Why on earth are so few parents signing the petition to reopen schools?

[canary1]

I am disgusted that children are shut of schools currently. The priority seems to be opening non essential shops and football. Our children are being failed. I am wondering why on earth are so few signatures on the petition to reopen schools? We should be matching on Westminster, not taking this! I can see less than 5000 signatures....

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/305525?fbclid=IwAR04Yrc7kx38uURQ5doNMonlw72-od2RoDXUClyrJdmcnpcVZSckqC2eaFs

I’ve not signed it because I don’t think it’s helpful. If it said open schools and exempt from social distancing I would

To the depressingly large number of people on this thread who keep saying 'it isn't safe'. What does safe look like to you? Should schools fully open only once we have found and mass produced a vaccine?

What if we never find one? Will you shield at home forever?

Just to confirm Scottish schools are not on holiday yet, otherwise I've got showered and dressed this morning for no reason.😂

The latest government guidance (updated 16 June) says:

From the week commencing 1 June 2020, we are asking primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups. Primary schools that have capacity after making provision available for these groups can invite additional children to return, so long as they can accommodate more children while still following the approaches set out in the protective measures guidance and their own risk assessment

I don't think many people are aware of, or acting on, the second sentence.

The problem I think is that it is right that decisions like this have to be made locally, because schools are genuinely very different, in terms of what is possible. But I suspect that what different schools are offering is much more variable than can be justified on the basis of buildings, staff availability and other factors.

Unfortunately, some schools are offering very little remote education and actively deterring their pupils from returning. Teachers who are working hard are understandably upset that their profession is being criticised for being lazy. Parents whose children are receiving nothing from their school are understandably upset that their children are not receiving the same support that is provided by other schools.

I'm not sure there is any point in lobbying the government, except as a general protest. What would be far more effective I think is parents lobbying their children's schools. I no longer have children in school but if I did and was unhappy with the provision, I'd be writing to governors and pointing to concrete examples of where other similar schools were doing more.

I don't think MN reflects RL, as ever. Most people I know don't want their children to go back until the situation is much clearer. Tbh MN is a bit of a bubble education wise. I've never seen the judgment of term time holidays that I do on here, the assertion that a week off means they'll miss essential one time learning and never catch up. Most people I know believe that teachers and schools largely are getting it right in general with their children and leave them to it. They're not obsessed with "10 GOOD GCSEs" - they just want their children to do well or at least well enough to go on to the further education they want to. I just don't see the angst in RL that I do on here. Most people accept this has happened and know their kids will catch up. That's why people aren't signing petitions or marching or "rising up" over it.

I live in Stockholm and there is a pre-school about 100m from my home that has remained open. As I have been working from home and having dog walks in place of coffee breaks I have seen the children regularly together with no social distancing.

I also work with people who have older children who have continued to go to school. They have not had COVID.

Whilst the Swedish numbers are not good most of the deaths are related to the fuck ups in care homes.

The Swedish experiment seems to show that children are special. They are not getting or spreading the virus - otherwise the Swedish numbers would be off the charts.

I am not saying there is no risk but the risk does seem to be much smaller than generally understood in other countries.

That's also my experience Ygritte.

Because I don't want more pressure on the teachers.
Home life is pretty awful. My teen is working but in tears and shouting fairly regularly. The other one hasn't done a thing since this started. But the schools are doing as much as they can. My year 6 hasn't gone back because they don't have the space.

Oh I reckon it’s because of all the Coronavirus.

I can only imagine it’s because people don’t want the schools open.

Our school has taken back children in every year, in bubbles of 15. I can only assume it’s because enough parents of the years that are supposed to be going back are choosing not to send them, therefore creating the space for others.

Because it’s not possible to open them safely at the moment.

@YgritteSnow

I don't think MN reflects RL, as ever. Most people I know don't want their children to go back until the situation is much clearer. Tbh MN is a bit of a bubble education wise. I've never seen the judgment of term time holidays that I do on here, the assertion that a week off means they'll miss essential one time learning and never catch up. Most people I know believe that teachers and schools largely are getting it right in general with their children and leave them to it. They're not obsessed with "10 GOOD GCSEs" - they just want their children to do well or at least well enough to go on to the further education they want to. I just don't see the angst in RL that I do on here. Most people accept this has happened and know their kids will catch up. That's why people aren't signing petitions or marching or "rising up" over it.

I have to say, I agree with Ygritte here. MN often does not reflect opinions or attitudes in RL and this seems to be one of these areas.

