How will schools be able to go back in September?

ldy4mxonucwsq6 · 11-06-2020 03:35PM

khalessi wrote: »

He asked for teachers and SNAs to volunteer but I presume like previous years they will be paid for it.

The difficulty is that there are problems every year getting paid and some teachers have not yet been paid for last years July provision.

Well that's certainly going to come back and bite them in the ass anyway, won't be much goodwill from previous volunteers if they haven't been paid properly so they will probably have to shelf that plan.

Problem as well for SNA's and teachers availing of childcare although creches will be back open things still won't be quite back to 'normal'. People who usually sign up for it might decide its not worth the hassle of volunteering this year.

ldy4mxonucwsq6 · 12-06-2020 03:04PM

McHugh today:

"At primary level the two-metre rule would mean almost all pupils attending school just one day per week. At post-primary level, this would mean most pupils attending schools two days during the week".

He also said if it was reduced to 1m primary school pupils would attend for 2.5 days a week and for secondary school on a half-time basis.

Blended learning will make up the rest of the school week.

Looks like social distancing as it currently stands is going to be a major stumbling block for schools. Whats people's opinion on this, is it even a workable option or will we see a pod based approach where classes stay together and social distancing is ditched altogether?

Sammy2012 · 12-06-2020 03:07PM

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

McHugh today:

"At primary level the two-metre rule would mean almost all pupils attending school just one day per week. At post-primary level, this would mean most pupils attending schools two days during the week".

He also said if it was reduced to 1m primary school pupils would attend for 2.5 days a week and for secondary school on a half-time basis.

Blended learning will make up the rest of the school week.

Looks like social distancing as it currently stands is going to be a major stumbling block for schools. Whats people's opinions on this, is it even a workable option or will be see a pod based approach where classes stay together and social distancing is ditched altogether?

I'd say social distancing will be dropped by Sept! Restaurants are apparently only going to have 1metre required when they reopen on the 29th! It's still 2 months until schools return on that date!

History Queen · 12-06-2020 03:36PM

Sammy2012 wrote: »

I'd say social distancing will be dropped by Sept! Restaurants are apparently only going to have 1metre required when they reopen on the 29th! It's still 2 months until schools return on that date!

I'm really hoping for this too.

wirelessdude01 · 12-06-2020 03:39PM

If it's one day a week or half in/half out who deals with the students at home while we are working with the kids in school? We can't do two things at once or can we? Or more importantly are we going to be expected to?

Doubt this was run by any of the stakeholders as he likes to call them before announcement was made.

iamwhoiam · 12-06-2020 03:44PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

If it's one day a week or half in/half out who deals with the students at home while we are working with the kids in school? We can't do two things at once or can we? Or more importantly are we going to be expected to?

Doubt this was run by any of the stakeholders are.he likes to call them before announcement.was.made.

And who is going to train parents to educate ? Parents are not teachers and some kids will be at a huge disadvantage . Some parents who are home all day can give far more time and parents who work at home or outside the home will have far less time . Some parents have one child to teach , others might have four . Some parents might have a child with special needs and simple no time to teach others
It will be a very unbalanced system with some kids at a massive disadvantage

History Queen · 12-06-2020 03:49PM

iamwhoiam wrote: »

And who is going to train parents to educate ? Parents are not teachers and some kids will be at a huge disadvantage . Some parents who are home all day can give far more time and parents who work at home or outside the home will have far less time . Some parents have one child to teach , others might have four . Some parents might have a child with special needs and simple no time to teach others
It will be a very unbalanced system with some kids at a massive disadvantage

My understanding, after listening to the minister's ramblings (he is an awful orator/needs to hire a new speech writer), is that he's essentially saying that he wants us going back without social distancing (fingers crossed) as the other options aren't viable.... sooooo....basically what most teachers have been saying for weeks now.... no specifics on how that will happen, just a long rambling monologue on how that is what he wants.

Treppen · 12-06-2020 03:53PM

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

McHugh today:

"At primary level the two-metre rule would mean almost all pupils attending school just one day per week. At post-primary level, this would mean most pupils attending schools two days during the week".

He also said if it was reduced to 1m primary school pupils would attend for 2.5 days a week and for secondary school on a half-time basis.

Blended learning will make up the rest of the school week.

Looks like social distancing as it currently stands is going to be a major stumbling block for schools. Whats people's opinion on this, is it even a workable option or will we see a pod based approach where classes stay together and social distancing is ditched altogether?

A load of nonsense.
It'll be all back to normal.
They're painting a very unworkable difficult scenario...
But lo and behold , they'll declare that they've worked so hard to manage it that we can accelerate the phases.

