School “bubbles”

* Surely it could be better used to provide more teaching staff.*
? I don’t understand how plus where do you magic more staff from ?

I don't think an excessive amount of money has been spent on re organising the workspace in schools. Not in the bigger picture anyway. Schools aren't like hospitals which required ventilators, PPE, additional staff and drugs etc. to fight the virus. Time and effort from heads and teachers was definitely required, but school staff were being paid over the past 6 months anyway. New timetabling and bubble re arranging hasn't cost a fortune and hand sanitisers and signage round the school won't break the bank.

I'm not worried in the slightest about the children playing together or about parents, minders and nannies mixing in the park. Im sad that so much money and time has been spent on something that will make little or no difference to the situation. As for the fear that schools could be sued, how on earth would anyone know where an infection had been picked up?

all the children of all ages mingle and play together on the equipment and parents sit round in huddles chatting
That's what 1,000s? have been doing for months now. Why would it be any different because they have gone back to school?

Schools are doing what they’ve been told to do, it’s very onerous for them, my daughter works in one. They can’t govern what has or does happen outside.
I don’t see the correlation between that and pubs/restaurants being open greengreengrass? Many adults have been lonely and felt isolated during this period, their mental health, alleviated by some social interaction is important too.

I think schools, like every other place, can only do so much, and policing others' behaviour is beyond their remit.

That is what the bus company told me when I queried them not enforcing the wearing of masks.

And how do you know that the 'huddles' are not individual 'bubbles' that the families have? My guess is that that is the reason they are in 'huddles'.

And also amongst the parents I know there is very much the awareness that if there is any 'socialising' to be done then it will be as far as possible in the same year 'bubble's' as there are at school.

Not sure what you expect parents to do. Most of us take part in measured activities, but play and socialising for kids and young people are a very important part of growing up, and very important for their mental health And not everyone has a garden in which the kids can be outside.

Mental wellbeing of their parents also important especially for those who had been home schooling since March some of us hadn't seen fellow parents at all for six months. It was very isolating.

Maybe someone should be telling the government that if they cared so much about 'education' and young people they ought to close pubs and restaurants instead?

If you think there is a lack of social distancing have you tried talking to the people involved and showing you are worried?

The schools have a duty of care for their staff and pupils. I trust the measures they have put in place. Beyond that, however, they have no control, and to be fair many children and parents have been meeting up during the summer anyway.

I think if the measures hadn't been put in place the schools & governing bodies could have been held liable if there had been an outbreak within the school. They have to take all reasonable steps to keep pupils and teachers safe.
Many parents might have kept their children away from school too.
Unfortunately, schools have no control over what parents and children choose to do out of school hours.