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

wirelessdude01 · 14-08-2020 09:22AM

lulublue22 wrote: »

Is there not a legal obligation under the EPSEN act no ? TBH I’m hazy on that and maybe totally off the mark.

Maybe there is. This is gonna be a weird year. SET will be pulled here, there and everywhere. The most vulnerable children in our schools will be the ones to sometimes fall through the cracks in this plan. Will be interesting how the parents of those children react when they realise what the government has said can happen.

downthemiddle · 14-08-2020 09:24AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I doubt there will be much if anything said to any school that does. The document implies that school staffing resources are allowed to be used in whatever way that best fits.

Now don't think that means I agree I agree with it at all.

The circular still stands and when the friendly inspector contacts schools to offer support there will be an issue.

Midnight Sundance · 14-08-2020 11:00AM

lulublue22 wrote: »

Is it definite that SEN/ SET are taking the overflow classes ? if not I would love to know hoe the school is reducing class size and where are they getting the physical space to do so ?

They will be put into classes Classes which have divides taken down to make room bigger.
If SET aren't going to be used then there's no way social distancing would be possible in classes up to 30 kids.they are squished enough as it is.
From what I gather, the younger children will still receive support. The older classes would have been given mainly in class support as it was, and I guess with smaller classes of 10 to 15 the teacher would be able to work with groups herself a lot easier than if 30 were there.
Look, I dont condone using SET either,BUT , this year is not going to be like any other year. Theres no point in pretenting the SET are not going to be used as In school subs this year. As much as we don't want that to happen, its inevitable, we could barely get subs to cover sicknesses last year before Covid, i dont know if it will be exactly easy to get them this year.
I know my school always goes above and beyond to make sure all children are catered for and i know they won't let the children with the greatest needs down. We have more SET teachers and I'm sure they will be as busy as ever in the younger classes.
This year will not be like any other and I'm sure if an inspector was to come in and have a better solution to the one being implemented then I've no doubt our school would welcome that too.

Bobtheman · 14-08-2020 11:22AM

mcsean2163 wrote: »

I suppose it's like grinds here. No such thing as a level playing field. Those with money will always use it to their advantage.

Some parents spend their money on booze, fancy clothes, etc. others spend it on their kids education, others don't have spare money for anything.

All sorts.[/quote]

Such is life but the odd kid or cashless parent values education and will do well out of the system. The education sector is more tunned into inclusion than before. A lot more needs to be done.
If you really wanted equality then fee paying schools should not get any state support.

lulublue22 · 14-08-2020 11:29AM

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

They will be put into classes Classes which have divides taken down to make room bigger.
If SET aren't going to be used then there's no way social distancing would be possible in classes up to 30 kids.they are squished enough as it is.
From what I gather, the younger children will still receive support. The older classes would have been given mainly in class support as it was, and I guess with smaller classes of 10 to 15 the teacher would be able to work with groups herself a lot easier than if 30 were there.
Look, I dont condone using SET either,BUT , this year is not going to be like any other year. Theres no point in pretenting the SET are not going to be used as In school subs this year. As much as we don't want that to happen, its inevitable, we could barely get subs to cover sicknesses last year before Covid, i dont know if it will be exactly easy to get them this year.
I know my school always goes above and beyond to make sure all children are catered for and i know they won't let the children with the greatest needs down. We have more SET teachers and I'm sure they will be as busy as ever in the younger classes.
This year will not be like any other and I'm sure if an inspector was to come in and have a better solution to the one being implemented then I've no doubt our school would welcome that too.

You don’t need to justify the schools choices to me to be fair. However I’ve a particular interest and experience in special ed and the fact that this year is not like any other doesn’t cut it for me. It is exactly because this year is like no other that we have a moral and educational obligation to ensure that those whose education is most impacted by this pandemic are catered for. This is not a pop at your school but it is an absolute disgrace that the most vulnerable in our schools are expected to put up and shut up. While I feel that the dep have a lot to answer for in relation to using SET to substitute for absent class teachers I don’t for one second having read the guidelines accept that they intended for class sizes to be reduced by having SET act as class teachers. If I was SET in your school I would be absolutely fuming.

Midnight Sundance · 14-08-2020 11:51AM

lulublue22 wrote: »

You don’t need to justify the schools choices to me to be fair. However I’ve a particular interest and experience in special ed and the fact that this year is not like any other doesn’t cut it for me. It is exactly because this year is like no other that we have a moral and educational obligation to ensure that those whose education is most impacted by this pandemic are catered for. This is not a pop at your school but it is an absolute disgrace that the most vulnerable in our schools are expected to put up and shut up. While I feel that the dep have a lot to answer for in relation to using SET to substitute for absent class teachers I don’t for one second having read the guidelines accept that they intended for class sizes to be reduced by having SET act as class teachers. If I was SET in your school I would be absolutely fuming.

