School is so miserable right now

[boredorboard]

I don't know what the answer to this is? I am fully supportive of preventing staff and students catching Covid from each other but my DC at state secondary are finding break times really hard.

Each year group has its own outside area which is a sports court surrounded by a chain link fence. There is nowhere to sit and no shelter from rain or wind. They have to collect food from the canteen and then eat it in their sports court either standing up or sitting on the cold (often wet) ground.

They will not be allowed inside the building unless there is HEAVY rain.

What I can't understand is if they are in year group bubbles anyway why they cannot go into their form rooms during break and lunch times. They are at no greater risk of spreading Covid during those times than when they all sit in a classroom for the 5 hours of lesson time each day? Am I missing something?

For context before Covid they could spend time in their form rooms during breaks. (Plus hang out in the canteen, library or any nook and cranny inside the school but I get this would mean the mixing of bubbles and isn't allowed). Bit why are form rooms now out of bounds? Each year group bubble is in a separate area of the school.

I am all for encouraging fresh air in general but this situation can't go on for the next 6 months surely. It's only September and it's freezing and wet! What are other schools doing?

I'm all for backing up school policies but I'm finding this one hard to justify.

We are similar but maybe less strict about it having to be very heavy rain.
The main problem I think is supervision - staff have increased duties now around the school to maintain bubbles, social distancing in communal areas, etc, but there aren’t enough people to supervise every classroom (whilst ensuring everyone gets a quick lunch break). If a child had an accident whilst unsupervised in a classroom the school would be liable.
Obviously this goes alongside trying to use outside space as much a possible to reduce virus transmission I guess.

Not ideal in any way, as you say. Not sure what the plan will be as it gets colder.

So they have no where to sit to eat other than the ground? That's nuts! Surely that can't continue into the winter?

I think people who have come up with these rules have forgotten what winter is like.

It's not freezing now during the school day. It's quite cold in much of the country but you're sound as if you're catastrophising. Students will be fine if dressed appropriately. It's not great, but your solution is likely to be impossible to manage too. I imagine now, they can supervise students from the canteen to outside with minimal staff. Getting them all back to form rooms would require an adult per form room, and adults in the corridors too. Probably more staff than the school has. So nobody gets a lunch break.

These plans need to change when it does actually get cold, however. If the school doesn't alter the plan at half term, that's when it needs to be challenged. Do they have a plan for heavy rain?

I think you are catastrophising a bit. It is perfectly normal for sports courts to be appropriately fenced

I think you have probably heard about this from your teen who is having a moan? It really won't be that grim.

And they get them to eat outside so form room don't stink in the afternoon nor accumulate food detritus

And it's way better that they spend only the time that is necessary indoors. Just because they have to run risk A to be in school at all does not mean they should also run risks B etc. Especially as there is evidence that severity of disease may depend in part on infective dose (it's why HCPs are believed to get it badly)

I agree, same at our secondary. Plus PE kit all day when they have PE, so soaking wet clothes if it’s been raining.

And swimming team at our local pool has the changing rooms off bounds, too. You have to go home in a wet costume.

Form rooms can't be used regularly because there is no one to supervise them. The teachers are legally entitled to a break.

I think this sounds crazy. To those saying it's not freezing, it felt like extreme winter for two days last week. I was surprised at how cold it was and I normally feel too hot even in the coldest weather. I had layered up and everything. Was meant to do a task outside and couldn't manage for longer than ten minutes.
I think it's not on to expect these kids to sir on the cold and wet floor outside. It's like humanity is going out of the window.
I would ask for changes at the school. The sooner we stand up for our kids, the better.

It is miserable, and it isn’t just what is described above. Nothing feels ‘normal’, somehow.

When I was in school we were outside the whole break unless raining. Everyone with packed lunches ate outside as there wasn't room in canteen and I wouldn't have wanted to eat in there anyway. Can't remember it being traumatic in anyway.

At DS’s high school they have staggered break times and lunch times so there is only one year group in at a time. They have a dining hall, smaller canteen, sixth form cafe and CCF hut that they’re using so children can sit inside at lunch time and break time if they want to. It’s not a big school though so there’s plenty of room to separate year groups.

Are they literally taking canteen lunch trays outside and trying to eat? That's crazy.

Ours have staggered lunches and have turned the hall into a second canteen with temp serving stations and the chairs and tables they have for assemblies/exams.

