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.

How do rotas work if you already have say 10 keyworker children in

I’m sure heads could sort out a fair system when parents provide their work timetables.

Based on what? Hours worked out of the home? That’s likely to change as workplaces get opened up again. Hours spent on sensitive topics that children shouldn’t hear but while wfh? So much room for interpretation.

As the many threads on here suggest, there’s so much ambiguity. It would be a logistical nightmare to ‘take back’ school time.

I think rotas are a viable option for secondary and a way to open gradually. It's becoming clear that this probably isn't possible at primary. Perhaps heads could be given the flexibility to choose what is best for their community and covid rates. Eg Cornwall is probably safe to have all primary back. My area not so, cases have risen in the past week.

Rotas could work in secondary bit not so easy in primary
Primary maybe more outside teaching when weather is better or if they have sheltered outside area, i know at my ds d primary they had an outside type classroom, hopefully weather improves in may to make this easier
In fact reception should be lots of outside play when possible , prob more important for them at this age.

Masks
Rotas

And a proper public information campaign from the government, pushing the fact that ventilation is vital (so stop fucking moaning and closing the windows when you think I’m not looking), threatening criminal charges for parents who send kids in whilst waiting for test results and generally telling parents and teenagers not to be dicks.

Maybe when you get to 20 or maybe 30yo vax it could be first offered to the 16-18yo so to reduce school transmission.

Vaccinate all school staff.
Face coverings throughout the premises for all school staff and secondary students.
Temperature checks upon entry to the school building.
Smaller class sizes.

Vaccinate teachers/support staff asap!

Agree. Vaccinate staff, especially those performing tests.

@Mol1628

Rotas so half the class in at a time.

I don’t agree with masks for primary. Children would be constantly touching them meaning they’re pointless.

My DD is primary aged in Spain and has been wearing a mask at all times everywhere, including at school at all times (mandatory in all public places, indoor and outdoor since the summer) and they don't touch them all the time. Under 6s are exempt but most wear them. Our schools are 96% covid free.

I'm in andalucia in Spain and 96 % of schools are fully open with no closures for covid.
Classrooms are ventilated or windows open during class and everyone must wear a mask at all times, inside and out.
Students are spaced out as much as possible and hand gel or hand washing done regularly.
In the secondary school anyone consistently not adhering to social distancing or wearing their mask properly is sent home for the day.
Any child with covid symptoms must stay home and contact a doctor to decide if they need a test.

Teachers in Spain (or andalucia anyway) are to be vaccinated next month

Masks don't help - sorry but they don't- unless someone is there to hand a fresh one out at the entrance.

Masks worn in all areas of son's secondary Abd rates stayed consistently the same.

Vaccinate staff

@HalfPastThree

Vaccinating teachers, although we should still open schools while that's being done, because of the harms to children of keeping them closed.

Forcing children to wear masks all day is child abuse, and this is a hill I will die on.

Make sure you keep your kids the fuck away from anybody else then.

I don't agree with full time masks as even adults don't use them correctly. Cross contamination is a big problems as touching the mask often and touching everything else will just increase the risk, in my opinion.

What I do think is a great idea implements by one of the schools near me is: move the teachers around the classes and not the pupils.
This way we don't have over a 1,000 children mixing every hour to change classroom.

This must be the most practical single thing any school can do as it stops all excessive movement around the whole school.

Question we have done that (as much a possible) and it's good for infection control in some ways. But has cause issues in other ways. Students now see the room as their territory and behave accordingly. It also means drama etc being taught in unsuitable rooms.

What I do think is a great idea implements by one of the schools near me is: move the teachers around the classes and not the pupils.
This way we don't have over a 1,000 children mixing every hour to change classroom.

My sons school were doing this, I thought it was a great idea until I realised that the children still had to move seats within the classroom, without any cleaning in between, as each teacher had a different seating plan 🤦‍♀️ That lasted half a term, then they started moving the children in to ability sets, with each year group having a designated area of the school.

The lack of ability sets is also causing huge issues with learning in maths. The top and bottom end are really struggling.

That's what we do and always have. The teacher changes rooms, not the kids. Logic. Even pre-Covid.

I see this thread, like any other discussing possible ways to open up schools safely, degenerates into a litany of "that won't work".

England sure is special.

@huggzy

*What I do think is a great idea implements by one of the schools near me is: move the teachers around the classes and not the pupils. This way we don't have over a 1,000 children mixing every hour to change classroom.*

My sons school were doing this, I thought it was a great idea until I realised that the children still had to move seats within the classroom, without any cleaning in between, as each teacher had a different seating plan 🤦‍♀️ That lasted half a term, then they started moving the children in to ability sets, with each year group having a designated area of the school.

A neighbours school did this as well, it meant sets had to be suspended, so her child who isn’t academic found it incredibly hard being in a class where some children were 8/9 candidates as they found differentiated work embarrassing. It also meant all of their lessons were in a catering room, which isn’t suitable for long periods as students are sat far away from their work because it is obviously counters with cupboards underneath, rather than desks.

The kids also caused chaos while they waited for their next teacher as well, which for some teens is a dream, for many it is stressful and shit for teachers who then arrive to what is essentially the monkey enclosure at the zoo.

@StepOutOfLine How does this work for options subjects and sets?

New uniform

One of the things that did work in Spanish schools was that the very strict lockdown did brings rates down very low by the summer and then masks were made compulsory everywhere by July so kids went back in the September with relatively low rates and everyone masked. So it never really took hold in schools in the way it was allowed to go rampant in schools in the UK.
Also, during our lockdown there was no school, not even for key workers, the schools were locked. So I think people know what total school closures are like and really are motivated to not let that happen again.