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 feel totally stressed at the thought of what to do for childcare if it goes ahead. I don't have family to help, I work for NHS and can't do my job from home and dh is also a key worker.
Dd will be fine as she's 14 but ds is 11 and attends an asn high school and can't be left alone due to his needs. What the hell am I meant to do? Me and dh have split annual leave to cover the current holidays but I'm screwed if they're longer. Can't see our employers being particularly sympathetic.

I heard from a school governor that this has been discussed in the local LEA in my borough of London.
Looks like it might well happen nationwide.

@Clearasmuddypuddles

I’ve had the same thing. Student positive who had been in school all week and I have taught for 3 hours. Whole year group asked to isolate but not teaching staff.

I am so angry. Because teachers aren’t afforded any protections I can’t see friends or family because I am an infection risk.

So my sixth formers are having sleepovers and snogging non stop in the common room but I can’t see my parents or sister.

There are points where a job has asked too much of you and I think I have reached that point.

@BelleSausage I know exactly what you mean. I am lucky that I only work 2 days per week, any more and I don’t think I could do it.

I’m going to start wearing my mask in the classroom unless I am directly speaking to the whole class and will be planning silent independent tasks/tests for the last 2 weeks of term to minimise my contact!

I get that kids are missing out on education but given the terrible examples of literacy and numeracy I see every day on social media from people aged 25-60, I don't think missing school makes a difference to be honest.

Jesus.

Clearasmuddypuddles And I hope that if teachers pull a sickie for those reasons then they are disciplined if it comes out.

The children are really tired. We've now been back since the 11th August, which is 15 weeks including the holidays. They all had to adjust again to school expectations, as well as coping with masks, bubbles, handwashing etc.

Even in schools which 'work until the end', there will be no new learning from the 18-22nd December. Anyone who thinks a child is missing valuable learning time has never stood in front of 30 of them at this time of year.

Dolly But it’s not at the end of this term, it’s the start of the next term.

I’m slightly bemused that many appear to have no issues with unplanned two week isolations as opposed to a planned break.

I’ve much rather know that my children will not be in school on XYY than being called at half ten on Monday morning to collect my child immediately at school which happened to us this week. I was teaching so didn’t receive the call and my husband was an hour away so had to race back to collect our child.

Said child is now home until next week and we’ve had to move heaven and earth for childcare.

Many seem to think ‘this can’t happen to ME’ yet this is happening every day to many other around the U.K.

Well, then, look what happened in August and how rates and tests soared. If people are going to be allowed or encouraged to see families, then you have to expect even worse to happen in January. Better two weeks to lower rates than four weeks of disruption.

900,000 children out of school last Thursday, I believe.

My oldest 2 are s5 and s6 so have exams to sit in May.

They’re in a lucky position in that they’ve only missed one day of school since they returned in August, and are good at getting on and doing remote learning.

However a lot of kids have missed chunks of school isolating, and don’t have the same resources and support for remote learning. An extra week out of school will be detrimental to those children who will have to sit exams along with everyone else.

These decisions are basically impossible; you're never going to satisfy everybody, or even the majority of people.

I don't mind what they decide, I'm lucky i can cope with various scenarios as I'm presently not working. I just hope for everyone's sake they decide early, rather than dithering and making it impossible for people to make plans.

900,000 children out of school when we are in a lockdown.
Wonder how many that will be when we have had free reign for 5 days ?
But let’s pretend that schools are open.

I understand people saying what will they do they have no childcare etc but isn’t it better than getting two weeks isolation sprung on you when it rips through schools. Possibly multiple times. My nephew has now had to isolate twice for two weeks. With no notice for childcare. My own kids had missed two weeks so far.

Depressing. Completely closed then?
If they do it in England better if it moves online rather than closed.

Doesn’t make much difference in primary, don’t think they have the ability out school anyway, but secondary they do.

@cardibach

Also *@ImPrincessAurora* why bored? We do a full online timetable...

Sadly in my house there will be no one to assist my 7 and 5 year olds with accessing the online timetable, as we will both be working full time.

Kingsley08 I can deal with that as and when and would probably manage to get the time off work.

Planned closure? Not so easily arranged as most of my colleagues have school age children and we cant all be off, or even more than one or two of us.

If you want online learning, it has to be organised.

We've set homework online since August, the same children are still not accessing it despite me printing passwords, talking them through the set up and phoning home. These children all have Youtube and Tiktok accounts

The minority of children who don't have devices have been supplied with them and are using them well.

If you want 'high quality online learning' then you have to give teachers time to plan said high quality online learning.

@DollyMixtureLulus

If you want online learning, it has to be organised.

We've set homework online since August, the same children are still not accessing it despite me printing passwords, talking them through the set up and phoning home. These children all have Youtube and Tiktok accounts

The minority of children who don't have devices have been supplied with them and are using them well.

If you want 'high quality online learning' then you have to give teachers time to plan said high quality online learning.

What year are you talking about?

Ours is very good going by practise days they’ve had already but probably rare.

That’s secondary though. Primary I would be usual LCD worksheet.

Primary, upper stages.

Happy for teachers and all school staff to have some time off (although will it actually be time off or home schooling?) But it's frustrating for people who won't be mixing with others over Christmas. And I really feel for children who don't have a great home life and would be better off in school.

@Christmasbiscuit

There does need to be a conversation about schooling and how we I’ve forward from this point. School work for some kids but the ones at the very top and bottom of the ability ranges get a somewhat raw deal in being expected to learn in the same way.

My top set has been in isolate for two weeks and have mostly loved it. They work at their own pace and the teacher are there for guidance. Many of them would much prefer to continue that way- without distraction.

But my bottom set GCSE need something different. They need to be in school but probably not in such a restrictive classroom environment. They need the guidance and the push from teachers but also need something a lot less pressurised.

We need to talk about how we get optimal performance from all our pupils. Because one size does not fit all. I think this situation has really highlighted this.

I’d be happy to have a system where those who were self starters could do online and those who needed support could do blended. With the very few who did not have the means and ability to be in school Ft. How much more one to one attention would they get? It would make such a difference.

I understand people saying what will they do they have no childcare etc but isn’t it better than getting two weeks isolation sprung on you when it rips through schools.

I don't think going back to school on the 11th instead of the 5th will make a blind bit of difference to that. They will still have bubbles bursting after the 11th.

@papaelf

I understand people saying what will they do they have no childcare etc but isn’t it better than getting two weeks isolation sprung on you when it rips through schools.

I don't think going back to school on the 11th instead of the 5th will make a blind bit of difference to that. They will still have bubbles bursting after the 11th.

And if kids are off until the 11th, does anyone think they’re going to be sat at home in isolation for that week? Teenagers will continue to socialise. Many parents will have to use family and friends for childcare. It will still be spreading in that week.