Special need schools

[Fairyscary]

What are peoples thoughts on special need schools staying open around the country? Teachers and parents views. Seems like it’s really important for the pupils and their parents but very risky for teachers and their families.

It's all about balancing harms and risks of doing something with the harms and risks of not doing it.

A "high infection rate" area typically has around 1000 new cases per week per 100,000 population. That's around 1%. I am not minimising the importance of keeping the R rate low but the vast majority of people are not infected. If no precautions are taken then obviously cases go up exponentially and soon everyone is infected so all these closures etc are necessary but it is safe enough to keep open some services and activities where the benefits outweigh the risks.

The harms and risks of closing special schools would be astronomical.

Parent here. My daughter is at a special school. Her class size is 9 children. She’s secondary age so wears a face mask in corridors etc even though technically exempt and they temperature check her every day.

Like many SEN children who get the bus to school, she doesn’t see her school friends out of school time because they’re all dotted around the borough and she doesn’t do many activities. Lots of parents with SEN children are super careful because many have health conditions or learning disabilities that make them vulnerable. We don’t go into work or into shops for example and didn’t see family over Christmas.

In view of this, I would say the risk to teachers in her school would actually be lower than in a mainstream secondary where bubbles are much bigger and where a lot of children/teens disregard the distancing rules outside of school. I have another primary aged DD who goes to more activities etc so I’d say her teacher was more ‘at risk’.

So personally, I’m delighted and totally think they should stay open. DD thrives on routine and adores her school and the staff are amazing.

My son attends a special school they send an email saying they will be open on the 5th to all pupils. The school has children from 2 to 18 year and about 120 altogether.
Since September they have only had 1 case with a staff member or that's all they are telling the parents.
I am worried about him going back in his class there is 15 children including him and about 6 adults there isn't social distancing.
But to me that's about 20 different households to catch it from.
My oldest son attends a pupil referral unit and received an email off them yesterday saying that the government has not classed them as being a secondary school and they have to go back on the 5th but they have to have a test done first.
I think the schools are being a babysitting service for a lot of parents with children at special schools. But alot of these children have health problems and don't really think it's worth the risk really

Sal

Its risky as no sd or masks. But for respite for parents I think its needed. But alot of parents could /would be able to keep their child home if need be. I'm a teacher, if my tier 4 childrens school closes though I won't be able to go and teach in special school... knock on effect.

Having seen the huge challenge to both the children and their families the first lockdown bought, I think they should stay open.

But this has to be balanced against the risks to staff (who are typically older and working in closer proximity) and the children themselves who are often medically vulnerable.

I therefore think families should be given the choice Schools should be able to ask all families to consider either keeping their children at home if they want to/can, sending them in part-time (complicated because of transport but not impossible) or sending them as usual if they would really struggle to be at home.

Special schools should absolutely stay open for a multitude of reasons - our students are amongst the most vulnerable and Lockdown is particularly hard for them and their parents/carers.
However, (and I know it won't happen but hey), in an ideal world staff and students should be given priority for vaccines to enable this to happen. Although the majority of our parents and carers have been super- careful we've had cases and bubbles closing amongst all age groups in our school so it's still got in. I do predict continued disruption 😖. However, closing is a last resort which I hope can be avoided. Fingers crossed staff and families have been ridiculously careful over the holidays 🤞

I agree with @MoMuntervary too

Sen teacher here: we should stay open, we have remained open and I will remain going no matter what. I believe we absolutely need to be open and be available to our students and families. If families don't wish their children to attend then we will do our absolute utmost to support at home this said as obviously many children do also have medical issues as well.
I'm CEV but have worked throughout as I chose not to shield and I can truly hand on heart say that yes it is risky because we can't social distance, we are in constant physical contact with our students and we don't use PPE, but, I am deeply glad that we have remained open and truly hope that we alwsys do. It is my absolute pleasure to go in and take whatever risks I do, and continue working with my students. They need us, our families need us, and we also need them - in that, I would just be so upset if the school had to shut and we couldn't continue to work with our children - I love what I do and I think that irrespective of the overall situation in the country this truly is one area where we do need to remain open to support our families.

