Social distancing at school

[sbcave]

Hi,

My child is back in primary school as they have confirmed they are taking and enforcing social distancing measures. They have said they can't 109% ensure compliance in kids and that is obviously fair and right.

But...

We understand that teachers don't monitor breaks especially lunch.

And...

They are all touching each other as a result. Obviously.

I'm a bit speechless- it seems to make a mockery of all the measures- I mean, why bother if for an hour a day there is no social distancing?

Has anyone else had the same experience and what if anything are people doing about it?

When the teacher isn’t in our bubbles, the TA is. There is no ‘touching each other‘ as a result.

We aren't social distancing at all within bubbles. Bubbles are isolated from each other. Sounds sensible in principle but staff aren't distancing from each other so it's just a nod to the guidance really.
Our head did make it clear to the parents we won't be distancing and make decisions on that basis.
We haven't had any cases or suspected cases so far.

How old is your child? It's not specified exactly in the guidance but it does say that younger children don't have to socially distance. It's impossible below a certain age. That's why we have small bubbles

There is, no matter the child's age, an expectation that the school will do everything sensible to keep social distancing. That is clearly not going to be 2 metres but there is a massive difference between the staff enforcing social distancing as much as practical and just letting the pupils do what they want at play time. That is simply not acceptable and suggests that the school staff have no comprehension of having carried out an adequate risk assessment and put procedures in place.

My DS is in Y6 in a bubble of 15 and carefully monitored before and during school. At 3.30 they all get chucked out and walk down to the car park or even home together!

DD is in a bubble of 10. They also have to keep 2m apart, and are constantly shouted at by peers and staff to keep 2m apart.

Personally I'd be happy to relax social distancing within the bubble.

Theres very little CV in our area.

Children are expected to maintain social distancing at our school for the Y6 children but not the younger children back full time. They are being kept in very small bubbles and whilst reminded about not touching and hand washing regularly, they realistically cannot social distance at that age.

The parents were made aware of this and it was optional as to whether or not they sent their children back. About 70% did.

Who is monitoring breaks and lunchtime? Out teachers and TAs now do both to ensure no one else breaches the bubble.

We're a few days in to being back at school, and I thought the whole point of bubbles was to protect everyone and if someone got covid just the bubble would need to isolate.

It seems great at school...the problem is outside the school gates, and I mean literally outside, bubbles of children, mainly boys all running around, charging about, no social distancing, mums just stood about nattering...I think it makes a total mockery of all the effort the school has gone to to put in place distancing. Trying to get my child home past all her 'friends' playing - who they can't "play with at school as they're in bubbles" is near impossible, but managed through tears.

If I was head of the school I'd be pretty p*ssed at the lack of respect

Oh.we are!. we are doing our very best within schools, no contact between bubbles, social distancing within bubbles as much as possible , wiping down toilets, doors, taps etc between use by each bubble, eating in the classrooms, same staff all day, every day.
then the children come in and tell us about the party they went to, the trips to London and the coast, the sleepovers they've had.

Pointless.

That is so awful, I feel so sorry for all who are working so hard to ensure safety as much as possible and then to have that thrown in their faces, what's the point!

I sent my DS (year 6) back to school and have just found out that the school has moved my done from one bubble to another. Not quite sure why they’re bothering at all if they will do that. I’m pretty annoyed as they didn’t even discuss it with us!

I think schools are doing their absolute best but it's becoming increasingly relaxed outside the school gates with parents chatting and children from different classes running around on the green together. I just think this is the natural world, we are social animals (well most people are and especially children) it's just not very sustainable for such strict measures to last for very long. I mean if schools are all children can have, I can't see any signs of swimming lessons or team sports coming back for a while.

Have you ever tried keeping 15 primary aged child distanced all day!? The guidance is clear that social distancing isn’t expected in primary but making sure the bubbles don’t overlap is key. However, as others have said, it’s a mockery really as parents are allowing kids to do all sorts out of school. We have strict Y1 bubbles yet the whole of Y1 were in the park together having ‘sports day’ on Saturday organised by the parents!

Wow, that's just bonkers!
I must admit I thought there would be a letter from school just covering the expectation of distancing outside school - but I don't know why I thought that, as it's not the schools responsibility to reiterate clear social distancing rules - but theyve been so muddied by the govt.

I find it really weird as well that it's almost become a parenting choice - "oh we've made the decision that our children don't need to distance"...much the same as "oh we've decided to co-sleep" - it's not the same and as someone who wants their children to distance it is impossible if the other family you're with don't feel it is important 😔 totally done with all this now