Likelihood of schools closing again before summer...

[confuseddotcomma]

I know noone knows what will happen. But I feel this is increasingly more likely every day... Fingers crossed we can hold out until the summer holidays!

I don't think schools will close but the damage already caused will take years of ever to remedy

That’s a bit rich for you to say when your evidence link was mostly about private nursery schools that furloughed staff or made them redundant. GiveMeNovocain

Of course the schools will close again at some point soon but probably autumn. I did say at the start of the year they are coming for the kids next (meaning vaccination) but I was called a conspiracy theorist and MN deleted my comment. They will close the schools and make life impossible for parents yet again until most feel the only option is to vaccinate their child to get life back to normal.

@ChloeDecker

That’s a bit rich for you to say when your evidence link was mostly about private nursery schools that furloughed staff or made them redundant. GiveMeNovocain

No - The report the BBC article refers to is this -

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/991230/UnderstandinggProgressinnthe2020021AcademiccYearInitiallReport33.pdf

Which looks at assessment data from Renaissance Learning’s Star Reading and Star Maths in the spring term of the 2020/21 academic year, primarily in primary schools. It concludes that there was around 2 months learning loss in reading and 3+ months in maths by the end of spring term.

Only 3 weeks to go in Scotland. 😅

The article link posted by GiveMeNovocain actually references the study from EPI: This research for the government by the Education Policy Institute PatriciaHolm

epi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EPI-survey-3-report-FINAL.pdf

But I am in no way disputing that catch up is not needed for primary and secondary, just that it is a little off to berate someone for their first hand experience with an article that references different data

The report i linked to is by the Education Policy Institute. It was for the government and thus appears on the Gov.uk site under Gov branding, but it is the report the BBC article is referring to, with the months of learning loss

This is actually the full report with all the regional and demographic data, as well as some limited secondary data.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/991576/UnderstandinggProgressinnthe2020021AcademiccYearReportt_2.pdf

I have referenced on the other thread (this is getting silly) that your article is not the most recent EPI study and only refers to data take from September to October half term 2020 so is even more out of date (7 months) that what teachers are currently speaking about their experiences.

The EPI do link to it themselves here

epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/department-for-education-publishes-new-epi-research-on-pupil-learning-loss/

The Jon Andrew quote and the data in the BBC report, appear to be taken directly from this press release.

This is getting silly yes ;-). But the latest EPI report, on both the Gov website and linked to on their on website, covers data to end spring term.

Which is the report all the data in the BBC article comes from and the quote (well, the EPI press release at least):

@ChloeDecker

I have referenced on the other thread (this is getting silly) that your article is not the most recent EPI study and only refers to data take from September to October half term 2020 so is even more out of date (7 months) that what teachers are currently speaking about their experiences.

Sorry yes, wrong links - there is a more up to date one, to end of spring term. It is the report referred to, as you can see from the quotes directly taken from the EPI website about the report.

Thanks! I’ll have a read (I still think posters experiences should not be dismissed by other posters in favour of studies that don’t look at every school/child)

No problem - and yes, no argument there. I also think the journalists might at least try to read the report rather than just duplicating the press release ;-))

Sorry! Going to duplicate again!

This is interesting.

Average learning losses for primary school pupils stood at nearly 2 months in reading and over 3 months in maths in the first half of the autumn term, before recovering in the second half of the autumn term, and then regressing again in the spring term:

So the children can recover with just a couple of months of teacher face to face and hopefully, is what some staff are seeing of their pupils 9 weeks into this current phase. Very encouraging and well done to the children, parents and school staff.

The government now just need to put their m money where their mouth is.

I agree. Definitely interesting and encouraging, and (anecdata warning!!) matches what we are seeing in the primary school I am a governor of.

Should caveat that with the acknowledgment that we have a relatively easy, privileged intake with supportive parents. Your mileage may differ.

Average age of U.K. teachers is 39

Not terribly helpful unless you know which average and the nature of the distribution.

I'm a ta. I've worked everyday though lockdown with large bubbles of children.

I am mid forties so have only had one vaccine. Most TAs are order like me but most teachers in my school are in their twenties so not vaccinated at all.

I think school's will only close if bubbles burst or if they have high infection. I personally don't understand why the government stopped masks in schools.

@Kitcat122, I would venture to suggest that a certain Influential lobby group persuaded them.

[quote CallmeHendricks]@Kitcat122, I would venture to suggest that a certain Influential lobby group persuaded them. [/quote]
Maybe one who gives a crap about children? Teacher's unions represent teachers. Someone has to speak up for children.

Maybe one who gives a crap about children? Teacher's unions represent teachers. Someone has to speak up for children

Because children who have worn masks are damaged beyond all reason?

You don't think that teachers care about the children they have devoted their careers to working with?
Or that the mitigations suggested will actually help them remain in school with fewer disruptions?
Oh clearly not. This is U4T we're talking about.

Someone has to speak up for children.

The anti-lockdown anti vax lobby group who claim to speak up for children are currently tweeting prolifically against vaccinating children against covid.

You’d have thought they’d have been more active on the issue of the govt only giving a tenth of the required money for children’s covid catch-up?

It definitely shows their priorities.

Because children who have worn masks are damaged beyond all reason?

Is this a serious comment?

I read that differently from you, I think, Chloe.

Someone has to speak up for children.

I’d rather someone with a grasp on reality spoke up for my children. That isn’t U4T.