Why on earth do you think home ed would work second time around?

[Whatchasayin]

We know that a huge percentage of DC didn't even log onto home learning earlier in the year. We know thousands of DC don't have devices, WiFi, space to work, parental support. We know thousands of DC can't be bothered to do it and who's going to make them when parents are at work/don't care. This all happened a few months ago so why are so many people advocating going back there? For a virus that many people don't even realise they have and most don't get more than mildly unwell. Average age of death is 82.

@MrsHamlet

Teachers and schools have also been let down by funding. We are running a huge deficit because we've bought laptops and outside toilets and sinks which the government won't fund. That's going to cost jobs because we will have to make people redundant next year.

Absolutely agree. So much spent on cleaning products and extra resources so the children don't share, extra heating as we need the windows open all the time. We've also stopped fundraising through the PTA as our families need their money at the moment and we couldn't possibly ask for any.

@Starlight101

The government actually said themselves that there needed to be a good track and trace system in place for schools to go back safely. It wasn’t in place but people conveniently forgot this was said as they were so eager to get the children back.

Research paper after research paper tells us that cramming children into schools like we are is just spreading the virus. Conveniently ignored again.

The most damning thing..... the government quietly removing the line from guidance about how ‘schools are safe’. They know they aren’t safe. Deep down we all know they aren’t safe. And keeping on pursuing this ‘education as normal’ will shut down the nhs and lead to 10s of 1000s more deaths.

So yes, it’s very much either/or

EXACTLY!

I just want to shout this from the rooftops!

and you would think the majority of parents would ensure the remote learning was complied with for the sake of their children

You’d think

Doesn’t mean it will happen. For a whole variety of reasons. So it’s OK for the kids of those parents to be left behind then?

@MrsHamlet

Teachers and schools have also been let down by funding. We are running a huge deficit because we've bought laptops and outside toilets and sinks which the government won't fund. That's going to cost jobs because we will have to make people redundant next year.

This.

@Whatchasayin we only sent home close contacts at my school too, at first. The problem was, we were finding so many links between the year 11s, in addition to losing the entirity of one department's staff, that we decided to send all the year 11s home.

For the year 10s, we stuck to close contacts only. On the last day, we had less than 20 out of 350 year 10s in school.

“Proper homeschooling” is very very hard to achieve for experienced long term home Ed families in a pandemic. School moved Into the home is also problematic. I think we can manage and we will endure if not thrive. I’m not sure focusing on how awful it is is helpful. Sometimes it seems people have never experienced any disadvantage or difficulty from the way people talk about it.

I'm going to reiterate - I am not in any way calling for schools to close. I am saying that almost all my students are already isolating and it is only going to get worse. I want a way to keep them open as much as possible, because at least then I will get to teach some of them, some of the time, with some consistency.

Ophelia - it’s not an either/or for health vs education as there are other things that you could change to try and bring down the rate (eg lockdown with exception for medical treatment and education). But overall we probably do have to bring in some sort of restrictions in order to prevent nhs being overrun (the fact that yearly we have a danger of this during flu season makes it more important to act soon because there is less spare capacity - we have quite low beds and staffing compared to europe).

I think the blanket restriction of hospital care for over 80s as someone above suggested, may increase capacity in hospitals, but would be cruel.

I think in general it is easier to mitigate missed education because the time course is longer. If we did get in a Wuhan situation, I think it would be harder to mitigate effect on health, economy education.

This whole pandemic has really highlighted the shocking levels of selfishness in this country.

I would say this pandemic has highlighted that there are a huge number of people ( mainly on MN) who want us to never leave our houses for anything non-essential again.

Also, a huge number of people who seem unable to see things from a different perspective.
By all means live by your self imposed lockdown rules but don't judge others who choose to live a more normal life.
I understand why some people feel shutting schools is a good idea but understand that for others, that causes more fear and stress than the thought of catching the virus.

There's a difference between H.ed and forced home schooling.
The former is a choice, you deregister or don't register in the first place and are completely in control of your child's education, with no input from the LA.

The latter is something forced due to the pandemic.
You can get them to do the work from school the same way as you can get them to do other things.
It's amazing when there's no wifi for their free time, how easily they'll get on with school work.

@Nellodee

I'm going to reiterate - I am not in any way calling for schools to close. I am saying that almost all my students are already isolating and it is only going to get worse. I want a way to keep them open as much as possible, because at least then I will get to teach some of them, some of the time, with some consistency.

This also (although if someone gave me the 6 month unpaid thing I'd go for that at the moment too).

I don't want schools to close, nobody does. It's what I wanted to do since I was about 14. A more optimistic and idealistic student teacher you couldn't have found more than I was. I'm an excellent teacher (when I have my game face on) who has been praised by colleagues and OFSTED but if parents want schools to stay open they have more power than we do as teachers, they need to lobby their MPs etc for more safety features (more staff, smaller classes etc etc).

I shop once a week and get everything I need. I don’t NEED to pop again just to get a newspaper. If I fancied a chocolate bar later I wouldn’t pop and get one as I think we can all make little changes at this difficult time which will benefit everyone

Well done. I am sure your halo is in the post.

