Back To School

[Gromit]

Boris confirms schools reopen on June 1st.

// Parents and teachers should prepare for the phased reopening of schools in England to start on 1 June as planned, the prime minister has confirmed. //

I have my doubts.
While hundreds are still dying daily, parents and teachers are likely to stay at home.

Your thoughts.

[weecalf]

B or is said it so next question oh what did Dominic say schools oh let’s see minister of sink ports will bre
IEC the nation next Thursday

[tomus42]

Alot are saying they'll stay at home, and alot aren't. My thoughts are that we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

However, if people are going to stay locked down until it's 100% safe to leave the house without catching this virus, they could potentially remain in their house until they die of old age.

[-SharonA-]

Prince William has said Princess Charlotte, who is in reception year may not be returning.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/family-relationships/why-princess-charlotte-may-not-return-to-school-straight-away-when-her-classes-restart/ar-bb14wkmy

[Cloverjo]

My step-daughter-in-law is an early years teacher, and has not been asked to go back to work.

[New Judge]

My thoughts are that the school should never have closed in the first place. But since they did, they need to be reopened asap. As mentioned, if people believe it will only be safe to venture outside when every last vestige of the virus has disappeared from the Earth, they are in for a long wait.

[maggiebee]

Nicola says Scottish schools not opening until August - very sensible IMO.

[Togo]

Boris had a Dilbert moment. He has realised that the "teachers" were happy to sit at home on full pay doing f all. Now he can ask "are you on strike"? If they are, a furry low becomes strike pay...funded by the union and not by our councils and us. About time. I just hope that the kids have learned to think for themselves a little whilst they have been free from the marxist indoctrination that they are fed under the umbrella on safe space inclusivity, and give the luvvie gits hell.

[Gromit]

Togo,
Councils do not pay teachers.
Probably the wrong time for the Government to be picking a fight with the teaching unions. But it would be very funny to see them go it.

[woofgang]

I know from FB friends that children in some areas are going to be returning to school. The schools have been discussing plans and arrangements with both staff and parents and apparently around 60% of parents of children in the classes I know about will be sending their children back. They aren't all in the same area of the UK. I have no kids or grandkids but several of the parents I do know have said that the furore from certain city mayors and teachers organisations has looked dstinctly political to them and bears no resemblance to the discussions they have been having. Even those parents I know who aren't yet decided to send their children back or who have decided to wait have been talking about the reasonable and caring conversations they have had with their schools....and this is across the political spectrum although I guess that most of them are left leaning rather than right....deffo not Boris fans.

[Togo]

//Councils do not pay teachers.//

Get over yourself. Teachers that are not in the private sector or working for an Academy are paid by the "local authority". The local authority receives a lump sum from Government to use in the administration of various endeavours one of which is Education. Tell us again who runs these "local authorities". This is exactly the right time to call out the "Teachers" union and every other unionised public sector body that has slipped into the grip of the marxist rabble's grasp. Use the economic plight that is coming to strangle the 5th column and use the money saved generate new initiatives.

[bednobs]

"Teachers" are not the same as the teaching unions. My daughters school have been putting plans in place for return since closure was announced and on the face of it seem very happy that school is restarting after 1/2 term.

[Gromit]

// Boris Johnson is facing a growing revolt by MPs of all parties this weekend against plans to force them back to Westminster on 2 June and vote in person in the House of Commons. //

Bit of a mixed message. Teachers and children must return to school, but MP aren’t too happy about returning.

[fiction-factory]

It's not going to be compulsory for children to go- no action will be taken against parents for non -attendance of their children.
From they way some teaching unions and teachers are talking you'd think this had been sprung on them but in fact schools I know were asked about 8 weeks ago to draw up plans and school governors I know have been finalising plans for ages based on new classroom layouts, smaller classes, one way systems, staggered start times and breaks.
If we don't try some sort of phased return now when will we start one? September? January? If we wait until September would that have to be a phased restart spread over maybe 4 months? Far better to pilot it now and see what issues arise so that the plans can be tweaked if necessary for the Autumn term.

I do think that if the alternative was laying teachers off or furloughing them at 80% of pay (likely to fall to say 60%) it might focus the minds of the unions. I don't think it would be unreasonable to say that if schools are to remain shut until September to satisfy teaching unions and councils (apart from the current key worker/vulnerable children cover) then the government funding for education would be cut accordingly for this year by a modest say 10% to reflect the closures.
I would make one change, however, to the plans- whilst i can see why Year 6 would restart I am not sure of the need for opening up for Reception AND Year 1- I suggest just one or the other initially.

[sherrardk]

The local primary is planning to open on 8 June (not 1 June) - 1 day a week for year R and Year 1 and 1 1/2 days for year 6. Staggered 15 minute drop off slots and pick up times, staggered lunch and break, allocated bathrooms - makes you wonder when there’s going to be any time for teaching (there’s also a whole list of new rules too).

[fiction-factory]

Not sure about your mixed message example, Gromit. For primary schools they are talking about reopening for maybe 30% of primary pupils at each school so as to help with social distancing whereas I assume the proposal for MPs is for 100 % attendance

[Ryzen]

FF spot on....pay the teachers 60%..and give the 40% to the nurses and other key workers.

[woofgang]

Sherrard, as I understand it, for early years recep and year 1, the actual teaching of stuff is not as important as just getting used to being with group of strange littlies, learning to behave as a group, social interraction and so on.

[fiction-factory]

^ agreed

[woofgang]

MP's back in Westminster doesn't mean MP's back in the Chamber as anyone who watches live debates will know

[woofgang]

I can understand why Princess Charlotte may not return to school until her brother can, especially as they aren't living in London.