How will schools be able to go back in September? (Continued)

mirrorwall14

ACitizenErased wrote: »

This is a school of ~300 outside Cork City.
Here's some of it.


· A number of year groups will be based in classrooms and areas.
· Students will as move room as normal for practical subjects
· Most teachers will not be classroom based
· All students must have their own mask.
· Classrooms will have the appropriate number of desks and chairs to ensure a 1m distance as required by the DES guidelines.
· There will be two breaks of the same duration during the school day.
· The breaks will be staggered for different year groups and each year group will be assigned to a specific area
· Students will have to keep their books, pens, lunch etc. in their school bags and bring the school bag with them to class
· A one-way system for movement around the school will be in place with appropriate signage
· All entrance and exit doors will be used to access and leave the school
· Good hygiene practices are vital in keeping everyone safe. Sanitizers are in place at every entrance and in all classrooms.
· Warm water and soap dispensers are available in all toilets.

So this is where I get frustrated. Because as a teacher I can see where things are being fudged here

A number of year groups will be based in areas
-this is great. Why not all? And are those areas going to be accessible to get through them to options etc?

Students will as move room as normal for practical subjects
See above. If students are moving to options then due to the layout of many schools I have taught in they'll all be mingling with the blocks of year groups in the meantime. It also mixes the year group block though I think you said it’s only 40 which could be worse. Our school has the same plan except we have 150 in the group

Most teachers will not be classroom based-
As a student I was bullied. We had base classes. I hated it. Those extra minutes all day where we were unsupervised were awful. I get why it’s being done but it’s very hard on students and dangerous from an insurance perspective. Again in the larger schools it’s a bigger concern. We have like 60 odd rooms across two buildings. Getting from one end to the other is a good five minutes or more when corridors are busy. At least they won’t be this year we hope

All students must have their mask
Have it? Are they being made wear it? How will this fit into the school discipline system? Can a student be sent home without it?

Classrooms
This is great. However those layouts were absurd. Who will be the children who cannot see the board because they are stuck to the front wall parallel to it?

The next section is all fine and I’d be happy with it.

However on the last I would be interested to know how many toilets per head. I know our ratio is ludicrous. So having hot water isn’t as important as considering that the toilets will be wedged on breaks and how that will be managed if at all

ShaShaBear

gnf_ireland wrote: »

But until schools start communicating with parents and telling them how it is going to work, parents are in the dark. I am sure some schools have, but lots of schools have not yet (for whatever reason)

We've yet to receive any correspondence about how a return to school will work. I have one little girl moving to Senior Infants and her sister starting Junior Infants. Now, it is a small school in a small town so much less students than some of the bigger schools in this town alone, but we are still concerned. The only information we have to date is that my eldest will be sharing a classroom with 1st class and we have no idea how many students that will be. There were 13 of them in JI, so at least that many.
We have no idea if they will have different starting/leaving times, different break times, if they will be allowed to mix with each other during breaks or if they will even have similar break times. They are very well-versed on the virus and what to do to keep it at bay, but they are also an extremely-bonded set of siblings and I forsee some serious issues if they try to keep them separate in the schoolyard where they can see each other. We're also totally unsure of what items they are supposed to/allowed to take into school with them, and what the uniform policy is.

A friend in a neighbouring county has received a full list of criteria - her son will start at a specified time and leave at a specified time, his break times are staggered, he is not allowed a schoolbag and will instead take only a lunchbox and pencil case (which will be left in a cubby for him on Day 1 and not taken home again). Schoolwork is to be submitted online (which will be a challenge for her as she lives rurally and her internet is spotty on a good day) and he has to cycle his uniform daily between the regular one and his PE tracksuit. She's quite happy with this, as it suits her and doesn't affect anyone else in the family.
If the same principles were applied here, we would likely run into issues. It would obviously be very disruptive to have SI start earlier or later than 1st class when they share a room, and it might not be practical for JI, SI and 1st class to all have the same starting times. Do we drive down at a certain time with one child and then back down again with the other and then two different collection times for them in the afternoon?

Honestly the whole thing has me stressed to the max. Wednesday week is the start date for my youngest and we have absolutely no idea what to expect for her.

