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

mloc123 · 01-02-2021 03:23PM

BonsaiKitten wrote: »

So...if they announced tonight, 9 days? I don't know. I think they do need some of their breaks tbh, kids can get very tired towards the end of the term. I see that with my crew a lot atm on Zoom, they'll need the midterm in two weeks.

Maybe finish at the end of this week and come back a week early from midterm. But that's as much as I'd change personally.

I think the point is... why not have midterm now, while schools (buildings) are closed.. and let them have a break. Then start again when the buildings open with a clear run for a few weeks

wirelessdude01 · 01-02-2021 03:26PM

mloc123 wrote: »

I think the point is... why not have midterm now, while schools (buildings) are closed.. and let them have a break. Then start again when the buildings open with a clear run for a few weeks

Contact your local politicians and put forward your suggestion.

BonsaiKitten · 01-02-2021 03:50PM

mloc123 wrote: »

I think the point is... why not have midterm now, while schools (buildings) are closed.. and let them have a break. Then start again when the buildings open with a clear run for a few weeks

I've no issue with pushing forward midterm a week or whatever but this notion of "just close now and do away with Easter/midterm etc" doesn't work with the realities of a school. The terms do need to be broken up, it's better for overall focus and attainment.

Murple · 01-02-2021 04:45PM

billy_beckham wrote: »

The opportunity for learning was lost.

If they can agree a return with the unions all the holidays should be looked at, Mid-Term, Easter and in my daughters school the week off in June.

In my school, we started back on the 26th of August to give us days later in the year to allow for a week at midterm and an extra day at one of the bank holidays. Other schools waited until the 1st of September to start back so they don’t necessarily have the scope for a week at midterm or other extra days. Why should one school lose out on days they planned for and covered by opening early? We got a head start on the year’s work in August.

khalessi · 01-02-2021 04:48PM

Deeec wrote: »

I think the holidays are well deserved this year. I wouldnt like to see them cut.
I think the time could be clawed back by scrapping unnecessary activities in school for a few weeks. I can only speak for primary - In my kids school every week in May-June they have a theme - pottery, tennis, rugby etc where the kids spend a few hours per week doing an activity relating to the theme. I would like to see this scrapped as being honest the kids get very little out of it.

You might think the children are not getting something out of it, but they are getting the chance to be creative without pressure, work in teams, learn a new sport and maybe develop a talent.

Then the children who are not academically minded get a chance to shine and giving the children chance to explore new skills, improve fitness and work on mental wellbeing.

They all get something out of it even if it is just developing social skills.

Lillyfae · 01-02-2021 04:53PM

Murple wrote: »

In my school, we started back on the 26th of August to give us days later in the year to allow for a week at midterm and an extra day at one of the bank holidays. Other schools waited until the 1st of September to start back so they don’t necessarily have the scope for a week at midterm or other extra days. Why should one school lose out on days they planned for and covered by opening early? We got a head start on the year’s work in August.

Honestly, as it seems with everything, some schools are better at planning than others. It's not right, and it's not fair, especially when there's no tangible benefit to doing things well.

Crocodile Booze · 01-02-2021 04:59PM

mloc123 wrote: »

I think the point is... why not have midterm now, while schools (buildings) are closed.. and let them have a break. Then start again when the buildings open with a clear run for a few weeks

I'd imagine managing a school is not quite as simplistic as that.

Chopper Dave · 01-02-2021 05:06PM

If - and it's still an If - they can get schools open towards the end of March, then the Primary Schools will get a decent run of class time as they stay open until the end of June.

It's different for Secondary schools though. For the non-exam students they'll finish at the end of May so with Easter holidays in the mix, they won't get much more than 5/6 weeks before breaking for three months. I think if they are thinking of doing something with the school calendar, then this is the group I'd look at.

khalessi · 01-02-2021 05:07PM

mloc123 wrote: »

I think the point is... why not have midterm now, while schools (buildings) are closed.. and let them have a break. Then start again when the buildings open with a clear run for a few weeks

I think they will be doing that, just it will be the week of 15th February.
They can't have it now as case numbers are still too high and they have just started testing close contacts again properly.

Also lead in time will be needed to source proper PPE and organise the school building regarding enhanced safety measures. It will be a disgrace if they think reopening schools with a face covering is enough considering what is being learnt about UK strain and African strain. I have been trying to get suitable masks and everywhere I look they are out of stock.

wirelessdude01 · 01-02-2021 05:07PM

Chopper Dave wrote: »

If - and it's still an If - they can get schools open towards the end of March.

You are forgetting Easter.

billy_beckham · 01-02-2021 05:11PM

Crocodile Booze wrote: »

I'd imagine managing a school is not quite as simplistic as that.

Given that we're in a pandemic and normality has been turned on its head we need creative solutions and flexibility from all the participants.

Stateofyou · 01-02-2021 05:54PM

khalessi wrote: »

I think they will be doing that, just it will be the week of 15th February.
They can't have it now as case numbers are still too high and they have just started testing close contacts again properly.

Also lead in time will be needed to source proper PPE and organise the school building regarding enhanced safety measures. It will be a disgrace if they think reopening schools with a face covering is enough considering what is being learnt about UK strain and African strain. I have been trying to get suitable masks and everywhere I look they are out of stock.