When outside year groups have allocated areas close to the outside doors near their section of the school. The school is massive and it's far from perfect but it at least gives vague normality

@mamapants

When I was in school we were outside the whole break unless raining. Everyone with packed lunches ate outside as there wasn't room in canteen and I wouldn't have wanted to eat in there anyway. Can't remember it being traumatic in anyway.

To be fair the difference is you weren’t confined to a small area and walking around makes a big difference.

I am not knocking schools. I’m not an UsForThem shrill and I know it’s needed for safety. But I do acknowledge it isn’t very pleasant on a day to day basis.

I don't think your idea would work due to staffing but I also think your idea sounds just as miserable. Id hate to be stuck in a classroom for all of break.
A lot of our local schools have reduced their lunch time and are ending school earlier so kids just eat and go back to class.
But I completely agree that school sounds miserable now. Our DD can't even go in the library.

I agree op. It's miserable and often nonsensical, and I think that's the case for the pupils and the teachers.

Both of my daughters , one in secondary , one in primary are unhappy in school. They have both always been eager school goers. Their days, the routines, the learning even has all changed so much for the worse (necessary, of course but let's not deny that it is worse- this isn't optimal learning/ teaching.)

Teachers didn't sign up for this, they've got added responsibility and no reward, and honestly it must be soul destroying enforcing these arbitrary rules (and enforcing the necessary effective rules for that matter!) and not being able to interact properly with their students.

Such a bad time to be a child or a teacher

Yes I agree it doesn't sound much fun. At DDs school they were told off for standing up outside whilst eating lunch - apparently a few kids were running around and tripping over bags whilst eating. However this meant the staff insisting they sit on the floor even when it was wet.

Add to that no use of lockers at the moment means carrying everything with them including coats and PE kit. DDs bag is stupidly heavy. I'm not sure what the answer is .

Also only two toilets open for their bubble of over 100 girls means much break time is spent in the toilet queue.

@stripeymonster DDs secondary school has closed all the toilets at break and lunch time, they can only go during lessons to avoid long queues. She's told me stories about kids leaving the class and being gone for most of it as there's no staff to get them from the toilets.
They are also on a hot lunch rota- one week hot meals from canteen, one week cold bar sandwiches etc.
I think I'll send her in with a flask on the cold lunch days in the winter, she loves a hot lunch.

It sounds as though most schools are just as barmy at the moment. I don't think it's fair to say I am catastrophising.

Imagine if I posted that my employer said I have to attend work or I would be fined. During my lunch break I have to go to the staff canteen and then take my food outside to the empty car park to eat it. There is no shelter from the elements and no where to sit so I have to sit on the floor. I am forced to remain there for 45 minutes until my boss lets me inside again. AIBU to question this situation?

I am not going to approach the school yet as I appreciate things are still being worked out. However I don't think we should be happy for our children to be treated in a way we wouldn't tolerate being treated as adults.

I was going to say it’s a supervision issue, however, if they used to be allowed in rooms inside unsupervised I’m not sure why this would change.

I’m an outside person, I love being outside but I wouldn’t want to eat my lunch outside in the rain.

I know it's miserable but the issue with form rooms are:

Staggered breaks so form room is likely in use as a classroom at that time;
Sanitising and cleaning after use. No matter what people say on here, teenagers will not do it and it has to be done to preserve bubbles;
Teachers need a break;
Duty staff present but not omniscient and some teenagers cannot be trusted without constant supervision. Bullying, throwing food and so on.

In cases of heavy rain the teacher will just have to have a break in the classroom with the class she or he teaches I guess. Nip out to the loo when duty staff come along.

Teacher here. Dreading a wet break with a heavy period.

Thank you Lucy, interesting to have a teacher perspective. Don't envy your situation at the moment!

I think it's not on to expect these kids to sir on the cold and wet floor outside.

Fundraise for some benches and a cover?

This is why I wanted half time fucking school - because if you had space to distance the whole thing could be more humane normal.

But full time bloody school is what we've got.

I'd rather mine were chilly than spreading the virus even more than already.

It does sound pretty rubbish. I wouldn’t fancy eating in the rain/cold every day. I don’t think many people would. It’s not like they’re toddlers with waterproofs on. They’ll be sitting getting damp.

Even some cheap marquee type things would make a difference. I spent 45 mins under one today waiting for my child to finish an activity.

Trust me, it's way more miserable for the teachers.