Why are schools not open over the summer holidays?

Think this has been brought up and debated on another schools related thread humptydumpty.

Teachers, TAs, admin staff, caretakers, cleaners and catering staff have all worked solidly throughout the lockdown, including Easter hols and Half Term. I don't think it's unreasonable for them to now have a break.

I agree with Evie64 the staff have worked tirelessly throughout and must be stressed and exhausted.

In addition, modifications to the school will need to be done before children can return full time in September. This can only be done whilst the school is empty.

Because teacher salaries are based on a certain number of days worked per year. And they would have to be paid overtime to work over the summer.

Teaching assistants are hourly paid and therefore they would also have to be paid overtime if they worked through the holiday.

I think school staff are exhausted from the amount of extra work they've had to do from remote teaching. I certainly am. I ended up working more hours than I would have done in school, ironically. Planning for the students IN school. Planning and teaching online lessons. Planning and making materials for students who couldn't access online lessons. Triple the work.

There is no reason that supply teachers/supply support staff couldn't be found to open schools through the summer though. It would need government funding, but with that should be completely doable.

Good point Chewbacca. Hadn't thought of that.

What GagaJo said.

GagaJo

Looks like gov funding is going into extra tuition (Before and afternoon school? ) when children return for in September.

Not enough supply staff ( which needs to include cleaners etc) out there to cover a summer school for groups of 15

Alternative buildings would be needed and kitted out.

I thought there were hoards of supply teachers available? I would normally be happy to do it (need the pay) but I have too many risk factors, health wise.

“Hordes” or “hoards” Gagajo ?

Haha! Hordes of course. I should know better.

As an English teacher...... yes!

Maybe a hoard is the collective noun for supply teachers......

Why are so many getting their knickers in a twist over a few short months? Children are adaptable and will catch up ...in my opinion.

I started school back in the 1950's we started by age so my group didn't go to school in August instead we started in January .
In the August of the same year we all moved into Primary 2 with the set that had started the August before we had all achieved the same level.Strangely those of us who had started later and spent the 4 months at home...no nurseries back then ,,weren't mentally scarred or depressed at being separated from our neighbourhood friends who did start in August and who did a full 9am to 3pm from day 2

.There's an awful lot of drama about these "missed" weeks ,even though a majority of the children have been having schooling at home .As the mother of a woman with multiple health issue who will without doubt DIE if she catches Covid 19 I will be pleased if our GC aren't back before the risks are exceptionally low and no one can tell me that yet ,in fact I'm hearing about outbreaks in English schools now .

Many many years ago, MawB, when I was taking my A Levels, head in a panic / stress I wrote 'meat' instead of 'meet', several times in my answer! And then was mortified after the exam when I realised.

Yes! A hoard of teachers is just what we need right now, Lucca.

I agree with that Paddyanne. Although I'm a teacher, given the huge class sizes some students endure, I honestly think they'd learn more in an hours one-to-one teaching, than they can do in a whole day at school. Particularly if it is a school with students with behaviour issues (which lets be frank, is most schools).

If I had my time as a parent again, I'd home school.

Well my understanding is that there’s a backlog of legislation and future planning in all areas of government and especially Brexit so let’s have Parliament sitting throughout the summer - set that up and then we can talk about schools ?

I was thinking about schools and how the effects of this prolonged absence could be alleviated. I think instead of rushing into things it would be better if schools actually took a long view and built support for most of next academic school year and the summer holidays 2021. This would give time to plan carefully and work out what would help most. It's very tempting to think getting children back into school will sort everything but I don't think it will. It may give some socialisation, and it may provide childcare but for the educational problems a better strategy is needed.

Trisher as a teacher ( retired) I quite agree that the extra tuition etc needs to go into the next academic year and I also think that some flexibility should be introduced to allow many children to add an extra year to their education. On the other hand, those who have thrived can continue on their way.

Schools aren't empty in summer holidays. Certain deep clean things take place eg carpet cleaning. Building works. Electrical refits. Decorating. Most days a few staff will come in. In secondary schools, obviously GCSE and A level results day, there are a lot of people in; but after those days, there will be staff and pupils making decisions about pupils' future courses/ resits etc.

Due to govt league tables which are based only on children born between that specific Sept 1 and Aug 31, exams have to be taken that academic year. I think it used to be, for example if they took Maths early in Y10, they actually reduced the percentage of top grades, because it would appear in the stats that they'd not taken GCSE Maths. Having a pupil in Y11 who has been long-term ill or is in the wrong year for bilingual language reasons automatically used to reduce your statistics because their attendance would count in the number of pupils in Y11, but their grades would not. Whether these rules have changed, I don't know, my knowledge is out-of-date.