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

KerryConnor · 15-08-2020 12:14PM

TUI advising use of visors over masks in secondary sch.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.independent.ie/irish-news/education/teachers-demand-visors-are-used-to-stay-safe-in-class-39432487.html

I thought visors were far less useful in preventing spread? I hope my kids secondary sch keep to masks. My 2 sons are happy to wear them

Deeec · 15-08-2020 12:15PM

Dayo93 wrote: »

Thats why people have to make alternative arrangements for child care and not put thier loved ones at risk, We are in this position and will now have considerable costs as we will not be letting our parents mind the kids after school even though they want too.

I agree with you - grandparents collecting kids from school and minding them is high risk. Lots of parents are facing into a childcare nightmare though. The afterschool childcare service that serviced our school is not resuming in September. This is forcing a few parents I know to use the grandparents for childcare. Im lucky I will still be able to work from home and wont face this problem.

Im also hearing from friends whose childminders now want to be paid officially through revenue so if there is any further restrictions they will be entitled to a social welfare payment. The childminders are 100% right to do this but it is leading to parents seeking alternative childcare arrangements ie. grandparents

iamwhoiam · 15-08-2020 12:16PM

am_zarathustra wrote: »

This was the first paper indicating it but there have been a few backing it up at this stage

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30196-1/fulltext

At the moment the focus is on infectivity in young people to try and figure out how to get schools back to protect economies but the findings around older people are replicatable.

The flu weirdly has lower viral load in older people, they rarely spread it quickly and it's not often assymptomatic. It kind of explains the nursing home issue, normal flu protocol wasn't enough as there was so much shedding and probably a nice but airborn

Thanks I will read it later . From my own observation I find the elderly or over 70 all along had a high compliancy with wearing masks .I still see it now and we wore masks way back in April as did many in our age group

am_zarathustra · 15-08-2020 12:23PM

I'd agree from my own observation, they tend to be more trusting of medical advice too, not tricked by the Facebook conspiracies. My own parent is in a nursing home and had covid, they lost nearly 20% of the patients. But the balance your talking about is so important, if the patients can't see their families would they be willing to accept risk? But then there is a real risk to the nurses/care assistants etc. I know in my own parents case they would absolutely take the risk to be able to see us every day as before, but with viral loads etc that isn't just a risk we are taking

I don't envy older people, it's such a hard line to walk, with so many variables. I'd certainly be of your mindset, if I can't get out and see people what's the point, but, I think like most older people, I wouldn't want to be putting anyone else at risk

lulublue22 · 15-08-2020 12:41PM

Snugglebunnies wrote: »

She's 10. Apparently the risk increases from around that age. On the plus side, 2 well educated adults should be able to do a relatively good job with a 4th class student with some good resources and a bit of organisation.

The NCCA have the curriculum on line. It will give you the key skills a child would / should cover at each level. It would be very handy across the board but in particular for maths. As a parent it will give you the key skills and learning objectives which will make it easier to follow the school books. You will be able to mix and match resources to keep things interesting rather than doing page after page in a schoolbook. Best of luck if you do decide to keep your child at home.

iamwhoiam · 15-08-2020 12:44PM

am_zarathustra wrote: »

I'd agree from my own observation, they tend to be more trusting of medical advice too, not tricked by the Facebook conspiracies. My own parent is in a nursing home and had covid, they lost nearly 20% of the patients. But the balance your talking about is so important, if the patients can't see their families would they be willing to accept risk? But then there is a real risk to the nurses/care assistants etc. I know in my own parents case they would absolutely take the risk to be able to see us every day as before, but with viral loads etc that isn't just a risk we are taking

I don't envy older people, it's such a hard line to walk, with so many variables. I'd certainly be of your mindset, if I can't get out and see people what's the point, but, I think like most older people, I wouldn't want to be putting anyone else at risk

We are on the borderline and no underlying conditions and willing to take the risk so we can see our family . Without that we couldn’t really see life being worth it . We are cautious , careful and only go to shops when quiet . We walk on empty beaches and parks , but we will take the risk and see the kids because they are our lives to be honest .

Blondini · 15-08-2020 12:50PM

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

Seriously?

The flu killed 50,000 people in the UK in 2018.

Life very much continued.

Absolute fear and hysteria.

This is a good thread for parents and school staff etc and it had been going so well recently.

Until now.

