Lockdown easing in England

[louisa maud]

I have every sympathy with teachers who will have children returning to school after months and months at home, some being unruly with parents and running riot, saw a few myself when out locally today riding on bikes making pests of themselves when I would assume they would be doing something more productive with their time, like school work, I can see some pupils will be streets ahead of those who have not put their time to good us.
The quicker they get back to school the better for the over 11 year olds

Louisa Maud

[Gadget]

Autumn term for Scottish Schools begins in 2 months time, in August.

Just for  those who aren't familiar with  Scottish school terms - Autumn term usually starts in mid-August and Summer term ends very late June - early July.

[Llwyd]

For your information Jillruss, here in Wales it was mooted to have an early start to the summer holidays and re-start schools earlier than normal, in August instead of September. However, the idea seemed to be discounted almost out of hand and withdrawn.
Denmark seems to be a prime example of how to re-start schools. Perhaps we should follow their example.
 

[groom]

Most teachers I know want to get back to school and back to normal, the thing which is stopping this is the social distancing. Due to the size of most classrooms, the maximum number of children they could fit in would be 10 - so for your average class you need two extra rooms. That is why in primary schools years 2,3,4 and 5 can't return yet, there just isn't the room. So getting schools to return in August, unless the social distancing has reduced, still wouldn't be possible and some people doubt if it can even be managed for September. It may be a case that children will have to attend alternate weeks, which will be hard for parents who have to work.

As schools closed in March, I still can't see why those taking GCSEs and A levels weren't allowed to take them. The pupils could have been spread across all the empty classrooms and halls, so would have been well distanced.

[youngtug]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05lycr3.jpg

[heywood]

For your information Jillruss, here in Wales it was mooted to have an early start to the summer holidays and re-start schools earlier than normal, in August instead of September. However, the idea seemed to be discounted almost out of hand and withdrawn.
Denmark seems to be a prime example of how to re-start schools. Perhaps we should follow their example.
 

How has Denmark organised the re-starting of schools?

[Llwyd]

For your information Jillruss, here in Wales it was mooted to have an early start to the summer holidays and re-start schools earlier than normal, in August instead of September. However, the idea seemed to be discounted almost out of hand and withdrawn.
Denmark seems to be a prime example of how to re-start schools. Perhaps we should follow their example.
 

How has Denmark organised the re-starting of schools?

From what I have seen reported on the news, very well. Everything appears to be going well, properly "socially distanced", happy children, happy parents happy teachers and no upsurge in cases of the virus. What more could anyone ask for?.
 

[guest189040]

Get the kids back to school asap, forget social distancing, all the kids on our local green and the kids at the nearby primary school who are still there are certainly not social distancing.

Just taken our dog for its night walk, 10 teenage boys sat on the green in a huddle, another six sat on a bench 200m away.

If there is to be a second peak, better in the Summer than into October and Autumn.

[roopat]

As far as I read, a headteacher in Denmark explained that only certain younger pupils were returning and as schools in Denmark are primary + 'junior secondary' on the same site - with no secondary pupils returning, there was plenty of space for children to be socially distanced - different 'bubbles' in different classrooms.


This was about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I don't know what the situation is now. The Danish school pictured was a beautiful large modern building with plenty of outside space, quite unlike our  Victorian village primary with 3 inside classrooms & 3 or 4 (not sure if one is a double) mobiles which occupy the whole former playground, leaving a very small field area. The daycare/nursery occupies the same site.


And the teachers I know have been working very hard to keep the online learning going, ringing and visiting the pupils as well as being in school for children of key workers and the vulnerable ones. In my teaching career it was hard enough to set work if you knew you were going to be absent, say for a couple of days. I can't imagine how many hours they have spent devising interesting online lessons which are manageable for young children and parents who are trying to support them as well as maybe do their own work. I take my hat off to them, they deserve a break in the summer.


Pat