What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

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Confused38
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What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby Confused38 » Tue May 19, 2020 1:35 pm

Hi All,
I'm trying to gauge what other schools in Wandsworth LPA are doing re: opening on 1st June to see if its a similar approach to my children's school (I'm not sure that the approach taken by my school is the correct one).  Are they opening for N,R, Yr1 and Yr6 or just Yr6 for example? Are there any staggered approaches/ rotas?   Did your school email to find out if school were to open on 1st June, would you send your child?  Names of schools would be great.

Thanks in advance.
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mummy in cj
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby mummy in cj » Fri May 22, 2020 1:52 pm

Shaftesbury Park Primary (it is is a local authority school rather than academy) is opening for the early years after half term and two weeks later for year 6.

There is no indication yet if other year groups will return before the autumn.
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Astolat
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby Astolat » Sat May 23, 2020 9:32 am

Belleville has said not opening apart from key workers until at least 8th June.

I don’t know what they’re struggling with so much, it sounds from the letter as though the challenge is the sheer amount of things to think through rather than one thorny issue.

I’ve always found Belleville pretty pragmatic and good at innovating approaches & they have the space and staff so I’m a bit surprised this has proven so tricky.

I heard Honeywell (r and year 6) & Alfarthing are back on the 1st.
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nrmum
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby nrmum » Sat May 23, 2020 10:13 am

We are disappointed with Belleville's response which strikes me as a result of being part of a larger academy trust.  We have been always been pleased with the school and felt their online provision surpassed our expectations; but the detriment to the children delaying this start further is huge.  I've no doubt that they are working incredibly hard but it concerns me that they cannot put this provision in place at this stage.  I think they will lose a lot of parent goodwill over this decision.

It seems most primaries and nurseries in Wandsworth are planning to open in some form the week of 1 June so Belleville will be behind the curve.

 
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Sagittarius
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby Sagittarius » Sat May 23, 2020 12:34 pm

As a Belleville parent, I am actually pleased that they are waiting a bit longer to make sure the environment is as safe as it can be.  The amount of changes that needs to be implement is huge. Also, scientists have said that a delay in reopening will reduce the risk of infection. I find it a bit ridiculous that Parliament stays closed and schools are expected to reopen... And I agree, Belleville's home learning provision has been excellent.
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twomonkeys
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby twomonkeys » Mon May 25, 2020 11:37 am

At our school, R, Y1 and Y6 are going back part time on June 1st. But what I'm interested in is, what happens after that - for the other year groups - 2, 3, 4 and 5? Does anyone have any knowledge of that?

It's clear things are looking positive in London with new infections going down steadily. 

Thanks
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firsttimerSW11
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby firsttimerSW11 » Mon May 25, 2020 7:48 pm

Another one who is unimpressed by Belleville’s response. Why can other local schools get back in June 1.

I’ve been generally unimpressed by their CV19 provision. No work was ever marked, no online lessons. A world away from other local primaries, both state and private.

And yet we will probably get another letter telling us how dedicated they are to the children yet they can’t even be bothered to open on June 1st.

I’ve always championed Belleville, it has gone down in my estimation.
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Janet14
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby Janet14 » Tue May 26, 2020 8:10 am

Hi TwoMonkeys
Our school which is an old Victorian building but does have a reasonable amount of space and currently classes of 20 has said unless Govt guidelines change they would only have capacity for one more year group beyond reception, yr 1 and 6 so I suspect if that’s the case for our school it will be the same for most in the area especially as our school is fee paying so they’re very keen to get everyone back (as are the parents - 80% when they did a survey). What they have said they will probably do is extend term an extra two weeks and for those last two weeks have the other year groups back (so swap them around) so they can at least see their friends before the summer...
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betsyboop
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby betsyboop » Tue May 26, 2020 8:57 am

Another disappointment for Belleville.
They have changed their marking policy to a feedback policy so the kids’ work only gets so called ‘ticks’ or ‘cross’. They might get a group feedback, that is given only ‘orally’.
That is not an appropriate policy for primary school age children, as it is not constructive nor motivating or engaging.
This a decision implemented from last September to ease the marking job of the teachers so they can allocate their time to other tasks (?), unsurprisingly it’s gone down with the lockdown.
The online learning packs have lots of with mistakes and errors.
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twomonkeys
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby twomonkeys » Tue May 26, 2020 8:59 am

That's an interesting solution Janet. Although I'm not sure state schools would be able to remain open beyond the end of term (22nd July) but hopefully with the extra few of weeks they'll be able to get all children in with their teachers for at least some time before the summer holidays. 