The main thread is lovely this time of year I heard?

isup · 15-08-2020 12:55PM

iamwhoiam wrote: »

We are on the borderline and no underlying conditions and willing to take the risk so we can see our family . Without that we couldn’t really see life being worth it . We are cautious , careful and only go to shops when quiet . We walk on empty beaches and parks , but we will take the risk and see the kids because they are our lives to be honest .

It's a very awkward place to be in. We won't be seeing the kids grandparents after the schools go back. The kids didn't take to the video calls and meeting outdoors and not getting close was confusing to them but at least they got to see them. My mother would try get close to them but I had to tell her to get as close to them as you would a stranger on the street.

gabeeg · 15-08-2020 01:00PM

Blondini wrote: »

This is a good thread for parents and school staff etc and it had been going so well recently.

Until now.

The main thread is lovely this time of year I heard?

And full of like-minded people. All charming.

(There flu didn't kill 50,000 in the UK)

jimmytwotimes 2013 · 15-08-2020 01:01PM

KerryConnor wrote: »

TUI advising use of visors over masks in secondary sch.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.independent.ie/irish-news/education/teachers-demand-visors-are-used-to-stay-safe-in-class-39432487.html

I thought visors were far less useful in preventing spread? I hope my kids secondary sch keep to masks. My 2 sons are happy to wear them

TUI wud want to f off

mirrorwall14 · 15-08-2020 01:05PM

I messaged a complaint on that. Its made my life painful. Visors are compulsory for all our staff now and we can tell management if we want to wear a mask too. Which I obviously do since visors are next to useless. So now I’ll have to wear mask, microphone for volume AND visor. Annoying as feck

Sunday Sunday · 15-08-2020 01:41PM

KerryConnor wrote: »

TUI advising use of visors over masks in secondary sch.

I thought visors were far less useful in preventing spread? I hope my kids secondary sch keep to masks. My 2 sons are happy to wear them

I can't see anything in the link but happy if visors will be an option too. Not hearing anything from school with 2 weeks to go is nerve-wracking.

Bobtheman · 15-08-2020 01:55PM

lulublue22 wrote: »

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.

I hope you didn't think I was proposing that supports should be withdrawn. Extra staff should be provided. Special needs allocation is all over the place.
I have contacted my TD on this issue. I would suggest contacting national parents council too.
Until we have a United left in this country you will continue to get **** public services. That's the bottom line

lulublue22 · 15-08-2020 02:55PM

Bobtheman wrote: »

I hope you didn't think I was proposing that supports should be withdrawn. Extra staff should be provided. Special needs allocation is all over the place.
I have contacted my TD on this issue. I would suggest contacting national parents council too.
Until we have a United left in this country you will continue to get **** public services. That's the bottom line

TBH I’m just frustrated. I thought the gov stance of allowing SET to sub for class teachers was extremely poor form in an already pie in the sky airy fairy sure it’ll be grand back to school plan. However it is clear from the guidelines that at no point did the dep sanction the reallocation of SET to reduce class size. The fact that schools on the ground thought that this was a viable solution knowing how much SEN children depend on support is disgraceful. If the school in question believes that this is the best use of their SET team then that calls into question their allocation. Resources are finite their SET allocation would be far more valuable elsewhere. In my opinion any school who misuses SET in such a way should have their allocation adjusted accordingly as it’s clear they don’t need them.
At the end of the day we need to bear in mind that it’s children who struggle as is who are most affected by these decisions.
I’ve made my opinions obvious on both versions of this thread so I’m going to leave it there as I’m winding myself up at this stage.

Blondini · 15-08-2020 06:31PM

200 cases today. Full reopening of schools in two weeks, which for the most part will not be able to cater for or enforce SD.

I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

wirelessdude01 · 15-08-2020 06:34PM

Community transmission gone up which is the key metric to be looking at.

mirrorwall14 · 15-08-2020 07:00PM

Ah balls. What’s the odds they’ll postpone the opening in some counties? Starting the school year online at this short a notice would be absolutely ****e for schools and staff in those areas

teachinggal123 · 15-08-2020 07:11PM

Blondini wrote: »

200 cases today. Full reopening of schools in two weeks, which for the most part will not be able to cater for or enforce SD.

I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

Particularly in the LOK counties and Dublin.

