One thing to make schools safer

[pinkhappy]

There are a lot of threads about schools and covid. I get lost in the rage and strong opinions even though I am sure that somewhere in there there are constructive suggestions.
Without expressing any views on politics/the govt or any fury, what is the top thing that you think could realistically be done to make schools safer when they reopen? Just one suggestion per answer please.

All ours started with upset stomach in our school .

We did teachers moving to classrooms before October half term, but kids still moved around the school for PE etc and mixed between the year group in corridors for options subjects, subjects when they were set.

It was detrimental to their learning in subjects like drama, music, science, DT etc for very little gain in terms of preventing mixing, I think.

And kids still mixed with teachers who'd taught 90+ other students that day.

We switched to making them go outside for lesson changeovers with a strict one way system, and I think this was just as effective whilst also allowing specialist classrooms to be used.

At our schools:

Masks, not negotiable... everyone wears and if you are not able to, you apply for lockdown learning and stay at home.

Rota system. Each year goes in on alternate days.

Staggered break

Digital entry, scans child in and scans their temp, sanitizing x 3 by the time they get to class.

Do you mean regular testing? Where I am the kids aren't tested as routine, no. Only if they are thought to have covid. So, neither of my kids have ever been tested. I don't know about other parts of Spain. But teachers were all tested at the beginning of each term as dar as I know and v few positives picked up. Teachers are getting vaccinated next month.
I think the fact that when school went back after the summer masks were mandatory at all times and strict protocols drawn up about ventilation, distancing, illness etc (masks for everyone in Spain, not just schools) it has meant it has that it has never really taken hold in schools. It's one of the things Spain has done well I'd say.
Also I've noticed a lot of people wear ffp2 masks or surgical masks rather than just homemade cloth ones.

One thing to make schools safer. Wait till after Easter to open them up any further.

Can't believe SLT in some schools are not allowing warm clothes. Really serious lack of perspective going on there.

Schools who are leaving the windows open need to be telling families to get the kids wrapped up warm in extra clothes. Screw uniform rules. The air needs to be ventilated and kids (and teachers) need to be warm so that they can actually focus on their work.

Almost all ours started with stomach upsets, too.

And plenty had stomach upsets (who'd sat next to positive cases and had the symptoms first) and never got tested.

It's criminal that we've had the shortest list of symptoms of almost every (or every?) country, ignoring WHO guidelines, and the symptoms children and teens are more likely to get than a cough.

Random that is a really good point. If children are already have a real high number of positive tests there must be an incredibly number who have actually had it.

It used to really frustrate me when people assume their school was "safe" or had "no cases" yet it could be spreading to parents from kids and the kids never being picked up!

@UnusuallyUsual

Have all school staff vaccinated asap

This. Not sure why it is thought teachers are not in danger from catching COVID in a class full of 35 children, but would be breaking the law if they had their nephew or niece indoors with them at home (and no, I'm not a teacher, just close to a lot of very scared people who are.

Dh started with upset stomach.
I had slight hayfever symptoms. 12 hours later it hit like a tonne of bricks. Had I been in work, that would have been about 150 or more people that day. 30 for an hour at a time. Some in rooms so small that once you're in your seat, you can't move out again.

Not sure why it is thought teachers are not in danger from catching COVID in a class full of 35 children

I don't think that is thought. The issue is that a lot of people are at risk of catching covid and millions are at serious risk of hospitalisation if they get it.

• Clearer information about symptoms - for many kids and teenagers, it starts with an upset stomach and a headache. Loads of kids don't have a temperature or cough. Make absolutely clear to parents (this should be coming from NHS and government guidance) that if a child has any of those symptoms they have to stay at home. The number of parents sending the child to school with a upset stomach and claiming 'it's ok, NHS says cough, temp or loss of taste so there's my sick child for you to look after'. As if by magic, 15 other kids are infected.

• Masks for secondary school kids, everywhere, in the classroom, and better facilities for lunch (ie encourage packed lunches, open more classrooms, have tables outdoors).

• A Rota and more use of outdoor space/classrooms. Hire large marquies for outdoor learning especially in the spring.

(Teachers are at similar risk of dying of Covid as any other profession - but more likely to catch it. We have to remember that the average age for teachers is 39 years old, and 76% are women, so statistically much less likely to die of Covid than say bus drivers, which are only 18% women in London and average age is about 45 years old. )

Testing every couple of days