First ministers briefing

[Trichford]

Is there one on today? If so what time will it be? Thanks

Also, "zero risk" for something (like not driving cars) will have a disproportionate cost on others (like those who can't get to the hospital in time and so they die).

@itsasmallworldafterall my children are at risk however they travel to school. Can you imagine pre-COVID giving that as a reason for them not attending?
This is exactly the reason the schools need return fully come August as long as the numbers remain as is. if the numbers escalate again then, education needs to be given priority over shops, pubs and garden centres.

A friend whose dd is a secondary school teacher has said that she's been in to school to work out how to re-arrange the clsses. She says that at 2m social distancing, there is no way that they can fit half the pupils in to a class room, but at 1.5m it would be possible. This is a school in Glasgow.

She's been spending part of her time (in addition to distant teaching) at Ross Hall Academy , making up food parcels for shielded/vulnerable young people. My SIL, who's not a teacher but works in the education department, has also been doing that on occasion (as well as arranging and sending out food vouchers). SIL has been working longer hours than ever (both at home and some days in the office) during Lockdown.

2 months is a long time. If the figures continue decreasing then any government would have an impossible time justifying blended / part time schooling.

Today we had 5 deaths. Yesterday there was talk of stage 3 happening mid July.

I'm all for being prepared but I hope they are also preparing for full time school as the default.

It’s madness to have highly qualified teachers making up food parcels. Can’t the council pay temps to do that kind of thing, or other use other lower paid / less specialist employees whose regular work has dried up ? The teachers should be doing more remote teaching! The inefficiency and waste is inexplicable.

A bit of success with my email. My MSP (who is SNP) got back to me (via one of his assistants) and said he’s written to John Swinney to raise my concerns. At least questions are being asked within the party!

Well done, @Library!

I've emailed my MSP and JohnSwinney

Jack McConnell is on it with regards to schools and is calling out the SNP on it.

Also just heard that one school is planning for kids to be in 4 days over 3 weeks. less than 25% of time.

Absolute scandal.

I can't believe I've been forced to agree with Jack McConnell!

@SockYarn that's bloody ridiculous. Hardly worth it, think how stressful that would be for children, never mind parents.

Surely with the current trajectory returning as normal has to be on the cards ? We still have at least 8 full weeks to go!

I really hope so.

Surely if they open up lots other things, though, the cases and deaths are bound to rise? Or is theory that the virus will not thrive in summer ? In which case we might get more cases again in September October , no?

I wish they would say they'd donut if they can and things remain the same. I've recruited another few to write/complete surveys too

@fascinated that has just not happened anywhere they've opened up

Well it's not really about how much they open up. If there are so few cases, people follow rules around getting tested, self isolation and using track and trace it should be manageable (in theory) or at least only need containment in clusters.

North Lanarkshire is apparently having s5 and s6 in 1.5 days a week.

If I had a kid in s5 I’d be apoplectic with rage. Kids who have already had their exams stolen away in s4 then expected to go back and prepare for highers by being in school less than 1/3 of the time. It’s disgraceful.

John Swinney couldn’t run a bath. Time for him to resign.

There’s a second chase to get on top of visibility of cases with track and trace - that should hopefully mean we can keep on top of any outbreaks as they occur. That’s the theory anyway.

There is currently, as far as I am aware, NO planning for normal timetabling in August. I was the only person who mentioned it in my school today, and was met by eye rolls. I got the distinct impression that I'm the only one who's even considered it as a possibility. So much for critical thinking.

Teacher on my Facebook keeps muttering 2021

Still nothing from my local council as to what their plans are.

I'm lucky in the sense its not an exam year but at the same time, it could impact her exam results in the years to come.

I'm also worried that my pay could be affected if I have to work from home half the week to keep an eye on her.

I may be able to rely on grandparents by then but whilst DF is a retired teacher, he's too old really (and too crabbit now) to do teaching whereas DM left school without qualifications and would struggle to help DD. My MIL will be doing supply in schools and may be in more demand if there are more classes to accomodate social distancing.

So my options would be to rely on her DGM to enforce home schooling or work from home at the risk of my pissing off my managers or having my pay reduced. They are public sector so you'd think they'd be fair but I don't trust the bastards there.

My council have just released their plans, so in two months they know what a disease will be doing that we’ve only known about for 5 months........... they are clever!
Two days a week for learning, for primary children. With the school closed for cleaning on a Wednesday. I’m crying here out of complete frustration, not because it will be a disaster for us with regards to childcare but out of sadness for all the children who stand to lose so much.
I wonder what their long term plan is, with numbers as low as they are at the moment when do they decide that education a fundamental right of a child can proceed properly.
No one I speak to with a child in early primary is having much success with home schooling, it’s a nightmare.
Tourism is opening up from the 15th July but we are prepared to destroy our children’s futures by giving them 40% of the education they had before. I’m properly furious!

Are you Renfrewshire @Sweetpotatoaddict? We got ours announced this morning.

10 x 2.5 hour sessions a fortnight for secondary school pupils. Fucking shocking that after 5 months and the virus having been suppressed to very low levels that this is all they can do.

12.5 hours schooling a week? Are they having a fucking laugh?

It’s completely ridiculous