@MoMuntervary

Having seen the huge challenge to both the children and their families the first lockdown bought, I think they should stay open.

But this has to be balanced against the risks to staff (who are typically older and working in closer proximity) and the children themselves who are often medically vulnerable.

I therefore think families should be given the choice Schools should be able to ask all families to consider either keeping their children at home if they want to/can, sending them in part-time (complicated because of transport but not impossible) or sending them as usual if they would really struggle to be at home.

Also not all staff are typically older I'm not sure where you've got that! I work in a massive SEN school with a really young staff group. Same in my last school. So ..not so sure that assumption is correct there! I am CEV though and on the shielding list but I never followed the advice and have worked throughout.

My daughters sen secondary is staying closed other than key worker children and v.vulnerable (this means children with SS involvement not just a EHCP all the pupils have those)

They have the advantage over most secondary schools that class sizes are incredibly small on a normal basis so social distancing between students is fairly easy and they have made school as safe as possible. However because of the needs of the children teachers cannot distance from the children and there is a higher staff:pupil ratio so more than one adult in a room together all day.

They have worked incredibly hard to put in place a robust remote learning system. I think they have made the correct choice

SEN teacher. We closed last time and I think we should close again. Just in my department I know of 6 staff who currently have Covid, 2 who are shielding and then recruitment was interrupted last term for essential new staff due to increased numbers on roll, so I would say we have approximately half the staff we need available. Rates are very high in my area and people were dropping like flies the last couple of weeks of last term. One of the main issues I think is that we have 4-6 staff in each smallish classroom with no PPE, so there is no chance to avoid spreading it if someone is infectious. Some of our families will really struggle at home so we can offer places to them, but many coped as well as anyone last time around.

I think re age of staff in special ed, it depends on the school tbf. We have a real spread and lots of older staff - some of who are CV. A few CEV who are shielding. Like any school it's a mixture but we'd be short-staffed if everyone who was desperately worried about their health was able to shield. It's incredibly important we're open but the impact on staff MH (In some cases) is there...

@OpheliasCrayon

Sen teacher here: we should stay open, we have remained open and I will remain going no matter what. I believe we absolutely need to be open and be available to our students and families. If families don't wish their children to attend then we will do our absolute utmost to support at home this said as obviously many children do also have medical issues as well. I'm CEV but have worked throughout as I chose not to shield and I can truly hand on heart say that yes it is risky because we can't social distance, we are in constant physical contact with our students and we don't use PPE, but, I am deeply glad that we have remained open and truly hope that we alwsys do. It is my absolute pleasure to go in and take whatever risks I do, and continue working with my students. They need us, our families need us, and we also need them - in that, I would just be so upset if the school had to shut and we couldn't continue to work with our children - I love what I do and I think that irrespective of the overall situation in the country this truly is one area where we do need to remain open to support our families.

Thank you, you sound just like my son's teacher and you are both heroes 💙

@greenjojocat no thanks needed it's my pleasure and always will be. I'll honestly cry if our school shuts.

SEN teacher here who is happy to keep the school open!
The parents need the respite and trying to do Zoom/online learning the last time was horrendous!
My students are exempt from wearing masks and there's hardly any social distancing due to a lack of comprehension, but I'm not in the least bit worried about Covid.
Only a couple of staff have caught Covid, but all from their own dc, not the students.

@OpheliasCrayon Thank you from me too. It’s so nice to hear from someone who actually gets how vitally important it is that special schools remain open.

"Lots of parents with SEN children are super careful because many have health conditions or learning disabilities that make them vulnerable. We don’t go into work or into shops for example and didn’t see family over Christmas."

This.

