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 where is the money coming from?

Dido Harding could take a pay cut. Cancel Brexit.

It's weird that there's always money for the Tories to give cash to their chums but when the subject of schools comes up it's always 'oh dear, we're too poor to do that'.

If the concern about allowing clinically vulnerable kids to stay at home would be that they would be missing out on education, then the solution is to have some way of checking that they're not.

I wouldn't necessarily assume a medically vulnerable child would be missing out but I would be concerned that some vulnerable children would miss out & do think they are often "safer" in school.

No, but it's currently not 5 degrees outside and kids are still complaining when a vest really would do.

It will be soon and if we’re going to make plans, surely it’s worth making them so that they last all winter? And actually, imo, a vest really won’t do. I’m already wearing vests and as many layers as is practical because I don’t cope well with cold. If I was told I was expected to keep windows open all winter I wouldn’t be going to work.

I wouldn't necessarily assume a medically vulnerable child would be missing out but I would be concerned that some vulnerable children would miss out & do think they are often "safer" in school.

Indeed, and they would still be in the much safer schools, less likely to be shoved to unsafe homes to isolate for 14 days at a time.

Of the 412,000 kids who were at home isolating last week, how many of them were vulnerable and in unsafe homes?

Cancel Brexit.

And in the real world...

You tell me @noblegiraffe although Im still waiting for some other answers

Nails see my post about how Germany is managing with open windows. Turns out that with funding, you can have something called 'heating' on.

For space cramped London.schos, existing single story portacabins can be replaced with two or more story portacabins. Or they have to implement blended learning or shifts.
The money has to come form government. Maybe they can claw back some of the millions spaffed on their mates useless "PPE" companies that didn't supply useable PPE, or claim back some of the billions given to private companies on the under performing test and tracing. Or indeed those companies that claimed furlough when they don't pay UK tax.
Funny how there's money available when one of their "contacts" need to make a few million.

I’m already wearing vests and as many layers as is practical because I don’t cope well with cold

Do you know about Merino base layers? Game changer and Lidl normally have them on offer at some point in the autumn.

@headstrong27

You tell me *@noblegiraffe* although Im still waiting for some other answers

What about?

You want me to solve all the issues facing schools in one thread within a couple of hours?

I mean, I'm flattered that you think it's my job.

I could do a damned sight better than the government though, to be fair.

London surely has loads of empty spaces at the moment, conference centres and the like.

No I just want you to answer the questions I posed to you, I did answer yours.

Now who's being negative?

You're not from London are you?

@headstrong27

No I just want you to answer the questions I posed to you, I did answer yours.

Now who's being negative?

I think I have? Hard to keep up when you are trying to shout down everything I say.

Why is that? Are you desperate to keep the status quo?

@headstrong27

You're not from London are you?

No, are you? Maybe you can come up with some ideas if you're a London expert?

One simple and more-or-less free thing that can be done: humidify the air in classrooms. I just started a thread about this. Stunned that there is no discussion about this in the UK. It's well known in many other parts of the world that humidifying the air reduces the spread of viral infections.

London surely has loads of empty spaces at the moment, conference centres and the like

It does. Also offices. Sports centres. The House of Commons will prob be freed up soon also soon because I imagine they’ll go back to WFH...

Stunned that there is no discussion about this in the UK.

I'm not stunned when there's no discussion about anything involving schools in the UK. There's a large contingent out trying to quash any discussion.

London also has plenty of parks. Festivals manage - I don't see why portacabin nightingale schools in fenced off areas in parks wouldn't work. A lot of Ofsted inspectors are ex teachers - they could be drafted in, plus all the play scheme workers and peripatetic teachers that are currently out of employment. Second a few super heads and deputies from local schools and there you go.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, former chief of Ofsted has been in schools recently teaching history where there have been shortages due to staff off with covid.

More could follow his lead. They seem stuck on the idea that if Ofsted have to be working the only thing they can do is inspect schools.

@noblegiraffe

Nails see my post about how Germany is managing with open windows. Turns out that with funding, you can have something called 'heating' on.

I’m aware of that, but honestly I’m not comfortable with the environmental impact of heating classrooms with windows open to save a few more humans when the planet is already over populated and being destroyed by them.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, former chief of Ofsted has been in schools recently teaching history where there have been shortages due to staff off with covid

Michael Wilshaw has been the most surprising thing about the entire pandemic.

Yes born & raised & educated. So you don't want to to solve all the issues facing schools in one thread within a couple of hours?
But I need to sort out London, ok...

Are you desperate to keep the status quo?

What is the status quo? I've already said i'm happy with the measures my children's school have taken.

Hard to keep up when you are trying to shout down everything I say.

I challenged you on the nightingale schools point. You accused me of being negative. Why does disagreement imply I have an agenda?

I’m aware of that, but honestly I’m not comfortable with the environmental impact of heating classrooms with windows open to save a few more humans when the planet is already over populated and being destroyed by them.

Thanos has entered the argument.

@SmileEachDay

I’m already wearing vests and as many layers as is practical because I don’t cope well with cold

Do you know about Merino base layers? Game changer and Lidl normally have them on offer at some point in the autumn.

I do, thank you! I have many, and will be wearing one pretty much every day between now and next April!