Does your school require masks in the classroom?

[notevenat20]

I am trying to work out if heads can require children to wear masks in the classroom. There have been a few reports here of schools where this happens. I know most don't.

If your DC's school requires masks in the classroom, please say so. Any relevant details you can add about the school to understand why would be awesome too.

Yes all staff and students wear them at all times indoors unless eating/drinking.

Where is this?

Whereas I wear a mask all day and have no difficulty in communicating and feel quite comfortable wearing a light piece of fabric over my mouth and nose.

Well done you. I feel suitably belittled.

Many of the SEN and SEMH students I work 121 with (that's my job, I'm not a proper teacher at the front of the class) really struggle without facial expressions so it's hard work in a mask. Or at least I find it so. Great that you find it so easy though, perhaps you could give me some tips (genuinely!).

I'm perfectly comfortable physically wearing my 'light piece of fabric' and I as I said in my earlier post, I want to protect the kids I work with, so I wear it constantly without complaint (well, other than complaining here, obviously).

Yes Tier 3 - Kent

HT made mask/visor compulsory in lessons mid november, exceptions are for PE, 5-10min teacher discretion, eating&drinking or medical exemption.

Checked for mask on entry at gate and even had a teacher call me to tell me he had forgot his one day and the school doesn't have unlimited supplies so to make sure he has it before leaving.

gingerbread

Just about every one i know struggles to communicate in a mask...its more not being able to hear than talk in my experience

No, just when moving in the common areas or in rooms like art where they have to move around (and can't remain seated in socially distanced way).

No masks in classrooms for my secondary aged children (tier 2) only in corridors.

No masks or visors for school staff in the office, corridors or classroom (primary.)

@GingerbreadFairy I work with similar students, also 1-2-1, and I genuinely do not find communication difficult at all. Not meaning to belittle but people only seem to post about how difficult it is to wear masks all day - just trying to give another view.

I also teach from the front of the room on occasion and find no problems there either. I’m not stupid enough to think there are no problems but there haven’t been in my experience.

In terms of tips, I don’t have any - it just seems to work for me and my students.

Sorry you find it hard though, let’s hope it all becomes unnecessary as soon as possible.

I struggle quite significantly to hear in a mask, I’ve realised I lip read to assist in normal times. I think many people have found the same. Students with language based SEN eg auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, poor hearing etc and those with common conditions like glue ear must also struggle somewhat!

@BungleandGeorge

I struggle quite significantly to hear in a mask, I’ve realised I lip read to assist in normal times. I think many people have found the same. Students with language based SEN eg auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, poor hearing etc and those with common conditions like glue ear must also struggle somewhat!

As I said, I’m sure there must be problems but I genuinely haven’t encountered any and there must be many others who have found the same too.

My ds school they can wear one if they want to

Teacher in tier 3 Scotland. I have to teach s4 - s6 (age 15 up) wearing a mask. Those pupils need to wear masks all day. I also need to wear a mask in corridors.

And I should add that all pupils from S1 up (usually age 12) need to wear masks in corridors.

Yes.. Only place can take off is outside.
Same with about 7 of the other local senior schools

Not meaning to belittle but people only seem to post about how difficult it is to wear masks all day - just trying to give another view

Some people find it difficult

Im not 100% sure what ‘i find wearing a mask dead easy’ is supposed to accomplish to be honest

There is no other side...someone who struggles isnt going to find it easy when someone describes how easy they find it

It does come over as a bit of a dig...

And I appreciate that you don’t mean it as a dig carrie

Not required in either dc's secondary school during lessons, sadly.

Luckily 14yo DS chooses to wear one all day when he's in class. A handful of his mates do too. He wears one at karate too.

Ireland - primary school- teachers/SNAs wear masks (sometimes visors if reading aloud). They have microphones if needed too.

Primary school students only wear masks on the school bus.

Ireland - secondary school - pupils and teachers wear masks in the classroom where 2 metre distance can't be maintained.

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer - if people haven’t had to wear masks for extended periods of time so far, only seeing posts saying how hard people find wearing one can be quite off putting and make you apprehensive. If there are posts giving an opposite view, maybe that apprehension (even possibly fear) won’t be so bad. I haven’t needed to test yet and I am quite scared when people post about how unpleasant it can be, I’m much more reassured to know that it won’t necessarily be so bad. Same with actually contracting the virus, it was a real boost when a colleague who did get it told me of her mild experience, I have (slightly!) less fear.

No digs intended.

No digs intended

I know 😀

Thats why i said you weren’t having a dig

But your post was very balanced and not at all like some of the ‘i dont have a problem wearing a mask’ posts

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer