Support thread for parents of teenagers

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Dr PhFleecyD Jun 2020 3:16pm, 2 Jun 2020 50,108 posts	0 Dr PhFleecyD I just can’t see how school education can possibly work with social distancing though. Is a Tory government planning to triple teacher numbers? Can kids learn on half a day’s teaching a week? Someone I know said their friend’s year 10 kid was going to be going in for one lesson a day. Might as well not bother, half the kids at ds2’s school get the school coach an hour each way! Things are not going to suddenly be ok in September are they? Universities can do online lectures and muddle through with small tutorials but uni students are paying and relatively engaged or at least motivated to get a degree. Even ds2 who enjoys school and is very bright seems to not care for online school learning.
ThorntonRunner Jun 2020 3:30pm, 2 Jun 2020 3,360 posts	0 ThorntonRunner Sorry - I didn't mean to provoke a discussion which is probably more relevant to the corona thread. I was just prompted by CStar's comment about absolute minimal risk, and response being pathetic. We need to find a way to provide a quality education to all children, but there is a risk to staff - who will spend several hours a day in close contact with children, who if they are infected, could very easily be asymptomatic but still infectious. That risk should be recognised and managed as far as possible. btw - Mrs TR's school seems to be following national trends (even as a smallish village school) in having just over half of reception/yr1/yr6 children actually attending this week.
mrs shanksi Jun 2020 3:40pm, 2 Jun 2020 10,689 posts	0 mrs shanksi We had a whole school staff online meeting this morning where the headmaster told us what they had to work out before we reopen to pupils on August 11th. Here is what I noted down: Windows open No need for PPE routinely 5 m square per pupil space to determine how many pupils in a room One third of pupils in school at any time i.e. 2 year groups at any one time Limited number in staff room May need to use staff room as teaching space Limit number of staff returning in June to prepare school Bubble of pupils All pupils must remain on school grounds at lunch Fire evacuation changes 2m rule may be reduced over time Mandatory for pupils to return to school If we are only allowing one third of pupils in school at any time then they are not going to be in much. This is a secondary school with over 1100 pupils. But if they are continuing with online teaching for the rest of the time who prepares /marks that? The head said perhaps teachers who were shielding or live with someone who is shielding might do it. None of this is worked out yet. He also said they might do a 4 days in school, 1 day at home rota. I've been told the school library will likely be used as additional classroom space. Hopefully I can access the books and deliver them to pupils. It's just a nightmare to organise.
Bazoaxe Jun 2020 4:01pm, 2 Jun 2020 16,575 posts	0 Bazoaxe And sorry from me. I thought I was on the corona thread when replying. As with all things easing of the lockdown. Nothing is easy and there is no manual telling us what to do. The potential impact on so many people though is significant.
LindsD Jun 2020 4:03pm, 2 Jun 2020 37,374 posts	0 LindsD It's a big mess. Meanwhile, LittleD's school seem to think things are normal. This is now the fifth time that we have written to you about your daughter or son’s failure to meet the expectations around the school’s online provision. This is very worrying because this is the equivalent of a full week’s absence from school and it will have an impact on their academic attainment. Please contact the school at office@whitmore.harrow.sch.uk to confirm receipt of this message. If it is considered appropriate then we may invite your son or daughter into school, to work in a supervised environment to support them in accessing the school’s online provision. If there is not a rapid and sustained improvement in the engagement that your daughter or son has shown with the school’s provision for this challenging time, then the school will make a referral to Children’s Services. Can someone explain how that is an appropriate way to speak to anyone? I wrote a long complaining email and was going to send them some research on communication then I decided it wasn't worth antagonising them so just confined myself to saying I didn't see how it could be 5 days when we had only been back one. I must learn to rise above this shit. I did have an email from the Head of Year saying that the 'brief respite' they had given me from attendance emails was now over and I would be getting them again because 'I'm sure you understand it's school policy'. THey have passive aggressive to a tee. I wrote back and said I appreciated the 'brief respite' but had not noticed it.
LindsD Jun 2020 4:03pm, 2 Jun 2020 37,375 posts	0 LindsD Oops. Sorry, should have taken name of school out.
Dr PhFleecyD Jun 2020 4:06pm, 2 Jun 2020 50,109 posts	0 Dr PhFleecyD They’re wankers with no compassion whatsoever
WA Jun 2020 4:07pm, 2 Jun 2020 6,956 posts	0 WA What Fleecy said
LindsD Jun 2020 4:09pm, 2 Jun 2020 37,377 posts	0 LindsD Seriously. It really pushes my buttons to be spoken to like that.
runnerbean Jun 2020 4:11pm, 2 Jun 2020 44,948 posts	0 runnerbean You’re a better person than me because I’d have written exactly what i thought and sent it.