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Child Item

How will schools be able to go back in September?

shoppergal

Just wondering if anyone can give any insight into how schools could safely re-open in September?

Everyone I'm talking to is saying they won't be back until September but in my head I'm wondering how they'll re-open even in September? The virus will still be there with a vaccine still months away at that stage.

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Leftwaffe

Management have told us we will be in the school for the school day when we are back. Whether there's full attendance, half attendance, or none, they don't know yet.

But we will be in teaching away.

Lillyfae

Sammy2012 wrote: »

I havent spoken to my principal since the day we got our holidays either. They left word with the deputy that it was up to them and the staff to have the school ready for reopening at the end of August. They were having nothing to do with it. I am appalled by the attitude and it's not good enough but what can the staff do only get on with planning as they want to have a safe environment for themselves and the children in their care.

That is appalling. You and your colleagues are absolutely not to blame. Can you report that to anyone? How does that principal reckon that it’s not up to them??

wirelessdude01

Sammy2012 wrote: »

I havent spoken to my principal since the day we got our holidays either. They left word with the deputy that it was up to them and the staff to have the school ready for reopening at the end of August. They were having nothing to do with it. I am appalled by the attitude and it's not good enough but what can the staff do only get on with planning as they want to have a safe environment for themselves and the children in their care.

Is your principal retiring and thus has already switched off?

downthemiddle

Redordeadqwwer wrote: »

Management have told us we will be in the school for the school day when we are back. Whether there's full attendance, half attendance, or none, they don't know yet.

But we will be in teaching away.

They clearly know something nobody else knows.

wirelessdude01

downthemiddle wrote: »

They clearly know something nobody else knows.

Or they are going on a solo run based on what they 'think'.

antgal23

Lillyfae wrote: »

Fantastic, well done you and your school. I know interpretation is annoying but from the Department's perspective there has to be room for this because all the settings are so different. I have a little bit of experience in this and in my opinion a one size fits all approach would be impossible so this would be unavoidable. I wonder if all schools are preparing in this way.

As a matter of interest, what kind of resources are you lacking at your school? Has funding been requested for anything?

Thanks!

Boss said there was no money available (yet?) to help school be Covid compliant

Biggest cost is the purchase if thermometers and walkie talkies

Another thing arose was that all settings should provide an isolation area in case there is a suspected case

We wouldn't have a lot if space so we suggested as an option to buy or rent a portaloo type outdoor room

antgal23

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Hang on, what guidance were you given? What document were you working off?

I think we worked off a combination of

1/ Back to work Protocol

2/ Published guidance for Creches

3/ Published guidance for July Provision

I would be shocked if any school hasn't prepared a plan for September

Even if this thing completely vanishes in August good practice dictates we prepare for the worst and not get caught sleeping at the wheel

jlm29

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Or they are going on a solo run based on what they 'think'.

I suppose that unless the country is fully locked down again, there’s no reason teachers can’t be onsite for full days to teach in whatever format it’s going to be in. It would at least end the inconsistencies we saw before the holidays Of some sending very little and correcting nothing, while others were getting through the curriculum. It makes sense for a principal to give teachers the heads up so they can sort out what to do with their own kids etc.

antgal23

A few people on here saying schools should wait until DoES publishes guidance on a September return

I wouldn't hold your breath

There are several reasons it wouldn't happen

1/ they don't want to be making decisions that could make them liable for

2/ they are taking the lead from central govt

3/ all schools are different and any guidance wouldnt cover all

4/ they think the existing guidance is enough

July provision in schools is happening and Creches have been open now for weeks - don't see the DoES checking in on them or requesting Covid compliant
Protocols etc

Wanna know why? Because they can't judge a place against DoES guidance if it doesn't exist

jlm29

lulublue22 wrote: »

If its some form of blended learning ie half in / out with online no problem. But if is 100% online then no - as I would have no one to support my own children’s access to education. I doubt I’m the only teacher in that situation. I provided a very high level of online learning including support via phone , online platform and email to parents / children. All work set was corrected and I was online every day to answer any questions / deal with any issues. All work I did and every communication with parents was logged and forwarded to the BOM. If it’s online only then I would expect to wfh.

If you’re paid your full wages, and told to be onsite full time, I can’t see that you can refuse, unless you take parental or some kind of unpaid leave? I’m a healthcare worker, and I haven’t got anyone to support my children’s access to education either, but I’ll have to go to work 9-5 mon to fri. I was on mat leave in March, but my colleagues had to arrange childcare with less than 24 hrs notice when crèches closed. We’re all public sector workers, I don’t see how it can be one rule for one group and one for another.

khalessi

Lillyfae wrote: »

Please read back over the last 10 pages or so. Teachers were blaming parents for wanting individual attention and "babysitting" as much as anyone else was blaming teachers for closures/poor effort, but we're all moving on here.

