So it looks like we're being prepared for children not to go back until after Easter

[choosingcrumble]

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/children-face-months-at-home-as-schools-stay-shut-until-easter-wp5ltpm82?fbclid=IwAR1l0gRSzuJLIv508reRmBEojbYfoGOsWwe3_pBFmKpA4EbI1IgC5dKC2uE

I suspected it wouldn't be until then, let's just hope that it doesn't stretch into the summer.

Anyway, perspective is all relative. We all cope with things differently and all our breaking points are different. Just because people talk about how hard they find something doesn't mean they also don't know it is necessary or that covid is serious. Very patronising and arrogant to assume otherwise.

@Dustyboots

If the children were split into 2 cohorts that could attend for part of the day (as in the Conneticut example above) then the teachers could concentrate on English and Maths during those hours (as that is what we are being told as working parents to do on homeschooling days)

This is the only plan I can see working.

Teachers- what do you think? Are there any other options?

How do we put pressure on the government to produce an actual plan rather than string us along for months with no strategy or end goal?

I think rotas is the best solution, yes. I think it would be better to do one week on and one week off though.

I think if you did mornings and afternoons, everyone would prefer the morning slot which would cause problems. Maybe not though?

Totallydefeated

You don’t realise the severity of the pandemic because although you have mental challenges you were evidently not hospitalised or facing a much worse fate like others are. It is disrespectful to all those front line medics who are trying to save lives and under mental strain you would never appreciate nor understand. You don’t know what mental trauma is. A front line medic deciding how to prioritise limited life saving medical resources and yet you are asking for more. We don’t evidently have enough to fund healthcare so who is going to pay for all your nice to have extras?

Why is it always someone else’s problem ie looking towards a relatively incompetent government for leadership and direction. What are you yourself doing to protect your self and family? You will find charity starts at home and especially in a pandemic when everyone is suffering. Some more than others but it’s look towards yourself and do what you can. Nobody can help you more than yourself first. Your long term mental suffering is unfortunate collateral damage but many others have a worse fate than you. Many are dead or grieving. Think of those and everything seems less painful.

@redsquirrelfan

What a shame you don’t like baking with your children Kokeshi123. I bet your children enjoy it though

That is really patronising. Crafting with your kids isn't a sign of a good parent.

Children aren’t locked up indoors though are they? We go out daily for walks and still use the garden for other exercise, trampoline etc. It’s parents responsibility to make sure their children are getting out each day

oh a TRAMPOLINE!

The sheer sanctimony of some of the women who post on this website is unreal. Some of the posters here have as little self-awareness as Trump! I didn't think it possible.

Who knew that baking and trampolining were the solution to everything.

You’re not a real mother until you have taught your 3 children to mix a cake made from organic ingredients whilst they jump on a trampoline wearing their Joules wellies. Surely everyone knows this. In fact if you haven’t done this I suggest you ring 101 and log it with the police!

@Totallydefeated @snowballer

DH and I emailed the school on the Monday of lockdown. We said that we were amenable to keeping primary school child home for safety and to keep the school ratios lower. However, unfortunately, we both work ft so will be unavailable to assist with homeschooling. He is upper juniors, he’ll send in what he gets done but he’s not going to stress over any of it. If the school feel that he needs to do certain activities or work that need supervision then he will need to come into school to undertake those tasks. If not possible then we are happy to keep him home but the tasks may not get done as there is no availability of parents to direct / teach the task. Blah blah blah.

Sounds a bit wanky admittedly, but we set out our stall so at least they know the position. They can invite him into school or they can accept that stuff won’t get done. There is no way I’m spending months teaching during the day and working to 2am every night to do two full time jobs. If there are gaps in learning we’ll cross that bridge when navigating day to day life becomes possible again.

And to be honest, if the school rolled their eyes at us then they rolled their eyes. At least I’m not killing myself with 3 hours sleep per night trying to do it all.

What a shame you don’t like baking with your children Kokeshi123. I bet your children enjoy it though

Massive fucking eye roll at this. God almighty.

I mean, my four year old enjoys licking his hand and pressing it on my face, but I can't say I enjoy that.

Many are dead or grieving. Think of those and everything seems less painful

I've been through many bereavements, living in lockdown has been far worse for my mental health than any of them.

You don’t know what mental trauma is.

You don't even know that poster. Who the hell do you think you are to tell them they don't know what mental trauma is?

When shall I fit in going out everyday, please tell me? Ds has live lessons 8.40-3.30 with an hour lunch and half hour break.

That sounds very excessive - the government requirement is 3-4 hours of teaching and these don’t have to be live. Our school have set oak academy videos and suggested timings for the day but we can of course be flexible with this - there is extra suggested work if we want to access it, but getting out and about in the afternoon is very much encouraged. Learning at home all day and using a screen is very different to being in school and it sounds like some schools need to be more accepting of that.

Also @Letseatgrandma one week on one week off means there’s nearly 10 days isolation in between each week.

Does that make sense?