I absolutely agree with you on everything you say, but i also know our school is trying to do the best with what they've got to ensure the safety of children and staff. I'm pretty sure a lot of schools are flying by the seats of their pants this year. I cant speak for the SET team cos we all only know roughly whats gonna happen the first month and we don't even know if this is long term for the year or not but I'm guessing the SE teachers are thinking that whatever plans they are to do in September might as well be jsed to clean the room with because they will more than likely be used throughout the school as subs on a regular basis. I 100percent agree that this is wrong but I'll bet my wages that this is what is going to happen in most schools this year.

lulublue22 · 14-08-2020 12:23PM

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

I absolutely agree with you on everything you say, but i also know our school is trying to do the best with what they've got to ensure the safety of children and staff. I'm pretty sure a lot of schools are flying by the seats of their pants this year. I cant speak for the SET team cos we all only know roughly whats gonna happen the first month and we don't even know if this is long term for the year or not but I'm guessing the SE teachers are thinking that whatever plans they are to do in September might as well be jsed to clean the room with because they will more than likely be used throughout the school as subs on a regular basis. I 100percent agree that this is wrong but I'll bet my wages that this is what is going to happen in most schools this year.

Two wrongs don’t make a right. What the dep has done re SET subbing for class teachers has substantial reduced the support available for children with additional needs. What your school is doing is removing that support altogether. Class size is a huge issue however reducing numbers to 15 will not allow those children who need and are entitled to support to be catered for appropriately. I have no idea how no one from the BOM right down to staff do not have a problem with this.

The cynic in me thinks that this is a good coup for the school at local level though. Parents who don’t understand the intricacies of how the education system works and whose children are not affected will be absolutely delighted. Isn’t that school great not alone being able to implement SD but reducing class size to 15 too. Fabulous school altogether so proactive all the while those children who have been impacted the most by this pandemic continue to be adversely impacted. It’s a total disgrace.

It’s solo runs such as this which ensures that things don’t improve in our schools. I’m genuinely flabbergasted that any principal thought this was ok. There is no way that the guidelines indicate that this is acceptable and I would hope that any inspector wouldn’t stand for this.

ETA - I would bet most my wages that it won’t as I would like to think that schools value their pupils and are committed to providing the best for them. Children with additional needs are entitled to and need support. I would like to think that most teachers would honour that.

scrubs33 · 14-08-2020 01:19PM

Parents of kids with special needs have been for the most part,in my experience anyway, extremely aware of the schools responsibilities towards the kids (usually as a result of having to fight for any extra help) They will keep a close eye on whats happening and within reason will fight to keep resource hours etc intact. Any school looking at using SEN teachers for other purposes might get a rude awakening.

Murple · 14-08-2020 01:31PM

downthemiddle wrote: »

The circular still stands and when the friendly inspector contacts schools to offer support there will be an issue.

Apparently the inspectorate has already said it’s not allowed.

Midnight Sundance · 14-08-2020 02:11PM

ETA - I would bet most my wages that it won’t as I would like to think that schools value their pupils and are committed to providing the best for them. Children with additional needs are entitled to and need support. I would like to think that most teachers would honour that.[/quote]

Where will the magic subs come from? What if more than one teacher is out sick? There has been a huge difficulty getting subs this last few years and if that's the case again this year then no amount of well wishing and hoping is going to stop schools from using SE teachers, especially if theres no option to split the kids into other classes this year.
I dont disagree that its a disgrace that the children with additional needs are going to suffer if this happens but what else are schools going to do.

lulublue22 · 14-08-2020 02:17PM

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

ETA - I would bet most my wages that it won’t as I would like to think that schools value their pupils and are committed to providing the best for them. Children with additional needs are entitled to and need support. I would like to think that most teachers would honour that.

Where will the magic subs come from? What if more than one teacher is out sick? There has been a huge difficulty getting subs this last few years and if that's the case again this year then no amount of well wishing and hoping is going to stop schools from using SE teachers, especially if theres no option to split the kids into other classes this year.
I dont disagree that its a disgrace that the children with additional needs are going to suffer if this happens but what else are schools going to do.[/QUOTE]

There is a difference between using SET to cover absent class teachers and using SET as class teachers. But you know that. As a matter of interest if ye are using SET as class teachers in order to have classes of 15 then how on earth are ye going to manage class teacher absences ? In that case as you are adamant that there are no subs ( which I agree is an issue) and no SET what will ye do ?

