Will you send your child to summer camp?

shesty · 09-06-2020 6:43pm

I find that the reality is for us that they can announce all the phases they like but until.September is settled and the kids are sorted, the phases don't really mean much.The loosening of restrictions helps a bit, but the reality is we cannot plan past the start of September right now because we have no idea what will happen, or how the school thing will play out, and that is quite tough.The whole thing has not been well handled for kids at all.

Millem · 10-06-2020 7:47am

Have I been reading it correctly that under 6’s do not need to social distance and just need to stay in groups of 6 in a pod? There are no changes to ratios? If so then are all Junior and Senior Infants going back together full time in September?

My son is only in JI so hasn’t really done any summer camps!
He would of liked to do the cul camp this summer and the one the PTA run in the school.

uli84 · 10-06-2020 7:48am

I will if I find one

Cakerbaker · 10-06-2020 8:35am

Millem wrote: »

Have I been reading it correctly that under 6’s do not need to social distance and just need to stay in groups of 6 in a pod? There are no changes to ratios? If so then are all Junior and Senior Infants going back together full time in September?

My son is only in JI so hasn’t really done any summer camps!
He would of liked to do the cul camp this summer and the one the PTA run in the school.

I’m not sure how if the pods would work in schools. The pods in crèche (for the older kids anyway) are 12 kids per pod and 2 staff members. To translate that to a junior infant class with 24 kids would mean you’d need 4 staff members per room. And a Perspex screen down the middle of the room to split pods. The teacher would be allocated to one of the 2 pods so would only be able to interact with the other pod at a distance as the staff aren’t supposed to move between pods. Now they might come up with a different way of doing it for schools but I don’t know if it’ll be as straight forward as saying that all kids under 6 can go back to school as they don’t have to socially distance.

The space available in the school overall / the ability to separate them from other kids at breaks etc would need to be factored in too as pods have to socially distance from other pods / kids.

Edited to add too that it wouldn’t be unusual for kids to turn 6 during junior infants (my son will be 5.5 starting JI so will turn 6 half way through the year) so that will also need to be factored in. They can’t have different rules for different kids in the same class, based on age, particularly in infants.

Millem · 10-06-2020 8:52am

Cakerbaker wrote: »

I’m not sure how if the pods would work in schools. The pods in crèche (for the older kids anyway) are 12 kids per pod and 2 staff members. To translate that to a junior infant class with 24 kids would mean you’d need 4 staff members per room. And a Perspex screen down the middle of the room to split pods. The teacher would be allocated to one of the 2 pods so would only be able to interact with the other pod at a distance as the staff aren’t supposed to move between pods. Now they might come up with a different way of doing it for schools but I don’t know if it’ll be as straight forward as saying that all kids under 6 can go back to school as they don’t have to socially distance.

The space available in the school overall / the ability to separate them from other kids at breaks etc would need to be factored in too as pods have to socially distance from other pods / kids.

Edited to add too that it wouldn’t be unusual for kids to turn 6 during junior infants (my son will be 5.5 starting JI so will turn 6 half way through the year) so that will also need to be factored in. They can’t have different rules for different kids in the same class, based on age, particularly in infants.

Yes my son will turn 7 in Senior Infants as will a lot of his class!
There was/is a webinar on for primary school teachers of JI and SI re the pods etc. I haven’t heard anything yet. So I assumed the guidelines were the same for JI and SI. Our Montesorri is going to be business as usual in September thankfully

shesty · 10-06-2020 10:11am

I read last week that they were basically considering having entire classes in schools as pods Millem-realisation probably sinking in that we have overcrowded rooms, and we can't ask parents and teachers to double and triple job.Now I think they had an upper limit of 25 kids on that but no age limit.As regards preschools, they can't really social distance there -and yes, Zappone did say under 6s will not be asked to distance, as they don't get it and it goes against their development.

I have to admit I am not too wound up about how they size pods, and I will be sending my kids back.We are lucky, none of us have underlying conditions.But I will be watching the numbers carefully and if they start to creep up once the schools go back, I will not be bringing them to socialise with grandparents and others, just try to limit the social circle as much as possible.Along with hand washing etc.I just don't see what else I can do, that is all I can control myself personally.They need their education, so I am keen to get them back, but as I said, that suits our family and I know it mightn't work for others.

Millem · 10-06-2020 10:20am

shesty wrote: »

I read last week that they were basically considering having entire classes in schools as pods Millem-realisation probably sinking in that we have overcrowded rooms, and we can't ask parents and teachers to double and triple job.Now I think they had an upper limit of 25 kids on that but no age limit.As regards preschools, they can't really social distance there -and yes, Zappone did say under 6s will not be asked to distance, as they don't get it and it goes against their development.

I have to admit I am not too wound up about how they size pods, and I will be sending my kids back.We are lucky, none of us have underlying conditions.But I will be watching the numbers carefully and if they start to creep up once the schools go back, I will not be bringing them to socialise with grandparents and others, just try to limit the social circle as much as possible.Along with hand washing etc.I just don't see what else I can do, that is all I can control myself personally.They need their education, so I am keen to get them back, but as I said, that suits our family and I know it mightn't work for others.

