The Seventh Republic - the debate rages on but for some it is half term!

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff. Baiters and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here only if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the toffee vodka is hidden.

If you are fed up with cakes and biscuits there is now a cheeseboard on offer

Pink you have had a tough year :(
I hope you get to replan your week away with everyone when this is over x

Jet2 said we could move to next year, so it's there to look forward to hopefully.
Some little tiny thing within their new booking conditions says if covid reappears or there's another ban on travel in 2021 they are not responsible & will issue no refunds. Our insurance passed the buck to Jet2 this year and said they would not help, but I can see both of their points of view.

Me, too, Pink

Richard Adams
(@RichardA)
The DfE has just published its guidance for Early Years and childcare settings reopening on 1 June... at 12.30pm on the Sunday of a Bank holiday weekend. They really don't care.https://t.co/mtgDHMQTtx

I should not be surprised

I was about to post that. It's beyond madness.

• children under 2 years need 3.5 metres squared per child
• 2 year olds need 2.5 metres squared per child
• children aged 3 to 5 years need 2.3 metres squared per child
Area dividers may help to keep children in different parts of the room, and floor markings could be helpful in assisting staff with keeping groups apart.

Have they ever met small children?

Was about to post that riga!

Some parts are clearer than the previous guidance however, especially regarding discussion with staff and who should or shouldn't be there.

Jfc!! My 2 year old doesn't adhere to confined areas, unless there's food involved...

My eldest didn't even if there was food involved! I had to feed him while he ran up and down the room. Still has a tendency to do that now...

When was that last time they were in a range of classrooms. 2.3 metres squared

They’re from another planet (one that doesn’t deal with childcare, obvs)

pinkrocker

I really feel for you, how gutting! The weather in Cyprus at the moment is glorious as well! Our airline tickets have been cancelled for this summer as we visit our family lots and it sucks big time. Lockdown and Covid19 is just shit, eh!?

Crap isnt it Chloe!! When were you going this summer?
I'm having visions of people marking squares of 2.3m (no more, no less mind) for small people to stay in. The small people will be thinking this is their safe space and nobody is allowed in it, I can see upsets, arguments and tears if their friend crosses their lines. I can see them being territorial and keeping their things in their square.

It says a 5yo needs 2.3m squared? As in a box of 1.5m x 1.5m (roughly) to themselves?

They haven't said anything like that about Primary classrooms. It might actually have been quite helpful instead of every school making arbitrary decisions about how many children could be in each bubble.

I'm not imagining they'd stay in them btw- but at least it would allow schools to confidently say 'this room can only take 8' or whatever.

My child's school has measured the classrooms, some are groups of 8, some of 10.

My holiday is now in limbo. Fully paid . Spain says it will reopen in July. But what will that actually be like?

What happens if you turn up to an airport and your temp is high?

What happens if this happens at the Spanish end?

So many unknowns.

There is no actual guidance about room size though pfrench. Just that the children should be 2m apart. Adults should stay 2m away, but apparently walking past a child at close range is low risk, so you don't (or do you) need a bank of 2m free right the way round each desk..

It's really not clear cut deciding how many kids a room can take.

reefedsail

Schools and HTs have been ignoring room size recommendations for DT for years.

I can't see this being any different.

I didn't read that bit as meaning they had to stay in squares! Just that they were reiterating the normal min space requirements for EY settings and in another section talking about possibly having dividers up to keep groups of children apart!
Surely??

I read it as a guide to room size, too, but, in which case why bother saying how much space each child requires??

I noted this, too :

Once early years and childcare providers open to more children, all staff and children who are attending a childcare setting will have access to a test if they display symptoms of coronavirus, and are encouraged to get tested in this scenario.

That simply is not true. No tests for under 5s!

But is it 8 to a group or 16?!

16? In mini bubbles of 8??

There's a thread about keyworkers having plug pulled on wraparound acre at the moment.

It's all a shambles.

We can't compare ourselves to Denmark : they were precise, gave instructions and told parents what to expect!

When were you going this summer?
We were going to go the week before A Levels come out pinkrocker but no more!

Wraparound care is an issue for me Piggy because the company that do it at my DDs school pulled it Friday afternoon via email! I’ve let my Head and Deputy Head know and they have said they will be fine with me leaving 10 mins before the end of our school so I can catch the train to pick up DD and DH’s school will have no Form Time when the Year 9s and 10s go in so he can do the mornings. My Head has been so reasonable in their planning thank goodness and is doing best to cater to all at the moment.