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[Closed] Coronavirus impact on schools

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Oh and we could be redeployed to any task we might be able to carry out. We're all for getting a positive out of this but it's a shit storm of conflicting information. Council release statement in the morning by which time it's already out of date.

I have started to set up lessons for the next six weeks for all classes but I need information like who's in a set so I can populate a team and then it's all gravy. But a deputy today said I can't know the pupils names because that'll let me look up their email addresses which will contravene gdpr. Even though I need them to populate the team.


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 6:49 pm
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I was thinking would it be inappropriate to have nerf gun battles along the corridors if I am supervising a small group of kids during the outbreak?


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 7:10 pm
 ctk
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My school will be open for vulnerable kids or the kids of key workers. I think that's about 35 kids total. Teachers will be setting lessons via the internet also.

All schools in Wales are being asked to do the same.

Edit: Primary school 60 odd kids per year with nursery as well.


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 7:15 pm
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If you, or anybody else, is serious about volunteering then I suggest you contact a local care agency. They are struggling for carers ordinarily – now even more so.

For now, concerned with keeping our 12 person business afloat (not my business, I'm just an employee). But will remember for the future if the worst happens.


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 7:26 pm
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I should be out of isolation on Sunday.

If anyone's stuck inside and has a power kite they aren't using.........?


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 7:31 pm
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kelvin

But… the exposure risk of one of your household being in that one school (with vastly reduced attendance) is probably much the same as several of you being in there.

Not at all and it gets further and further away from "the same" the younger the children.

Adults can be expected not to touch things ... and when they do not touch their face until they wash their hands. Unless you have worked in a lab etc. it's more difficult than you might think when you are doing something else.

Kids in reception? Not a chance?

My 10yr old tried whilst doing miscellaneous things round the house. [Computer, coursework, watching TV] Every time he put a finger, pen or whatever in his mouth I remarked... after 1/2 hour or so he admitted he'd never do it whilst doing something else.


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 7:43 pm
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Why is it that teachers whinge more than any other profession?

I'm not a teacher, and I usually try to be more polite than this, but why don't you just f off you whining git?
I wonder what crucial job you do?


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 7:47 pm
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Why is it that teachers whinge more than any other profession?

Doesn't take long does it?!

The overwhelming majority of teachers are hardworking to the extent of donig far more than asked to do the best for their students. They have been stressing over the goings on and how to do the best for all year groups over the coming months are are rewarded with this kind of sh!t from journalists and on social media.


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 7:47 pm
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So schools are closed, Scouts and Guides have shut down, the kids orchestra has shut down, cycle club has shut down, we are all being urged to limit social contact, pretty much every club has shut down except my daughters gymnastics club, even though at least two of her display team are self isolating this week.....

She isn't training tomorrow, handy excuse of the broken finger


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 8:10 pm
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Right I've suferfested and now have a pint in hand feel better.
My day started bad when I wasn't allowed into Sainsbury's to get a loaf for my 78yo mum who's just out of hospital while on my way to work. The oaps were leaving with so much bogroll that it'll outlast most of them.


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 8:27 pm
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MCTD- gymnastic places must have super powers. The one my son goes to is open as well!


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 9:02 pm
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I left teaching in 2018 and feel like I've dodged two bullets now!

All the best former colleagues!


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 9:10 pm
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@FB-ATB - British Gymnastics website says everything at national level is cancelled till June, but individual clubs can do their own risk assessment. She's on a display team heading for EuroGym in Iceland in July, so they are keen to keep training as the event isn't cancelled yet.


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 9:44 pm
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Just had an email from sons college saying they are refunding the upfront bus fare till the end of this academic year - presumably not expecting to go back till September


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 9:47 pm
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It will be hard for Yr 11 in school tomorrow. Word on the street is that they are all planning to come in to say goodbye.

Overall student attendance in the county yesterday was approx. 34%
Overall teaching staff attendance was approx. 65%


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 10:01 pm
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Not at all and it gets further and further away from “the same” the younger the children.

A very good point well made.


 
Posted : 19/03/2020 10:19 pm
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We're all in Monday and Tuesday. No more exams/prelims for kids only those that need to complete coursework.
No guide on how grades for exam classes will be awarded or what evidence is needed.


