How will schools be able to go back in September?

What seemed to be missing (I only read primary one so far) is what happens if someone in a class- student or teacher- is diagnosed? Does the whole group stay out for 2 weeks?
Also found it amusing about the LWR - school should look for volunteers, if more than one volunteer there should be a vote - nothing about what happens if there are no volunteers....

khalessi wrote: »

Should be a paid post at least but I suppose after giving the super Junior ministers their rise, they have nothing left.

Should be a temporary API or APII post for the year.

gnf_ireland wrote: »

Not being funny hear but are you planning to hide away in isolation until a vaccine is found and rolled out globally? What happens when the next SARS virus occurs?

Life has to move on. All around me kids are mixing all the time. There have been summer camps in operation up and down the country - there has been no spike as a result of that. I am not suggesting we act like nothing is happening, but we cannot hide away for ever either !

BTW I hope all parents have to sign a declaration that they (or the kids) have not been outside the country for 14 days prior to school restarting, and it be a criminal offence with automatic expulsion from school if they are found to have made a false declaration !

THey should also fill out a daily health questionaire before dropping children into school

Peter Flynt wrote: »

No social distancing (the plan for 1m social distancing is boll***s - they know it can't be done)
No mandatory masks/visors
Suggesting 93 people in one room - A gym.
No plan for what occurs when classes have to change every 40 minutes.
No plan to close schools with suspected Covid cases - Bring them to a room instead.
No plan to close schools with actual confirmed cases.
Insufficient numbers of sub teachers for what will inevitably be large absences.
Pupils told to wear MANDATORY masks on the bus to school . . but not required once there.
Providing plans for classrooms of size 17-24 students - Where do I place the other 6 in my Leaving Cert Maths class?

Need I go on?

Why would they close schools? Other countries managed perfectly well with just leaving class at home. Is there any reason why we should overreact and ignore what worked well in other countries?

meeeeh wrote: »

Why would they close schools? Other countries managed perfectly well with just leaving class at home. Is there any reason why we should overreact and ignore what worked well in other countries?

We already are ignoring what worked well such as masks for children, proper sd, restricted numbers in class. Most schools in other countries did not open fully or as half assed as we are.

gnf_ireland wrote: »

BTW I hope all parents have to sign a declaration that they (or the kids) have not been outside the country for 14 days prior to school restarting, and it be a criminal offence with automatic expulsion from school if they are found to have made a false declaration !

What if they were in a green-listed country? Do they still face your draconian expulsion measures?

Wonder are they getting feedback from crèche on how things are working there?
Last week news had crèche worker tested positive I'm am not sure what steps were taken if any other worker or kids were also positive but schools/ DES are lucky to have these cases to look at help with planning & decision.
Also lot of children back at playground, summer camps & training all seem to be working and children happy.
I in agreement with going back as 'normally' as possible kids week used hand washing, sanatizer ect now.
Health industry adapted and got on with things very short notice. Pleased gov priority is this and hope principles & teachers will cooperate to get it up & running

luketitz wrote: »

What if they were in a green-listed country? Do they still face your draconian expulsion measures?

https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/

Individuals arriving in Ireland from these locations will not be required to restrict their movements on arrival.

If the person states on the form that they have not been outside the country when they have been, yes.
If a person has been to a green listed country, as per DFA advice, then the 14 day rule is lifted as per the current travel advisory. It should still be declared.
It does not mean they are permitted to lie on the declaration form.

People have to take responsibility for their actions, and the consequences have to be harsh, otherwise some people will simply ignore them.

khalessi wrote: »

How many of those summer camps are indoors?

From what I have seen in Dublin, plenty of the camps are indoors. One of mine has been to a LEGO camp and that was fully indoors. She also is back doing swimming lessons at this point.

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

Nothing was ever going to be perfect and there will always be people who aren't happy with the way some things are (or aren't) done but at least it's a plan, something we've been wanting for a long time.

Long overdue and schools will be under a lot of pressure now to implement it, hopefully in time for September.

I'll have to have a look at the full plan in detail (the pods within pods for primary is a bit of a strange one, maybe the only way they could justify a full return but have social distancing in some form) but I'm sure schools will be issuing guidance for parents anyway.

Schools don't have to. The minister has written a lovely letter for all parents.

Dear Parents/ Guardians
Since I was appointed Minister for Education on 27 June, my first priority has been the
full re-opening of schools. Today the Government approved a Roadmap for Reopening
of Schools, and a funding package of €376 million to support this. I am confident that
the supports and additional resources we have provided will enable our schools to
open safely.
An enormous amount of work has been done to prepare detailed guidance based on
the interim public health advice for schools, which we received in late June.
The plan has been developed by consulting with those who know best how schools
run: representatives of students, parents, principals, teachers, SNAs, support staff and
school management bodies, and. Their expertise has been crucial in putting this
together and I am very grateful to all involved for their hard work over many weeks.
I know that school communities have a big job ahead of them to prepare for the return
to school. We have put in place some practical supports and a significant financial
package to help. This includes funding to make physical changes that schools may
need, funding to employ an aide to move furniture, help re-organise rooms and get
things ready before schools reopen, and funding for substitution and replacement of
teachers. We will also be providing funding for hand sanitiser and for personal
protective equipment, where appropriate.
Every school building and circumstance is different, and I’ve asked each school to
communicate directly with parents and students about the changes that you can expect
when term begins.
Before the return to school, the Department will provide schools with some
communications materials that are age-appropriate, to help you to support your child’s
return to school. They will also be available on Gov.ie/backtoschool. I hope you will find
these useful.
I know that your children and you have experienced severe disruption as a result of
Covid-19. Pupils, parents, teachers and schools have made enormous efforts to keep
teaching and learning. But school is a special place, and some of the best parts of
learning are being in a classroom with other children, and everyone has missed out on
that.
I know some children and young people may be nervous about returning, and we will
all be working to support them to settle in, to feel safe and to be happy in their school
work, when schools return.
I hope you and your families have a lovely summer and get to enjoy some time
together.
Throughout this pandemic, we’ve all been in this together. This will be a time of
change, and there will be new routines for the students and for us all to learn. We will learn this together, because we all have a role to play in keeping the whole school
community safe.
With every good wish
______________________________
Norma Foley TD
Minister for Education

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

Nothing was ever going to be perfect and there will always be people who aren't happy with the way some things are (or aren't) done but at least it's a plan, something we've been wanting for a long time.

Long overdue and schools will be under a lot of pressure now to implement it, hopefully in time for September.

I'll have to have a look at the full plan in detail (the pods within pods for primary is a bit of a strange one, maybe the only way they could justify a full return but have social distancing in some form) but I'm sure schools will be issuing guidance for parents anyway.

There is no actual plan, it's business as usual with the pretence of having actually done something

Yeah that's true. don't know the whole things a total headwreck but just seems less risky at primary if we are forced to balance things.
Suppose secondary kids can make their own way home etc so it's less disruptive too, shouldn't be making our decision s like that but it would make it easier.

khalessi wrote: »

South Korean study stated that children from 10 years up (4th class here) spread the virus the same as adults, and most of 6th class were the same height or taller than me last year and Im 5ft 8.

Also have a read of a few of these

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1282666347982462976.html

gnf_ireland wrote: »

Not disagreeing with you, but does make a mockery of this line from the letter quoted above

The plan has been developed by consulting with those who know best how schools
run: representatives of students, parents, principals, teachers, SNAs, support staff and
school management bodies, and. Their expertise has been crucial in putting this
together and I am very grateful to all involved for their hard work over many weeks.

You can consult without taking on board what they say.