Lillyfae

lulublue22 wrote: »

Class allocation on class size will make zero difference in our place - class numbers are practically the same and room size are uniform. However I love the shift to schools should do this - some have some haven’t etc bringing all responsibility back on to schools. Any parent who has attended an open night , school play or parent teacher meetings should have a fair idea of the layout of their child’s school. If parents have read the guidelines then they should know what is being proposed. If as a parent you are happy for your child to return to school under the current guidelines fair enough. If you are insure or unhappy re same then you need to vocalise that. It’s time for parents to be proactive rather than sit back and wait for the school. This plan was released 4 weeks before the proposed return to school. Most principals are working flat out trying to implement the guidelines - I’ve had 5 emails already this am. Normal issues re return to school haven’t stopped just because of covid.

So the parent gets an "everything is great :pac:" mail from their child's school and they're supposed to set Dáil Eireann on fire because an anonymous someone on the forum tells them to?

The majority of parents know nothing of all this. They're hearing that funding and extra staff have been mobilized from the government. They're being told by school staff that they can't wait to have the children back in a well prepared building. And you expect them to "be proactive". Why don't you risk the ire of approximately no one and blow the whistle if you're so concerned? The totally useless unions love a good whistleblower.

By the way, I appreciate the balance that has appeared over the last few pages, albeit with the odd smattering of smart alec-y rubbish from the usual suspects.

Stateofyou

Lillyfae this is exactly what I was saying on this thread a couple weeks ago. There's no information and we need specifics if we're going to be able to do anything about it. This morning I was wondering if it's not deliberate. Surely they already know what's workable, and what the plans are even if it's not fully implemented as of yet. But many or most of us still have heard nothing. It's almost like they don't want us involved, and they don't want to deal with the possible outrage once the truth is learned. A missed opportunity, as the outrage could have been harnessed and directed towards where it actually belongs.

mirrorwall14

To be fair to schools, many are due to open next week and are desperately scrambling to be open in time so arent thinking about the broader picture right now. Any staff I know from schools only started getting specifics last thur/fri, plans still have to be finished, go to the board and then to parents. The timeline is horrendous. And possibly planned by the DES. I wouldn’t put it past them. Put the schools under so much pressure they don’t have time to mobilise....

khalessi

Sure on the radio at the moment a guy (Gabriel?? Prof of epidemiology from London)is talking to Sarah McInerny saying it is ok to teach children in coats in a marquee, that keeping airflow moving important.

Stateofyou

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

To be fair to schools, many are due to open next week and are desperately scrambling to be open in time so arent thinking about the broader picture right now. Any staff I know from schools only started getting specifics last thur/fri, plans still have to be finished, go to the board and then to parents. The timeline is horrendous. And possibly planned by the DES. I wouldn’t put it past them. Put the schools under so much pressure they don’t have time to mobilise....

That's a good point.

lulublue22

Lillyfae wrote: »

So the parent gets an "everything is great :pac:" mail from their child's school and they're supposed to set Dáil Eireann on fire because an anonymous someone on the forum tells them to?

The majority of parents know nothing of all this. They're hearing that funding and extra staff have been mobilized from the government. They're being told by school staff that they can't wait to have the children back in a well prepared building. And you expect them to "be proactive". Why don't you risk the ire of approximately no one and blow the whistle if you're so concerned? The totally useless unions love a good whistleblower.

By the way, I appreciate the balance that has appeared over the last few pages, albeit with the odd smattering of smart alec-y rubbish from the usual suspects.

How exactly do you know what I am doing or not doing ? I will stand over my assertion if you as a parent are concerned re the return to school then be proactive re same. An email to the principal re same is a fairly simple easy first step.
I wouldn’t advise setting fire to DE as well as being illegal they’re actually on holidays at the moment.
I will also add I’m a parent if I’m unhappy or unsure if what is happening in relation to my children and their education I seek information / clarification on the issue. I don’t sit back with a oh no school haven’t contacted me what will I do. We are in the middle of a global pandemic as an adult you surely have the where with all to inform yourself if you are unsure.
It will be easier for some schools to get up to speed than others. Rather than focusing on school A has done this aren't they great School B has not said a word - perhaps think about they haven’t given us any information are they are pulling out all the stops trying to get a workable solution so my child can get back to school.


Have you yourself any insights - perhaps how the Netherlands are managing their return to school ?

jimmytwotimes 2013

khalessi wrote: »

Sure on the radio at the moment a guy (Gabriel?? Prof of epidemiology from London)is talking to Sarah McInerny saying it is ok to teach children in coats in a marquee, that keeping airflow moving important.

