Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01

downthemiddle · 20-01-2021 01:06AM

The Wordress wrote: »

One good thing that might come from this is that people are talking about Special Education and the needs of SEN children and the supports that their parents need from an early age.

I am very lucky that I have access to an amazing Early Intervention Team in my county.

However, I know of an OT who works as part of an EIT who had to stop answering the phone to parents who were looking for a psychological assessment for their child.

The waiting list is 4 years!

Maybe this government will address this and what investment needs to put into these services.

I know of a child in the care of Tusla. They have had an unimaginable beginning to their life. The child has complex needs. School after school rejected the application to enrol the child, including the school where other members of their household attended. The school that welcomed him applied for additional resources. The NCSE lost the application and then claimed the school never made an application. Four months after the application was made the NCSE rejected it.
This is how we treat the most vulnerable members of our society.

Bananaleaf · 20-01-2021 01:06AM

Van.Bosch wrote: »

The SEN debacle is only really the start - what’s going to happen with opening the whole school system on Feb 1st or whatever date is decided.

Is there an anticipated level of cases where teachers would feel safe returning?

I would say that having an incidence rate that is not in and around the worst in the world would be a start

am_zarathustra · 20-01-2021 01:07AM

Ah I felt reasonably safe before Christmas. The lack of contact tracing would be very concerning to me. If that had not been in place for our first couple of months especially I could pinpoint where we had a couple of cases and it would have certainly spread. Kids are crap at distancing. They just forget. But on your question, with contact tracing up and running again fully and number even below 1000 I'd go back for my LCs, I think the hospitals will need the numbers lower for icu beds for the whole school to return. If we are somewhere reasonable at midterm, contact tracing back and then strict guidelines in places at Easter we might be ok. It's so hard to know with the new strains though

Van.Bosch · 20-01-2021 01:07AM

Bananaleaf wrote: »

I would say that not being in and around the worst in the world would be a start

Of course - but when do we decide to go back? Is it when they are at the levels of December?

political analyst · 20-01-2021 01:08AM

If many special schools in Northern Ireland are providing in-person teaching, why won't the unions in the Republic agree to that?

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/government-abandons-plans-for-partial-re-opening-of-schools-on-thursday-after-union-opposition-39988211.html

Van.Bosch · 20-01-2021 01:09AM

am_zarathustra wrote: »

Ah I felt reasonably safe before Christmas. The lack of contact tracing would be very concerning to me. If that had not been in place for our first couple of months especially I could pinpoint where we had a couple of cases and it would have certainly spread. Kids are crap at distancing. They just forget. But on your question, with contact tracing up and running again fully and number even below 1000 I'd go back for my LCs, I think the hospitals will need the numbers lower for icu beds for the whole school to return. If we are somewhere reasonable at midterm, contact tracing back and then strict guidelines in places at Easter we might be ok. It's so hard to know with the new strains though

Makes sense - if teachers felt safe before Christmas, hopefully we can get back to that ASAP.

markodaly · 20-01-2021 01:11AM

KrustyUCC wrote: »

Disappointing but predictable

Some sort of structured remote learning lol

Unions having a laugh

Just not doable for many many kids with special needs

So much for protecting the most vulnerable in society this time around

Come on, Unions are in it for themselves, always will be the case.

https://twitter.com/McConnellDaniel/status/1351634347913334790

am_zarathustra · 20-01-2021 01:11AM

Van.Bosch wrote: »

Makes sense - if teachers felt safe before Christmas, hopefully we can get back to that ASAP.

I hope so. I'm wreaked and I miss the kids! The lack of contact tracing is the real sticking point for anyone I talk to, kids are so likely to be asymptomatic but able to spread

BonsaiKitten · 20-01-2021 01:16AM

am_zarathustra wrote: »

I hope so. I'm wreaked and I miss the kids! The lack of contact tracing is the real sticking point for anyone I talk to, kids are so likely to be asymptomatic but able to spread

My crew were moping to me on Zoom earlier. They're so sad without school. They miss the routine, they miss their friends, they miss 'hugging people' (which is why we shouldn't be in - but I digress).

We do a lot of Zoom and I do my best to make Zoom fun. We do silly games, we have chat times, we've seen every pet in Dublin. They're happy it's there, but it's not the same and my heart breaks for my class. I'm sure every teachers heart does.

It's not a fun situation for anyone but we have to get contact tracing back and cases somewhat under control before we reopen.

BonsaiKitten · 20-01-2021 01:18AM

The Wordress wrote: »

Very sad!

I had SENO out to my classroom in October as a matter of emergency. Like I am talking about a serious SOS situation about challenging behaviour and the safey of my pupils and staff was serverely compromised.