 
Posted : 20/03/2020 1:40 pm
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From SQA

Following the Deputy First Minister’s announcement yesterday that the 2020 exam diet cannot now go ahead, I wanted to confirm to you the position with the marking of National 5 coursework. Marking of coursework will continue as planned. Depending on your location, scripts will be delivered to you from Tuesday 24 March and arrangements for the delivery of the scripts are based on the information you have already provided.


 
Posted : 20/03/2020 6:17 pm
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I see the key workers school thread got locked, what are other key workers thinking about their kids next week? In a quandary here. Wife is a social worker so we qualify, albeit not in a role with particularly vulnerable individuals, in fact seems her work might dry up then potentially redeployed elsewhere. Kids are 6 & 4, so chances of actually working from home with them around are zero.

I'm a self employed contractor, and on 3x wife's salary (albeit she's part time) so while I could pack my contract in, or take it down to 2 days, to look after the kids, it would be financially tough for us. Alternatively wife takes temporary redundancy or reduces hours, which is perhaps not the thing to do in a crisis but she's so fed up with the profession that putting herself in harm's way for zero reward from employer or "client" might just be the final straw.

Or we suck it up and put the kids in the 3 days she works, and feel guilty that we are putting them/us/society at risk by not social distancing as we should.

No idea what to do, but glad I found this thread to see others in a similar quandary, most others I spoke to are of the view that if it's available they'll use it


 
Posted : 22/03/2020 9:53 am
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I would be making every possible change to avoid kids going in. I know of one teacher jabbering on about having to take her son into school with her as her husband cant look after the kid as he's working from home. Its ****ing madness, get your husband to look after him ffs. If you have two people at home you should make every effort to not send kids to school. My school have told me that under no circumstances are we to bring kids into school to look for others or have to leave kids with grandparents etc.


 
Posted : 22/03/2020 10:47 am
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Good article on how to deal with kids at this time. Wasn't sure to put it here or on the general thread, so going for both

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/mar/22/family-isolation-guide-for-parents-teenagers-coronavirus-lockdown


 
Posted : 22/03/2020 11:04 am
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@tenacious_doug
We're in a very similar situation. My wife is also a social worker who's isn't front line but her job qualifies as a key worker. I run two micro businesses with a friend and can be flexible especially as the crisis is likely to reduce our work anyway. We've decided that i look after the kids 3 days a week so she can work but if a big contract comes in we have the flexibility to switch. I don't think it's right to send kids to school or nursery unless one of you is a true key worker and the other cannot help. The key worker definition is far too wide and is open to abuse, I see that Pets at home have designated their staff as key workers FFS!


 
Posted : 22/03/2020 11:38 am
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Kids are 6 & 4, so chances of actually working from home with them around are zero.

I think that when you get into the routine of things, whilst not always easy, you’d manage fine. I used to look after my children on my own all day at that age and they would happily entertain themselves for long periods whilst I did things around the flat, or sat and read the paper beside them. Difficult as they were at times, I miss those days more than I can tell.


 
Posted : 22/03/2020 12:10 pm
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what are other key workers thinking about their kids next week?

Both keyworkers here, neither of us can WFH. We will only use the school provision when both of us are working at the same time, otherwise they’ll be with us at home. Assuming it happens, haven’t heard anything back yet!


 
Posted : 22/03/2020 6:51 pm
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Scotland has decreed that exam pupils should not go in to complete coursework as we had been informed last week.
I've been told (by good source in local authority) that they are planning to even cut what is on offer - the planned hubs are a perfect vector into hundreds of key worker families.


 
Posted : 22/03/2020 8:08 pm
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the planned hubs are a perfect vector into hundreds of key worker families.

This is definitely a concern of mine. I received an email this afternoon asking me to volunteer at such a hub. Considering what measures were taken prior to closing the schools, I’m torn between my strong urge to do my bit and volunteering for an unknown setup that I’d likely not be impressed by.


 
Posted : 22/03/2020 8:35 pm
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How are teachers coping with the closure?
I work at a college and im expected to deliver lessons remotley for the rest of the term, i have to submit a log of intended activity each day, all students are expected to complete a learning log, i have to invte managment and quality personel into my lessons and students are going to be contacted on their experience and progress.

We had friday to prepare for all this, and we cant assess some parts anyway due to needing specalist software/ equipment. Waiting for awarding bodies to sort that one out.

