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Original poster

Class bubble restrictions

61 replies

PearandHoney · 02/12/2021 21:51

I wasn’t sure whether to post this in education or here.

I realise there’s a lot going on at the moment with Covid but I just feel sad for my child’a current experience of infant school. They’ve been bubbled for almost three weeks and have at least another week to go, taking them up to practically the end of term. This is despite the fact that there are currently no cases of Covid in their class.

During the bubble they:

  • have no PE lessons
  • have no specialist teaching staff nor small group interventions
  • no parent helpers that normally help with reading
  • have to eat lunch in the classroom with the TV on
  • have a much shorter outdoor playtime which they have to take at 11.30am
  • because of staggered drop offs and pick ups, they’re missing 30 minutes of school time each and every day
  • teachers are teaching in masks, even for phonics
  • and of course, no nativity in front of parents, carol service etc

I just feel it’s all a bit rubbish. I do realise it’s rubbish for others too, especially School staff. But childhood is short and so much of it has been taken up with restrictions, many of which are impacting their education.

Not sure what I’m hoping for by posting this but I suppose I wonder if all schools are the same right now?

OP posts:
Clarkey86 · 03/12/2021 17:39

It’s super sad, I absolutely feel you. And would feel the same if it was my 4 year old.
But I’m also a teacher who’s just caught covid at 35 weeks pregnant and I really don’t know what the answer is.

Watapalava · 03/12/2021 17:40

Government said last week schools were not to bring in bubbles. Why are they going against advice?

cansu · 03/12/2021 17:41

That sounds quite extreme. I can only assume you are in a high covid area?

We currently have:
masks in corridors and communal areas (not classrooms although staff and children are allowed to wear them if they wish)
Online assemblies and filmed nativities and concerts
Reduced number of visitors but not completely closed. Music teachers etc still coming in.
Clubs, sports fixtures etc still ongoing.
Dinners in dining hall as usual.

It all feels very normal. Windows are open so it is a bit chilly!

noblegiraffe · 03/12/2021 17:54

That link doesn’t compare school staff to private nursery staff, MH1111

chalamet · 03/12/2021 17:57

That’s ridiculous. I literally just took my class swimming today.

dotsandco · 03/12/2021 18:01

OP, this might sound extreme to you, but honestly they would have considered the impact of these measures very carefully before implementing them. You say that there were Covid cases in the class at the time? Your school then acted upon this in what they considered an appropriate measure.

I'm a vulnerable, 57 year old, year 2 teacher...my school took NO such measures...indeed they dismissed my concerns about my own health when I asked if there was anything we could do to make it safer. (I wasn't suggesting closing, just some measures to make it safer, such as no more whole school assemblies, stopping unnecessary visitors in school, masks in public areas etc).

For context, since September I've had 17 children (together with whole families) testing positive so far, and 4 more off today with symptoms and a PCR booked. At my school, we have at present over half the teaching staff off with positive tests...2 of whom are actually very sick indeed. We are all on our knees with exhaustion, as we are having to double up classes, which means upwards of 60 children squashed into one classroom (with all the extra behaviour management, prep and marking that this brings, never mind the health risks it imposes!!). This is because we simply can't get any supply staff in at the moment, despite trying every local agency we can!

If I were you, I'd be really grateful that your school is taking sensible precautions to mitigate the risk of any more cases.

GreyGardener · 03/12/2021 18:03

It’s ridiculous, they have missed out on so much already and should be back to normal unless too many staff are absent.
I have recently moved my dad from one local school to another. The first had quite strict covid restrictions but the second has none. Both are in the same LA so the advice they get from phe should be the same.
For information ds now attends whole school assemblies, does all activities as you would have expected pre covid including all parents invited in for nibbles on the last day. The only mitigation is no parent volunteers but they have specialist pe teachers, french and salt all popping in no problem.

GreyGardener · 03/12/2021 18:03

Ds not dad 🤣

Frazzled2207 · 03/12/2021 18:05

Sounds quite extreme

Our school has a fairly normal experience for the kids since September. We do currently have a covid outbreak though. With lots of staff ill, I would not be surprised if some or all of the school has to close before Christmas.

rrhuth · 03/12/2021 18:07

@knobblykneesandturnedouttoes

More schools should be doing this. You have no cases. That should be celebrated. They are getting an education, that should be celebrated.
Agree.

You seem to be moaning about the school making things stable and reliable for your kids?

Bobholll · 03/12/2021 19:45

The school should not be applauded for limiting KS1 Children’s outdoor time & cancelling active education. They don’t even play out lunch, they are sat watching TV. That’s appalling.

As for teaching in masks, I’d be phoning the school & demanding why they are ignoring all guidance that says this hinders education at this early age. In communal areas fine but teaching reading, atrocious.