The principal and I spent hours doing up the necessary paperwork and had all our ducks in a row ready for SENO.

SENO comes into my classroom and observes the behaviour and said as a matter of urgency, we needed another adult in the room.

We did not get that in place until just before Lockdown!

Reminds me of those Ed Psych reports that come in, recommending a child have access to an SNA all day. Parent comes in armed with their piece of paper, looking for the SNA their child is entitled to...and is there one for them? Is there feck.

DES talks the talk but won't walk the walk.

Murple · 20-01-2021 01:18AM

The Wordress wrote: »

Very sad!

I had SENO out to my classroom in October as a matter of emergency. Like I am talking about a serious SOS situation about challenging behaviour and the safey of my pupils and staff was severely compromised.

The principal and I spent hours doing up the necessary paperwork and had all our ducks in a row ready for SENO.

SENO comes into my classroom and observes the behaviour and said as a matter of urgency, we needed another adult in the room.

We did not get that in place until just before Lockdown!

At least you have a SENO. That’s one step ahead of us.

downthemiddle · 20-01-2021 01:20AM

markodaly wrote: »

Come on, Unions are in it for themselves, always will be the case.

https://twitter.com/McConnellDaniel/status/1351634347913334790

Marko, bud, long time no see. Good to see you are still alive and kicking. We were getting worried about you.
Does this post mean you are mellowing in your old age? It is not like you to show such restraint.

wirelessdude01 · 20-01-2021 01:20AM

markodaly wrote: »

Come on, Unions are in it for themselves, always will be the case.

https://twitter.com/McConnellDaniel/status/1351634347913334790

Would ya look at what the cat dragged back in. Marko me aul buddy. Like getting the band back together.

Louis Friend · 20-01-2021 01:21AM

Here’s an idea...

There are around 50,000 teachers in Ireland.

Why don’t we push them to the front of the queue for vaccination?

It’s vital for the economy and for children’s wellbeing that we get the schools reopened ASAP.

The aim is to vaccinate 100,000 people per week once the AstraZeneca vaccine comes on stream in mid-February; we could cover the teachers in 3-4 days.

Why not?

History Queen · 20-01-2021 01:23AM

Louis Friend wrote: »

Here’s an idea...

There are around 50,000 teachers in Ireland.

Why don’t we push them to the front of the queue for vaccination?

It’s vital for the economy and for children’s wellbeing that we get the schools reopened ASAP.

The aim is to vaccinate 100,000 people per week once the AstraZeneca vaccine comes on stream in mid-February; we could cover the teachers in 3-4 days.

Why not?

Ask Norma

KatW4 · 20-01-2021 01:24AM

The Wordress wrote:

SENO comes into my classroom and observes the behaviour and said as a matter of urgency, we needed another adult in the room.

Our SENO does not step foot in the classroom. I haven't met him in 3 years even when we desperately needed extra adult support in the class. We didn't get it, instead, our SNA allocation was cut.

I feel awful about this whole situation. I was ready to go back into school on Thursday with my class even though I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen, who was coming in, what support I would have etc... Now, us SEN teachers and SNA's are being called all sorts and the rage people have against us is frightening.

This has been an absolutely disgusting shambles. I just hope the children that I teach and their parents know how much I care about them and how desperate I am to get back into the classroom with them. Every day I do my best to keep them safe and happy, as do all teachers, especially during the pandemic. I wish people understood that.

wirelessdude01 · 20-01-2021 01:24AM

BonsaiKitten wrote: »

My crew were moping to me on Zoom earlier. They're so sad without school. They miss the routine, they miss their friends, they miss 'hugging people' (which is why we shouldn't be in - but I digress).

We do a lot of Zoom and I do my best to make Zoom fun. We do silly games, we have chat times, we've seen every pet in Dublin. They're happy it's there, but it's not the same and my heart breaks for my class. I'm sure every teachers heart does.

It's not a fun situation for anyone but we have to get contact tracing back and cases somewhat under control before we reopen.

Test and trace in the community needs to be fully back up and operational. That for me is the red line along with case numbers. Community = schools. They aren't separate entities. They are interconnected. You cannot and should not even attempt to talk about covid and schools without realising this.

Louis Friend · 20-01-2021 01:25AM

History Queen wrote: »

Ask Norma

It’d be a Government/Stephen Donnelly/HSE/Vaccine Taskforce call.

But why not?

wirelessdude01 · 20-01-2021 01:26AM

Louis Friend wrote: »

Here’s an idea...

There are around 50,000 teachers in Ireland.

Why don’t we push them to the front of the queue for vaccination?

It’s vital for the economy and for children’s wellbeing that we get the schools reopened ASAP.

The aim is to vaccinate 100,000 people per week once the AstraZeneca vaccine comes on stream in mid-February; we could cover the teachers in 3-4 days.

