Ireland's Calling for Normal Life to Return, thread number 5

[eggandonion]

Unlinked because I can't remember how to do it, and can't find Help thing.

I've heard people say September for schools. I'm refusing to entertain them - and putting it down to natural pessimism!

I'm hoping midterm - but think it's possible it'll be next Spring term before schools go back.

I would say easter at the latest for schools. I am really hoping that by Easter most, if not all vulnerable people will be vaccinated so things will start to open up again.
No concerts this summer though. If E.P goes ahead that'll be the first big gig.

Spring term is the one that follows Easter right? Because that's what I meant!

As in I think school's will be back at the start of the next term.

I am actually hoping they do open on the 1st of Feb or they close everything down including childcare. If the school wont let us on site it's a flipping pain dealing with Pobal. Be easier if they just close us.

I got the vaccine, hoping it might pick up some 5G, my Internet is so shite!

All annual leave cancelled in my job as its just too busy. And at this point the nurses are exhausted 😴 myself included.

Leaving cert in our house, it's the same as last year. DD getting minimal work sent home from her school with some teachers not sending anything at all. I'm hoping this is rectified or I'll be contacting the principle.

Going to be an eye on you now @tazzy73. If you grow horns and a tail I'm not getting it. If you pick up 5g I'll be first in the queue.

A letter was sent to school principals yesterday evening regarding opening of special education in primary schools from next Thursday 21st. This includes children who receive high levels of support in mainstream classes, but not those who receive lower levels of support. It mentions that they're still planning to reopen schools for everyone on February 1st (don't think I'll hold my breath though).

www.into.ie/app/uploads/2021/01/Letter-to-primary-and-special-schools-to-support-interim-arrangements-for-SEN-provision-15.01.21.pdf

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The Dept are conveniently glossing over the fact that kids with less significant needs simply won't receive supports. They can't, not if SET are expected to be with the high needs children all day.

AsIAm are getting a kicking on their social media and rightly so. Happy to send teachers back in while removing their own face to face supports.

@SionnachRua
Yes, I'm quite concerned about some aspects of this too.

Though it's to be welcomed from the point of view of the student, I'd say the special ed teachers will be very worried about contracting Covid with numbers the way they are now.

As you mentioned, there are usually two levels of support offered in mainstream primary classes - support and support plus, if I understand it correctly. It seems only the support plus children are being facilitated here? In many schools the same teacher teaches both groups at various times during the day. If all their time is now dedicated to support plus, what happens the children needing basic support? In mainstream schools, many more students tend to need 'support' than need 'support plus'.

The primary my children attend is a small rural school with one full time Special Ed teacher. I don't see how she can be in school all day teaching the Support Plus group without neglecting the online support she currently offers the others.

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How can they do this is a school, not near any other schools has one SEN child.
They're saying group schools together which is fine in big cities.
Also Early Years Teachers need to get their asses into Unions because Unions are really fighting for their members on this one.

If a school not is a school. Fat fingers.

@Iblinkedandiamold

How can they do this is a school, not near any other schools has one SEN child. They're saying group schools together which is fine in big cities. Also Early Years Teachers need to get their asses into Unions because Unions are really fighting for their members on this one.

Oh the INTO are not fighting for members at all. I'm hearing a lot of stories about people cancelling memberships...I wish I could join ASTI

Yy to having only one kid coming in. Or a school having shared SET (maybe 2 days a week?). What do they do? And even if a school has more than one SEN child there's huge issues. They've said to group the children according to what they're working on. Thinking about my past school, I'd have had a Senior Infant working on phonics with a 5th class child who was an extremely weak reader...great confidence booster for that 5th class kid isn't it?

Someone on another forum mentioned that one kid due to come into their school believes Covid is a hoax and spits all the livelong day in class.

@lizzieant They won't be getting support, to put it simply. The teacher can't teach kids in school all day and also support those with less needs at home. And the kids in school will not be getting anything from their class teacher, that's been made clear in the Dept plans. Any SET I know have said their principal have instructed them to only handle those in school, though it's a little up in the air atm until there's definitive plans made.

It's babysitting more than anything tbh and an opportunity for Norma Foley to seem like she won.

I can see how the plan makes sense (if you disregard teachers' health!!) in special schools or in special units/classes within mainstream. However, when it comes to mainstream classes the Dept seem to be supporting one cohort, but it's at the expense of another unfortunately.

The whole school thing re the sn kids is a total mess. The reality is that the teachers don't want to go into a classroom at the moment with the figures so high. I can't see the schools back for several weeks.
I heard that someone I worked with a long time ago is currently in ICU due to getting covid when having cancer treatment.
I agree with one of the other posters here about phone conversations at the moment - yes no news since I last spoke to you and then what we are watching on Netflix. I have found that some people are just totally bring others down re the whole covid situation and the current high numbers. I got a smart comment when I said I meet a few family members on Xmas day. We were all well, social distanced and wore masks. I have not contacted that person since because I just don't want to deal with people who are just total drains. It has been hard curtailing going places and meeting friends since all this started. I have started to make plans for when things get back to more normal times.

To be honest I think this is a terrible situation. Does the dept of education think SN teachers are exempt from covid.
Is there any way parents can recieve online training so they assist their SN kids more at home? I don't know? But maybe more supports should be offered online to help parents keep their children at home & safe? Eg sending "how to" links on the curriculum etc?

SN teachers are clearly immune just like childcare staff.
Myself and my friends have a what's app group where we just post witty Facebook memes talk about the soaps, Cobra Kai and Bridgerton
Occasionally we talk to about Covid but we try and avoid it.

@Joolsin have you thought about selling or giving away for free on adverts? Harder at the mo with the 5km rule but you might shift a few bits and maybe make a few euro.

@LifeInaHamsterWheel you called right, on the info you were given last week. Today, hearing on Newstalk and reading in the Independent this morning, that it looks like the end of March before lockdown is lifted.

@Pastasau

To be honest I think this is a terrible situation. Does the dept of education think SN teachers are exempt from covid. Is there any way parents can recieve online training so they assist their SN kids more at home? I don't know? But maybe more supports should be offered online to help parents keep their children at home & safe? Eg sending "how to" links on the curriculum etc?

It's a great suggestion but would have required the Dept of Ed to acknowledge schools could close again. So no dice unfortunately.

Something worth mentioning is that if your school has a special class, the plans state that mainstream teachers can be sent in to cover that class. If your child is in mainstream and their teacher has to cover, your child won't have access to him/her - it'll be a sub, if one can be found. So this will impact parents who won't expect it.

Also yy to the phonecalls.

"How are you getting on? Any news?"
"Ah sure no, just like last week..."

It's torturous at times!

Yes! I'm doing an online conversation class in French and the teacher always asks if we have any news. You would be wracking your brain for something interesting to say. It reminds me of making up sins going to confession, years ago.

"Bless me Father for I have sinned...I was mean to my brother last week". Ah that brings me back!

At least the online French gives you something to talk to other people about

It's a diversion and it's good for the old brain cells SionnachRua.

I'm starting an online Irish Class soon. Have to do something.