PPE in schools

[theluckiest]

Ok, I know there's a million threads about this but I've just been reading a load of articles about how successfully other countries have begun to reopen schools. Germany, Canada, France and, the one quoted most often, Denmark.

(Can I just point out that I am a KS1 teacher if you're wondering)

Much as it pained me, I ended up reading a Daily Mail article about this and there are umpteen photos of other countries.

I've noticed two glaringly obvious things:

• PPE / distancing is evident in every single setting. In EVERY other country. Facemasks, visors, marks on floors, distanced lines (with NO parents lining up with children which I thought was interesting) and even Perspex screens in front of teacher or students.

• not a single picture shows a child below the age of around 6. Obviously, this is my opinion from a picture but it's pretty clear that 'all these countries who've managed to reopen schools' aren't getting their tinies in.

Or don't have formal schooling until then.

So I then had a look at kindergartens - Norway for example, have a worker looking after max 6 children between 3-6.

Which is great, but we simply cannot do this with our Reception / Y1s due to numbers and facilities in UK state schools. Not being defeatist, not refusing to engage (hence why I was looking at this in the first place to see how it has worked)

So why on earth, if we know it's impossible, are we talking about opening for the youngest first???? It seems utterly mad & destined to be unworkable. Particularly when they're then talking about other primary ages returning within weeks of June 1st.

Gives me a headache just thinking about it...

Hi OP,
I'm a secondary school teacher in France and the youngest years went back this week (maternelle). I'm going back in next week with year 7 and 8. We've got a meeting tomorrow where we'll be provided with masks.

Some schools haven't received them yet, in which has the school will refuse to open until protective equipment is made available to students and staff. From secondary up, masks are compulsory for students and staff; in primary it's only from staff.

It's certainly an interesting choice for England to start back without the minimum PPE...

I think, and this is just my opinion, they're hoping half the parents won't want to send their kids in and that'll make things easier to plan for 15 kids rather than 30 per class.

We want PPE in our school but SLT have said it's unfair on the (secondary SEN) students.

On a practical note, how easy will it be to teach with PPE? I know that being uncomfortable is not the end of the world if it keeps the children safer but I just can’t imagine it!

Sorry, should have said how easy would it be. I do know we won’t get any!

I think, and this is just my opinion, they're hoping half the parents won't want to send their kids in and that'll make things easier to plan for 15 kids rather than 30 per class.

Thats my thought too.

Ive asked what cleaning is being done of the keyboards and each mouse in secondary as we don't have one teacher per classroom. Some Classrooms might have six different teachers in It each day.

Are we expecting all children to have basic equipment so we dont have to lend it out to grubby hands Pens, pencils, colours, calculator, ruler? As they didnt before this.

I’m a nurse and can’t imagine teaching with a mask and visor. It gets uncomfortable quickly, hot, voice muffled compared to usual and just hard to talk at length with all that over your face.

I reread some of the guidance earlier - small groups (yeah, ok....great but that indicates part time hours as lack of staff), handwashing (yep, OK, good), staggered times (logistical nightmare but doable) and one way systems in corridors.

Guess how many corridors we have in the entire school? One. All classrooms off one narrow corridor. One corridor that's probably 1m wide at one point (v small school that went from 1 to 2 form)

You’ll have to open external doors and start a one way jogging circuit.
A lot of schools I go to have the one corridor system, with classrooms opening off it. And a sink with only cold water available. Let’s not mention toilets.

If you're a KS1 teacher you'll know how important Reception and year one are, developmentally.

No idea how they're intending for all primary kids to be back in a few weeks though. Unless kids go part time and only go in 1 or 2 days a week, there's no way most schools will be able to accommodate that, and there doesn't seem to be much point doing that.

I'm in Denmark and have a 5 year old so maybe can help tell you what is happening here. A 5 year old here is still in kindergarten (not formal schooling). They have been split into smaller groups and are always with the same kids and same adults (have had resources added so there are more adults). They cannot play across groups. No PPE is used. In their kindergarten they are spending all the time outside (except on one day where it rained a lot) only going inside for the toilet. They have some shelters/tents set up for when it rains a bit or from the sun.

The kids turning 6 this year started school this week (i.e. first day of school ever!). In the local school they have been put into small groups again and will be always with the same kids and same adults for this time. Due to space they have been placed in tents in the parking area. The kids again are spending most of the time outside (going on walks to the forest, the beach etc).

There is no PPE being used at all (except for sanitising liquid for adults on entering the kindergarten). Exposure is limited by always being in the same group of kids and adults. Also only one parent may take the kids to school/kindergarten. Some places also have delivery only happening at the site entrance. At ours we walk them to their designated area on site.

And on thing I forgot to say. The kindergarten is only open for restrictred hours (6.5h a day now vs 10h before) which is what is allowing the kdis to always be with the same adults. Their is 'emergency daycare' before and after for key worker kids, but there the adults and kids will not maintain the same groups as during the day.

I have met with heads across our academy today and out of 10 schools only one is opening fully. The rest are all like my school going to start with a very gradual opening so we won't be opening our doors to all. I think everyone seems to be assuming it will be the same with a bit of distancing. It won't I think you'll find most schools will be very cautious.

The main issue I have with PPE, is the government telling us we don't 'need' it, when a) they can't show us the science to back up this fact, and b) they are telling everyone else to wear PPE/masks etc if that helps keep their workplace safe. I resent being told that they can't make my work place safe, but ah well... the economy.

I don't want to teach in a mask - I might be able to do my input at a distance without a mask, but then wear a visor when I'm working to support children close up, but it's not ideal.

As PP says, even if this goes ahead from (not on) June 1st, it will be phased in many schools and not the hours parents will be expecting.

There's so much that can change by then.