I think it's important for children to return to school but I can't help but think we've got the strategy a bit wrong.
I'm a school Governor at a Primary School and a huge amount of work is going into making sure that the school is a safe environment for when children return. It won't be business as usual though:
Arrangements will be made to observe social distancing in classrooms but this means the number of children that can be accommodated will be less than half of the usual number
Because of this children will be spread across more class rooms and are unlikely to be taught by their usual teacher
Due to the number of classrooms and teachers available children will attend on 2 days (e.g. Monday and Tuesday, with others attending on Thursday and Friday leaving Wednesday for deep cleaning as the groups of children changeover and for teachers PPA)
Each class will be set up as a bubble with specific teachers and support assistants. People (staff and children) won't be able to mix between bubbles.
Start and finish times will be staggered by bubble. Each bubble will have a different break time. A packed lunch will be provided and eaten in the classroom to avoid children mixing between bubbles.
Social distancing in operation in the classrooms so separate tables, no group carpet time etc.
Children of key workers can continue to attend 5 days a week - this will be a separate buble
There will be staff who are isolating because they are showing symptoms or they are in vulnerable groups so there is a risk (particularly in smaller schools) that there will be closures due to staff shortages.
If a child or member of staff shows symptoms of the virus they will be removed immediately (and if a child placed into isolation while waiting to be collected by parents). The whole bubble (staff and children) will not attend school for 7 days.
There is far more than what I've said above but this is the main gist. One thing that no-one's really talking about is the effect on children. The Government want Reception, year 1 and year 6 pupils to return. Year 6 is fair enough, they are old enough to understand what is going on but reception and Year 1 children are 4-6 years old - they probably aren't going to understand what's going on, getting them into the new routines will potentially be difficult. Many will be scared. Staff will have to keep a distance rather than comfort and reassure as they would normally do.
What will a 4 year old think when they see a teacher wearing a face mask, they can't play with their friends, have to sit on a separate table, can't sit on the carpet for a story, can't use the iPads they're used to etc etc.
I'm not against schools going back but I think the older children should be prioritised.
) who might rather welcome children being out from under their feet, but, despite that, they haven't been persuaded of the safety of it. Do NOT assume I hold that view myself, though, but then I'm hardly in a position to be having to come to a decision any more than I believe you are.
