what is needed. And not just a few hundred to pay for wipes for the photocopier buttons. Money for extra teachers and LSAs.

This will give staff and SLT breathing space to think more outside the box. Or implement the stuff they need to implement.

Schools need money.

However judging by the state of education in many schools in this country, the excessive paperwork & admin, the often unnecessary testing, the staff leaving in their droves & general well-being & mental health in our children I very much do question whether Her Majesty's Inspectors of Education know how a kid is being appropriately educated

Don't you?

headstrong
Are you advocating for the dissolution of ofsted and the DfE as a way of making schools safer?

That’s the kind of radical thinking I can get behind!

And maybe it would be more constructive to discuss ways to overcome issues instead of nitpick every idea?

How have I nitpicked every idea? Just one I don't think will work in practice.

I definitely think there is scope for more remote learning for older kids but there are certain difficulties with this.

headstrong so what would you do?

Keep the vulnerable kids in the classroom and fine parents for absence (as currently)

Or allow parents to keep vulnerable kids at home and risk them missing out on education due to lack of supervision?

Or......?

We've got a whole bunch of inspectors currently doing fuck all. Why not use them for something?

I think I would make years 7-10 part time. Students could have a week in school of lessons in classes of 15ish, thus allowing for social distancing, and a week at home doing online or paper-based work (depending on what is feasible for the school population). Teachers would teach the same week at school twice so should have some capacity to prepare for the home learning as well. Hopefully progress should be faster with smaller groups (isn't that what people pay for in private schools?) so that should mitigate for the reduced progress made during 'home' weeks. Year 11 and 13 in full time. Not sure about Year 12 - they are often in classes of 15 or fewer anyway, but maybe they need to be part time to free up space for socially distancing the Year 11s. I'd leave primaries as they are.

As I said upthread I would like pupils to have to give test results, do they not because of data protection?

@HipTightOnions

Let those schools/classes/teachers/pupils for whom blended learning would work, do it. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

This ^^ Online learning really suited my Year 9 (now year 10) daughter, she has access to a laptop, WiFi, a school that provided excellent online work during lockdown and is motivated to learn. Blended learning for her would be ideal.

However my Year 4 son with additional needs to be in school.

@noblegiraffe are you talking about vulnerable as in shielding or EAL, additional needs, safeguarding etc??

I’d like to see some drop down days, as where we are year 7 and 8 not moving classrooms therefore not accessing science practicals. Would be great to find away to enable that as it’s the thing they all look forward too.

How have I nitpicked every idea?

You've made quite a few posts on this thread and most of them are picking problems with ideas suggested. From Nightingale schools to getting Ofsted off their behinds, there's seemingly nothing that you can't take issue with.

So, a day of science. In one lab. That year group do biology chemistry physics practicals for a day.

LAPTOPS FOR KIDS WHO ARE ISOLATING

How could I forget? The government have certainly forgotten. Schools have just seen the number of laptops allocated for this purpose reduced to barely any.

I definitely agree that schools were so much safer with the bubble sizes of 15 before the summer. So certainly a way to try and implement this in primary schools utilising other spaces.
Ppe allowed for staff.
Money for extra toilets / sinks.
Sanitising stations outside school.
Money for extra cleaners to be onsite all day in every school.
Money spent on ventilation so that old windows that don’t open can be fixed.