@Devilesko

There's a difference between H.ed and forced home schooling. The former is a choice, you deregister or don't register in the first place and are completely in control of your child's education, with no input from the LA.

The latter is something forced due to the pandemic.
You can get them to do the work from school the same way as you can get them to do other things.
It's amazing when there's no wifi for their free time, how easily they'll get on with school work.

But let's face it, homeschooling for many children is just WiFi related free time because their parents are working

@MadameBlobby ooo I'm hoping mine is too as I get deliveries only.

[quote baller20]www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/education/2020/sep/01/disadvantaged-and-bame-pupils-lost-more-learning-study-finds[/quote]
Ok then. Well I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make with that article.

Teachers on here are saying that, the way the current system is, it’s the same children who are being disadvantaged right now. Schools in disadvantaged areas are more likely to have cases and to have to ask children to isolate. They are often then getting nothing for 2 weeks.... and then another 2 weeks.

Surely, if those vulnerable and disadvantaged children were attending schools that were more protected then they wouldn’t be missing out as much.

In contrast, my children go to a private school that has classes of 15. We have not had a single case yet. Each bubble of 15 has a teacher and TA. If anyone does have to isolate they can join in with the lesson live via a laptop provided by the school. If the whole bubble has to isolate then they all get laptops and are taught with a mixture of live and recorded lessons. If schools are asked to close again then any child who needs a space in school (for whatever reason) will be given one. Why aren’t we fighting for the money for all schools to have this??! There are a team of fantastic supply teachers and retired teachers who would be more than happy to help children who have to isolate or work from home, many more than happy to do this for free. But the government can’t even be bothered to utilise them.

No one wants schools to close, not least to the children who need it the most. But there is a better way to what we have now.

@Starlight101 my kids go to 3 form entry with 30 per class and have had one case..

Education can be caught up on and you would think the majority of parents would ensure the remote learning was complied with for the sake of their children.

I have a job, said job must be carried out between 8:30 and 5:30, I have to prebook my lunch slot.

Not exactly sure how I get a five year old to nicely concentrate in front of a laptop screen for hours on end when I’m working.

But there is a better way to what we have now.

Who has said otherwise?

This OP is about home ed & some of the issues around it hence the article.

[quote DameCelia]@opheliascrayon when that was raised with the HT? And after that the Governing Body and after that with the local authority?[/quote]
I'm so sorry I can't work out what you're asking me?

@SimonJT

Education can be caught up on and you would think the majority of parents would ensure the remote learning was complied with for the sake of their children.

I have a job, said job must be carried out between 8:30 and 5:30, I have to prebook my lunch slot.

Not exactly sure how I get a five year old to nicely concentrate in front of a laptop screen for hours on end when I’m working.

In this situation then yes, your child absolutely should be in school.

I’m contrast, I have a 6 year old who absolutely does not need to be in school. DH and I can juggle work for homeschool, he’s very happy in his own company just seeing a few friends in the park once a week and has improved academically over lockdown. I would be more than happy to keep him at home so that parents like you could send your child to a school where less children meant less cases. But at the moment we aren’t allowed.

On the other hand my 8 year old flies academically at home but she needs more social interaction. Part time learning at school would be better for her. Schools need to be given the money and freedom to create a learning system that works for their area and their families.

On Friday the DFE emailed schools at 5.30 pm and explained that, due to “changes in how devices were being allocated” their quota had changed. Every school had their device quota slashed by around 80%. During the first wave they also overestimated how many laptops schools had to begin with - they didn’t ask. The mismanagement of schools during the pandemic should be a huge scandal. Yet the blame is somehow shifted each time. Someone is getting very rich off the back of this.

I don’t want schools to close- but don’t tell me they are covid secure because I might laugh myself to death. Getting more and more short staffed, no social distancing because it’s impossible. Some schools have told teachers to turn off the covid app - not that track and trace is fit for purpose. And then the sneaky taking out of the line “schools are safe”. It’s appalling.

If we are bringing anecdotal evidence to the table my dc are in a 2 form London primary, 1 case during the pre summer easing. DS works in a big London secondary with higher than average FSMs, 1 case. It's almost like each school is individual & location is relevant.

I'm not saying schools won't close, I don't believe they are 100% safe, who does? However it doesn't change the fact I think my dc are better off in school & I would prefer the school to stay open.

The mismanagement of schools during the pandemic should be a huge scandal. Yet the blame is somehow shifted each time. Someone is getting very rich off the back of this.

Completely agree.

@baller20

If we are bringing anecdotal evidence to the table my dc are in a 2 form London primary, 1 case during the pre summer easing. DS works in a big London secondary with higher than average FSMs, 1 case. It's almost like each school is individual & location is relevant.

I'm not saying schools won't close, I don't believe they are 100% safe, who does? However it doesn't change the fact I think my dc are better off in school & I would prefer the school to stay open.

Exactly. Give each school the money and let them make the right decisions for their school. They will do a 100% better job than the government.

There are many schools that have had no cases at all - so no need to close those!!!