We'll be in coats in the winter if we get that far. Presume all internal doors and windows will be open all the time to keep air flowing

Lillyfae

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Any staff I know from schools only started getting specifics last thur/fri, plans still have to be finished, go to the board and then to parents. The timeline is horrendous. And possibly planned by the DES. I wouldn’t put it past them. Put the schools under so much pressure they don’t have time to mobilise....

No excuse for this at all. Principals had absolutely nothing to be doing for three months of the last school year except come up with every scenario possible. So what if they were a waste of time. There would have at least been ideas to pick and choose from when the roadmap was announced.

As for SET - you'd swear special needs children were in the majority in schools the way some seem to be going on about it. Do all other children in the country have to suffer because a minority will get a lesser provision for a temporary period? Not to mention they've actually been at the top of the list to date seeing as July provision went ahead. And I don't believe that there's as much concern for these children as has been let on here anyway.

There are genuine concerns about schools returning now. It would have been a good time to get them back in before the summer break when numbers were decreasing, there's no need for the hysteria when the parents here are supporting your points. It's hard enough to be sympathetic to people who tell you that you're only using a school for childcare and they care more about your child than you do.

lulublue22 wrote: »

How exactly do you know what I am doing or not doing ? I will stand over my assertion if you as a parent are concerned re the return to school then be proactive re same. An email to the principal re same is a fairly simple easy first step.

I will also add I’m a parent if I’m unhappy or unsure if what is happening in relation to my children and their education I seek information / clarification on the issue. I don’t sit back with a oh no school haven’t contacted me what will I do. We are in the middle of a global pandemic as an adult you surely have the where with all to inform yourself if you are unsure.

Read back the last few pages. Some parents have had communication from schools outlining the plans and they're happy with them- what would they need clarification about?

lulublue22 wrote: »

Have you yourself any insights - perhaps how the Netherlands are managing their return to school ?

Primary schools were back full time for weeks before the summer, no SD or masks for the children, SD for staff and parents dropped off and collected outside the building. Enhanced cleaning and staying with their own classroom groups. Same will be observed when they go back next week.

Secondary schools will also be returning in a week. As far as I can gather they will be returning to 50/50 on site learning and (measurable) remote learning. As I said before, children have their own devices for the majority and those who don't will be provided with one by the school if necessary.

mirrorwall14

Lillyfae wrote: »

No excuse for this at all. Principals had absolutely nothing to be doing for three months of the last school year except come up with every scenario possible. So what if they were a waste of time. There would have at least been ideas to pick and choose from when the roadmap was announced.

As for SET - you'd swear special needs children were in the majority in schools the way some seem to be going on about it. Do all other children in the country have to suffer because a minority will get a lesser provision for a temporary period? Not to mention they've actually been at the top of the list to date seeing as July provision went ahead. And I don't believe that there's as much concern for these children as has been let on here anyway.

There are genuine concerns about schools returning now. It would have been a good time to get them back in before the summer break when numbers were decreasing, there's no need for the hysteria when the parents here are supporting your points. It's hard enough to be sympathetic to people who tell you that you're only using a school for childcare and they care more about your child than you do..

Wow. And for the second paragraph in particular? Just wow. I’m not responding to that. Good luck to you.

The Unbearables

And in the middle of it all where are our government, on holiday.

lulublue22

Lillyfae wrote: »

No excuse for this at all. Principals had absolutely nothing to be doing for three months of the last school year except come up with every scenario possible. So what if they were a waste of time. There would have at least been ideas to pick and choose from when the roadmap was announced.

As for SET - you'd swear special needs children were in the majority in schools the way some seem to be going on about it. Do all other children in the country have to suffer because a minority will get a lesser provision for a temporary period? Not to mention they've actually been at the top of the list to date seeing as July provision went ahead. And I don't believe that there's as much concern for these children as has been let on here anyway.

There are genuine concerns about schools returning now. It would have been a good time to get them back in before the summer break when numbers were decreasing, there's no need for the hysteria when the parents here are supporting your points. It's hard enough to be sympathetic to people who tell you that you're only using a school for childcare and they care more about your child than you do.



Read back the last few pages. Some parents have had communication from schools outlining the plans and they're happy with them- what would they need clarification about?



Primary schools were back full time for weeks before the summer, no SD or masks for the children, SD for staff and parents dropped off and collected outside the building. Enhanced cleaning and staying with their own classroom groups. Same will be observed when they go back next week.

