Foundation Stage 2 reopening 1st June

Both my granddaughters are going back. One in nursery and one in yr 6. I'm sure the elder one will cope not sure about the younger one. My grandson is in yr 4 so he'll be staying at home. He's quite pleased about it atm, but I'm sure he'll get bored soon without his sister. We shall see anyway. Well done to all the teachers, you all do a fantastic job!

My DD’s workplace reopens next week . She has been told that if she. A not come to work due to lack of childcare she can take parental leave . Unpaid of course.

If we are not careful we are going to see a huge amount of resentment building up towards the public sector as I fear that the teaching unions and the other public sector unions are probably going to use this as a way to get more money for their members.

Ooop.... should read .....she has been told that if she cannot come to work due to lack of childcare.........

I would advise anyone with childcare problems to look at the regulations, draw up a proposal for saying what hours they could work, what work they could do from home and any other requirements. They should then submit that to their employer asap. The employer is legally bound to consider the proposals except in certain conditions such as length of employment. They must also arrange a meeting with the employee to discuss the proposals.
gillybob No teacher, or support worker has asked for any pay rise. The safety of children and staff has been the sole concern of the teaching unions. And in fact it was said yesterday that 60% of parents were not happy with the arrangements for opening. The wide range of school buildings, the needs of the pupils and the number of staff differs so much from school to school it is impossible to have a 'one size fits all' policy. Teachers have worked throughout this crisis to keep key worker's children safe and provide education for children out of school. To start maligning them by accusing them of something they have never mentioned is unacceptable.

I do think children need to go back to school, not just for education but to learn how to get on with each other. In my day we all played in the street and socialised like that and our mothers didn't bother so much about where we were. Also not many mothers worked outside the house so childcare was not such a problem. At my junior school in the 1950's there were 42 in the class. We all sat at desks facing the teacher and we did not move until the next class. I learnt to read and write, no problem. Aged 8 I was found talking in class and the teacher called me out and I had the ruler on the palms of my hands. Boys were sent to the headmaster for the cane. Teachers called you by your surname. Very strict in those days. I wouldn't call it fun, though, lunches were awful and a prefect stood over you until you had finished every last morsel. The outside toilets were dark, freezing and stank. Toilet paper was that strange stuff like parchment paper. Jeyes? In the playground boys and girls were separated. When I visited my children's middle school in the 1980's all the children were sitting at round tables and I was shocked at the noise of talking in the class. I do think school seems a lot more interesting these days. I feel sorry for the university students.