Extended School holidays leaked document (Scotland )

[Peppafrig]

What’s everyone’s feelings on the leaked document suggesting school holidays could be extended till the 11th January ? I think it makes sense to keep them shut for the week. Allowing everyone to not mix again for two weeks after the Christmas bubbles end . Seems like it could save a further even longer lockdown later on in January.

I may have said my dc told me they don't recognise the picture? However I also said I believe it is happening in many schools as most school staff on the other threads this picture was posted said it does. I believe them.

That is why I have shared it on a couple of threads, I really am shocked by it and feel it portrays the issues pretty well?

To be honest, this picture and a few other things I have read on here are why I have changed my stance regarded blended learning. I wasn't always particularly 'for it', but I am now. I think it could be implemented in secondary schools relatively painlessly for many, perhaps DC who cannot access work from home could go in fulltime, I don't know.

I don't work in a school so I don't know the ins and out of how it could work fairly but I am sure there is a way.

I honestly think it would be much better than a random week off for all schools.

@CallmeAngelina

Whatever. The point remains, regardless of whether you have children in secondary school.

I don't actually know what your point was? This is happening in some schools, sure. It's not happening in all of the schools.

You made an assumption that I was giving third hand information from my children, despite me saying I had involvement at local authority level, and when I told you I don't get the information from my children the best you can do is 'whatever'

Please do come back and tell me what the remaining point is because I don't have the first clue. You just seem to be posting for arguments sake.

I went to an essential shop last week during the school day.

There were absolutely loads of children there

You are fixating on the fact that you didn't get your information from DC.
I think this is irrelevant.
I'm not quite sure why you are confused as to my point. I think it was clear, but here we go:
You stated with some emphasis that this photo posted up-thread was not happening anywhere in your LA, and was not typical country-wide.
I disputed this, as you can have no idea what is happening in schools nationwide unless you are visiting them regularly, which you clearly are not.
Staff members who DO actually see scenes like this each day in their places of work, have posted on numerous MN threads to say that this is their experience.
I believe them (and see it to an extent in my own school, yet the LA and parents will have no idea).

The point of my post is that people won't isolate.

Cases are still dropping so was it half term that caused a dip or just a general downward trend?

Also how many parents would chose not to get a child with symptoms tested over 1/2 term knowing they would be back to 'normal'by the time school returned?

You stated with some emphasis that this photo posted up-thread was not happening anywhere in your LA, and was not typical country-wide.

Quite. It's not happening here. It's not countrywide otherwise it would be happening here.

CallMeAngelina But surely you can accept that that picture is not representative of all schools? I’ve read your posts and you only seem to believe the posts from people who agree with you.

@Covidnomore

The point of my post is that people won't isolate.

Cases are still dropping so was it half term that caused a dip or just a general downward trend?

Also how many parents would chose not to get a child with symptoms tested over 1/2 term knowing they would be back to 'normal'by the time school returned?

Yes that is a good point, about testing. Though hopefully they will still isolate accordingly, but maybe not

Why post you have knowledge at local authority level when what you mean is you work in a school?
A maths teacher in my school might say the corridors aren't too bad when a English one would say they are awful. A lot depends on the flow past your particular spot. There are wide corridors and narrow ones, broad staircases and small ones, subjects that are a thoroughfare through to other parts of the school and others that only a couple of classes need to use at a time.
I have driven on the M25 and honestly it was a walk in the park compared to the school entrance hall at the end of the day

Private I agree with you that blended learning would be safer than just an extra couple of days off at either end, but we know the government will not introduce that (they haven't even in tier 4 areas) so I guess I am jumping at the reduced risk those days would give us.

@Invisimamma

I'm in Scotland and my children are due to finish up on 23rd Dec. If they do finish early on 18th and don't go back til 11th that's an extra 6 days of childcare I need to find. It's stressing me out because with more notice I could've taken leave but my Xmas leave is now already in. Grandparents can't help as vulnerable. Their dad works in a hospital so his shifts are set now. Our usual holiday club won't be open this Xmas. Argh!