Not sure why a poster is mentioning that they're not sending their child because a parent is high risk and shielding. Well that's a no brainer obviously! Most families aren't having to shield and the numbers of families with a shielding parent are minimal in comparison.

Because I don't think waiting for school to reopen is a bad idea. I don't think it's damaging my child at all. Maybe for different year groups, but not for younger ones including my dc's year.

Well I've signed the Scottish version and have posted a few articles on FB on why it's detrimental for DCs to be out of school for long periods.

I think people are shying away because of Covid concerns as government has done a good job of terrifying us to make us all stay in initially, and secondly because it has become too politicised. On the Scottish page lots of people are venting their frustration about the SNP whereas in my mind we need to stick to the key message that full time schooling needs to be a priority and a clear way forward agreed.

The Scottish Usforthem campaign has got schooling on the radar ar least and it's now apparently going to be added to the phasing document so we should have a clearer picture of when DCs can go back properly and how safe needs to be safe.

I worry that we will relax things to allow the holiday trade within UK at least to functionmaybe not Wales which I agree with, but that will push the R rate up enough to stop any progression on school discussions.

Schools would love to open but they don't have the room.

They need twice the space and twice the number if teachers.

Got a magic wand, OP?

I have signed so many! Will do this one too.

I’ve signed it. Thanks OP.

The schools should be open and having as many dc in as possible.

I am not surprised at the resistance and the barriers being erected where none are there. How many heads have drilled into the risks to children. How many heads have said to their staff: look we'll pressure for anti-body testing.

I remember only too well when my dc attended a local state school and the school shut for 1/2 inch of snow for H&S reasons, when the head banned use of the field because a branch fell down in a huge storm (It was a big one).

Roll that into the adequate teaching (at an outstanding school at the top of the tables and I am reminded why we switched them to the independent sector. To escape the won't do attitude.

Thank goodness for the good sense of Barnaby Lennon. It is sadly missing in the state sector.

@MrsTravers quite a few independent schools are already back , even locally a boarding prep. The Government said yesterday that apparently after all this the request to close was always ‘just advice’ ( this in response to a legal challenge) . The main stumbling block is insurance and this seems to be being resolved.

Reading the threads on here this morning there are a lot of independent Prep schools returning for all years by the end of this week. Helped of course by the fact that class sizes at private primary are often around 15 anyway.

Given that the turn out of eligible children is so low this does not surprise me at all. This is a government leadership issue and is evidence of the poor leadership by the government on this issue. They have failed to keep public confidence and have made their own decisions with no explanation of these. Ignoring the sage modelled return options and creating their own plan which was impossible for schools to deliver and meant that most year groups could never return until full classes are allowed was a disaster. The schools and unions are getting the blame but the government are overall responsible for this and they need to take control now, but I seriously doubt they have the ability to do so

I didn't know this petition was there to be signed. Have signed and shared on facebook now. I think it needs shared wider!

Schools in Scotland close next week for the summer, they're going back a week early in August (albeit part time) and provision for key workers is being made with full time places, and summer places at hub schools.

I can't fault the Scottish Government, local authorities and head teachers in their approach to be honest. But it looks like there is no such consistency across England which must be very frustrating.

In answer to the question in the title, because I believe it’s ultimately my responsibility to raise my children, including educating them. And I’m doing so.

Parents desperate for schools to reopen have a variety of reasons for that. I have sympathy for many - parents with low levels of education themselves, physical or mental health problems or other socioeconomic issues. I would support schools opening up more places for those children rather than the blanket government instruction of random year groups we’ve had. I don’t have sympathy for all those, outwith the above groups, who have a few hours a day to help their children learn but can’t get neurotypical healthy children to do any work! Schools going back will be valuable for these young people, but more valuable would be them being parented responsibly and with boundaries and expectations of valuing learning. I also don’t have respect for the many parents (mostly fathers) I’m seeing moan online about what a drag it all is and how they leave it to their spouse. Many single parents are managing to ensure their children learn, and where there are two parents they should both be contributing rather than this being left to only infringe on mother’s careers.

Vulnerable children are able to be educated - my foster child goes to school whilst my biological children don’t. In some ways this is worst of both worlds (school runs and then home to supervise home learning alongside running my business) but I’d rather numbers were lower in schools so that chances of a localised spike remains lower and the school doesn’t have to be shut for the truly vulnerable children and the parents (keyworkers) most needing school provision.

@DomDoesWotHeWants but they don’t need twice the staff.

Normally each class of 30 has a teacher and a TA. So out of that 30 you can have 2 bubbles of 15 with one member of teaching staff; a teacher or a TA.

Granted space is an issue