Midnight Sundance · 14-08-2020 02:31PM

I dont know the ins and out of it all. I know the younger classes will still have SE teachers as they have always had.
The middle and upper classes have been divided up so that there are smaller numbers. Usually most interventions with them have always been in class support or withdrawal of small groups.

With a smaller class the need for 2 additional teachers coming in daily will be eliminated and it will be up to the teacher to try and work with the smaller groups and improve reading /maths

I'm presuming ( not been told) that instead of the hours these teachers spend going in and out of the senior classes, they will instead have a class of their own ( small numbers-small groups)
The younger classes will still have the SE teachers they always had and I'm guessing that anyone in the older end of the school who needs individual time with a se teacher will be catered for. Probably in the last hour of the day when the small kids go home.
I'm not back yet so I dont know the proper running of things. I do know how much the teachers in my school care for all the children and they will do whatever is best for all the children.
Again, I haven't returned to school so I'm not sure exactly how it's gonna run .
As for how r we gonna cover teachers if se teachers are in a classroom, we still have a number of se teachers. They mainly work with the children in the younger end of the school.Only the largest class numbers have been split to ensure social distancing in the classroom is kept. And not every SE teacher has been asked to take a class.

lulublue22 · 14-08-2020 02:44PM

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

I dont know the ins and out of it all. I know the younger classes will still have SE teachers as they have always had.
The middle and upper classes have been divided up so that there are smaller numbers. Usually most interventions with them have always been in class support or withdrawal of small groups.

With a smaller class the need for 2 additional teachers coming in daily will be eliminated and it will be up to the teacher to try and work with the smaller groups and improve reading /maths

I'm presuming ( not been told) that instead of the hours these teachers spend going in and out of the senior classes, they will instead have a class of their own ( small numbers-small groups)
The younger classes will still have the SE teachers they always had and I'm guessing that anyone in the older end of the school who needs individual time with a se teacher will be catered for. Probably in the last hour of the day when the small kids go home.
I'm not back yet so I dont know the proper running of things. I do know how much the teachers in my school care for all the children and they will do whatever is best for all the children.
Again, I haven't returned to school so I'm not sure exactly how it's gonna run .
As for how r we gonna cover teachers if se teachers are in a classroom, we still have a number of se teachers. They mainly work with the children in the younger end of the school.Only the largest class numbers have been split to ensure social distancing in the classroom is kept. And not every SE teacher has been asked to take a class.

So ye have put a number of SET into classes to reduce numbers to in and around 15 and have thereby decreasing the number of SET available for subbing while increasing the likely hood of them being needed to cover absent class teachers. So overall a double whammy for those children with additional needs. More classes to be covered and less SET staff to do so. If the principal had adhered to the guidelines given the SET team ye appear to have then subbing for class teachers could have been divided out as much as possible reducing the impact on those children who need and are entitled to support. A concerted effort could have been implemented to help those children make up for lost time.

SD is an issue for most schools in the primary sector - it doesn’t excuse using SET as class teachers.

downthemiddle · 14-08-2020 02:52PM

lulublue22 wrote: »

So ye have put a number of SET into classes to reduce numbers to in and around 15 and have thereby decreasing the number of SET available for subbing while increasing the likely hood of them being needed to cover absent class teachers. So overall a double whammy for those children with additional needs. More classes to be covered and less SET staff to do so. If the principal had adhered to the guidelines given the SET team ye appear to have then subbing for class teachers could have been divided out as much as possible reducing the impact on those children who need and are entitled to support. A concerted effort could have been implemented to help those children make up for lost time.

SD is an issue for most schools in the primary sector - it doesn’t excuse using SET as class teachers.

Any principal making a decision like this deserves the inevitable kicking they receive. The kicking will be twofold, firstly from the inspectorate, but more importantly, from the parents of children who are being deprived of the support they deserve.
This is tokenism towards social distancing and will have little or no impact on infection control. I would speculate that it’s made to keep a small cohort of vocal staff or parents happy.

Murple · 14-08-2020 02:53PM

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

I dont know the ins and out of it all. I know the younger classes will still have SE teachers as they have always had.
The middle and upper classes have been divided up so that there are smaller numbers. Usually most interventions with them have always been in class support or withdrawal of small groups.