Before anyone gets snarky, I know why schools are closed to the majority, and why this situation is unique, but...

Who would have thought, prior to March 2020, that a parent would have to fight to get their child a place in school? I mean, children with 100% attendance were given boxes of sodding chocolates at our school before all this. Even one afternoon off was considered hugely detrimental to a child's education and socialisation. At literally every other point in UK history (since the introduction of compulsory education) the message has been children MUST be in school. This change in the thinking blows my mind! It's so alien to what we had before.

Yes, yes of course there is reasoning (of sorts) behind it. I do wonder whether education will ever be viewed as important again though (by some parents and children who will just 'check out', never to really re-engage).

rotas will achieve almost nothing to prevent spread, levels will either be suitable for mixing or they won't, a half way house of rotas doesn't "reduce R" enough to make it relevant as a stage, particularly with key workers who would need to be across both groups anyway.

Outdoor only PE lessons would be about the only "part time" thing that would not be an appreciable difference to being home without increased transmission risk.

@ChimaeraEgg I said not telling people be grateful they are dead!

Where did I use it insensitively? I haven't written anywhere people should be grateful.

I said that it is helpful in the calm to think of things to be grateful for in reply to you saying it doesn't help your clients. I simply said it does help some people.

This is partly the problem with discussions like this, maybe people are too fraught, but jump at people for no reason.

I for one am really grateful the government are taking things seriously this time, children certainly shouldn't be back before Easter, after that we might be lucky with the better weather and the vaccine well on the way.

No-one wants lockdown No. 4, let's do this properly now and really get on top of things. I think the government are being very wise for once...

not dead*

@Totallydefeated 'We need real solutions from the government'

^This. Posters are not saying they expect schools to re-open regardless, they are not denying the pandemic and awful consequences to healthcare and lives. But parents do need the Government to properly acknowledge, not just pay lip service, to the problem this is creating for working parents - moreso now with the expectation children have to keep up with demanding school schedules at home.

Now we know this is longer than a 6 week closure parents need to know what the plan is from the Government, what are they actually doing in relation to making schools safer/ looking at alternative provision? How they are going to help parents working from home?How they are going to help primary school children permanently at home? Or more likely they are just going to wait it out, put working parents under enormous pressure, children with no social interaction, until they open schools to all again with no mitigation and start the whole cycle again!???

I simply said it does help some people.

And are any of those people on this thread?

@chloworm

Before anyone gets snarky, I know why schools are closed to the majority, and why this situation is unique, but...

Who would have thought, prior to March 2020, that a parent would have to fight to get their child a place in school? I mean, children with 100% attendance were given boxes of sodding chocolates at our school before all this. Even one afternoon off was considered hugely detrimental to a child's education and socialisation. At literally every other point in UK history (since the introduction of compulsory education) the message has been children MUST be in school. This change in the thinking blows my mind! It's so alien to what we had before.

Yes, yes of course there is reasoning (of sorts) behind it. I do wonder whether education will ever be viewed as important again though (by some parents and children who will just 'check out', never to really re-engage).

Yes, we were wondering whether it would be harder to push the ‘children must be in school’ message.

Alternatively, a positive may come out of this. Perhaps more remote learning opportunities will be available/considered a viable alternative for pupils who can’t attend school for physical/mental health reasons?

Sparkles715

I’m a teacher and a parent and want schools open sooner. WHY won’t the government just take steps to make schools safer? I would love to see all children in at least one day a week in small groups. It could probably be more. Some school is better than no school. WHY do the government seem to insist on full time or nothing?
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Yes great comment, I totally agree👏

@Lemons1571 Completely agree. We have to reduce the stress at home. Email the schools if the work is too much. Many are setting high amounts but don't expect everyone to complete it

particularly with key workers who would need to be across both groups anyway

Key worker children couldn’t be across both groups in my school-some classes have got more than 20 in every day saying they need a KW place so no additional children could ever come in on the rota. Another plan for Kw children would have to be found.

Yes please email the school if there is too much work. Teachers are setting more now as a response to the complaints from the first time (and Gormless Gav breathing down our necks).

@bumbleymummy yes it could well help those who need to stay home for health reasons.

I guess I'm partly thinking of myself really. I think schools are so very important (used to be a teacher) but if I see a fabulous term-time holiday deal in the post-Covid world, I'd be seriously tempted to take my children out. Never, ever would have before this. I know in the grand scheme of things that's a non-issue, but it's indicative of a subtle change in thinking. An avalanche of unauthorised absences could be building.

@Useruseruserusee so sorry about the loss of your colleague, and your other colleagues that are ill, it must be a sad and stressful time

I wish there was a magic wand to make schools safer too. As that's impossible, I wish we had a Government that would listen to schools and put some funding into making schools safer going forward and have some kind of strategy for re-opening.

@Monkeytennis97

Yes please email the school if there is too much work. Teachers are setting more now as a response to the complaints from the first time (and Gormless Gav breathing down our necks).

Completely agree with this.