Secondary schools will also be returning in a week. As far as I can gather they will be returning to 50/50 on site learning and (measurable) remote learning. As I said before, children have their own devices for the majority and those who don't will be provided with one by the school if necessary.

Nice deflection re need for clarification - if they received info from their school all good if they haven’t and they are concerned then email the principal which was my point.

Your attitude to SEN is extremely poor more so given that you are not resident in Ireland and are not affected by any decisions made re same. A temporary period ? quite a change in attitude when you were arguing that all schools needed to be open as this pandemic could go on for years. A year for a child who receives support is not temporary. However children who don’t need support ate not as affected in terms of educational attainment so perhaps we could do a half in half out system and maximise teaching and learning for ALL children as is their right.!
But no you espouse the selfish me me me my child my child attitude which in my opinion is extremely distasteful anyhow and even more so as you are not resident in Ireland and so will not affect your children regardless. The argument that you have family members here is irrelevant. It’s easy to be blase about children’s educational needs when it doesn’t affect you. We have a duty to all children and should be looking at ways which gives the best to both and not sacrificing one for the other. And no the current guidelines do not sacrifice the majority for the minority.

Good to know the Netherlands are managing so well - what are their class sizes like.

wirelessdude01

Lillyfae wrote: »

As for SET - you'd swear special needs children were in the majority in schools the way some seem to be going on about it. Do all other children in the country have to suffer because a minority will get a lesser provision for a temporary period? Not to mention they've actually been at the top of the list to date seeing as July provision went ahead. And I don't believe that there's as much concern for these children as has been let on here anyway.

With that comment you have confirmed what a horrible and bitchy personality you have.

the corpo

Look at the weather today. In my kids classrooms, even having the windows opened a sliver will see the room drenched...

Question for the teachers, is the National Principals Forum a recognised group?
I hadn't heard of them before, but they're calling/pleading on the Department to provide a plan B and C. Is this the first notable group to flag that plan A isn't going to work?

https://twitter.com/ForumTeaching/status/1295135934170759168?s=20

mirrorwall14

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

So this is where I get frustrated. Because as a teacher I can see where things are being fudged here

A number of year groups will be based in areas
-this is great. Why not all? And are those areas going to be accessible to get through them to options etc?

Students will as move room as normal for practical subjects
See above. If students are moving to options then due to the layout of many schools I have taught in they'll all be mingling with the blocks of year groups in the meantime. It also mixes the year group block though I think you said it’s only 40 which could be worse. Our school has the same plan except we have 150 in the group

Most teachers will not be classroom based-
As a student I was bullied. We had base classes. I hated it. Those extra minutes all day where we were unsupervised were awful. I get why it’s being done but it’s very hard on students and dangerous from an insurance perspective. Again in the larger schools it’s a bigger concern. We have like 60 odd rooms across two buildings. Getting from one end to the other is a good five minutes or more when corridors are busy. At least they won’t be this year we hope

All students must have their mask
Have it? Are they being made wear it? How will this fit into the school discipline system? Can a student be sent home without it?

Classrooms
This is great. However those layouts were absurd. Who will be the children who cannot see the board because they are stuck to the front wall parallel to it?

The next section is all fine and I’d be happy with it.

However on the last I would be interested to know how many toilets per head. I know our ratio is ludicrous. So having hot water isn’t as important as considering that the toilets will be wedged on breaks and how that will be managed if at all

So based on your post, staying in one class and moving between classes are problems. Any solutions?

wirelessdude01

the corpo wrote: »

Look at the weather today. In my kids classrooms, even having the windows opened a sliver will see the room drenched...

Question for the teachers, is the National Principals Forum a recognised group?
I hadn't heard of them before, but they're calling/pleading on the Department to provide a plan B and C. Is this the first notable group to flag that plan A isn't going to work?

https://twitter.com/ForumTeaching/status/1295135934170759168?s=20

It is a pretty substantial number of principals(and constantly growing) who feel constrained by the way the IPPN(Irish Primary Principals Network) conduct their business. They've been active about 18months or so now.

The Unbearables

The Unbearables wrote: »

And in the middle of it all where are our government, on holiday.

Dail is on recess - government is still up and running

BattleCorp

Deleted User wrote: »

So based on your post, staying in one class and moving between classes are problems. Any solutions?

Staying in one class for the whole day with only the teachers moving between classrooms has to be better than the whole school playing musical chairs every 40 minutes, wouldn't it?