With a smaller class the need for 2 additional teachers coming in daily will be eliminated and it will be up to the teacher to try and work with the smaller groups and improve reading /maths

I'm presuming ( not been told) that instead of the hours these teachers spend going in and out of the senior classes, they will instead have a class of their own ( small numbers-small groups)
The younger classes will still have the SE teachers they always had and I'm guessing that anyone in the older end of the school who needs individual time with a se teacher will be catered for. Probably in the last hour of the day when the small kids go home.
I'm not back yet so I dont know the proper running of things. I do know how much the teachers in my school care for all the children and they will do whatever is best for all the children.
Again, I haven't returned to school so I'm not sure exactly how it's gonna run .
As for how r we gonna cover teachers if se teachers are in a classroom, we still have a number of se teachers. They mainly work with the children in the younger end of the school.Only the largest class numbers have been split to ensure social distancing in the classroom is kept. And not every SE teacher has been asked to take a class.

You seem to have a lot of SET in your school. Can I ask how many pupils you have and how many SET overall in the school?

mohawk · 14-08-2020 03:33PM

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

I dont know the ins and out of it all. I know the younger classes will still have SE teachers as they have always had.
The middle and upper classes have been divided up so that there are smaller numbers. Usually most interventions with them have always been in class support or withdrawal of small groups.

With a smaller class the need for 2 additional teachers coming in daily will be eliminated and it will be up to the teacher to try and work with the smaller groups and improve reading /maths

I'm presuming ( not been told) that instead of the hours these teachers spend going in and out of the senior classes, they will instead have a class of their own ( small numbers-small groups)
The younger classes will still have the SE teachers they always had and I'm guessing that anyone in the older end of the school who needs individual time with a se teacher will be catered for. Probably in the last hour of the day when the small kids go home.
I'm not back yet so I dont know the proper running of things. I do know how much the teachers in my school care for all the children and they will do whatever is best for all the children.
Again, I haven't returned to school so I'm not sure exactly how it's gonna run .
As for how r we gonna cover teachers if se teachers are in a classroom, we still have a number of se teachers. They mainly work with the children in the younger end of the school.Only the largest class numbers have been split to ensure social distancing in the classroom is kept. And not every SE teacher has been asked to take a class.

As a mother of a child with ASD this is very concerning. It’s already going to be a tough year for him. He is oblivious to personal space no mind social distancing. Going out for his resource hours is a welcome break from the noise of a classroom for a child like him. He is a great little boy but his behaviour can and does deteriorate when he is has a sensory overload.

This principle doesn’t seem to have considered then needs of the SEN children at all.

gogo · 14-08-2020 04:18PM

mohawk wrote: »

As a mother of a child with ASD this is very concerning. It’s already going to be a tough year for him. He is oblivious to personal space no mind social distancing. Going out for his resource hours is a welcome break from the noise of a classroom for a child like him. He is a great little boy but his behaviour can and does deteriorate when he is has a sensory overload.

This principle doesn’t seem to have considered then needs of the SEN children at all.

Same as that: I’ve one child with adhd that is doing amazing since he started getting movement breaks.. just a small break in his day to allow for more concentration.

Another asd child who has managed to stay in mainstream purely due to the resource and movement breaks he gets.
Both kids are incredible smart and don’t cause trouble, these breaks help them be the best they can, I’m dreading sending them back without them.

Murple · 14-08-2020 04:42PM

mohawk wrote: »

As a mother of a child with ASD this is very concerning. It’s already going to be a tough year for him. He is oblivious to personal space no mind social distancing. Going out for his resource hours is a welcome break from the noise of a classroom for a child like him. He is a great little boy but his behaviour can and does deteriorate when he is has a sensory overload.

This principle doesn’t seem to have considered then needs of the SEN children at all.

I agree to an extent but I don’t hold the principal responsible. Blame lies with the department. The plan for return to school basically has SET all over the place.
SET can be used as subs if none can be found (going on past experience, this is likely to happen more often than anyone would believe).
SET are to support the learning of any child who can’t attend school due to being high risk.
SET will also likely be used to cover teacher breaks as in order to stagger breaks, there will be fewer classes on the yard at a time so more frequent yard duty for teachers.
Schools were instructed to space pupils 1m apart or split classes that are too big to allow this but no additional staff given to enable this at primary level.
I fear that when parents see the effect that this will have on SET provision, they will blame the school which suits the department down to the ground. Children with SEN in mainstream classes in mainstream schools have been totally and utterly ignored by this plan.