As much as we are moving on here, read the entire thread prior to last 10 pages and the previous 6 threads where teachers were told schools had to open for childcare in order to get workforce back and were bashed for not doing so and some teacher pointed out an FB page was set up providing such a service for people.

[/QUOTE]There are countless solutions. I have listed 4, maybe try turning your negative energy into positive energy to find solutions.[/QUOTE]

Lovely sentiment but teachers have no voice so as much as we want to turn that frown upside down unless it comes from DOE it means nothing. We can only personally fund so much.

I went out and spent nearly 600e buying a laptop and getting broadband set up so I could teach online. I spent 12 hour days and longer carrying out that role. There are many teachers with a can do attitude on here and in the real world but they manage by using their own money. As has been said many times before teaching one of the few jobs where you steal from home to use it in work.

khalessi

antgal23 wrote: »

I think we worked off a combination of

1/ Back to work Protocol

2/ Published guidance for Creches

3/ Published guidance for July Provision

I would be shocked if any school hasn't prepared a plan for September

Even if this thing completely vanishes in August good practice dictates we prepare for the worst and not get caught sleeping at the wheel

Is this primary or secondary school?

ldy4mxonucwsq6

lulublue22 wrote: »

If its some form of blended learning ie half in / out with online no problem. But if is 100% online then no - as I would have no one to support my own children’s access to education.

Well then its a case of join the club with many of the working parents who have been doing this since March.

khalessi

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

Well then its a case of join the club with many of the working parents who have been doing this since March.

Including teachers.

wirelessdude01

Round and round and round we go. Circles and more circles. Could someone just put this thread to sleep for the well-being of everyone.

ldy4mxonucwsq6

khalessi wrote: »

Including teachers.

Yes, if teachers are required onsite in school and can't attend due to childcare or educating their own children then they will need to be prepared to face the same tough decisions that other non teacher working parents have had to do.

khalessi

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

Yes, if teachers are required onsite in school and can't attend due to childcare or educating their own children then they will need to be prepared to face the same tough decisions that other non teacher working parents have had to do.

Or if they are wfh providing teaching it is very difficult to do both as I have written here before. Working and education of children is difficult for everyone including teachers whether wfh or the school building.

ldy4mxonucwsq6

khalessi wrote: »

Or if they are wfh providing teaching it is very difficult to do both as I have written here before. Working and education of children is difficult for everyone including teachers whether wfh or the school building.

There's no reason why teachers won't be expected to be onsite in school in September, whatever about students doing a partial week the teachers will be able to be in school without any social distancing issues between themselves.

I think any teacher planning on working from home from September needs to be fully prepared for the likelihood that they will be required onsite for at least their usual school workday.

Why wouldn't they be?

froog

i think there is obviously genuine concerns around the schools but some teachers/principles seem to want the government to personally go into their schools and tell them exactly what to do. it's not rocket science, everyone knows what you need to do and businesses have successfully been implementing guidelines for months now. schools need to take a bit of responsibility here and start coming up with solutions for their own schools.

also public support for teachers on coronavirus has been fairly eroded due to the carry on during lockdown with half assed attempt at e-learning and home work packs. every parent i know say their kids got at most an hour or two of work to do a week from teachers safely taking home full pay while they struggled, lost jobs, took corona payments etc. so you can understand people being fed up of teachers complaints.

wirelessdude01

froog wrote: »

also public support for teachers on coronavirus has been fairly eroded due to the carry on during lockdown with half assed attempt at e-learning and home work packs. every parent i know say their kids got at most an hour or two of work to do a week from teachers safely taking home full pay while they struggled, lost jobs, took corona payments etc. so you can understand people being fed up of teachers complaints.

Obviously not the parents of the children in my class.

Really think people need to step back and realise that what we want will also make schools safer for their precious children.

khalessi

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

There's no reason why teachers won't be expected to be onsite in school in September, whatever about students doing a partial week the teachers will be able to be in school without any social distancing issues between themselves.

I think any teacher planning on working from home from September needs to be fully prepared for the likelihood that they will be required onsite for at least their usual school workday.

Why wouldn't they be?

Because no one knows what will happen in 5 weeks time. Teachers, myself included, would like schools open and to be back with the children. But funding planning etc from Dept of Ed may not be ready going by how they are operating so far.

If we end up teaching online it wont make much difference if I do it from school or wfh. It could be decided that it is easier for sd etc if some teachers wfh.

