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

Murple · 01-02-2021 06:47PM

Coneygree wrote: »

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!

“Detailed” information will be issued to schools tomorrow apparently. It must be killing the department that they have to do it on a Tuesday rather than the usual Friday after close of business.

hesaidshesaid · 01-02-2021 06:47PM

Press release says mainstream SET not back on 22nd as yet, but that discussions continue. This is likely due to the fact that there are so many variations of SET support in mainstream.

interesting take on July provision being offered but it can't take place during school hours.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/6f91d-ministers-foley-and-madigan-welcome-agreed-plan-for-return-to-in-school-learning-for-children-with-special-educational-needs-at-primary-level/

C__MC · 01-02-2021 06:48PM

Hope LC and JC can return on 22nd
Online teaching is getting a bit tedious from both ends

selectamatic · 01-02-2021 06:53PM

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.

How is an early return date indicative of being better at planning? Such nonsense to be spouting for literally the absolute sake of giving out.

In my school we went back on the absolute last day in September possible because we wanted the most time for preparation we could get. To try and have everything as perfect as we could.

And by god did we need it after being d1cked about by one of the government recommended ppe suppliers: Reach or whatever their full title is.

They left countless of smaller rural schools in the lurch because they realised with a couple of days to go before opening that they were unable to supply all the ppe they took orders for. Rakes of us had to scramble for local suppliers which we were initially discouraged from using.

As per usual the ones with the strongest opinions on how things should be done or what such actions are indicative of; are the ones that haven't a notion of the realities of what they pontificate about.

French Toast · 01-02-2021 06:58PM

zeebre12 wrote: »

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

I've a friend teaching in a mainstream school which has special education classes. As far as she is aware, the SE classes are not returning any earlier than the other classes.

French Toast · 01-02-2021 06:58PM

Edit - double post.

Locotastic · 01-02-2021 07:00PM

zeebre12 wrote: »

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

Probably go back same time as all primary, looking at the 11 day gaps that would likely be Monday 8th of March.

Unless they just bring all primary back earlier together following the planned midterm.

Plan has been backed by Forsa which is good news.

Maybe as late as 22nd March for secondary?

Ray Donovan · 01-02-2021 07:08PM

selectamatic wrote: »

How is an early return date indicative of being better at planning? Such nonsense to be spouting for literally the absolute sake of giving out.

In my school we went back on the absolute last day in September possible because we wanted the most time for preparation we could get. To try and have everything as perfect as we could.

And by god did we need it after being d1cked about by one of the government recommended ppe suppliers: Reach or whatever their full title is.

They left countless of smaller rural schools in the lurch because they realised with a couple of days to go before opening that they were unable to supply all the ppe they took orders for. Rakes of us had to scramble for local suppliers which we were initially discouraged from using.

As per usual the ones with the strongest opinions on how things should be done or what such actions are indicative of; are the ones that haven't a notion of the realities of what they pontificate about.

Couldn’t agree more. That was a ludicrous comment by Lillyfae.

Murple · 01-02-2021 07:21PM

hesaidshesaid wrote: »

Press release says mainstream SET not back on 22nd as yet, but that discussions continue. This is likely due to the fact that there are so many variations of SET support in mainstream.

interesting take on July provision being offered but it can't take place during school hours.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/6f91d-ministers-foley-and-madigan-welcome-agreed-plan-for-return-to-in-school-learning-for-children-with-special-educational-needs-at-primary-level/

I wish Minister Foley could get tips on how she expresses herself. The announcement today could have been made with positivity but she always has to get a dig in about something being ‘regrettable’.

01-02-2021 07:25PM

Foley coming up on RTE news

I'm going for 4 times she says "schools are safe places"

wirelessdude01 · 01-02-2021 07:27PM

Murple wrote: »

I wish Minister Foley could get tips on how she expresses herself. The announcement today could have been made with positivity but she always has to get a dig in about something being ‘regrettable’.

I'd imagine she is still smarting from her previous attempts. There will be bite back from her yet.

appledrop · 01-02-2021 07:32PM

TheTorment wrote: »

Foley coming up on RTE news

I'm going for 4 times she says "schools are safe places"

If she says schools are safe they better challenge her with increase in positive cases in creches from 5% to 10% but sure of course they won't!

01-02-2021 07:32PM

God she is brutal

Loads of talking but saying nothing.

irishlad. · 01-02-2021 07:35PM

You have to hand it to Norma, she doesn't budge an inch.

TheValeyard · 01-02-2021 07:44PM

irishlad. wrote: »

You have to hand it to Norma, she doesn't budge an inch.

The Pearls wont let her

Birdy · 01-02-2021 07:45PM

Birdy wrote: »

Primary need to all go back at once or they will be mixing pods.

Most schools are off for the mid-term 15th - 19th. I doubt any will be back next week. That leaves 2 weeks in February to play with. Then, there's 2 weeks before St. Patrick's Day. Easter holidays start on 26th March. Schools reopen 12th April.

Ideally there would be 2 weeks between each phase.