lulublue22 · 14-08-2020 05:50PM

Murple wrote: »

I agree to an extent but I don’t hold the principal responsible. Blame lies with the department. The plan for return to school basically has SET all over the place.
SET can be used as subs if none can be found (going on past experience, this is likely to happen more often than anyone would believe).
SET are to support the learning of any child who can’t attend school due to being high risk.
SET will also likely be used to cover teacher breaks as in order to stagger breaks, there will be fewer classes on the yard at a time so more frequent yard duty for teachers.
Schools were instructed to space pupils 1m apart or split classes that are too big to allow this but no additional staff given to enable this at primary level.
I fear that when parents see the effect that this will have on SET provision, they will blame the school which suits the department down to the ground. Children with SEN in mainstream classes in mainstream schools have been totally and utterly ignored by this plan.

I agree under the gov guidelines SET are being pulled left right and centre and it is not fair on those who need and are entitled to support. However by allocating SET as class teachers the above principal is taking the proverbial. That is not sanctioned under the guidelines and well that principal knows it. It is extremely unfair to the children in that school and to those SET not given a class of 15 who are expected to pick up the slack for their colleagues. Increased case load , increased classes to cover for and online learning also. Just because the gov put SET in the firing line doesn’t mean that schools have to compound the issue by reallocating SET as Class Teachers. Any school who feels justified in doing so should have their allocation of SET adjusted accordingly.

jrosen · 14-08-2020 08:51PM

Received an update today on what our school plans are and have to say, very impressed with what they have put in place. We also had a survey to take. Are we nervous about the school year, why? covid related? whats concerns do we have on distance learning and then a feedback option. Secondary school.
The students will be moving classes, they changed last year to hour long classes so 6 changes a day I think will be the most.

Bobtheman · 14-08-2020 09:51PM

Let's keep in mind this is a life threatening virus.. kids with special needs should be protected but if a principal has not the staff to facilitate social distancing - should he or she be allowed to use teachers allocated in the special needs area ?.
Obviously the answer is to provide enough staff but I'm not terribly optimistic with an allocation of basically one extra teacher per school that it won't be used.
It's a moral dilemma . But you'd be naive if you don't think resource allocation doesn't kill people every year in the HSE. Unfortunately these dilemmas are now arriving at school doors.

delly · 14-08-2020 09:55PM

jrosen wrote: »

Received an update today on what our school plans are and have to say, very impressed with what they have put in place. We also had a survey to take. Are we nervous about the school year, why? covid related? whats concerns do we have on distance learning and then a feedback option. Secondary school.
The students will be moving classes, they changed last year to hour long classes so 6 changes a day I think will be the most.

Do you mind me asking what they have said regarding in classroom social distancing and mask wearing? My school released their plan last week saying 1m would be observed in class, with masks required while changing rooms. This was before the DOE amendment on Friday saying that if 2m can't be maintained in class, then facemasks must be used, so am just curious if other schools have now adapted to last weeks amendment.

jrosen · 14-08-2020 10:32PM

delly wrote: »

Do you mind me asking what they have said regarding in classroom social distancing and mask wearing? My school released their plan last week saying 1m would be observed in class, with masks required while changing rooms. This was before the DOE amendment on Friday saying that if 2m can't be maintained in class, then facemasks must be used, so am just curious if other schools have now adapted to last weeks amendment.

They have said that desks/shelves etc have been removed to enable 1m social distance.
They are requiring all staff and students to wear face masks in the classroom and all indoor areas. Additional outdoor seating and students will be encouraged to be outside on all break times to have a break from wearing masks.

Purplewaters · 14-08-2020 10:33PM

Murple wrote: »

I agree to an extent but I don’t hold the principal responsible. Blame lies with the department. The plan for return to school basically has SET all over the place.
SET can be used as subs if none can be found (going on past experience, this is likely to happen more often than anyone would believe).
SET are to support the learning of any child who can’t attend school due to being high risk.
SET will also likely be used to cover teacher breaks as in order to stagger breaks, there will be fewer classes on the yard at a time so more frequent yard duty for teachers.
Schools were instructed to space pupils 1m apart or split classes that are too big to allow this but no additional staff given to enable this at primary level.
I fear that when parents see the effect that this will have on SET provision, they will blame the school which suits the department down to the ground. Children with SEN in mainstream classes in mainstream schools have been totally and utterly ignored by this plan.