Obviously kids would have to move for subjects like engineering, tech drawing etc. but classroom based lessons like english, irish, maths etc. could all take place in the same classroom.

mirrorwall14

[Deleted User] wrote: »

So based on your post, staying in one class and moving between classes are problems. Any solutions?

I didn’t say it could be solved. I don’t like it being presented as ‘oh we fixed it all by putting them in one class’ or equally by ‘we based the teachers in the rooms so the students are only passing each other’ etc. I’m saying that while plans may look well on paper they are essentially window dressing what the reality of second level will be. Large groups of students mingling extensively and with teachers crossing over those groups up to 9 times a day

Lillyfae

lulublue22 wrote: »

Your attitude to SEN is extremely poor more so given that you are not resident in Ireland and are not affected by any decisions made re same. A temporary period ? quite a change in attitude when you were arguing that all schools needed to be open as this pandemic could go on for years. A year for a child who receives support is not temporary. However children who don’t need support ate not as affected in terms of educational attainment so perhaps we could do a half in half out system and maximise teaching and learning for ALL children as is their right.!

I have every concern for SEN children, I have no concern for SEN staff who might be asked to cover for their colleagues once in a while- which won't actually happen as the inspectorate won't allow it, as I understand?

lulublue22 wrote: »

But no you espouse the selfish me me me my child my child attitude which in my opinion is extremely distasteful

Nothing selfish about wanting the best for your own child's development. Leave it to the schools/boards/doe to be concerned about classes of children all across Ireland because that is their job.

lulublue22 wrote: »

you are not even resident in Ireland.

Practically my whole family are in Ireland. I would go back to my own country but I actually can't at the moment.

lulublue22 wrote: »

Good to know the Netherlands are managing so well - what ate their class sizes like.

Very similar to Ireland

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

With that comment you have confirmed what a horrible and bitchy personality you have.

Reported this.

Akabusi

Our local school lost a teacher from last year because they as a school were 2 pupils short. There is now one less teacher and a free classroom, this is a disgrace in the current circumstances. I would bet many other schools throughout the country have a similar situation. It is smaller class sizes that is required at the moment, common sense should have prevailed and every teacher left in place.

wirelessdude01

Lillyfae wrote: »

I have every concern for SEN children, I have no concern for SEN staff who might be asked to cover for their colleagues once in a while- which won't actually happen as the inspectorate won't allow it, as I understand?

Actually SEN staff, especially so in primary will be the defacto subs this year. The document allows this so the inspectorate can do nothing about that. Use of SEN staff to reduce mainstream class sizes isn't allowed.

amacca

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

I didn’t say it could be solved. I don’t like it being presented as ‘oh we fixed it all by putting them in one class’ or equally by ‘we based the teachers in the rooms so the students are only passing each other’ etc. I’m saying that while plans may look well on paper they are essentially window dressing what the reality of second level will be. Large groups of students mingling extensively and with teachers crossing over those groups up to 9 times a day

Nail on the head...theres just no way not to have large groups of students mingling extensively in a lot of secondary schools.......even if there was good discipline (which is a rare beast now) and with tje best wills in the world from the students its unavoidable....cant see it being reduced with base classrooms or otherwise

wirelessdude01

Akabusi wrote: »

Our local school lost a teacher from last year because they as a school were 2 pupils short. There is now one less teacher and a free classroom, this is a disgrace in the current circumstances. I would bet many other schools throughout the country have a similar situation. It is smaller class sizes that is required at the moment, common sense should have prevailed and every teacher left in place.

INTO, IPPN and Principals forum all asked for this and it was ignored.

lulublue22

Lillyfae wrote: »

I have every concern for SEN children, I have no concern for SEN staff who might be asked to cover for their colleagues once in a while- which won't actually happen as the inspectorate won't allow it, as I understand?



Nothing selfish about wanting the best for your own child's development. Leave it to the schools/boards/doe to be concerned about classes of children all across Ireland because that is their job.



Practically my whole family are in Ireland. I would go back to my own country but I actually can't at the moment.



Very similar to Ireland



Reported this.

No you don’t as is very obvious from you ill informed post re sacrificing the majority for the minority. That comment alone shows you have no regard and or interest in Educational provision in Ireland what so ever. To then try and turn it around onto SEN staff with a factually incorrect statement re the dep not allowing SET to cover class absences beggars belief.

