School running as normal

[Khara]

Just found out that our school will be more than half full with kw/vulnerable kids, so all our classes will be running as normal with at least 15 children in each. All staff obviously in. Not sure how much safer that will be given that we can't keep 2m with half the class in - we found that out in June.

Same here.

No idea how this will slow the spread.

Same.
I will have at least 20 kids in my bubble.

In lockdown 1 we were only allowed so many per class, had to measure the classes. That was dropped in September and is being adhered to now, hence schools re still open but our jobs just got a lot harder with providing online learning, chasing up home schooling etc.

Have you spoken to your union about this?

the logistics are different this time, that needs addressing. Running procedure in schools lockdown one versus this. Most primary schools are running with full staff and over half the pupils.

@SansaSnark

Have you spoken to your union about this?

Not yet, this has all landed today and desperately trying to get everything sorted.

I'm hearing this a lot. I know of two different schools who have classes of up to 20 children. I work in a special school and our numbers were similar to what they are normally. This is defeating the object of closure. All the sacrifices parents are making, all the risks school staff are making - all for nothing.

@LumpySpacedPrincess I was just on the NEU zoom, and they were pretty clear that this is not really acceptable, but needs to be challenged on a school by school basis. They will release new guidance "soon".

They were very clear that old risk assessments (e.g. from the summer) can't apply and you need new ones and social distancing needs to be possible.

They said if this is not in place, members should liaise with the rep via their head in the first instance, but if that doesn't work they will support industrial action over unsafe workplaces because of this.

I guess a first step might be asking for an updated risk assessment?

Same here: the number of 'keyworker students' has suddenly swollen from what it was in lockdown 1 and all staff are required to be onsite from Monday. This is an independent school and it feels as though parents are being encouraged to bend the categories so that they are a keyworker or their child is vulnerable. Totally against the spirit of the lockdown.

Same in both my school and ds' school. My school (Send) has close to normal numbers. Ds' school has 60% of children in. This isn't going to bring our numbers down is it? I'm torn because I know how tough it can be at home for some parents and kids but I feel like there should be much stricter limits.
In Ds' school they're insisting that all children attend full time if they take up a place. That seems daft to me as it'll bump the numbers up. I actually only need the place 2 days a fortnight but now need to send him in full time. It makes no sense 🤷‍♂️

This will exacerbate matters, but serves the purpose of getting the government off the hook:

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/05/call-for-pupils-without-laptops-in-england-to-be-allowed-into-schools-covid

I think you're right, echt. I think that's exactly why there are more kids allowed in this time round.

oh the irony, with the new more transmissible variant and the Christmas mixing....

I was also horrified to find today that half of all the children were in. The school is not 'closed' at all, some children have simply been excluded. From next week there will be over half of the class present.

This is not going to stop cases rising.

Do you think any changes to guidance/legislations to rectify this? There is 25/30 kids in my class, I feel like telling the other 5 they may as well come in!!!

We need new risk assessments based on new variant.

The new DfE guidance, released at 3pm today 'helpfully' says that schools should not put a limit on the number of critical worker and vulnerable children in schools!

Floodgates anyone?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/950510/Schoollnationalrestrictionssguidance.pdf

Ironically it's title is 'Restricting
attendance during
the national
lockdown'