Why not?

Norma told the daily today that this will not be happening.

History Queen · 20-01-2021 01:26AM

political analyst wrote: »

If many special schools in Northern Ireland are providing in-person teaching, why won't the unions in the Republic agree to that?

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/government-abandons-plans-for-partial-re-opening-of-schools-on-thursday-after-union-opposition-39988211.html

I would imagine precisely because of the issues they are having with the Special Schools in the North.

https://neu.org.uk/concerns-about-re-opening-special-schools

E36Ross · 20-01-2021 01:26AM

Louis Friend wrote: »

Here’s an idea...

There are around 50,000 teachers in Ireland.

Why don’t we push them to the front of the queue for vaccination?

It’s vital for the economy and for children’s wellbeing that we get the schools reopened ASAP.

Only teachers though?

What about SNA's or the bus drivers and bus escorts that bring the kids to school and other school staff?

Louis Friend · 20-01-2021 01:28AM

E36Ross wrote: »

Only teachers though?

What about SNA's or the bus drivers and bus escorts that bring the kids to school and other school staff?

All of them.

They’re a vital part of society and the economy.

History Queen · 20-01-2021 01:29AM

Louis Friend wrote: »

It’d be a Government/Stephen Donnelly/HSE/Vaccine Taskforce call.

But why not?

Norma ruled it out in the Dáil today, that's why you need to ask her.

hopgirl · 20-01-2021 01:45AM

Bananaleaf wrote: »

Not directed at you polital analyst, but what wrecks my head when I hear this is that clearly the little bit of withdrawal or 1-2-1 that these children get in school is ALL they are getting full stop. To me that is absolutely shocking and hard to believe. To me that is the bigger scandal. Where are all the other supports for these children? There are many much less deserving taking far far more from the public purse. Why have they not had more supports than what they were given in school? Makes me mad

Cutbacks 😡 my child is meant to get speech and language in blocks. Unfortunately, there is only one speech and language therapist covering a massive area one day a week. She

History Queen · 20-01-2021 01:49AM

I'm almost tempted to tune in....almost...

https://twitter.com/NTBreakfast/status/1351660625466961922?s=19

wirelessdude01 · 20-01-2021 01:50AM

History Queen wrote: »

I'm almost tempted to tune in....almost...

https://twitter.com/NTBreakfast/status/1351660625466961922?s=19

Ohh Norma and Ciara having a conversation about teachers. Pass.

History Queen · 20-01-2021 01:54AM

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Ohh Norma and Ciara having a conversation about teachers. Pass.

Conversation? I'm expecting a full on bitching session.

hesaidshesaid · 20-01-2021 01:58AM

History Queen wrote: »

I'm almost tempted to tune in....almost...

https://twitter.com/NTBreakfast/status/1351660625466961922?s=19

For the sake of my mental health I'll be giving this a wide berth.

markodaly · 20-01-2021 02:08AM

am_zarathustra wrote: »

Our shambolic investment in special care needs of students is absolutely at the heart of this. In other jurisdictions far more money is allowed per capita so they have things like hot running water, and buildings that aren't prefabs. If we had a suffociant staff to student ratio in special centres this would also be far easier. We spend below the OECD average on eduction.......per capita we are the 4th richest country in the world.

I hope all the people on their soap boxes remember this when unions and teachers are trying to get extra resources, or more that 2 psychological reports per year for a school, or when they are asking to decrease staff student ratio or for respite care time to be increase or for proper changing areas for when SNAs and teachers are performing personal care.

Remember how angry you are about special needs provision in the next elections and ask TDs at the door to address these issues instead of shouting at teachers who've been pointing these issues out for years

I agree with you on this, but we do spend a lot on education per say but most of it goes to wages and pensions. We have some of the highest teacher salaries in the OECD working in prefabs with no ICT.... do the math.

Teachers vote, ipads and laptops do not... the Irish solution to every problem.

The Wordress · 20-01-2021 02:17AM

markodaly wrote: »

I agree with you on this, but we do spend a lot on education per say but most of it goes to wages and pensions. We have some of the highest teacher salaries in the OECD working in prefabs with no ICT.... do the math.

Teachers vote, ipads and laptops do not... the Irish solution to every problem.

It's the teachers fault for being paid and to expect to get a pension that they are paying into!? Hell, I don't even think I will get a pension by the time I even reach retirement.

More like, the Irish government are famous for wasting tax payers money.

Example- the Hole in the Ground that is the Children's Hospital. 1 billion+ spent so far and it's not even built yet. Of course it is needed but are they building it with gold bar blocks!?

Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) **Mod warning in OP 22/01**

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Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) Mod warning in OP 22/01