No it’s not selfish to want the best for your children it is extremely selfish to want / expect the best for your children at the expense of someone else's child. We have a public system of education in Ireland which is duty bound to provide the best education possible for all children. Any one who wants the best fir their child at the expense of everyone else should look to private schools.

mirrorwall14

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

I didn’t say it could be solved. I don’t like it being presented as ‘oh we fixed it all by putting them in one class’ or equally by ‘we based the teachers in the rooms so the students are only passing each other’ etc. I’m saying that while plans may look well on paper they are essentially window dressing what the reality of second level will be. Large groups of students mingling extensively and with teachers crossing over those groups up to 9 times a day

Most transmission is where people are in the same area for a period of time. Through avoiding prolonged contact outside of groups, transmission between groups will be minimised. 5th Year Tech drawing passing Junior Cert woodwork in the corridor wont have a huge risk, especially if mask wearing is compulsory, especially in common areas.

What needs to be avoided however is the traditional scrum outside a classroom as one group enters and another leaves. Classes that will hold the lower number "options" will need to have a stipulation that class rooms are cleared prior to the next group arriving

khalessi

Lillyfae wrote: »

I have every concern for SEN children, I have no concern for SEN staff who might be asked to cover for their colleagues once in a while- which won't actually happen as the inspectorate won't allow it, as I understand?

It is not once in a while and has been happening for years and has been reported to management and to Department to no avail.

I have been a SET for a number of years and only one of those years was I able to conduct my work properly. I generally get called to cover meetings that teachers are needed for 5 in one day on occassion, teacher absences, sudden discipline emergencies etc. I have been in classrooms covering for a teacher for 2 and half weeks as no subs available. Inspectorate have no say in this.

SET children are always put on the back boiler. Every year I have to put together a wish list of items for my room and I put stuff necessary to teach the children, books, erasers, paper, theraputty for physio exercises for handwriting for example and have always ended up buying it myself as the money is not there. This year I got an allowance of 25e to spend on what I wanted for 30 children.

There are many children with undiagnosed needs in each class but the Department only allows for 3 NEP assessments per year in each school and most children only get a diagnosis if their parents can afford 500 for an assessment and in some cases, these children need more than one assessment such as SLT, OT and Dyslexia assessments along with physio etc.

As a parent of a child with special needs and as a teacher your comments are glaring in their lack of understanding, empathy, or knowledge.

seamus

ShaShaBear wrote: »

If the same principles were applied here, we would likely run into issues. It would obviously be very disruptive to have SI start earlier or later than 1st class when they share a room, and it might not be practical for JI, SI and 1st class to all have the same starting times. Do we drive down at a certain time with one child and then back down again with the other and then two different collection times for them in the afternoon?

Honestly the whole thing has me stressed to the max. Wednesday week is the start date for my youngest and we have absolutely no idea what to expect for her.

I do get this, I'm in the same boat. There is a month of craziness and uncertainty on the horizon for all of us.

But these are exceptional circumstances. Everyone will have their bugbear. "I have 4 kids with different start times", "my internet is patchy", "my washing machine is on the blink", "I have to be in work".

We just have to suck it up and deal with it. After 3-4 weeks we'll build a routine around the new way of life, and we'll cope. Things are crap, they are going to be crap. We will all be better served getting the head down and getting through it, rather than complaining about it and getting worked up and angry.

The other alternative is that schools don't go back at all.

Murple

Lillyfae wrote: »

No excuse for this at all. Principals had absolutely nothing to be doing for three months of the last school year except come up with every scenario possible. So what if they were a waste of time. There would have at least been ideas to pick and choose from when the roadmap was announced.

As for SET - you'd swear special needs children were in the majority in schools the way some seem to be going on about it. Do all other children in the country have to suffer because a minority will get a lesser provision for a temporary period? Not to mention they've actually been at the top of the list to date seeing as July provision went ahead. And I don't believe that there's as much concern for these children as has been let on here anyway.

“Principals had nothing to be doing for three months of the last school year”- really? That comment shows a serious lack of insight into the role and responsibilities of a principal.

As for your comments about SET-
Children that would receive input from an SET would include children with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, speech and language disorders, Down Syndrome, ASD, anxiety, EAL, hearing or sight difficulties, EBD, ADD, ADHD, ODD and a host of other diagnoses as well as children who are just struggling to grasp literacy or numeracy concepts. Only a small proportion of these children were eligible for July Provision.
The department have stated that SET can be used as subs when necessary. The inspectorate have said they can’t be used to reduced overall pupil teacher ratio.