Educated guesses when schools will reopen

[frasersmummy]

Just that really

What do you think might be a realistic re-opening date.
Am I being optimistic thinking after the February break
I know no one has a crystal ball just looking for people's thoughts

You're right the at home part is far from ideal for many and a case of do what you can, but it's the middle of a pandemic and there's little that's ideal. We also have a large number of vulnerable pupils but under a blended model they'd just be incorporated in to that with all the other dc. Keyworker criteria is tight, 2 keyworkers out the home during school hours. There aren't huge numbers that fall in to this. There's some exceptions currently being made - this would have to stop.

The blended learning was meant to be 15 kids in a class. Because that how many would fit.
33 kids in a class divided by 15, leaves 3 left over so schools need composite classes spilling into the other spaces of the schools and extra teachers required.

Yes KW and vulnerable kids would join their class for some days but due to capacity and the 15 limits they wouldn't be able to join on their non class days.
Even in a school with capacity to add them to the classes throw in the teacher repeating the same lessons you have very bored kids.

Some of these kids really couldn't cope with that amount of disruption, 2 days with half the class, day of just them, 2 days of the other half. Not to mention a feeling of why do I have to go to school when pals don't?

JS just doesn't have a clue.

There isn't more than 30 in either our school or dc's I actually thought 30 was the maximum number and I work in a school (albeit in p1 so I don't need to know p7 class limits). If tjere is 33 then it would be 16 dc. As I already said the vulnerable dc would just go on the normal blended learning model- it's more than the 2 days they are currently getting they need to be provided with a school place that doesn't mean it has to be a full time one. They are in every week and we can keep an eye on them, it's the best we can do in the current circumstances. We also have very few keyworker kids in every day due to many keyworkers being on shifts as you pointed out. Gym halls, staff rooms, dinner halls and the rest can be utilised if necessary. It's not workable long term obviously but for the sort term can be used to get more dc back to some level of face to face learning if necessary.

My DCs school was already planning on having classes in the gym and the library.

66 kids in a year = 4 groups of 15 + 6 left over, those 6 were going into composite classes with other years. The composite classes were going to be with supply teachers and in gym / library.
All PE was to be outside.

That still doesn't give space for vulnerable kids.

That still doesn't give space for vulnerable kids.

The vulnerable dc are included in that 66

Not every class could fit 15 with 2m SD. Hence some council's only being able to bring pupils in one day a week, 2 every other week. They could only fit 1/3 of the class in following the rules used in the rest of society. Then they decided these rules didn't apply to schools.

But remember the KW / vulnerable need a space 5 days.
If the 66 has say 5 KW/vulnerable kids where are those 5 going when they aren't rota'd to be with their teacher and who's looking after them?

Some years in DC school must have more than 66 as it's got over 500 kids in it.

Some schools are already using staff rooms, libraries for classes without covid.

Not every class could fit 15 with 2m SD. Hence some council's only being able to bring pupils in one day a week, 2 every other week. They could only fit 1/3 of the class in following the rules used in the rest of society. Then they decided these rules didn't apply to schools.

Primary children in Scotland do not need to SD

Nor do secondary. I was referring to last June, when we had to measure classrooms to allow for SD. Then the rules miraculously changed overnight, and we were all back in!

But isn't being able to distance one of the core reasons for blended learning?

@StatisticallyChallenged

But isn't being able to distance one of the core reasons for blended learning?

Yip that was a major part of it hence back to my original point. So many issues with it that it an ill thought out idea that never happen.

It's more to do (we know now) with a well ventilated, not over crowded room. The vulnerable kids do it need to be in every day, neither do many of the key worker kids - they aren't just now. There hasn't a been a suggestion to return to blended learning, we all know it's far from ideal - then neither is most bids learning from home 100% of the time, but it isn't impossible. As I said we had our model ready to go.

@midnightstar66

Not every class could fit 15 with 2m SD. Hence some council's only being able to bring pupils in one day a week, 2 every other week. They could only fit 1/3 of the class in following the rules used in the rest of society. Then they decided these rules didn't apply to schools.

Primary children in Scotland do not need to SD

They absolutely DO from the teacher.

That was also OLD advice when it was the old variant. We have absolutely no idea of transmission with children.

@Lockdownbear

The blended learning was meant to be 15 kids in a class. Because that how many would fit. 33 kids in a class divided by 15, leaves 3 left over so schools need composite classes spilling into the other spaces of the schools and extra teachers required.

Yes KW and vulnerable kids would join their class for some days but due to capacity and the 15 limits they wouldn't be able to join on their non class days.
Even in a school with capacity to add them to the classes throw in the teacher repeating the same lessons you have very bored kids.

Some of these kids really couldn't cope with that amount of disruption, 2 days with half the class, day of just them, 2 days of the other half. Not to mention a feeling of why do I have to go to school when pals don't?

JS just doesn't have a clue.

The blended learning in classes where I am were maximum 10 in primary school. Far more manageable.

Its not actually John Swinney that makes the decisions. He is just a mouth piece for the education recovery group.

Blended learning might work in the small schools near me which are 50% or less capacity and classes of around 20. But even then you'd need an extra 3 teachers per school and I don't know where they would come from.
Teachers wouldn't be able to work in school and provide and monitor home learning at the same time.

They absolutely DO from the teacher.

Children under 12 are not required to distance whatsoever neither from adults or other dc. I have dc still sitting on my knee in class. My p7 dd is not required to distance from her teacher.

That was also OLD advice when it was the old variant. We have absolutely no idea of transmission with children.

But we do not have any updated advice. Guidelines re distancing of primary children has not changed

The EIS (and our LA) recommend that all children over P2 socially distance. P7s in my school are certainly reminded to stay away from the teacher as much as possible.

Our guidance stated that staff should wear a mask if they need to be beside a p3 or up dc for more than 15 minutes at one time. This isn't something that's common for upper school teachers - none of ours have had to do so even with 30 dc in class, it mostly just applies to support staff.

@RaraRachael

Blended learning might work in the small schools near me which are 50% or less capacity and classes of around 20. But even then you'd need an extra 3 teachers per school and I don't know where they would come from. Teachers wouldn't be able to work in school and provide and monitor home learning at the same time.

Yip it would work in schools with spare capacity but so many councils, have gone through cost saving exercises in the last 20 years, of closing and merging schools as half empty schools aren't economical to run. In areas where the school rolls have gone up the schools are bursting at the seams. The council's won't add extra capacity until every spare room has been used, libraries, staff rooms, computer labs. Then they can get a temporary classroom in the playground.

Lockdownbear. That is the case in our school. Bursting at the seams and every room used so no libraries, GP room and music teachers working in stinky corridors leading to toilets.
If makes me sbut angry that s mils away kids are in classes of 18/20 and umpteen spare rooms. When the council tried to close and amalgamate some of these schools a few years ago there was such an outcry from parents that it was shelved

18/20 kids in a class would be a dream. Verging on private education without paying for it.

They really do need to do something about it.

Dd's old school was of the bursting at the seams variety- every spare space converted, then an extension on the already tiny, concrete playground. One hall which was both PE and lunch (and everything else). They wouldn't have got half of each class in with 2m distancing either.

The p3-p7 allowed max was 33, crazy.