School Re-opening

A typical class of 24-27 kids could be split into 3 groups with one group of 8-9 kids coming in each day (maximum twice a week). On the 3 other days that a group will not be physically in class, they can join the class online. With 2 fixed full days for each child every week, their parents can also commit to going into their work on those same 2 days of the week. The days in school will allow printed work to be handed to the children every week (where suitable).
The days in school can be increased or decreased as dictated by the Covid-19 statistics.
I have heard suggestions about one group coming in the morning and another in the afternoon but I think the changeover in such an arrangement would increase risk of contact and the half days would not allow parents to commit to returning to work.
S1-S6 should be allowed to come back before P1-P6.
P4-P7 classes which are better able to adhere to social distancing should be allowed back first before P1-P3.

Why the contribution is important

Having a workable solution to how kids return to school is crucial to allowing their parents get back to work as we try to restart the economy.

by Are on May 05, 2020 at 10:03PM

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Average rating: 3.0
Based on: 24 votes

Comments

  • Posted by staz875 May 05, 2020 at 22:29

    I think looking at using the summer holiday period to phase children back to school. Children have already lost 7 weeks of education they do not need a further 7 weeks off if able to slowly re open schools. There are very vulnerable children out there who have no eyes on them and are not able to access food. Why should schools be closed any longer than they need to be!

  • Posted by Tartanwonder May 05, 2020 at 22:35

    Utilising the capacity of Outdoor learning centres, Forest schools and smaller private schools with the grounds to facilitate greater numbers through a Grant's scheme to fund places could help with educating greater numbers of pupils at the same time. Many smaller institutions with larger grounds are already stretched financially but are wonderful organisations which could cope with greater numbers in their outdoor spaces and would welcome the financial input and greater community involvement. There is a lot of evidence that Outdoor learning works both in the short and long term and our children need more time outside and away from screens which are increasingly a necessity of school and work life.

  • Posted by Sparks May 05, 2020 at 22:40

    No matter what Schools returning must be prioritised. These young people will have the greatest impact on the long term wellbeing and finacial health of our country. I accept that it must be done in a safe way but must be prioritised over any change to household group changes. The longer this goes on the higher the impact on those young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

  • Posted by LeyaG May 05, 2020 at 22:42

    A return to full-time education as we have known it to be will require careful consideration. Will we ever return to life as we previously knew it?
    A workable solution in order to help our society regain some normality, in a safe and structured way is vital.
    Will this provide us with the opportunity to move away from the 'traditional' classroom learning, however. Although in Scotland the aim with CfE was for more flexibility, fluidity and child led learning, many barriers have been in place and in some areas, this has never fully been supported to be implemented.
    The use of outdoor spaces/ reduced numbers in classes due to a phased re-entry may help this.
    Safety of our children and future generations is of paramount importance...

  • Posted by MPatterson13 May 05, 2020 at 22:45

    What about families who cannot go online? This seems a very complicated and not very workable suggestion. What about school transport, how will different groups be transported? Even on half empty buses who will ensure social distancing.
    Is the scientific evidence suggesting that school pupils might cause a second peak robust?
    What about families with more than one child? How will this help parents return to work if some are in school while others are not?
    Appreciate this is a very challenging situation but I am concerned that these suggestions will not help parents or pupils.
    New Zealand has managed to eradicate the virus and is managing a slow relaxing of lockdown, maybe we need to concentrate on eradication to ensure a best way forward

  • Posted by Jones17 May 05, 2020 at 22:48

    As a mother and someone who works in the education system the sooner schools open the better. I think splitting the school week between years is probably the best way forward. I would have concerns about parents lingering outside the school (some do) and about what to do about distancing on school buses. Also should pupils and staff all be tested before returning to school?

  • Posted by Emma75 May 05, 2020 at 22:48

    When children return to schools too early, even in smaller numbers let say 6-8 children at the same time, it still may increase the risk of transmission of Covid 19 between different families, making the parents with underlying health conditions more vulnerable. For me there is no doubt that children will not keep 2 metres distance all the time and if it was reinforced by staff, it could only prove to be very stressful for the children.