Possible outcome:
Special schools: 7th February
Primary schools: 22nd February
Leaving Certs: 8th March
All secondary school students: 22nd March (for one week )

I'm not far off. Maybe switch primary and Leaving Certs?

Loafing Oaf · 01-02-2021 07:47PM

zeebre12 wrote: »

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

My brother does learning support at a mainstream primary school. He seems pretty sure he is due back on February 22.

khalessi · 01-02-2021 07:49PM

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

My brother does learning support at a mainstream primary school. He seems pretty sure he is due back on February 22.

Well SET mainstream here and what has been suggested is July like provision until the whole school goes back which is voluntary 20 hours per week.

iamwhoiam · 01-02-2021 07:52PM

TheTorment wrote: »

God she is brutal

Loads of talking but saying nothing.

Watching Norma today was like watching a comedian do a pisstake on a generic politician !!!

khalessi · 01-02-2021 07:56PM

https://twitter.com/josephamadigan/status/1356311853010481152

Responder XY · 01-02-2021 07:57PM

Disapointing news. 11th and 22nd are too far away. All schools should open ASAP. Farcicial situation that unions have created. They'll never be forgiven by anyone I know.

Loafing Oaf · 01-02-2021 08:01PM

Responder XY wrote: »

Disapointing news. 11th and 22nd are too far away. All schools should open ASAP. Farcicial situation that unions have created. They'll never be forgiven by anyone I know.

You think it would have been feasible for the government to announce today that special education was resuming tomorrow morning?

khalessi · 01-02-2021 08:10PM

Responder XY wrote: »

Disapointing news. 11th and 22nd are too far away. All schools should open ASAP. Farcicial situation that unions have created. They'll never be forgiven by anyone I know.

Most people saw through the farce of the government trying to pit the Unions against the children.

Be interesting to see now that Norma has declared herself for children with AEN will she be putting her money where her mouth is and investing in proper resources, timely assessments, proper SNA allocations, proper buildings that are structurally sound. I doubt it as the government have never show one ounce of interest in children with AEN until they thought it would be advantageous politically.

downthemiddle · 01-02-2021 08:10PM

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

My brother does learning support at a mainstream primary school. He seems pretty sure he is due back on February 22.

Children in outreach/special classes in mainstream schools return on Feb 22nd. No agreement has been reached on the return of children with SEN in mainstream classes yet.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/6f91d-ministers-foley-and-madigan-welcome-agreed-plan-for-return-to-in-school-learning-for-children-with-special-educational-needs-at-primary-level/

hesaidshesaid · 01-02-2021 08:11PM

Are we to assume that midterm is still happening in special schools? No mention of it but it's a thorny issue. Schools have some leeway with dates around midterm ie. they can decide to take a week in Feb or May. This is pre-arranged 12 months in advance.

Let's not go down the road of circulars and exceptional circumstances, for all our sakes. We all know these are exceptional circumstances but DES trumps individual schools as we have seen on many occasions during this crisis.

I'm just wondering if parents are clear that some special schools will be open for just 2 days before closing for midterm on Fri 12th. Others will be open until the following Wednesday I think, but it's messy. And not really ideal for kids with additional needs.

Being back in school is better than nothing, but those 2 days seem like a bit of a political move. 'We began our phased return on Feb 11th with those children with the greatest need...etc etc.' Does this really serve those with the greatest need?

khalessi · 01-02-2021 08:15PM

hesaidshesaid wrote: »

Being back in school is better than nothing, but those 2 days seem like a bit of a political move. 'We began our phased return on Feb 11th with those children with the greatest need...etc etc.' Does this really serve those with the greatest need?

Depends on whose needs you refer to, the children or the government who are trying to cover their asses.

BonsaiKitten · 01-02-2021 08:16PM

khalessi wrote: »

Most people saw through the farce of the government trying to pit the Unions against the children.

Be interesting to see now that Norma has declared herself for children with AEN will she be putting her money where her mouth is and investing in proper resources, timely assessments, proper SNA allocations, proper buildings that are structurally sound. I doubt it as the government have never show one ounce of interest in children with AEN until they thought it would be advantageous politically.

She handed the opposition a great stick to beat her with over that one. Now that she's declared herself as for children with AEN, it's carte blanche to hound her about their local schools lack of SNAs/poor Ed Psych availability/class sizes/prefabs.

I hope they give her a good thumping with said stick now and again...

hesaidshesaid · 01-02-2021 08:19PM

khalessi wrote: »

Depends on whose needs you refer to, the children or the government who are trying to cover their asses.

I think this particular move shows very clearly that the children are not at the centre of the government's response. It's almost unbelievable that they could imagine that this kind of 'in again out again' won't be even more disruptive for kids who thrive on routine.

TheValeyard · 01-02-2021 08:24PM

Responder XY wrote: »

They'll never be forgiven by anyone I know.

All two people? Ah well.

Slow return with new variants in the mix is the right course of action.

Sammy2012 · 01-02-2021 08:31PM

Just listening to Norma's interview now. She's learning no dates on the rest of the return. Not backing herself into a corner this time.

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