I agree. I usually would disagree with this as it happens constantly due to the lack of subs which to be honest has jsut covered up the problem for the last year or two. Anyway its an impossible situation and I'm sure most schools id they had rooms would try anything to reduce the class sizes. Everyone getting annoyed should direct their anger at the unsafe plan given by the government.

Sunday Sunday · 14-08-2020 10:56PM

jrosen wrote: »

They have said that desks/shelves etc have been removed to enable 1m social distance.
They are requiring all staff and students to wear face masks in the classroom and all indoor areas. Additional outdoor seating and students will be encouraged to be outside on all break times to have a break from wearing masks.

Just wondering did it specify masks or are visors an option?

lulublue22 · 14-08-2020 11:14PM

Bobtheman wrote: »

Let's keep in mind this is a life threatening virus.. kids with special needs should be protected but if a principal has not the staff to facilitate social distancing - should he or she be allowed to use teachers allocated in the special needs area ?.
Obviously the answer is to provide enough staff but I'm not terribly optimistic with an allocation of basically one extra teacher per school that it won't be used.
It's a moral dilemma . But you'd be naive if you don't think resource allocation doesn't kill people every year in the HSE. Unfortunately these dilemmas are now arriving at school doors.

Social Distancing is a fallacy in the vast majority of primary schools - class size plus inadequate facilities have rendered it so. It is extremely frustrating that the response to that is too take resources from those who need it the most. It makes an absolute mockery of both we are all in this together and children have suffered so much during the school shutdown. It is exactly those children with additional needs who have suffered the most yet the prevailing attitude appears to be tough luck. Parents of SEN children have quite a difficult and often complicated process in firstly having their children diagnosed and secondly accessing resources. The whole area of SEN provision is inadequate as is - with level of supports / resources depending on diagnosis given as opposed to meeting the individual needs of the child. Speech and Language difficulties is an area of SEN which is a prime example of same. Despite the associated difficulties with processing speed , organisational difficulties etc there is no set intervention at secondary level other than that which the school can provide out of it’s general allocation. The level of support that those children receive does not depend on the the severity of the speech and language difficulty , rather it is on the resources available in that particular school.
It’s easy for all those who don’t have children with additional needs to be so blase about the reduction of SET support. For those children who depend on movement breaks , sensory breaks , children with EBD who need time out to those children who need SEN support to highlight that yes I might struggle with reading but I have other strengths it’s a long day . if you are one of those children in a situation that you find challenging then 5 hours and 40 mins without intervention / support is no joke.?I think it’s time that people started acknowledging that.
If principals / school staff / parents are that concerned about this virus that kills people then they should be raising it with their TD’s , posting on Social Media and making a fuss in the media as opposed to taking the easy option of pulling supports from those children who need it the most.

helpful · 14-08-2020 11:26PM

I’ve seen a lot of talk of visors online recently. A lot of those teacher Instagram pages saying they are wearing them in primary school (the teacher is anyway no mention of the children doing so). I thought visors were useless or close enough to useless?
Is the wearing of the visor another tick the box and make it look like we’re doing something or are they actually safe enough?

am_zarathustra · 14-08-2020 11:27PM

Sunday Sunday wrote: »

Just wondering did it specify masks or are visors an option?

Unless wearing a mask is absolutely not a possiblity they should be worn. Visors provide very little if any protection

Sunday Sunday · 14-08-2020 11:38PM

am_zarathustra wrote: »

Unless wearing a mask is absolutely not a possiblity they should be worn. Visors provide very little if any protection

My son has asthma and wearing a mask all day is not something he'll be able to do. Haven't heard anything from his school yet re distancing capabilities so I'm wondering if rules specify masks or face covering.

The visor would be manageable, it's a nightmare and will be a real struggle to spend 7 hours a day with their face covered.

khalessi · 14-08-2020 11:48PM

helpful wrote: »

I’ve seen a lot of talk of visors online recently. A lot of those teacher Instagram pages saying they are wearing them in primary school (the teacher is anyway no mention of the children doing so). I thought visors were useless or close enough to useless?
Is the wearing of the visor another tick the box and make it look like we’re doing something or are they actually safe enough?

Yep visors need to be worn with a mask otherwise they are not great. My school providing visors for teachers but I have some already and will be weaing a mask too. I dont think it is a tick box exercise, I just think they dont know any better.

https://www.thelocal.ch/20200715/only-those-with-plastic-visors-were-infected-swiss-government-warns-against-face-shields

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-swiss-visor/swiss-doctor-pans-plastic-visors-after-covid-19-hits-restaurant-workers-idUSKCN24F239

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

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