Reminds me of Star Trek where the engineer always says it'll take weeks to fix the Ship's core reactor from meltdown.... But always manages to do it in 20 minutes and comes out looking like a hero.

ldy4mxonucwsq6 · 12-06-2020 03:54PM

History Queen wrote: »

My understanding, after listening to the minister's ramblings (he is an awful orator/needs to hire a new speech writer), is that he's essentially saying that he wants us going back without social distancing (fingers crossed) as the other options aren't viable.... sooooo....basically what most teachers have been saying for weeks now.... no specifics on how that will happen, just a long rambling monologue on how that is what he wants.

That seems to be the plan, I had a look at the full framework document and it's recommendations appear to be for hand hygiene, cleaning and good respiratory practices.

It looks like they are putting together a strong case for full return to school without distancing.

Sanjuro · 12-06-2020 04:16PM

Have a five year old who'll be going into senior Infants in September. We've been doing our best to look after her, her 4 year old brother as well as maintaining two full time jobs. It has been stressful beyond anything I've previously experienced. The kids are beginning to really be affected with a lack of contact with friends, routines all over the place and just complete boredom. This situation is unsustainable. It feels like parents are completely left to deal with their situation with no support, not information. Nothing. They have to open the schools and let kids start returning to some sort of normality. The long term consequences of not doing this are grim.

History Queen · 12-06-2020 04:16PM

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

That seems to be the plan, I had a look at the full framework document and it's recommendations appear to be for hand hygiene, cleaning and good respiratory practices.

It looks like they are putting together a strong case for full return to school without distancing.

I looked at it too (albeit briefly). That was exactly my takeaway. On a personal level I'm annoyed there was not a single mention of the impact this has had on teachers. Not the biggest issue in the world I know, but after everything we've been through dealing with new learning platforms, anxiety of students and parents, whole policies just disregarded, predictive grading, etc. a sentence on teacher "wellbeing" wouldn't have killed them. Just an acknowledgement that we too have struggled would have been appreciated.

DSN · 12-06-2020 04:23PM

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

That seems to be the plan, I had a look at the full framework document and it's recommendations appear to be for hand hygiene, cleaning and good respiratory practices.

It looks like they are putting together a strong case for full return to school without distancing.

I'd agree that's the hope. Its still two months away they don't wanna say one thing & then have to back track later. Hope the part time thing is a back up in case trajectory goes madly in wrong direction again. It is good to be prepared but hopefully won't need it.

pc7 · 12-06-2020 04:35PM

My child is in junior infants, we received one email a week. No zoom assembly or even an hello from the teachers via video. I did mention this in email and got sent a photo, my child was delighted to see their teacher but I really felt they could have done much more.It has been so difficult to get them to try do some school work. I really hope they bring them back earlier in August to settle and see their friends. If it’s day here or there we are screwed. We both work and I just don’t see how our creche could deal with it.

scooby77 · 12-06-2020 04:37PM

Page 17 of the document pretty much sums it up:
"In the context of a return to school for all children and subject to health advice, school settings would operate to maximise physical distancing outside of the classroom but there would not be a requirement to maintain a specific distance within a classroom group. However, every effort would be made to be achieve as much physical distance as practicable within the physical, staffing and resource constraints in operation.
This would result in schools reopening for all students and has the least impact on the
provision of education beyond the current period of school closure."
ie all back, no physical distancing in classrooms!

Supercell · 12-06-2020 04:51PM

Our GAA club are resuming training for the primary school kids at the end of the month. If anyone has watched kids at that age group play hurling or football they will know its all one big melee, social distancing isnt going to happen at all.
Don't see the point of distancing for the kids who by and large seem mostly unaffected, its the parents waiting outside together to collect them is where the risk is.

12-06-2020 05:01PM

The minister is on Newstalk with Ivan Yates after 5. I’m imaging Ivan will give him a hard enough time

Spanish Eyes · 12-06-2020 05:03PM

RTE just announced on the 5pm news, all schools will FULLY reopen in September. Distancing not possible.

iamwhoiam · 12-06-2020 05:12PM

https://www.rte.ie/news/education/2020/0612/1147075-two-metres-school/

Good news !!

ldy4mxonucwsq6 · 12-06-2020 05:15PM

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

RTE just announced on the 5pm news, all schools will FULLY reopen in September. Distancing not possible.

Fantastic news, and at least some clarity at last.

pc7 · 12-06-2020 05:17PM

I don’t see why they can’t bring them
Back for the final week or two now In June now that they’ve made a decision

Sanjuro · 12-06-2020 05:24PM

Can't begin to describe how much of a relief this will be.

