Schools to return full-time from September
The Prime Minister has announced schools are to return for all pupils “full-time” from September.
The announcement of the reduction of the two metre gap to one metre, coincided with the reopening of pubs and restaurants.
The move could also impact schools, with the Prime Minister pledging his intention to return all pupils to the classroom for the next academic year.
Prime Minister: I want every pupil back in September
When asked whether children would return full-time from the autumn, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said:
Absolutely… Provided we can make the classroom safe, and I think we can, I want every child, every student, every pupil back in September and I’m sure we can get it done.
I’m making no bones about it – I think that’s the right way forward for our country.
Education Secretary stops short of announcing Government policy
The Government has said that the switch to full-time education is an “intention” and not Government Policy.
“School is vital for every one of our children,” Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told the Downing Street press briefing.
That is why we will bring all children, in all year groups, back to school in September. While many children have already returned to school, I do understand that there is anxiety still among parents.
I want to assure you that the wellbeing of your children is the absolute top priority for every single one of us.
Will all pupils return?
The National Education Union have however cast doubts over the Government’s intentions.
“Simply hoping will be enough in itself to achieve that goal,” the NEU said.
If the requirements of social distancing – in order to stop a second peak – are reduced even to 1m, then most schools could not have 30 children in a classroom.
He needs a plan for more teachers, to ask teachers who have left the profession to return, and he needs to be finding extra spaces in which they can teach smaller groups.
We need to use the ingenuity that produced the Nightingale hospitals to produce the extra spaces we need.
What does the return to school mean for online learning?
Schools are currently operating with smaller classes and social distancing.
As a result, a strategy of blended learning is being operated by schools. Pupils are receiving a combination of classroom sessions, one-to-ones and online learning.
According to experts, blended learning could become the new normal – with some parents still concerned about the dangers of children going back to school.
EDLounge Group Ltd is here to support blended learning. With over 11,000 lessons in a wide range of subjects, we can help your pupils get caught up quickly.
With a range of tools at the teachers’ disposal, teachers can produce a personalised pathway for students, whilst the student and the teacher receives instant feedback.
Further, with attainment monitored you can keep a track on the contribution of all pupils on our system.
Ofsted inspected EDLounge Group Ltd in 2019. You can read the report here.
For more information call 01909 568338 or email mail@edclass.com.