My son’s Montesorri only has 6 kids so happy days! My older boy has 25 in his class

Gosh I am with you I am very keen to get them back

Will see if the school based July provision takes place.........if it doesn’t then that doesn’t bode well for September

I haven’t heard anything and normally do the home based one but this year would much prefer to work the school based one.

kandr10 · 10-06-2020 11:05am

shesty wrote: »

I read last week that they were basically considering having entire classes in schools as pods Millem-realisation probably sinking in that we have overcrowded rooms, and we can't ask parents and teachers to double and triple job.Now I think they had an upper limit of 25 kids on that but no age limit.As regards preschools, they can't really social distance there -and yes, Zappone did say under 6s will not be asked to distance, as they don't get it and it goes against their development.

I have to admit I am not too wound up about how they size pods, and I will be sending my kids back.We are lucky, none of us have underlying conditions.But I will be watching the numbers carefully and if they start to creep up once the schools go back, I will not be bringing them to socialise with grandparents and others, just try to limit the social circle as much as possible.Along with hand washing etc.I just don't see what else I can do, that is all I can control myself personally.They need their education, so I am keen to get them back, but as I said, that suits our family and I know it mightn't work for others.

In a practical sense, what does that actually change about school life? Just not going out for break altogether as a school. Not having kids ask to go to the toilet outside of certain designated times. Doesn’t really change much, so at that point why bother? Also what about the classes that have more than 25? The average being 30 in primary.

cant26 · 10-06-2020 11:11am

My sons Afterschool is opening for the summer on June 29th. It’s not attached to his primary school but is attached to another local primary school. Have his name down for June.
Also got correspondence from my other sons naoinra that is attached to our primary school. She said she will be in touch as soon as possible but it’s looking promising.

pc7 · 10-06-2020 11:14am

In a heartbeat if I can find one, but think they are too young. We were at the zoo the other day and one of mine was going up to kids saying hello as they wanted to make friends

shesty · 10-06-2020 2:30pm

kandr10 wrote: »

In a practical sense, what does that actually change about school life? Just not going out for break altogether as a school. Not having kids ask to go to the toilet outside of certain designated times. Doesn’t really change much, so at that point why bother? Also what about the classes that have more than 25? The average being 30 in primary.

Yep, basically.Little or no change.Probably more handwashing,maybe staggered lunches, drop offs and pick ups, but I cannot see how they will manage much else.They are promising school as normal for everyone come Sept.I just feel we will be listening to kite-flying all summer then come late, late August, it will just be "off you go", from the Dept.(via the media).

They have to look like they are trying I suppose.....

Edit to say, that is just my personal opinion.....just based on how things seemed to going.

markpb · 10-06-2020 2:56pm

touts wrote: »

But yesterday they announced summer camps for post primary only

I haven't seen this in the media anywhere. Can someone share a link?

kandr10 · 10-06-2020 4:12pm

markpb wrote: »

I haven't seen this in the media anywhere. Can someone share a link?

This was a summary in the journal the other day. They point out interestingly that it’s only because phase 2 coincides with secondary schools being finished but primary are still in school until the end of June. I wonder would that mean they will open it up for younger children in phase 3?
Link won’t work - it was under this headline 2 days ago though: The next phase: Here's what's allowed from today as Phase Two of the 'accelerated' roadmap kicks in

kandr10 · 10-06-2020 4:16pm

shesty wrote: »

Yep, basically.Little or no change.Probably more handwashing,maybe staggered lunches, drop offs and pick ups, but I cannot see how they will manage much else.They are promising school as normal for everyone come Sept.I just feel we will be listening to kite-flying all summer then come late, late August, it will just be "off you go", from the Dept.(via the media).

They have to look like they are trying I suppose.....

Edit to say, that is just my personal opinion.....just based on how things seemed to going.

I hadn’t seen that they’re promising school as normal from September. I thought social distancing is being thrown around until the autumn? That said, I suspect you’re right - it’ll be an ‘off you go’ Approach. Seems there was a bit of that with phase 2 reopenings and even for phase 3 they’ve been dragging their heels as far as issuing guidelines to restaurants and cafes etc. Must make it very difficult for them to plan.

markpb · 10-06-2020 5:11pm

kandr10 wrote: »

This was a summary in the journal the other day.

Outdoor summer camps are also now allowed to operate for secondary school children – once there are no more than 15 people involved.

“Importantly, primary school-age children are still attending primary school until the end of Phase 2 and therefore it would not be appropriate for them to attend summer camps,” NPHET noted in their advice to government.

Am I the only one confused by this? How are children attending primary school until the end of phase 2?

kandr10 · 10-06-2020 5:31pm

markpb wrote: »

Am I the only one confused by this? How are children attending primary school until the end of phase 2?

I guess they’re going by official dates with attending being in inverted commas. Phase 2 would be due to end on June 28th and school ends for primary on the 30th (give or take a day or two depending on how schools arranged their holidays through the year).

shesty · 10-06-2020 6:01pm

kandr10 wrote: »

I hadn’t seen that they’re promising school as normal from September. I thought social distancing is being thrown around until the autumn? That said, I suspect you’re right - it’ll be an ‘off you go’ Approach. Seems there was a bit of that with phase 2 reopenings and even for phase 3 they’ve been dragging their heels as far as issuing guidelines to restaurants and cafes etc. Must make it very difficult for them to plan.

My phrasing is bad there.But recent statements released by Leo have basically said (as I understood them anyway), that they will probably have some staggered schooling for a few weeks but the aim is to get them all back to school as normal as soon as possible.

Just found the link, it is here.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/taoiseach-has-confirmed-schools-will-reopen-at-the-end-of-august-1.4265863?mode=amp

Will you send your child to summer camp?

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