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.

So I teach my 6 year old at the crack of dawn or late at night then yeah?? I'm sure that will work brilliantly

It's the same for us all though, a shit situation we're all desperate to avoid. We didn't act early enough.

@monkeytennis97 I looked on Twitter & saw reference to kids isolating but nothing about schools that are closed. I would be interested to know. There is an app or website where you can see R rates near your school I think I read about.

Lives over education every time. I’m sure every child and adult would rather have their relatives/parents alive than a school open. At least I hope they would. Education doesn’t have to be sat at a desk in school.

To make that decision we need to know 1) how many lives are actually saved by closing schools and 2) how many lives might be lost longer term as a result of school closures (mental health, unemployment etc).

@baller20 did you go on their website and look at the map of closures?

Didn't see a website but found it now, Is this the map page?

www.boycottunsafeschools.co.uk/reported-covid-19-cases/

Brutus seems to be a campaign group?

I'm interested to look at their data but can only see info for cases not closures?

It would be a last resort to close schools and like last time vulnerable children would be in school.

I am a TA. At our school we have had time to ensure everyone has access to a laptop and internet. We have ensured everyone knows how to log on and we have prepared online learning.

It would be much, much more hassle than having everyone in school but of course it is protecting many lives so it would be worth it.

For me personally it would be hassle if we closed schools. I have 3 children in GCSE years and one at primary. I would be at school and they would mostly be at home on their own getting on with stuff by themselves like last time (my DH would be working at home occasionally) but I would never put my own own preferences above the need to protect lives.

The alternative is letting COVID rip through the population unchecked, overwhelming the NHS and having thousands upon thousands DIE.

Thinking of all the NHS workers out there - thank you.

I think people advocating the fallacy that is 'blended learning' ought to perhaps be honest about the fact that they are actually saying they are not in favour of free education for all, regardless of family circumstances, finance or parental capability. Blended learning means that more than ever, the privileged get more, the under privileged get next to nothing.

I'm surprised so many are ok with that.

@Deliaskis at the moment there is huge inequality in privision (there always is anyway with private schools), but some schools in the NW are facing repeated closures for exam group bubbles. There already is a lot of inequality going on (and always has been). One of the reasons I, as a privately educated girl, has worked in the state system for over 25 years is to try to level this up.

Blended learning means that more than ever, the privileged get more, the under privileged get next to nothing.

I agree. And it seems many mumsnetters are fairly privileged.

*provision

@baller20 I doubt data was collected on that? It's a shame some schools didn't offer this, I remember a thread here where the OP approached her school and got this sorted.

I can see data about where children are in terms of age related expectations in my school, and it's not any different to how it would normally look at this point in the year, so something we did worked.

I guess in some schools parents were angry if kw children had educational provision that theirs didn't, but they definitely all got access to the same learning pack at my school and all the others round here.

at the moment there is huge inequality in privision (there always is anyway with private schools), but some schools in the NW are facing repeated closures for exam group bubbles. There already is a lot of inequality going on (and always has been).

Then please let's not make it worse by sending all kids home for 'blended learning'!

@Sunflowers246 and @Deliaskis what have you personally done to address this prior to the pandemic? As I have stated dedicating my 25 year career to the state sector despite being privately educated and able to get a job (due to qualifications and experience) in the private sector.

@Sunflowers246 @Deliaskis lobby your MPs then for better access for vulnerable children (who will be entitled to come in, as before, if they qualify eg have a social worker- there are other qualifications to in school learning I just can't remember them... it's only that my disabled DC has a social worker that I remember that one). Safety is paramount.

What am I doing about it?

I'm pointing out the danger of blended learning disadvantaging certain sections of society. And that doesn't seem fair.

@Sunflowers246 well done, admirable.

But yes, we can probably do more as a society. But that wasn't the question in this thread.

@Barbie222 so the this was not the case in many, many schools was just based on your experience? I think it's helpful on these threads to try & separate anecdotal evidence out.

No, neither was privileged/underprivileged mentioned in the thread, yet here we are.

*thread title.

I understood the thread to ask whether we think blended learning would work or not

And my opinion is no, because it would cause some children to fall behind, and with exams take place next summer, that would be very unfair.

Christ knows.

We were fine with Dd year 1 (at the time) as we hone educated our eldest all through primary so we knew all the resources, what books we preferred (CGP is anyone is taking notes incase) and it was fine. Nothing from school - although Dd hadn't actually started there yet as we got a place the week of lockdown after a house move in Jan, so we’d been home educating while waiting for a school place anyway.

I was speaking to Dd teacher as the school have sent out new google classroom links incase we have to isolate or distance learn again, hardly any one in the teachers class last year bothered. A lot of the children fell behind in literacy who were struggling anyway.

Dd and a few others have been Moved up to year 3 for literacy as they are having to concentrate on the ones who really fell behind and forgot a lot of what they learned.

The OP specially mentions tbf 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.