Schools going back.

I understood the BMA were not recommending a return to school

The contract tracing regime isn’t up and running nor expected to be so by the time schools open.

Health officials strongly advise against schools opening until the regime is firmly in place.

So this scientific advice ......?

My stepson's mam isn't going to send his FS2 half brother back and whilst I see the value of returning to routine I can't say I blame her. I'm not sure that social distancing is possible in a group of 4 year olds. They're not likely to remember to do it nor understand why.

Our youngest daughter is on the senior lead team for EY and is into work from today preparing the classrooms for children and staff.

I see Tony Blair endorses the return to school.

The 'science' seems to be unclear as to whether children are likely or unlikely to be superspreaders. Given that young children will be a) difficult to keep 'socially distant' from teachers and their peers b) potentially damaged by 'distancing' and c) teachers can hardly be working in full PPE (how scary would that be for the children?) it seems highly irresponsible to be contemplating the risks involved.

There is also the question of infected children developing Kawasaki disease as a complication of C19, a recently observed and very worrying (It's often fatal) development.

I can understand the concerns of the teaching profession in the reopening of schools with the epidemic still very prevalent in the population.

However, I also believe that it is important to make every effort possible to slowly return Britain to the beginning of something that the population will recognise as a return to normality.

Schools have a large role to play in the above and therefore a slow step by step approach would seem to perhaps be the best way forward for the education sector.

In commerce and industry, many companies are carrying out the above practise for those who cannot work from home. In that, they are requesting a limited number of employees to recommence work, and where that is proven to be effective and safe further staff will be added to that already returned workforce in the coming weeks.

Education could well follow the above lead, I feel, for the whole population of this country are having to slowly find their way out of lockdown with every organisation through to each individual finding there own pathway in very many instances..

Having read the guidelines for schools and early years settings I can only assume that those who prepare them have never ventured into an education setting.

The Conservative Council in the town next to ours has issued a lengthy letter to parents, explaining why its schools will not be opening as the government says, on 1 June 2020.
Its own risk assessment says it isn't safe.
Its schools will remain open for the current group of 800, the children of key workers and the children identified as vulnerable.

Our area has an increasing rate of infection. The what sap parents groups seem consistent with the majority of parents feeling the risks are currently too high for their children to return.

The times had a video on how to prepare a school for social Distancing. Turned out to be a private school which to be honest probably had a better chance of doing it with their facilities and class sizes. A Bit silly.

It is just not possible to socially distance children from the age of 4. Nor is it possible with post primary pupils.
I’m thinking of narrow corridors, toilet doors, taps, toilets, locker areas, desks, computers, shared sets of books (think of a set of atlases for GCSE or A level Geography), teaching Music, PE, Science, Home Economics, without equipment......
Take into account also that some classrooms in the real world are not big enough to socially distance more than a small number of pupils. Think also of break and lunch times. And what of the wee soul who can’t open her lunch box or the child who is upset and has to be 2 metres from human contact? Much of Early Years education is about learning to play together and to share. How can children do this from a 2 metre distance?
I think we must accept that when schools reopen, social distancing is over.

I do think year 6 could go in, if only so that they could say goodbye to their Primary school. They could spend much of the day outside and would understand social distancing. But I think the measures which have to be taken to adapt Reception classrooms are so extreme and would impact so much on the children's education that any benefit would be wiped out.

I’m not sure anymore . I was absolutely against closing of schools in the first place but hold my hands up and admit I may have been wrong . Personally I think schools should either return or not . There can’t be any half measures and how on earth you expect children who haven’t seen their friends for months to apply social distancing is beyond me .

I agree it is too early to start reopening school
The problem is I don't think we will be a great deal further forward in terms of the need for social distancing etc by September either and just wonder how schools (especially primary schools with the youngest children) will cope as they can't stay shut forever; suspect we will see a large spike in the autumn - just hope I am proved wrong.......

I think it’s because they are saying younger children aren’t as affected by this virus. I’m a nursery teacher and will be going back on June 1st. We have had Covid straining and upped all,our sanitising and working in small groups and we are moving our classes into the garden for as much of the day as possible. There s only so much we can do.

My DD is now heavily into preparation for return of her Year 1 class, how many of the parents will go along with it remains to be seen. For me the downside will be I know we won't be seeing her anytime soon.

I don't agree with young children going back to school yet but I think the older age groups should go back. Especially Year 10 who are missing out on valuable learning coming up to an important year ahead. It also isn't as easy to home school older children, it is OK when they have the rare on line lesson but trying to motivate them to work on their own is so difficult. My son, who is a police officer and still working himself is getting very stressed about trying to home school his 15 year old son!

Wirral schools are remaining closed, with the decision made locally and not by the government where they've threatened fines for local councils.
Wirral council has told schools to ignore the demand of a return on/by June 1st if it's not in the interest of the children.

The cabinet member for children's services has laid out plans before any return.

I’m really glad my year 6 grandchildren are going back . It think it’s really important they say goodbye to their friends and teachers and I think they are old enough to do social distancing. In fact the one is particularly indignant of people she see who are not! I’ve also been worried about their mental health they are very different since school closed and lockdown started. Had their birthday in lockdown too which didn’t help.

They do go to independent school and are in a class of 15 . The 2 classes will not mix and stay all day with one teacher having staggered drop offs, pick up, and breaks. I understand they are more fortunate than some state schools in this but am still glad it’s happening.

I do think it will be harder for the younger years and considering some countries don’t start education until children are 6 or 7 I think they could stay home

Spot on Galaxy. It's all very well talking about other workforces rerurning to work but school staff are not working in an office or a factory. They are working with, and caring for numerous children all day long.

Ill thought our proposal by people who haven't a clue.
4 5 6 year olds returning in this way---one of the most ridiculous things I have heard for many years.
The only children, imo, who should be going back before September are years 6, 10, 12, and then only part time.
Year 6 to be able to make some preparation for transition to senior school and years 10 and 12 to touch base to monitor progress in preparation for exams next year.
As a Primary school Governor with a background in education, I will be voting against the governments proposal at our Governors meeting , via Team, on Thursdsy

I have a disabled step daughter and today i received an e-mail from the school she attends infoming us that the school may well be open from the 1st of June.
We won`t be sending her for safety reasons though.

As if young children will follow social distancing! It’s way too risky and I hope that young lives will not be destroyed in the rush to ‘normality’ Until the virus is brought under control or eradicated there is no such thing as ‘normal’ and education is not going to be any use to children who die

I am not sure, but as public schools are not back until September it would seem that erring on the side of caution might be worth considering. I would also like to know when members of the cabinet are sending their children back.

Thing is, it's not just schools. The school day finishes at 3:30; then you need after-school care. The Kids Club I run takes children from 30-odd schools; a wonderful pool of cross-infection. Much of our funding comes from County, and we are expected to be open on 1st June. I find it horrendously worrying.
The ONS data for the local area suggests that as many as 1 in 5 people might have had the infection. How many are still carrying it? Having a track-and-trace system in place that was quick and accurate would be very helpful in deciding whether it's safe and reasonable to ask my staff to go back to work; and yet we now hear that's delayed by weeks.
I'm not happy at all. I'd like to see the infection rate much lower in the community, have tracking in place, and ideally an antibody test. That feels like perhaps another 4 weeks away?