Schools shut now what!?

[balloon27]

Just had confirmation from our school that it's closed for 2 weeks as of tomorrow ( inset day today)
I feel sick I'm panicking so much last time round homeschooling was a nightmare my eldest hated it as he struggles anyway , my middle was happy to crack on but needed support and my littlest who's 4 needs constant attention.
I think we're going to do reading and tt rockstars this time anything else set by school that we get done is a bonus.
My mental health can't take it 😭😭
Anyone else feeling the same, wishing us all luck these next few weeks!
Xx

From the perspective of a teacher - just do what you can. Reading and TT rockstars sounds great. No point in making yourself unwell and unhappy. Hopefully it’ll only be a short period of time that schools are closed for (presuming others do end up closing), and the focus should be on ensuring your household is safe and happy.

They won't open in 2 weeks sadly. If we are going to close schools now we need to agree that they will teach over the summer holidays to make up for it.

They won't open in 2 weeks sadly. If we are going to close schools now we need to agree that they will teach over the summer holidays to make up for it

Not going to happen. Schools are open in some areas. Schools are not closed either. Education is remote.

The government need to make schools safer.

I have a stroppy year 11 she didn’t well with the shambolic attempt at remote learning in lockdown 1. But I just hope to goodness Bojo grows a pair and announces a lockdown tonight or tomorrow morning as I am CEV and whilst she is sensible and isn’t mixing with her peers outside of school. It won’t take much fir her to bring it into the home with this new strain.

I’m so with you and maybe we need a support thread! It had me in my knees last tile and my marriage nearly collapsed!

Notevenat20 Teachers will be expected to teach remotely so they can't possibly then be expected to work during the summer.

@notevenat20

They won't open in 2 weeks sadly. If we are going to close schools now we need to agree that they will teach over the summer holidays to make up for it.

I don’t think someone’s thread about how their mental health is suffering right now is the time to start making demands on staff.

I know this isn't the sort of support you are looking for, but I recommend fixing a time or day when they can cash in their coins on TT Rockstars. I've done that with Y4/Y5 and Y6, and they all seem to respond really well to that for some reason.

Do what you can. That's all anyone can do. Guarantee you will do more with yours than I will with mine (I'll be working ft so schoolwork isn't happening).

Don't set yourself a high standard for home schooling. Anything you can do is a bonus. Otherwise, let them just be happy. It'll be tough with a 4 year old.

Our primary school's academy trust scheduled a last minute inset day for today, waiting to hear what's happening for the rest of the week. I strongly feel they should open.

If they don't I'll be doing the same as you @balloon27, plenty of reading plus spelling shed and TT Rockstars. Will support my Year 6 DD with work set by school as much as possible but she developed anxiety during the last school closures and I'm most worried about her mental health and how she'll cope socially moving up to secondary in a few months time. If school think I'm going to pressure her to sit endless practise Sat's papers at home they can think again. I presume Sat's will be cancelled if closures continue, her teachers know her ability, if she gets lower levels and starts secondary in lower sets than her ability would put her in, well, she can catch up in the future. As long as she's eating and sleeping well. She has the company of her siblings which helps massively but is really at an age she needs some time with peers too.

@LauristonPlace No, schools are closing. Saying they're just 'going online' may make some feel better about calling for widespread closures but the truth is many primary children will now be out of education for weeks/months. Zoom/Teams/Google classrooms isn't suitable for 4-11 year olds. They need to be in class for their social development.

I support teachers being prioritised for the vaccine and am happy for my DCs to wear masks in school. They should be in class as we speak though and I won't be happy if they're not tomorrow. The argument it isn't 'safe' doesn't stand up when the teachers will be in with keyworkers children anyway and they won't be social distancing. Windows open, bubbles for degrees of separation and reduction of close contacts, extra cleaning, happy for masks to be brought in, crack on while the vaccines roll out.

Notevenat20 Teachers will be expected to teach remotely so they can't possibly then be expected to work during the summer.

My proposal is to actually close all the schools for 6 weeks with no remote teaching.

My two are delighted and we have both my husband (who also tutors maths) and I on hand but not all children feel this way or have parents with free time. It's a really difficult situation for many. Just remember that with one to one attention you don't need to make each task a long one and don't get stressed if you don't get every single piece done.

@Carlislemumof4
No, schools are closing

No, they are remaining open to KW and V children with teachers continuing to educate children on line.

In fact, we have the vast majority of schools in my area completely open.

May have to change by the government announcement tonight tho.