any other infant teachers nervous about how/when we'll go back?

[Backintime4breakfast]

because I am! No idea how we will cope with social distancing in tiny classrooms, never mind anything else. I know that worrying about theses details is waaayyyy above my paygrade but it is really stressing me out ☹️

Me

I also have asthma, so v worried. There’s no way my children will social distance or cough in the hands and wash them properly. I’ve been coughed/sneezed at in my face more than I can remember (I teach reception).

I just don't think it's realistic is it? And possibly psychologically damaging to be telling small child do do things against their natural instincts, such as hug a friend or sit close together. They should only be back in school when it's safe for them to act and behave naturally. I think it would be better to explain why they should instead always wait before approaching older people and why, "because grandparents can catch germs much easier than little children etc."

I guess all the newspaper speculation (& yes I should know better than to read or believe it) has really got me thinking about how on earth we would or could manage.....& the short answer is ...we wouldn't & couldn't! its a real worry to me.

I've been in school during lockdown. You can just about keeping the older ones apart during lessons but even they are all over each other at breaktimes. Social distancing with the younger ones is an absolute impossibility, even with the small numbers that we have now. It will be a non-starter with normal classes.

I don't think it's a huge worry for the children themselves as they are a low risk group, but I do worry about children spreading covid to staff and to their families.

I agree that having to try and stop them being physically close and affectionate would also be damaging to them.

Sorry, I know this is the staffroom and I am not a teacher, but for those teachers I think you need to get the union involved, I am all for opening up schools again, but there is no way for social distancing and also having listened to the press conference today, it looks like as soon as the government says schools are open if as a parent I don't send my child back I am going to start being fined.

Teachers and Parents together need to find a way to tell the government that this is not going to work

I don't think we'll open for the entire school.

When we were musing last week, opening only for years 2 (pupils to be spread across the EYFS / KS1 classrooms) and 6 (pupils to be spread across the KS2 classrooms) to allow for social distancing was a likely option.

It will be interesting to see if the decision on which year groups to welcome back and when will come from Government, or will be on a school-by-school basis.

SD isn't happening for our Sen school for those few who are in but I think they've taken a decision on that for MH reasons.

It's going to be impossible for us up to year 6. Recognising Personal Space isn't most of our pupils' forte

We also have to consider behaviour support for some pupils. They can't have staff they don't know. It's v hard under usual circumstances with a staff member off and a supply in. Often we prefer no supply unless we know they're capable based on safety for all staff and pupils.

I do know a number of Sen heads wrote to the government just before lockdown though and I'm sure they will be v active in discussions.

I’m very worried. Continuous provision would be impossible to do safely. I’ve been fighting a losing battle to keep it and have visions of single desks and worksheets

I have similar worries Moss, my Head seems to think it will be business as usual ie. free flow access to all areas in my tiny EYFS classroom, me going out on home visits for my new cohort and holding new parent meetings (60+ parents) as soon as my shielding period ends at the end of June. I am a firm believer in learning through play but just don’t see how we can keep anyone safe if we continue through it. It’s just impossible to social distance four year olds in any capacity. I asked this week if I could move to a higher year group when I return given I’m in the extremely vulnerable group but was told that isn’t the plan. I fear schools will either go two ways: follow the social distancing and learn as you describe at desks and little interaction, or decide social distancing isn’t possible and just carry on as normal. Either way, the mental/physical health of staff and children will be severely damaged. I just don’t know a way out of this :-(

I'm very anxious about it. Even with the 7(ish) EYFS children we have in at the moment, social distancing is almost impossible.

Even if we phased back in with half the class in at any given time, 15 4-5 year olds in a small classroom seems way too many.

What about putting coats on and toileting?

The photos released from Denmark showing ten single desks spaced 2m apart across a hall looks so far removed from any infant school here it’s ridiculous.

Obviously most schools only have one hall.
I haven’t seen a school for decades with single desks.

My biggest fear is that they’ll just say, ‘SD is impossible in schools-just crack on and wash your hands more’.

Parents walking kids to school I’m packed roads and standing together in the playground?! Going from staying 2m apart from the world back to that, seems crazy.

If they do decide to have certain year groups eg 10/12/6 as has been mooted, how would that affect the infants? Especially solely infant schools.

Would breakfast/after school clubs start up?
Childminders?
Grandparents taking and collecting?

What about transition from preschools?
New parent/intake meetings and visits? We banned external visitors from the building before we closed-will that all be fine now?!

My colleagues and I have chatted about this and are all comfortable with the idea of going back. I don’t believe we’ll be required to keep the children socially distancing and we’ll be ensuring the children are hand washing regularly, not sharing pencils, sending home anyone who seems slightly ill,etc. However, as there’s no announcement been made yet, this is all purely conjecture. I’m raring to go back!

Young children can’t socialise are a distance. My youngest doesn’t want to talk to any friends we see when that’s all it is - talking without close person interaction. They want to be close to the other person to develop play physically. It’s not primarily about language for them. It will be damaging to try and keep them apart in my opinion.

I work in a junior school - have been in this week. We had 11 children in and really struggled to keep them apart - as soon as you take your eyes off them they are huddled together again.

We ended up sitting them on PE mats in the hall with iPads as we couldn't let them play freely.

Teaching we had 3 to a classroom but was hard for those children that required adult support as you can't give that from 2m away.

If a 10 year old can't remember to SD then I'm not sure a 5 year old will.

www.ft.com/content/de2027d4-5153-462b-a38d-75b7a5ddad17

The Financial Times says that in Norway, kindergarten is for 3-6 year olds and they are in groups of 6. French teachers have bern told to disinfect anything a child touches.

How on earth are we supposed to balance what children need vs health? I’ve been in the hub a few times and found it very uneasy, verging on stressful. It’s not as if we can just go back to the way we were.

I've been in school during lockdown. You can just about keeping the older ones apart during lessons but even they are all over each other at breaktimes. Social distancing with the younger ones is an absolute impossibility, even with the small numbers that we have now. It will be a non-starter with normal classes.

Exactly my experience too. Also, how can you help kids with their work if you're not supposed to stand near them?

Once schools are back, social distancing is over.

Really worried - I'm EY and can't even begin to comprehend how it's ok to send little children, who have been missing their friends during lockdown, back to school but then tell them that actually you can't play with your friends at all or no your adult can't come jnto school and help you settle even though you're very upset or no I can't cuddle you if you're hurt or upset.
I worry because DH has lots of health conditions that put him in the vunerable group and combined should probably put him in the very vunerable group. I worry be cause I think the Government will have no qualms about throwing us all under the bus while endlessly repeating the rhetoric that children don't get ill or carry the virus.

If I was nervous before, I am terrified now! How will this work do you think? Will it actually happen?

It's very clear. We won't be social distancing. All this talk about 'how can we social distance from a 5 year old' is irrelevant. The Govt know full well that social distancing won't happen in primary schools. Social distancing will continue for other work places but I feel like we are just being pushed to the side to some children out of homes so adults can get back to work or work from home more easily. Social distancing is over for us teachers. If you've been in schools since lockdown, you will have seen this for yourself. Yes try spreading them out in smaller groups, spreading out tables but that's it

I think you are right. I noticed a few works ago a question was asked at the briefing about social distancing and the response was clear, you can’t expect four and five year olds to social distance, they can’t. Alarm bells started to ring at this point. I am certain that will be the guidance, no SD for young children and hope for the best...watch the cases rise again...and Teachers die. We care cannon fodder :-(

Weeks not works!