I’m worried.

wirelessdude01 · 15-08-2020 07:29PM

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Ah balls. What’s the odds they’ll postpone the opening in some counties? Starting the school year online at this short a notice would be absolutely ****e for schools and staff in those areas

Distinct possibility I would imagine but it will be left as late as possible so that the Govt/department don't have to deal with the backlash from the public.

combat14 · 15-08-2020 08:14PM

From the Gaurdian UK .. hard to believe we seem to be going back to May levels of infection not forward just right before a million students go back to college/schools

"Ireland reports highest daily rise in infections since May
Ireland reported 200 new Covid-19 cases arising from multiple clusters across the country on Saturday, the highest daily amount since the beginning of May. The country’s chief medical officer described this as “deeply concerning”.

Ireland has reopened its economy at a slower pace than most European Union countries but that did not stop a rise in cases over the last two weeks that led to the first localised reimposition of some restrictions last week.

“We now have multiple clusters with secondary spread of disease and rising numbers of cases in many parts of the country. This is deeply concerning. NPHET [Ireland’s public health team] will monitor this extremely closely over the coming days,” Ronan Glynn said in a statement.

Bobtheman · 15-08-2020 09:19PM

God help us all. Quite a joke that flights from the USA are still coming in. Joint approach needed North and south .

MickeyLeari · 15-08-2020 09:42PM

Bobtheman wrote: »

God help us all. Quite a joke that flights from the USA are still coming in. Joint approach needed North and south .

Except the increases are not related to flights from anywhere. They are coming from clusters in meat processors (plus other workplaces), from travellers, from Roma and in direct provision.

delly · 15-08-2020 10:10PM

I know it doesn't help to say it again, but for my own sanity why the DOE did not implement a remote or blended learning plan 3 months ago is negligence of the highest regard. Look at the people using masks in retail outlets now after so many months of delay. The whole mindset is one of keeping the foot on the gas as you head towards a red light, on the assumption it'll be green by the time you get there. Unfortunately your calculations are way off and end up jamming on causing chaos.

JP Liz V1 · 15-08-2020 11:40PM

Blondini wrote: »

200 cases today. Full reopening of schools in two weeks, which for the most part will not be able to cater for or enforce SD.

I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

Masks?

sideswipe · 15-08-2020 11:56PM

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Masks?

Is there anything to be said for another mask?

Geuze · 16-08-2020 12:05AM

MickeyLeari wrote: »

Except the increases are not related to flights from anywhere. They are coming from clusters in meat processors (plus other workplaces), from travellers, from Roma and in direct provision.

Where is this level of detail being published?

Leftwaffe · 16-08-2020 12:08AM

delly wrote: »

I know it doesn't help to say it again, but for my own sanity why the DOE did not implement a remote or blended learning plan 3 months ago is negligence of the highest regard. Look at the people using masks in retail outlets now after so many months of delay. The whole mindset is one of keeping the foot on the gas as you head towards a red light, on the assumption it'll be green by the time you get there. Unfortunately your calculations are way off and end up jamming on causing chaos.

If it wasn't so serious it would actually be funny. Heading straight for disaster. Just hope we get four or five weeks out of it, might make the transition to online a bit easier.

JTMan · 16-08-2020 09:21AM

This is a very meaningful report. 91 test positive for coronavirus in Shimane high school cluster.

School children in many countries around the world are now at risk of infection. Our country is no exception.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/08/11/national/science-health/shimane-coronavirus-school-cluster/

combat14 · 16-08-2020 10:38AM

JTMan wrote: »

This is a very meaningful report. 91 test positive for coronavirus in Shimane high school cluster.

School children in many countries around the world are now at risk of infection. Our country is no exception.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/08/11/national/science-health/shimane-coronavirus-school-cluster/

with a 1000 cases of covid confirmed here in the last 2 weeks (RTE main news story today) the situation would want to improve before putting a million students back in close proximity to each other

lulublue22 · 16-08-2020 10:51AM

delly wrote: »

I know it doesn't help to say it again, but for my own sanity why the DOE did not implement a remote or blended learning plan 3 months ago is negligence of the highest regard. Look at the people using masks in retail outlets now after so many months of delay. The whole mindset is one of keeping the foot on the gas as you head towards a red light, on the assumption it'll be green by the time you get there. Unfortunately your calculations are way off and end up jamming on causing chaos.

I agree with you re the need for an online learning plan. I think however that the gov are adamant to open schools and I think given what both Leo and Acting CMO have said in relation to expecting cases in schools that they will focus on temporary local school closures with deep cleans and reopen again ala the meat plants as a plan of action. Of course it remains to be seen how practical / effective that will be.

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

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