School/Nursery

Children should return to school/nursery after the summer holidays. This allows local authorities to properly set up resources for home working. Children and staff should physically attend school on a part time basis, and spend the rest of the week implementing online learning. Staff should work the same days every week to ensure that they are in contact with the same team of staff and children, thus reducing social contact.

With very young children (0-5), social distancing is practically impossible. Therefore it is imperative that numbers in nursery environments are drastically reduced. 1140 rollout must be suspended, and children should return to sessional attendance when they are physically present. Staff MUST be supplied with appropriate PPE, including masks. Staff in a 0-5 environment are often providing very intimate care to young children who cannot control their bodily functions and fluids, and often sneeze/spit in your face by accident. Early Years staff have been lumped in with teachers, but the role is more Social Care than education at the moment (plus we are SSSC registered therefore defined as social care workers).

Why the contribution is important

I work in Early Years education and levels of anxiety are high amongst staff and parents. We have been told for weeks that crowds are dangerous, to avoid contact at all costs. To then immediately return to a building with 70+ children inside would be the final straw for the mental health of many staff. If there is a 'business as usual' approach to return, I believe sickness and absence levels would spike amongst staff. We must return in a safe manner.

by CAlex on May 06, 2020 at 03:09PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.3
Based on: 11 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Laura_m_88 May 06, 2020 at 16:38

    I agree. There has to be very clear and different guideline for early years establishments as to what the service will look from a school comparison. Social distancing is virtually impossible in under 5s. Many staff will need to phased return patternand their own family circumstances must be taken into account. The number children within centres needs to be dramatically reduced to even to basic things such as lunch with some sort of distance.

  • Posted by Alba5 May 06, 2020 at 16:56

    I totally agree. I am a teacher and have a child in Primary 1 and another who used to attend a private nursery. My parents are also shielding. I can't understand how it would be feasible for me to return to work with no childcare (or safe childcare option) as is currently stands. I am sure there will be other teachers in similar circumstances.

  • Posted by Lottie May 06, 2020 at 17:20

    As someone who works in a school office with asthma and a husband who is shielding I would be very nervous about a return to school anytime soon. It is impossible for children to socially distance inside and outside the school. It would also be difficult for staff in small offices and around the school in toilets and narrow corridors. I do not think Nicola Sturgeon will be pushed to open schools too early however.

  • Posted by gccarter May 06, 2020 at 17:32

    Early years needs to really be thought through. These children need hands on support from thier care givers. These children do not understand that they have to stay a set amount of distance apart from each other. These children will be scared to see those in care wearing PPE even though it is vital for safety. The numbers of the virus will increase if early years is not managed correctly.

  • Posted by Lucy1980 May 07, 2020 at 01:23

    We also need to think about provisions, children who require daily medical treatment close up, children who need physical intervention, nappies and catheters changed etc. These are children of all ages from. Nursery to secondary.

    There is a lot to think about before reopening schools and I agree this should not be done quickly - it is going to take a huge amount of planning.

    As far as I’m aware the 1140 hours has been suspended.

    I agree with “staff should work the same day(s) every week” and do remote learning the rest of the time. The logistics of this are a nightmare and I don’t think anyone who doesn’t work in a school understands this, but it has to happen to keep everyone as safe as possible.

  • Posted by WorkingGlasgowMum May 07, 2020 at 02:35

    Decisions on my children’s health should not be taken away from me.
    I’m not worried about my children’s learning and development, I’m worried about their safety.

    I don’t want to send my children to a nursery where the teacher is in full PPE and they are not.

    Lack of knowledge of CV and new info about ‘inflammatory Syndrome’ has made me unwilling to consider sending my children back to nursery.

    Support from employers - those who can work from home and and look after nursery age children should do so.

    Activities / homework provided by nursery

    Similar families working from home and not sending their children back could be match allowing their children to interact with 1 or 2 children from their nursery.
    Vulnerable children and children of front line worker could attend with less risk.

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