Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

One thing to make schools safer

288 replies

pinkhappy · 21/02/2021 13:28

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.

OP posts:
motherrunner · 21/02/2021 15:03

*contact

MarshaBradyo · 21/02/2021 15:03

I’m going for ventilation

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 21/02/2021 15:04

Yes definitely not rotas with half a class in and half a class out, that would be awful. Having to do that for isolating kids was bad enough!

Vaccinating school teachers makes a lot of sense too. Means less staff absence so schools more likely to stay open.

AlohaMolly · 21/02/2021 15:05

I’m only really thinking of primary as that is where my son is, but rotas. I’m in wales and our 3-7s are going back next week. Our county has never had more than 30 new cases a day and it’s largely been below 20. The school (nursery-y6) has never had any bubbles burst but j still think rotas.

Masks won’t cut it, especially the further down the school you go, but half the class in 2 days, the other half in 2 days, a day in between for the teacher to plan etc. I think this should have been done from September tbh because it’s not like we couldn’t have seen it coming! This whole school year should be classed as exceptional circumstances and I think a rota should be set until at least January next year. That way parents can plan childcare and teachers and children have consistency!

HesterShaw1 · 21/02/2021 15:05

Vaccination of the vulnerable. Oh wait...that has happened.

Tomnooktoldmeto · 21/02/2021 15:06

Masks, fabric 3 layered with a filter in!

It makes me mad people wearing the paper ones, when I trained in infection control as a theatre practitioner we were told that the paper ones only acted as an effective barrier for less than 15 mins

After that the barrier becomes moist and allows passage of particles through making them pretty useless for infection control purposes

And yet people think they’re the best thing to wear for a full day, when actually they become part of the problem

I’m CEV now vaccinated but DS 17 is CV and not yet vaccinated. He’s worn a 3 layer cotton mask with fresh filter inserted every day while at school and so far has been ok

Vaccinating the staff is all well and good but wouldn’t protect him as it’s the other sixth formers spreading Covid NOT the staff

BonnesVacances · 21/02/2021 15:07

Rotas so only half the class in each week to maximise space between the students in class.
Masks in classrooms as well as corridors.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 21/02/2021 15:08

Vaccination of the vulnerable.Oh wait...that has happened.

No it hasn't.

Some of the vulnerable have had their first dose.

peak2021 · 21/02/2021 15:08

Masks aka face coverings (a scarf or snood worn in a certain way will do).

The comment about special snowflakes is very true. No one had difficulties wearing face coverings when I was in Germany last September.

HazeyJaneII · 21/02/2021 15:09

Some sort of stricter control of patents sending in symptomatic children/children who should be isolating.

...and one that I realise is a personal one - for the vaccine trials in childten to crack on so ds can be vaccinated.

HesterShaw1 · 21/02/2021 15:09

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation

Vaccination of the vulnerable.Oh wait...that has happened.

No it hasn't.

Some of the vulnerable have had their first dose.

Fair enough, point taken. OK then it's ongoing and progress is rapid.
HazeyJaneII · 21/02/2021 15:10

....well not all the vulnerable (see my post below)

MrsHamlet · 21/02/2021 15:11

We had a parent tell us her son couldn't wear a mask because of a medical condition that we didn't know he had. When we learned about it, we agreed but also pointed out that his medical condition meant he should be shielding so we'd send work home.
Turns out that what she meant was that they thought he might have it when he was a baby but he didn't so he could wear a mask in the corridor after all.

Katjolo · 21/02/2021 15:11

Rotas to enable classes to be split half.

amicissimma · 21/02/2021 15:11

How would rotas work for working parents?

There are not many who would be happy to leave under 13s alone in the house, or, if they are WFH at an intense job, unsupervised, for a whole working day. I can't see many employers coping with parents working or not according to their child's school rota, even worse with more than one child. And it's not every teenager who can be relied upon to keep engaged with lessons unsupervised all day while a parent works.

If we need parents working and paying tax we do have to have their under 16s, at least, reliably in a supervised environment for most of the day.

CookEatRepeat · 21/02/2021 15:12

Rotas.

Plus teachers being compelled to follow guidance rather than being allowed to say they don't believe it is necessary. Can you tell I am anxious about going back to school tomorrow to work alongside a teacher who is like this? Out of a class of 11 children, we had 5 positive tests the week before half term. I blame him entirely. Circle time sometimes twice a day, windows closed, he would move from desk to desk without cleaning his hands or the desk. Filthy lazy lump.

StepOutOfLine · 21/02/2021 15:14

@Tomnooktoldmeto

Masks, fabric 3 layered with a filter in!

It makes me mad people wearing the paper ones, when I trained in infection control as a theatre practitioner we were told that the paper ones only acted as an effective barrier for less than 15 mins

After that the barrier becomes moist and allows passage of particles through making them pretty useless for infection control purposes

And yet people think they’re the best thing to wear for a full day, when actually they become part of the problem

I’m CEV now vaccinated but DS 17 is CV and not yet vaccinated. He’s worn a 3 layer cotton mask with fresh filter inserted every day while at school and so far has been ok

Vaccinating the staff is all well and good but wouldn’t protect him as it’s the other sixth formers spreading Covid NOT the staff

The WHO recommends surgical ones, though FFP2 seem to be better with the new variants. Obviously you don't wear a surgical one all day!
ichundich · 21/02/2021 15:14

More outdoor lessons, especially for primary.

HelenaJustina · 21/02/2021 15:15

Vaccinate all school staff so that I don’t have to close bubbles due to lack of staffing when staff report they have symptoms and we have to wait for them to be tested.

Rotas. 1 week in, 1 week out. We could manage that from tomorrow until Easter. Would mean 15 in a classroom.

motherrunner · 21/02/2021 15:17

@CookEatRepeat

Rotas.

Plus teachers being compelled to follow guidance rather than being allowed to say they don't believe it is necessary. Can you tell I am anxious about going back to school tomorrow to work alongside a teacher who is like this? Out of a class of 11 children, we had 5 positive tests the week before half term. I blame him entirely. Circle time sometimes twice a day, windows closed, he would move from desk to desk without cleaning his hands or the desk. Filthy lazy lump.

I do follow guidance. The guidance is not to wear masks in the classroom .

My school hasn’t been fully opened since 3rd in Sept.

Great guidance.

donkeysjanetdonkeys · 21/02/2021 15:17

People would still need to SI though, vaccinated or note. Vaccinations don't stop people getting covid. Although it would be good for people to be less ill, obviously.

Vaccinations and LFTs are smokescreens imo.

HelenaJustina · 21/02/2021 15:17

Parents saying ‘no’ when their DC ask fun they can go to the park after school. Makes me so cross, I spend so much of my day cleaning, paying for more cleaning, juggling rotas, and worrying about keeping everyone safe... then come 3pm they all swan off to the park where they touch all the same equipment, play cross bubble and parents stand and chat without masks because they are outside.

StepOutOfLine · 21/02/2021 15:20

@amicissimma

How would rotas work for working parents?

There are not many who would be happy to leave under 13s alone in the house, or, if they are WFH at an intense job, unsupervised, for a whole working day. I can't see many employers coping with parents working or not according to their child's school rota, even worse with more than one child. And it's not every teenager who can be relied upon to keep engaged with lessons unsupervised all day while a parent works.

If we need parents working and paying tax we do have to have their under 16s, at least, reliably in a supervised environment for most of the day.

What are those parents doing now the schools are closed?
BettyBoomerang · 21/02/2021 15:20

Time.

Time will make schools safer.

Kids should start to go back after Easter.

Mogtheforgetfulmum · 21/02/2021 15:22

Rotas