This!

DH & I are similar with DC not in childcare we will have to find childcare. We don't have remaining holidays and can't afford to take unpaid leave

@Possums4evr

Private I agree with you that blended learning would be safer than just an extra couple of days off at either end, but we know the government will not introduce that (they haven't even in tier 4 areas) so I guess I am jumping at the reduced risk those days would give us.

Fair enough, I think I am just running a little behind in my thinking haha, I have only got my head around the idea of blended learning recently

I think you are pretty ahead to be honest as you are willing to listen to others and alter your views! I hope all is quiet in the maternity ward for you this Christmas

Why post you have knowledge at local authority level when what you mean is you work in a school?

Because I work in schools

However you are just dragging up unnecessary shit.

Unnecessary shit? What, asking what experience your evidence was founded upon?
I can think of a few roles (SaLT, school counsellor for example) who would rarely have the need to travel corridors at bell times.
I've freely admitted I don't know what the corridors are like at the other side of my school, I don't know how anyone can claim that the situation depicted in that photo is not widespread.

Unnecessary shit? What, asking what experience your evidence was founded upon?

You didn't ask that though. You asked why I posted i had experience at local authority level when I work in a school. The unnecessary part is that we have gone over this already and if people don't believe there are schools out there doing it right then they won't believe by me saying it again.

Quite honestly @papaelf, your point that not all schools are like that is irrelevant. Some schools are like that and that is too many.

@sherrystrull

Quite honestly *@papaelf*, your point that not all schools are like that is irrelevant. Some schools are like that and that is too many.

I think it's completely relevant. I don't disagree with you that it should be happening.

Some people commenting on here clearly
don’t know what’s going on in schools at the moment. Schools are NOT a childcare facility!
The education of most children is going to be affected just like all other aspects of life until the vaccine has taken effect. Many children have already had between 1-3 periods of isolation so far this term. Due to restrictions they are missing out on lots of the usual learning experiences such as experiments in science etc. All lesson resources are available remotely anyway. The parents moaning about the possibility of schools being closed for a few extra days and how this will affect their children’s education are probably the same parents who can’t be bothered to make sure their children are keeping up with remote learning.

Surely it makes more sense for a planned week which will result in less cases next term and therefore less periods of isolation?

Baws Wow. There’s a generalisation if ever I’ve heard one. I did my best with the shitty online learning, most of which wasn’t compatible with our iPad. That was handy. Plus while both working out of the home and my dad taking over the schooling.

A planned week is all very well in good of both parents can arrange work around that. And as flexible as my work have been through this, I still need to work.

Neither of my kids have been off at all yet,

All lesson resources are available remotely anyway.

indeed, why do we even bother with schools and teachers? Let’s hand the whole thing over to Twinkl and sell off the school sites for housing.

(and I’ll put up with a week of extra holidays if it’ll minimise the rise in cases. It’s shit but it might be the least worst option. Stool, not sure how pretending like education isn’t really important and parents who don’t want this just can’t be arsed is going to win over any hearts and minds.)

I’d totally support this. Think it’s a good idea, although I do appreciate that it will cause childcare issues for some families.

I’d be gutted if my children had to self-isolate over Christmas and finishing a bit earlier reduces the chances of this.

I would also hope that allowing for two weeks of isolation following the relaxation over Christmas might go some way towards reducing the transmission in schools that would otherwise occur, therefore minimising the likelihood of enforced self-isolation as a result of being a close contact. I think this would be a more ‘level playing field’ where all children are either on holiday or being educated remotely rather than certain children having to isolate due to being a close contact following the relaxation, which also presents childcare issues.

It’s just a rubbish situation all round and there’s no one size fits all solution. Fed up with the whole thing!

Goldenomber, I think your comment ‘the least worst option’ is absolutely spot on! That’s exactly it.

My school is doing everything it can. I resent the implication that a crowded school is doing something wrong. We have to work within the SG guidelines, we cannot reduce class sizes or significantly alter time in school or reduce the curriculum.