  • Posted by Liridona May 05, 2020 at 22:48

    WHO says no evidence Of children Under 10 passing the virus on. Get the schools back. Stop putting our children’s future on mortgage.

  • Posted by Alocinl May 05, 2020 at 22:56

    If schools worked through the summer, how would this impact school staff's employment rights to annual leave?

  • Posted by Cherrylynn May 05, 2020 at 22:59

    Safety is paramount but children are missing out from an educational, social and development perspective. Could it be suggested that the school summer holiday is June this year instead of July. This would give an extra month for safety. Children could return in July then have a two week break in August. Also if children were to return in small groups on certain days would it work better for a week at a time so if there were any infections within that group would automatically be self isolating for 9 days?

  • Posted by yebaws May 05, 2020 at 23:33

    40% of parents surveyed wouldn't want to send their children back to school. My guess is that the figure for teachers is higher. And who knows what the unions will say.

    The government have scared the pants off everyone and now they'll find they can't get anybody back to work again

  • Posted by Kirklistonjohn May 06, 2020 at 02:13

    Remote teaching should be increased but be more focused and teacher led - especially create the opportunity for one to one video links for tutorials between teacher and pupil.
    This would take the weight of parents especially key workers and those working at home and tap in to the vast teacher at home resource.

  • Posted by Nicnaw12 May 06, 2020 at 08:03

    Open smaller childcare settings with smaller ratios first. Inline with schools, say childminders with 6 kids. 8 children at most.
    Smaller ratios, than preschool centres, 3 under 5 and 3 after school.
    This could be voluntary and up to each individual childminder.

  • Posted by Mandyintdesign May 06, 2020 at 08:18

    As a teacher I do not feel that pupils returning part time would work. This will not allow a return to normal, it will be more distributive for children and parents. We should move all year groups back one year, start children at school age 6. This will reduce educational impact. Then we should start a phased return. Allowing further children of key workers to attend school and increasing this slowly perhaps also including vulnerable children.

  • Posted by ashlouise91 May 06, 2020 at 15:17

    I think that yes, schools should go back in some form in August. However to say that children and school staff have had a 7 week “holiday” so far during lockdown is quite insensitive.

    I understand that not all children can get online but schools have worked hard to ensure other things have been put in place or technology loaned. Vulnerable and ASN pupils have been invited to attend childcare hubs and most schools will have a support network in place to keep in touch with these families.

    We can only do our best in this unprecedented situation but hey, what’s a few 1000 school staff being infected with covid-19 because some 3- 5 year olds put their fingers and resources in their mouths or sneeze over others? Or they don’t understand 2m and just want a hug from their teacher or to play tag with their friends? Small sacrifice to make just so you can have a break from your kids? After all they’ve spent the last 7 weeks having an extended holiday, right? 😠

  • Posted by newnormal May 06, 2020 at 17:43

    Agree schooling is of great importance on many different levels but in considering schooling and return to transport of children to and from safely is paramount.

    If social distancing is to continue how can this be done in either a coach or minibus if running at capacity as many would have been pre Covid 19.

    Transportation plays a big part in successful return to school.

  • Posted by Freyayoung May 07, 2020 at 12:32

    To be able to ensure the school is properly cleaned I do not think having certain groups in the morning vs the afternoon would work. Children will not understand that they can’t touch doors, banisters, door handles, windows etc and cleaners in schools will not be able to deep clean twice or three times a day to the extent to kill the virus. Schools will not go back before summer holidays, I think schools should open back up but only what is safe for teachers. Children from evidence, are the least affected however this is not the case for teachers, admin staff, cleaners, bus drivers and their safety should be paramount. Having S4-6 work from home and S1-3 in groups during the week would work better and would probably be the safest. Same for primary, P5-7 work from home and P1-3 go into school and split into groups/days

  • Posted by Marie83 May 07, 2020 at 19:22

    I agree with the comment of reducing the summer holidays to allow the schools back... could it be possible to start summer holiday just now and keep going for maybe 4 weeks and bring the kids back to finish current years and then maybe have another weeks holiday end sept to allow the kids small break before moving into next year....
    In the meantime allow things like summer camps/after school etc to recommence in-line with the works going back which allows parents to go back to work
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