Son is high risk (had heat surgery previously) think im on the list too.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 12:04 am
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Mrs Pondo's mob are badly organised, which is usual for them - no kids in tomorrow but all teachers requested to be in but keep away from everyone else, straight to classrooms and no more than two at a kettle. What for? Just nuts - they're just delivering childcare at this stage, so absolutely no need to go in, just work out which kids'll be in and put a rota together. Expectation is there'll be teachers rota'd on over easter and maybe weekends - this may change as the head is a cock.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 12:30 am
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My school and mrs anagallis school has a rota for next 2 weeks, mine is almost all SLT and Heads of department/year. I'm not on it, other halfs on hers for 2 afternoons.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 7:21 am
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Our school has rota in place; 7-7 split into 3 shifts, also running over Easter hols. Currently I'm not going in due to asthma, but I'm not teaching any more so a lot of what I need to do I can do from home. Our staff have all really pulled together.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 9:48 am
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Head's organised a lunchtime meeting in the main hall for all staff! Honestly, what a cretin.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 10:25 am
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As a bare minimum they should be operating A and B teams - one week one, one week off.

Mrs Dubs School only have to cover about thirty kids so she’s just “on call” in case one somebody gets ill.

She’s also a first aided so might be called in to cover.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 10:32 am
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I'm a teacher in a college and we have all been instructed to work from home. Luckily a few courses including mine are computer and course work based. All students put their work on individual websites so we can keep checking and sending feedback so as long as they have access to a computer and internet they will be ok. Adobe have even provided free access to students for now so they can continue to work.

The only thing that worries me is if students don't do any work. With only email contact it is very difficult to chase them. The don't realise how lucky they are compared to those who need access to specialist equipment.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 10:36 am
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At my wife's school they had a pair of parents both claiming to be key workers and needing to dump their kids at school as they are both childminders.

The idea of minding their own children was alien to them.

ps it's a High school, so the pupils should generally be able to left unattended.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 10:37 am
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Head’s organised a lunchtime meeting in the main hall for all staff! Honestly, what a cretin.

This is how viruses spread. That head really is a cretin!


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 10:41 am
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In a predictable manner all online learning platforms have gone pop!


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 12:25 pm
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My predicament is that we're both Mon-Fri key workers, unable to WFH.

Our only child is 14, so able to look after themselves, but we have concerns about him being home alone 07:30-16:00 for ??? 6 months V sending him to school with 15 other kids who he doesn't hang out with & who are high risk spreaders.

We've planned to send him in Mon, Wed & Fri for social interaction, he hates us for it, and it looks like he's in a class with social distancing of kids he's not friends with....

We're coming round to thinking he may be safer & have more interaction hooked up to his PS4 for the 6 months.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 12:30 pm
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The kids will be socially distancing at school.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 12:53 pm
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I’ve been told (by good source in local authority) that they are planning to even cut what is on offer – the planned hubs are a perfect vector into hundreds of key worker families.

Emails we've had from school and nursery this morning certainly make it look like it's moving in that direction. We are Edinburgh and they are not providing anything initally this week, instead using the next few days to plan for how they will approach, certainly sounds like there will be a more reduced provision than was first anticipated.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 2:14 pm
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My wifes in school today (SENCo in a secondary school) they've asked 150 teaching staff to come in to child mind 60 'vulnerable' kids and an unknown number of keyworker kids.
The head is a total tool so not sure how long it will take before he realises they should be trying have as few people in as possible - can't see why they cant split into A/B shifts and do week on week off..


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 2:26 pm
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The school I work at was planning on the assumption of about 60-70 kids being in.
Only 22 turned up today, so they're splitting us into A and B teams, one week on one week off. There's also a reserve C team, not working for now, but will be called in when staff are ill or absent.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 2:32 pm
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'Holiday'clubs have now sprung up so that if your child can't go to school, you can send him to the club!!!!!!


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 3:03 pm
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Holiday’clubs have now sprung up so that if your child can’t go to school, you can send him to the club!!!!!!

That won’t last long!

First day of home schooling here in Glencoe. Started off with PE with Joe on YT at 9am. The school have been excellent in getting lessons and books out so far.

Crazy times.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 3:10 pm
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Mrs Scape has come home at lunchtime. The staff spent a considerable amount of time "discussing criteria" with a lot of parents for the first hour. No key stage 4 kids at all are in school. Far fewer kids in than expected. Staff now on a rota. Mrs Scape now does just Wednesdays and emergency relief cover on a rota basis.


 
Posted : 23/03/2020 3:11 pm
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