Phased re-opening of schools

It would be possible to have a phased re-opening of schools if teachers had a small portion of each class present during a day, the next portion of the class (say by alphabetic list on a seemis class register) could then attend on the next timetabled day.

That way the number of students present on any one day could be quite strictly limited with consideration given to the specific layout and demographics of the school, determined by the school leadership team in conjunction with council health & safety specialists and trade union representatives.

Teachers would only have a small number of students each timetabled lesson, could deliver specific work and follow up materials to be completed at home. In this way all students would recieve some in-school lessons while being given specific follow up work to complete at home. The class teacher would effectively repeat the lesson with each sub-cohort of pupils from the class, meaning that the workload could be limited for the teacher.

Between each lesson time could be provided for the teacher or other suitable staff to clean and disinfect those surfaces within the classroom likely to be the source of fomites. Staff would need access to effective disinfectant products and means of delivery. Pupils in classes would also need to have access to alcohol-based hand sanitisers so that queing at sinks for hand washing could be reduced.

If this were to be repeated for each year group in a secondary school it may be possible to have a return to school-based learning for year groups on a phased basis, wth suitable aseptic techniques in place during and in-between lessons to reduce the spread of infection.

Dr Brian Barrie. Biology Teacher

Why the contribution is important

It would enable a phased return to school-based learning for all pupils, maintaining social distancing guidance because of strictly reduced pupil numbers while adopting infection control protocols between lessons.

by brianbarrie on May 06, 2020 at 02:13AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.1
Based on: 19 votes

Comments

  • Posted by mclernonmichelle May 06, 2020 at 08:41

    For secondary pupils this seems like a very sensible option although it would be very difficult to achieve within the current timetables, particularly in lower years where pupils may have 13 subject teachers a week. An alternative option may be to split pupils into 2 or 3 groups to be in on weekly rotations with deep cleaning at weekends?

  • Posted by Scribbleaddict May 06, 2020 at 08:47

    How will we pay for this?

  • Posted by speyroad May 06, 2020 at 08:49

    This would work in Primary schools however In secondary schools it would be extremely unsettling for pupils and staff.
    Staff would need to monitor different groups in a time period. Teachers would need to remember who has had face to face and who has not and sent different work for each group for each class. That could mean for each class a teacher may have 3/4 groups and may have 5/6 classes which is 24 different groups to prepare bespoke work each week. The rotation of of groups for deep cleaning would mean a completely new timetable based on time periods rather than Monday to Friday.
    Current tt would not work as classes do not come to each subject daily!
    This would add to the already enormous stress SQA have put on teachers for estimates and very confusing to younger and vulnerable pupils who find secondary tt difficult and unsettling at the best of times.
    Much more planning involving for primary and secondaries separately needs to involve teachers not administrators, HT etc but daily practitioners.
    Release of any plans must not go to public without teachers being updated first. Too stressful from the public/ media pressure on teachers.

  • Posted by Heatherm May 06, 2020 at 08:52

    This sounds like a good idea however the health and safety of the staff involved would need to be flawless.
    How do we organise toilets? Keeping 2m apart and ensuring all are washing their hands?
    The touching of door handles, railings, books .
    More than just the classroom to keep clean and free from infection.

  • Posted by JUMAL66 May 06, 2020 at 08:54

    I think this could work well.

  • Posted by speyroad May 06, 2020 at 08:55

    I am not trained nor want to be trained in bacteriology and do not want to be involved in deep cleaning classrooms, corridors, office space, toilets, meeting rooms etc between each group - hourly in secondaries. This idea would not work in secondaries where groups of pupils move between subjects and cannot stay in same class all day due to different groupings in each subject. Teachers do not have the same room throughout the day. Resources are limited for IT, less than many have at home and sharing IT in school would be a risk. Sharing books, apparatus, toilets ... would be a risk.

  • Posted by speyroad May 06, 2020 at 08:58

    Corridors, cafeterias and communal areas would need to be staffed then cleaned, by whom as teachers would be back in classes cleaning or teaching?

  • Posted by lmac8355 May 06, 2020 at 09:06

    I worked in primary schools and specialist provision for 39 years until I retired 5 years ago.
    I think a phased return to school is important once it is safe to do so.
    I believe it is in some ways easier with secondary and upper primary age pupils. They have a better understanding of why social distancing is important though perhaps might be unwilling to put it into practice!
    It would be possible to reduce class sizes and have rotations to allow social distancing with the children and young people having work set for the time at home. I personally think a weekly timetable would give the young people a decent input from their teachers before spending time the following week on assignments. Pupils not in school would need access to support if they were hitting difficulties and technology would be required.
    Nursery and early years in primary schools are a different matter. Social distancing is almost impossible even with small groups because of the play and active based learning approaches used. My fear is by insisting on social distancing with such young children their experience would be negative and not what this stage is aiming for. Indeed it might be harmful for such young children to be reminded to stay apart, not touch etc

  • Posted by LaineyC36 May 06, 2020 at 09:14

    This would also very difficult for practical based subjects in secondaries where home learning is impossible due to the nature of the subject. A consequence of this would simply be that courses would not be finished by this time next year and it would have direct consequences on progress towards next year’s exam diet.

  • Posted by Pissedoffmum May 06, 2020 at 09:28

    Omg just open the school kids need education aswell as seeing their friends they can still social distance anyway a thought there wasn’t enough evidenced that any kid has passed it on to any adult

  • Posted by jgelliot May 06, 2020 at 11:13

    Schools are for education not childminding. Older pupils should be more aware of social distancing so should be returned first. doubtful if any below S3 could be relied on to social distance so should not return until a vaccine is available.
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