Murple · 12-06-2020 05:39PM

pc7 wrote: »

I don’t see why they can’t bring them
Back for the final week or two now In June now that they’ve made a decision

The aim is that by the end of August/ start of September, schools can reopen without the need for social distancing just as the aim is that by the middle of July all businesses can reopen and that by a later stage in the year larger gatherings such as concerts etc. can resume. That doesn’t mean it’s fine and dandy to just do it all now.

Murple · 12-06-2020 05:52PM

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

RTE just announced on the 5pm news, all schools will FULLY reopen in September. Distancing not possible.

I think you need to read what’s said more carefully. What Leo ‘by hook or by crook’ Varadkar is saying now is quite different to what is published in the document by the department of education.
The ‘optimum arrangement’ according to that document is that schools will reopen without the need for social distancing but with enhanced health and safety measures and strict requirements around staying at home when I’ll.
However it also mentions what is likely to happen should the 2m distance exist or if it is reduced to 1m.
His phrase of ‘bespoke solutions‘ is a sound bite and nothing else. We all very much hope that the country is in a position by September that social distancing is not as great a requirement but there are no guarantees and they are wrong to report it as a given.

pc7 · 12-06-2020 05:59PM

Murple wrote: »

The aim is that by the end of August/ start of September, schools can reopen without the need for social distancing just as the aim is that by the middle of July all businesses can reopen and that by a later stage in the year larger gatherings such as concerts etc. can resume. That doesn’t mean it’s fine and dandy to just do it all now.

If there was a will they could bring 5 kids back in the morning, 5 in the afternoon over the week to just touch base with the children. It’s absolutely rotten that they’ll be out for 6 months.

wirelessdude01 · 12-06-2020 06:03PM

pc7 wrote: »

If there was a will they could bring 5 kids back in the morning, 5 in the afternoon over the week to just touch base with the children. It’s absolutely rotten that they’ll be out for 6 months.

Contact Joe so and tell him that. Nothing to do with either schools or teachers.

Benimar · 12-06-2020 06:05PM

pc7 wrote: »

If there was a will they could bring 5 kids back in the morning, 5 in the afternoon over the week to just touch base with the children. It’s absolutely rotten that they’ll be out for 6 months.

I think that, whilst well intentioned, it could actually have a detrimental affect on some kids.

Some may realise what they are missing - seeing friends, teachers etc - and when its pulled from them for a 2nd time in 3 months they might not react well to it.

My neighbours kid was great all through lockdown. He saw his school friend out walking last week and was upset for the best part of the day wanting to back to school, having not mentioned it in months.

I'd be more in favour of starting back early, and maybe give the kids an extra week at Christmas (assuming no shutdowns)

LuasSimon · 12-06-2020 06:05PM

If it was up to teachers the schools would never reopen!!

pc7 · 12-06-2020 06:07PM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Contact Joe so and tell him that. Nothing to do with either schools or teachers.

Why would I contact joe? This is a discussion board, I’m discussing my opinion on how this has been handled. I have felt very let down for my child by the response by their school and teachers so it is to do with them. One email a week, that’s it! So they could have done more, I feel there is/was no will. Again I feel the government could have said today get the kids back in small groups for even a once off to reacquaint them with the school.

pc7 · 12-06-2020 06:09PM

Benimar wrote: »

.

I'd be more in favour of starting back early, and maybe give the kids an extra week at Christmas (assuming no shutdowns)

I really hope they do as you suggest and start early, it’s crazy how much time has been lost.

ldy4mxonucwsq6 · 12-06-2020 06:13PM

Murple wrote: »

I think you need to read what’s said more carefully. What Leo ‘by hook or by crook’ Varadkar is saying now is quite different to what is published in the document by the department of education.
The ‘optimum arrangement’ according to that document is that schools will reopen without the need for social distancing but with enhanced health and safety measures and strict requirements around staying at home when I’ll.
However it also mentions what is likely to happen should the 2m distance exist or if it is reduced to 1m.
His phrase of ‘bespoke solutions‘ is a sound bite and nothing else. We all very much hope that the country is in a position by September that social distancing is not as great a requirement but there are no guarantees and they are wrong to report it as a given.

They want the schools back open, they can't social distance in schools due to capacity and staff/pupil numbers.

The basic solution is that social distancing won't be mandated for schools full stop.

I just think it's a shame that Penneys, hairdressers and pubs were deemed more necessary than children's needs.

By mid July we'll probably be told that we should wear a mask if we are in a situation where its not possible to social distance. For example buses can't continue to run at minimum capacity once schools and colleges are back and there more people who were working from home are returning to the workplace.

How will schools be able to go back in September?

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