For me live streaming would be difficult as the children I teach are normally withdrawn from class as I am SET, so it would have to be decided how that would work best for the children as they would be trying to live stream their classroom. But I am sure some solution would be found.

Deeec

We are going round in circles - teachers and parents need to stop blaming each other. The DOE is to blame for all the uncertainty. But a few points

1. Teachers - please acknowledge that some of your colleagues let your profession down during lockdown. This is what is causing parents frustrations.
2. Parents - please don't call teachers lazy and irresponsible - most teachers done their best during lockdown.
3. Teachers will be working in September - it may be WFH though.
4. If homeschooling/blended learning from Sept - working parents and teachers who have children will both have the same issues juggling childcare and education.

antgal23

khalessi wrote: »

Is this primary or secondary school?

I work in a special school for 4-18 yr olds

I understand July Provision is happening across the country in some secondary settings

ldy4mxonucwsq6

khalessi wrote: »

But I am sure some solution would be found.

Guidelines for return to school have already been issued.

Schools needed to be working on these from the moment they were issued.

Instead they'll be scratching their heads on the day before they are due to reopen.

Waiting for more guidelines is not the solution, they need to start working with what they have for now.

The excuses won't wash if the schools aren't ready.

bettyoleary

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

There's no reason why teachers won't be expected to be onsite in school in September, whatever about students doing a partial week the teachers will be able to be in school without any social distancing issues between themselves.

I think any teacher planning on working from home from September needs to be fully prepared for the likelihood that they will be required onsite for at least their usual school workday.

Why wouldn't they be?

Still at it bullying teachers I see. Teachers cannot be expected to be inside a small poorly ventilated room for long periods of time. So, unless this is dealt with you are going to have to look after your own kids and teach them . If you arnt able to attend work you will have to go onto covid payment. Or, perhaps leave work, depend whats more important to you.

byhookorbycrook

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

Guidelines for return to school have already been issued.

Schools needed to be working on these from the moment they were issued.

Instead they'll be scratching their heads on the day before they are due to reopen.

Waiting for more guidelines is not the solution, they need to start working with what they have for now.

The excuses won't wash if the schools aren't ready.

No, proper guidelines haven’t been issued , otherwise we’d be on it ( during the much vaunted 3 months off.) Schools can’t plan on a practical way without specifying what measures are to be taken re social distancing/ cleaning etc.

antgal23

khalessi wrote: »

Because no one knows what will happen in 5 weeks time. Teachers, myself included, would like schools open and to be back with the children. But funding planning etc from Dept of Ed may not be ready going by how they are operating so far.

If we end up teaching online it wont make much difference if I do it from school or wfh. It could be decided that it is easier for sd etc if some teachers wfh.

For me live streaming would be difficult as the children I teach are normally withdrawn from class as I am SET, so it would have to be decided how that would work best for the children as they would be trying to live stream their classroom. But I am sure some solution would be found.

Ach come on now

"Funding and planning from Dept"

What exactly do you want from them?

Get management to get a Covid response plan
Buy hand rub
Stagger breaks
Move on

GAA is back now three weeks
20 odd kids running around in groups outside

ldy4mxonucwsq6

bettyoleary wrote: »

Still at it bullying teachers I see. Teachers cannot be expected to be inside a small poorly ventilated room for long periods of time. So, unless this is dealt with you are going to have to look after your own kids and teach them . If you arnt able to attend work you will have to go onto covid payment. Or, perhaps leave work, depend whats more important to you.

What part of my posts did you consider bullying?

All of the above applies to teachers who are parents as well, so do you think they will also have to give up work or go on covid payment if they can't attend work as you put it?

deiseindublin

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

No, proper guidelines haven’t been issued , otherwise we’d be on it ( during the much vaunted 3 months off.) Schools can’t plan on a practical way without specifying what measures are to be taken re social distancing/ cleaning etc.

or before contingency budget is given.

History Queen

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

Guidelines for return to school have already been issued.

Schools needed to be working on these from the moment they were issued.

Instead they'll be scratching their heads on the day before they are due to reopen.

Waiting for more guidelines is not the solution, they need to start working with what they have for now.

The excuses won't wash if the schools aren't ready.

The guidelines don't address second level issues, I don't work in the primary sector.so I'm not sure how adequately they address their issues.

Whether you like it or not the Dept have to issue guidelines. Most schools I know have made the effort either at Senior Management level/ middle management / voluntary committee level to make some sort of plans but without guidelines our efforts are hampered. A simple question (one of many!) our school has for instance, is whether Music can happen in it's normal form. Singing seems to be a no go as are some instruments. We need clarity around this and other (arguably) more serious issues.