The kids at ds's school don't mix outside of school. Many families due to their children's needs cannot or do not socialise with others including extended family even in ordinary times. Ds has not been anywhere indoors apart from home, school and hospital since March. He is very unlikely to take covid into school. His class is very small and they do not mix with other classes.

I think special school teachers should be considered as a priority group for vaccinating and I also support the use of masks for staff when rates are high. They did this at ds's school for a few weeks after a couple of cases in one class and although not ideal and probably did hinder learning a bit, the children coped.

Parents should also have the option of keeping their child at home without losing their place.

@boobybum - I think you'll find LOTS of special school staff understand just how tough things are for families and want to keep the schools open. We have a glimpse of this every day but obviously cannot walk in your shoes. I hope your child continues to receive the support they need

[quote GinJeanie]@boobybum - I think you'll find LOTS of special school staff understand just how tough things are for families and want to keep the schools open. We have a glimpse of this every day but obviously cannot walk in your shoes. I hope your child continues to receive the support they need [/quote]
I would say that all of my colleagues past and present feel the same as me. We all want to be here for our families and children. Some of us are worried for ourselves and our families (not me weirdly despite being CEV, but each to their own) but whilst maybe I'm the person who's written it out like that for you to see, I can say without a doubt I speak for everyone I know in this area of education as well. Definitely not just me.

Great that there are so many dedicated professionals taking these risks.

Why do you think staff will be higher risk in SN school? My foster son goes to a SN secondary and all children wear a mask all day in lessons, corridors etc. Only time they take them off are outside PE. School also temperature checks every child and staff every day. Staff wear PPE masks and vizors all day. All children wash hands on arriving at school, teacher supervises. Hand gel given to every child twice in morning and once after lunch. If any child can't/won't wear mask they are put on home learning. Only packed lunches in class bubbles. Teachers are safer than many other workers as socially distanced at front of class and classrooms well ventilated. Latest email from school says will open Jan 5th and suggests children wear base layers as all classroom windows will be open all day. They have spare masks if a child's mask breaks and Year group bubbles. Only about 23-25 in a year group and split into 2 classes. Headteacher said on email teachers would be temperature checked daily and tested with rapid flow test twice a week too. Not sure if children get rapid flow test or not yet but hoping so. Any teacher who is ECV with letter from consultant (1 teacher at FS school) is leading the home learning.

I understand as a TA in a special school but I'm not going to lie, I am worried for the first time during this pandemic for my own family, my vulnerable 80 year old mum and yes, myself. I'm not ecv but have had multiple serious health issues over the last few years. I can neither resign nor want to, I love my job and know the importance of school to the children and families, but surely there can be more done to protect staff at SN schools? I am also concerned that as the new strain is so transmissible and affecting children more it may cause terrible problems in some of our ecv pupils. What happens then?

I don't understand why some are saying neither teachers or pupils are wearing masks? My foster child attends moderate to severe learning needs secondary school and all children and staff wear masks all day in all lessons or home learning if can't/ won't wear mask. Some children and staff are wearing a mask and a vizor. Headteacher has praised all children and told them how wearing a mask keeps everyone safe. They wear masks in taxis and minibuses too. I.am glad his school is being do sensible. So far only 2 year group bubbles have had to self isolate so switch to home learning for 10 days since September. Special schools were allowed to stay closed before as given exception but are no longer except so have to open now. These children need routine so badly closing school affects them more than most children and they are less able to learn well online.

"any child can't/won't wear mask they are put on home learning."

That is unlawful in UK state or government approved special schools.

My son's asn secondary school is remaining open and I'm delighted they are. He only started in August but it's made a huge difference to him and I know he would struggle if it closes.
Last year he was still at a mainstream primary school and struggled so much with the lack of routine.
There are 150 pupils at the secondary school and ds is in a class of 10. Their base room is very well spaced out and social distancing is easily observed.
The staff are absolutely amazing and go the extra mile continually for all the students.