It’s a joke how much people are flapping about this. We don’t know a thing about this variant & people are treating it like we’ll all drop dead. Covid remains mild for the vast majority of people, vaccinated or not. It’s like everyone’s forgotten about that & is shaking in their boots like March 2020 😩🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

knobblykneesandturnedouttoes · 03/12/2021 20:03

@Bobholll

The school should not be applauded for limiting KS1 Children’s outdoor time & cancelling active education. They don’t even play out lunch, they are sat watching TV. That’s appalling.

As for teaching in masks, I’d be phoning the school & demanding why they are ignoring all guidance that says this hinders education at this early age. In communal areas fine but teaching reading, atrocious.

It’s a joke how much people are flapping about this. We don’t know a thing about this variant & people are treating it like we’ll all drop dead. Covid remains mild for the vast majority of people, vaccinated or not. It’s like everyone’s forgotten about that & is shaking in their boots like March 2020 😩🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

But any one of us could 'drop dead' from covid. After weeks or months of suffering.

I know most are somewhat protected by vaccinations, but any one could still be unlucky enough to die of covid. Or, suffer life long health problems due to covid.

Whatever my kids school wants to do to protect their staff, children, and the wider community is fine by me. I will take her out of school and choose a new one if I feel they are acting inappropriately.

If they were to stop PE, I would make sure she's doing more exercise when she's with me.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 03/12/2021 20:08

Why no specialist teachers?

Ours has banned visitors unless necessary, like CAHMS meetings etc. Masks in communal areas etc…

My kids primary aren’t doing anything at all different; just inform us if there’s a case and maybe 1/5’drop off the teacher wears a mask at the door but not the other 4 days… not sure why!

Fallagain · 03/12/2021 20:49

No bubble

  • PE lessons as normal by outside provider
  • still no parent helpers that normally help with reading
  • lunch in dining hall
  • play time normal time
  • normal pick up
  • teachers in masks when with other staff out of there classroom
  • no nativity in front of parents, carol service etc. It will be recorded

School has had a number of cases of covid.

DancingQueen85 · 03/12/2021 21:02

Sounds pretty sensible tbh. The situation in schools is ridiculous atm. 8 cases in one of the classes at my DC school but no restrictions like this put in place. I'd except any restrictions in schools just as long as it means they don't shut again

DancingQueen85 · 03/12/2021 21:04

Although actually having re read your post I think the lack of outdoor time and PE doesn't make sense at all

lastchristmasigaveyoumyheart · 03/12/2021 22:49

It does sound a bit crap. But, at least they are at school and there's no covid cases. Much better than being stuck at home trying to learn over zoom.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 04/12/2021 00:50

A third of my class were in today. All he rest positive and at home. I did PE as usual. I then spent ages trying to replicate home learning for things like 'make a hanging decoration' and 'do the maths and reading assessments.'

We are class bubbled again.

Volhhg · 04/12/2021 02:08

I think that's a really poor offer of education. Children definitely need to be much more active than this at school and I don't understand why they're putting the TV during lunch. I can't believe people think that's ok why do we have such low standards and expectations in primary schools here?

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 04/12/2021 02:36

How can they opt to not teach part of the national curriculum by not teaching PE?

Fundamental movement skills at primary are essential for learning gross motor movements. Without this further down the line physical activity becomes very tricky and has disastrous consequences.

Why can't they remove mama when teaching phonics and stay at a 'safe' distance?

I get precautions but also...balance!

Original poster
PearandHoney · 04/12/2021 04:02

Yes, it is a balancing act on all sides and I am not sure the balance here is correct. I am going to ask (again) about the lack of PE.

We’ve also been told yesterday that as of next week that if there is a positive case in a family/household, then all the children in that family need to be kept off school (even if they are PCR tested and it comes back negative). This seems to go completely against the government guidance which says to isolate close contacts only if it’s suspected omicron. So I need to ask about that, too. I’d really rather not be emailing school, I can see that dealing with this all is hugely difficult and time consuming, but don’t feel like I have all that much choice when the restrictions they impose don’t seem to fit with the government’s contingency framework for education.

OP posts:
Original poster
PearandHoney · 04/12/2021 04:05

I agree @Volhhg. There are low expectations. It has been a very, very turbulent experience of school life for children in the past (almost) two years. I find the attitude of “be grateful they’re in school” frustrating. Education is a human right. Saying to “just be happy they are in school” is setting the bar so low for children

OP posts:
ElftonWednesday · 04/12/2021 04:16

YANBU. It just sounds like shit Covid school. Short term, woo no cases, long term: no love of school or learning massively impacting on their education as a whole and the rest of their lives. All the boring stuff and nothing to look forward to, like some permanent lockdown.

flowerycurtain · 04/12/2021 06:15

Completely agree. How on Earth can reducing an infants physical education time be considered I do not know. We are setting up our kids for a lifetime of mental issues and obesity. I would go so far as to say that age 4-7 if kids can run outside a lot and read a lot they'll be ok. I would not be happy with my school doing what yours is doing.