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?

And can children who don't attend because they are clinically vulnerable legitimately be fined?

I'm sure I read posters reporting difficulties with this. Perhaps it was clinically vulnerable families.

@headstrong27

Different groups of children in every lesson.

But that's not applicable to every school, for the ones that have no other options can they clean in between?

We don't have time to clean in between. Therefore all classrooms have been allocated a year group zone, and students only move within their zone. They don't then need cleaning as they are part of the same (300 strong) bubble

@WhyNotMe40 but the guidance I posted said heads can use their discretion? Pupils in DBs secondary school are certainly allowed to wear masks if it makes them comfortable (in classrooms)

They don't then need cleaning as they are part of the same (300 strong) bubble

And yet they don't send the whole bubble home when there's a case despite the lack of cleaning.

but the guidance I posted said heads can use their discretion

You think that public health issues should be left to people whose expertise is in education and not health?

Weird.

But that's not applicable to every school, for the ones that have no other options can they clean in between?

We get each child to wipe the desk with a paper towel and a spray of plague killing spray at the end of each lesson. It’s a pain in the arse but there you go - also means I have to circulate the whole class spraying the spray. In a mask and visor.

[quote headstrong27]@WhyNotMe40 but the guidance I posted said heads can use their discretion? Pupils in DBs secondary school are certainly allowed to wear masks if it makes them comfortable (in classrooms) [/quote]
Well my head decided that as he had been told they weren't needed, he wasn't going to exercise his discretion. And why should he when we've been told we are not allowed them in lessons, so why should we need them in corridors?

@headstrong27

but are you suggesting that a classroom of 32 bodies, rotated hourly, isn't a communal area?

What do you mean rotated hourly?
In a classroom I don't necessarily think masks should be mandatory, no.

I mean the class moves on to a different room, then a new groups comes in. 200 different people in my room per day. That's communal.

DFE say masks are not needed in corridors unless in a lockdown tier 3 area.

Masks are worn in my dcs school on London, not tier 3. Had parents evening last week, behind perspex screens & all parents masked up.

We get each child to wipe the desk with a paper towel and a spray of plague killing spray at the end of each lesson.

I'm really concerned about the use of plague killing spray in poorly ventilated classrooms around children, tbh.

@headstrong27

DFE say masks are not needed in corridors unless in a lockdown tier 3 area.

Masks are worn in my dcs school on London, not tier 3. Had parents evening last week, behind perspex screens & all parents masked up.

Mad isn't it....

Yes. Both ECV kids and children from families with ECV parents can be

• fined (potentially)
• visited by attendance officers and teachers
• phoned and/or emailed on a daily basis, sometimes at weekends, by school staff
• threatened with prosecution
• threatened with being forcibly taken off the register

Some of the threats and behaviour seem to be not entirely legal.

BRTUS are considering legal action on a human rights basis for some of this, as schools are manifestly not safe places currently, especially in Tier 3.

I'm not directly involved, we are still taking the kids to school.

I watch with interest.

You think that public health issues should be left to people whose expertise is in education and not health?

Weird.

Why is it weird to give heads discretion?

Why is it weird to give heads discretion?

Because it's a public health issue? Shouldn't it be decided by boffins based on scientific evidence rather than a head's own individual opinion of the pandemic and which group of parents they'd rather not piss off?

It's also putting a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of headteachers at a time when they are already incredibly overburdened.

I'm really concerned about the use of plague killing spray in poorly ventilated classrooms around children, tbh

Windows open. Plague spray onto desk, kid wipes desk. I don’t think it’s likely to damage them - but yes, I can see the concern.

I'm a primary supply teacher and have been to a many different schools since September.

One thing that made me quite uncomfortable is the fact staff are in such close contact with each other and weren't wearing masks in communal areas in all but one school I visited. I would suggest staff need to wear masks around school and minimise close contact.

There needs to be some set in stone guidance about hand washing, cleaning and ventilation. In one school I taught at, one class was being vigilant with hand washing on arrival to school, after breaks, before and after lunch, windows were opened and tables cleaned before the children ate lunch on them. In a different class, they didn't wash hands when they arrived and waited until first break to do that. They also only cleaned the tables after the children had had their lunch on them, not before

Well my head decided that as he had been told they weren't needed, he wasn't going to exercise his discretion.

Did anybody challenge him

Until actual public health experts step in to mandate adequate safety mitigations in the middle of the worst pandemic in living memory.... Then leaving public health decisions in the hands of people not qualified in this area is bound to result in bad decisions. Through no fault of their own.
Vulnerable students, staff and family members are being put at reckless risk by this crap.

please could those kids with additional needs get full time education if they won't/can't learn at home due to disability additional needs. but other than that yes to the op.

oh, also allow children to wear additional layers. eg allow hats in classrooms once seated. allow boots in school colours. allow wrist warmers and fingerless gloves ffs. some kids have conditions that mean they feel colder than their peers.

oh and be aware that some autistic kids are not going to be complaining/recognsing they are cold even if they are due to their sensory issues so ensure they are warm. (will need to contact home to find out if they really do run hot)

perhaps volunteer parents to clean? provide support.

Did anybody challenge him

One thing you can 100% guarantee, headstrong is that whatever decision a head makes right now, they are being challenged.

Because it's a public health issue? Shouldn't it be decided by boffins based on scientific evidence rather than a head's own individual opinion of the pandemic and which group of parents they'd rather not piss off?

PH know more about the virus but I think heads know more about their school, their parents, their community so I'm not against discretion.

If a parent is pissed of by a mask they will be pissed off regardless where the mandate came from.

@headstrong27

Well my head decided that as he had been told they weren't needed, he wasn't going to exercise his discretion.

Did anybody challenge him

A. He's the head, and I am a mere part time minion. B. What's the point in contesting this about corridors, when arguably we are getting much more exposure in stuffy over crowded classrooms. Most staff have a grim sort of "bring it on" attitude to our exposure now.

Examples of where education leaders might decide to recommend the wearing of face coverings - for pupils, staff and visitors - in communal areas of the education setting include

The keyword there is 'recommend' - school leaders can recommend masks are worn but they cannot mandate it. Our ht is out every lesson changeover recommending kids put their masks on but less than a third of kids are taking up that recommendation and many parents aren't even providing masks. It just isn't enforceable.

This is the kind of weasly wording that dfe is full of to make it look good to everyone except those who actually work in schools and know what is being said.

Another eg. socially distance 'where possible' knowing full well it is not possible and following it up by saying all schools must have full time all children in provision and a broad curriculum and not require extra staff or space (which to those in the know means we know socially distancing is impossible and we're explicitly banning you from taking any action to allow for it).

@WhyNotMe40 why is it mad?

Did anybody challenge him

Heads are challenged from every conceivable angle at the moment.

What job do you do headstrong, out of interest?