More robust ppe should be supplied, but I'm sure it wont be. Despite things like this actually being in the health and safety legislation.

Is this the kind of mask you're looking for?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/OptiPro-Particulate-Respirator-KN95-FFP2/dp/B086LJTJ2V/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YR3K8SFCF6S7&dchild=1&keywords=ffp2+mask&qid=1612198264&sprefix=ff%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-1

iguana · 01-02-2021 05:55PM

Deeec wrote: »

WOW Im giving an example of how time could be clawed back in an EXCEPTIONAL year. Last year I volunteered to help for pottery. The lady spent an hour setting up. Each child got 15 mins of pottery. The rest of the time was spent cleaning up.

My husband volunteered for Rugby which was coached by an tw0 18 year old with no interest whatsoever in the kids who just spoke to each other. We as parents paid for all these activities. Trust me it was a waste of time. Kids can do all this stuff out of school time for this year. This has nothing to do with priests or nuns - dont know what you are referring to here.

If they attempted to cut those things there would be war with parents. For every parent like you who wants their kids pushed to make up academic work, you will have one like me who feels very strongly that kids need holidays and fun more than ever once things are safe. The academic stuff can all be caught up on. The mental health needs of children to relax and have fun when they can is so, so, so much more important.

JP100 · 01-02-2021 06:00PM

Alot of delusion in this thread. The kids will have their holidays this year the same as every other year. Hopefully this year those holidays particularly in July and August can be taken in a much safer way than last summer. The kids need it and so do their families.

the corpo · 01-02-2021 06:16PM

https://twitter.com/emma_okelly/status/1356289977714434049

BonsaiKitten · 01-02-2021 06:24PM

Interesting choice to bring special schools in on the 11th for two days. I wonder how they settled on that date?

JP100 · 01-02-2021 06:25PM

the corpo wrote: »

https://twitter.com/emma_okelly/status/1356289977714434049

Great news.

TheValeyard · 01-02-2021 06:25PM

BonsaiKitten wrote: »

Interesting choice to bring special schools in on the 11th for two days. I wonder how they settled on that date?

PR exercise. It will look good.

Millem · 01-02-2021 06:29PM

BonsaiKitten wrote: »

Interesting choice to bring special schools in on the 11th for two days. I wonder how they settled on that date?

That is bonkers....then the kids are out again for a week? Surely they should move that midterm for them???
Very unsettling for them the students.

BonsaiKitten · 01-02-2021 06:31PM

Millem wrote: »

That is bonkers....then the kids are out again for a week? Surely they should move that midterm for them???
Very unsettling for them the students.

That's why I think it's weird. In two days and then out again, I dunno.

Sanjuro · 01-02-2021 06:34PM

Jesus christ, what about the rest of the f****** schools? Can we not get a goddamn clear answer from these people?

SusanC10 · 01-02-2021 06:35PM

BonsaiKitten wrote: »

That's why I think it's weird. In two days and then out again, I dunno.

I think that if I had a child whose routine would be very disturbed by this 2 days in and then off for a week that I would just keep them at home for those 2 days and then start properly on February 22nd.

But is it 50% of children in each day ?
Week in, week at home ?

hesaidshesaid · 01-02-2021 06:36PM

Do we assume that kids on School Support Plus are back in mainstream on 22nd too? The report only specifies special classes in mainstream.

Parents on this forum please take note that teachers are finding out this information on social media, in all its vagueness, just like you.

Coneygree · 01-02-2021 06:38PM

hesaidshesaid wrote: »

Do we assume that kids on School Support Plus are back in mainstream on 22nd too? The report only specifies special classes in mainstream.

Parents on this forum please take note that teachers are finding out this information on social media, in all its vagueness, just like you.

I think it is just ASD units and other special classes in mainstream schools, rather than individual kids in mainstream classes. But again no clarification there as per usual, so who bloody knows what they mean!

zeebre12 · 01-02-2021 06:38PM

What's happening then with special education children that are in mainstream?

Ray Donovan · 01-02-2021 06:39PM

Lillyfae wrote: »

Honestly, as it seems with everything, some schools are better at planning than others. It's not right, and it's not fair, especially when there's no tangible benefit to doing things well.

So schools who went back on September 1st are bad at planning?

BonsaiKitten · 01-02-2021 06:46PM

Ray Donovan wrote: »

So schools who went back on September 1st are bad at planning?

And fortune telling apparently. Better polish up those crystal balls.

JP100 · 01-02-2021 06:46PM

the corpo wrote: »

https://twitter.com/emma_okelly/status/1356289977714434049

It's amazing what can be done when Foley and Madigan are sidelined! Good chance now all pupils will be back in March especially if this partial reopening goes well.

Sammy2012 · 01-02-2021 06:47PM

According to Andy Pike on Drivetime mainstream special Ed will now go back when the school opens. Assume that will be on the 1st of March.

appledrop · 01-02-2021 06:47PM

mloc123 wrote: »

You are kinda explaining the reason for the high rate... there are fewer kids in creche, the ones that are in creche are the children of frontline/essential workers... who themselves are more exposed to catching the virus and in turn passing it to their kids.

Trust me that's not the case. None of the kids in my child's creche have parents that are actual health care workers.

The list of 'essential workers' is a joke.

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