It is so difficult managing the expectations of my children who are keen to return!

Our state primary has really made a huge effort with lessons. Some lessons are powerpoint slides to work through, along with worksheets to download or type straight onto, some have the teacher guiding the learning as a recorded video to watch. None are 'live' of course. This is our Key Stage 2 experience. In most cases the work assignment has the answers included so it can be marked at home but teachers encourage the children to upload their work and they feedback. It's not perfect but it's very good.
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Noddy1
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby Noddy1 » Tue May 26, 2020 10:00 am

Thank you for your reply. I am curious as my child might attend starting this fall in reception. Is this a policy which was put in place prior to the recent crisis and if so do you see other signs besides this that the school is perhaps lowering standards in order to accommodate more classes and therefore higher demands on its teachers? Many thanks
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KayceeBee
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby KayceeBee » Tue May 26, 2020 4:42 pm

Wow - I am gobsmacked that Belleville isn't getting more positive comments on this thread.  I think they've been fantastic at planning and implementing distance learning.  Our teacher always comments on uploaded work and is also very encouraging and caring on weekly calls.  In my opinion Belleville expects just the right amount of work to be uploaded (not so much that it's overwhelming but enough to give a little structure to the day.  There are always plenty of additional resources if the child/parent wants more).  All lessons are clear enough for year 3 kids to follow independently (I can't comment on other year groups).

The teachers and senior management team have been working round the clock to provide this distance learning provision as well as on site lessons for children of key workers.  I am sure it has been relentless for all schools and teachers especially as they have had mixed, and sometimes conflicting, direction from government and education authorities.  Yet Belleville has continued to deliver more and more each week.

Remember that it is half term this week.  A time when teachers are normally on holiday.  I hope that many are enjoying a well deserved break but I am sure that the Belleville management team is working with the trust to set guidelines and protocol as well as figure out staffing availability and requirements.

Schools only had the definitive go ahead to open on Friday.  With bank holiday Monday thrown in that leaves 4 working days (which aren't supposed to be working days for teachers) to turn around opening.  That might be do-able for a single form entry school but for a 4 form entry I can see why 8th June is more realistic.
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muddyboots
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby muddyboots » Thu May 28, 2020 9:29 am

I don’t think words like hysteria as helpful. The worst outcome of corona is death, people who are lucky to be unaffected by the virus can be quite dismissive.

I feel that’s it is concerning that the scientific opinion on the safety of opening schools is divided.
It’s not about the matter of how children are hopefully not affected, it’s also about the staff and potential wider effect on the community if this is not handled correctly.

I think that the government has chosen the wrong years for schools opening. For primary it should be the oldest classes!
They need it more and are also more able understand the big changes.

No one is talking of the emotional effects on the smallest and capacity to understand why they maybe have a new teacher, can’t see their usual friends and can’t play or touch their usual toys. Reception and nursery kids are safer playing at home right now.
By September the curve should have reduced significantly if the current trend is here to stay. So why risk it ?
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Busymumof3
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby Busymumof3 » Mon Jun 01, 2020 7:19 am

I'm also very surprised by the negative comments re Belleville on here, I think they've been doing a good job.  The weekly phone call from our class teacher is really appreciated, it is a good chance for me to talk through anything with the teacher, and my child is really happy to hear from him too.  I think they've done well with their learning materials, whoever commented that there are mistakes in it should see some of the material from our eldest's private secondary school, there have been far more there...  Belleville have also had the teachers record audio books (with the text at the same time), and done online assemblies.  Agreed, the feedback has been limited, but as mentioned that has been part of the non-lockdown policy in any case.

It takes a ridiculous amount of time to prepare all these materials, I think people could be much more appreciative.  As for not opening until the 8th, does an extra five days at home make a big difference, after 10 weeks off??  It's a big school, so no doubt harder to implement all the safety changes required, and surely better that they delay until they feel they've sorted it out.

 
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Mumof3BtwtheCommons
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Re: What's your school doing re: opening 1 June?

Postby Mumof3BtwtheCommons » Mon Jun 01, 2020 8:14 am

We have a son in year 1 at Dolphin School and a daughter at Noah’s Ark nursery. Dolphin has been brilliant at home schooling - really surpassed our expectations. They are a small school but they have made adaptations so that year 6, 1 and reception can return this week. There will be staggered drop offs and pick ups, less uniform and sports kit going in and out of school and various other measures. Noah’s Ark open on 8th June.

As two parents working from home, we are very grateful that they have found creative and clever ways to reopen safely.
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