U turn if you want to....the government has just - again!

Annodomini, good for them !

One comprehensive in Cheshire, well ahead of the game, announced in July that face coverings would be compulsory in the new term.
In the school's newsletter, parents were informed of new measures being introduced as well as information on the navy blue, reusable face masks, which form part of the school uniform at £3 each

No, they haven't dropped that idea. Why did you think that? Stage 2 of the action plan states that everybody who has been in contact with the infected pupil must be sent home. The way secondary school options and sets work, it could be that a pupil has been in contact with the whole year group. Whole year groups will be organised with the year group itself as the "bubble".

At least they have stated a 4 stage action plan and dropped the silly idea that if one case of virus was found the whole year would go home.

There is going to be illness in schools like every year, they can now manage it realistically. I don’t envy the teachers having to supervise health protection as well as education.

After weeks of headteachers' asking for a Plan B, the government finally announced one at 7.30pm yesterday (Friday) just before a bank holiday with schools due to return next week.

A single case of Covid-19 would probably mean that a whole year group in a secondary school (up to 300 pupils) would be sent home and would need to self-isolate for two weeks. It's still unclear what the staff who have come in contact with infected pupils are supposed to do.

This U-turn was expected because the government has been encouraging the development of online learning courses, so why couldn't it have been announced earlier?

AGAA4

Lucca there will be yet another U turn when people start getting ill.

Johnson is too weak to stand up to his own backbenchers, some of whom think it's wimpy to wear a mask. He has to frame everything as responding to public pressure.

I do not see how schools and colleges could possibly ban anybody from wearing a mask, given the latest U-turn.

Visors protect the wearer's eyes in particular, but don't prevent the spread of infection. Wearers are recommended to wear a mask as well.

Lucca there will be yet another U turn when people start getting ill.

AGAA4

Lucca my daughter wore a visor for enrolment but not allowed while teaching.

You see I think that’s dreadful. how can they justify that? What possible harm can a visor do ? It’s not obscuring the face, you can hear fine through it.

Lucca my daughter wore a visor for enrolment but not allowed while teaching.

Callistemon. It may be weak but why not give it a go ? However I definitely think teachers need some kind of protection.

Sorry forgot to add that I think I would have opted for the visor as you can been seen and presumably heard. I see no reason why teachers shouldn’t choose that option.

Lucca

I just want to say (before anyone says I’m an ex teacher trying to prevent students being back in school) this is in answer to those saying they see no need for masks.

The CMO in Wales says the evidence for masks is weak.

AGAA4

*Lucca*. Yes. That is the case. Social distancing impossible.
My daughter wants to get back to teaching her students as they say they have missed her as online classes not the same. She just feels that there has been no real thought to safety in a high risk area.

Could she wear a visor? A lot depends on her subject I think. I’d have found it very hard to teach MFL under these circumstances.

Lucca. Yes. That is the case. Social distancing impossible.
My daughter wants to get back to teaching her students as they say they have missed her as online classes not the same. She just feels that there has been no real thought to safety in a high risk area.

Re post 16 level classes. Smaller groups yes, but taught in smaller rooms !!

Growstuff. Thank you. The teachers have been told that they will not be at risk unless students cough and sneeze. She says they are very often coughing and sneezing!

I just want to say (before anyone says I’m an ex teacher trying to prevent students being back in school) this is in answer to those saying they see no need for masks.

AGAA4

My daughter lives and works in a high Covid area. She teaches 16 -18 year olds. She will be in a classroom with 15 students. No masks in the classroom only in corridors. I can't help but feel worried.

Depending on the classroom sizes, 15 students might be able to keep over a metre apart. A "bubble" of 15 is obviously going to be less risky than 30.

I'm so glad I don't have to put myself at that kind of risk any more and wish your daughter well.

My daughter lives and works in a high Covid area. She teaches 16 -18 year olds. She will be in a classroom with 15 students. No masks in the classroom only in corridors. I can't help but feel worried.

How are staggered times going to be possible, when a school has over thirty school buses carrying pupils from many different villages from different bubbles?

TwiceAsNice

Lucca I cannot comment on other schools only the one I know. Grandchildren will be going to the school I work in. One way systems everywhere so everybody going in the same direction and staggered time’s so only one bubble walking at the same time.

Plus the usual distancing , handwashing, gel stations everywhere, staggered drop offs and pick ups so small groups all the time. Sorry but I think its good enough .

How is it possible that they are sitting the recognised distance apart in the classroom?

I've just been listening to official government advice for shops. Two metres apart or one metre with extra precautions such as a mask. That is just not going to be possible in a classroom. Why should it be any different from a shop, where at least people aren't in contact for more than a few minutes at a time?

Twiceasnice Is that a secondary school ?

There is nothing more important than getting our youngsters back to school. With or without face coverings I am confident that teachers will have done everything possible to protect the children and themselves.
If they are to wear masks we need a public information film on all media outlets to show the correct way to put on, to wear, to take off. If not worn or handled correctly they are useless. Many adults would also benefit from this lesson.
As we learn more about the virus and its spread the advice changes and so the government changes position and rightly so.

Lucca I cannot comment on other schools only the one I know. Grandchildren will be going to the school I work in. One way systems everywhere so everybody going in the same direction and staggered time’s so only one bubble walking at the same time.

Plus the usual distancing , handwashing, gel stations everywhere, staggered drop offs and pick ups so small groups all the time. Sorry but I think its good enough .