Opinion: Is this too quick a decision for Falkirk schools to go back full-time?

News that our children and grandchildren will hopefully be back in the classroom by August if this horrible virus continues to disappear would have been greeted by loud cheers in homes up and down the land.
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News that our children and grandchildren will hopefully be back in the classroom by August if this horrible virus continues to disappear would have been greeted by loud cheers in homes up and down the land.

None more so than in daughter Emma’s where she admits that she is finding home schooling a very tough gig.

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“I used to envy my friends who are teachers for all their long holidays but honestly, you couldn’t pay me enough to do their job,” she said on her regular phone call this week.

“And I’ve only got two to look after. They’ve got at least 20 ... and usually more. I don’t know how they do it.”

Before I could offer any agreement or enquire if it had been particularly bad day with Jack and Sophie, she added: “As for single parents, I don’t know how they do it. I take my hat off to them as being cooped up inside with youngsters must be awful.

“We all love our kids but we all need a bit of space from each other at some stage. During term time they go to school and have all their activities, while during the holidays they can spend time with friends or we can go out places, but honestly, this last few months has been unbelievable.”

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While I’m delighted for Emma and all the parents out there who are relieved that their children will hopefully be returning to the classroom for the 2020/21 school session and quickly catch up, I am a wee bit concerned about the quick about turn.

One minute we’ve got the school bosses telling us that children will only be in school two days a week to start with and parents have to continue with blended learning at home, then the next thing the politicians are saying that the plan is if the virus rates keep falling that it will be okay for them all to be back with no social distancing.

That wasn’t what you were saying last week Mr Swinney.

The sudden about turn set alarms bells ringing for me – and I’m sure a lot of parents, carers and family members.

Yes we want our children to get back to being educated by the professionals in the normal setting but only if it is safe.

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I also feels so sorry for all those teachers and head teachers who have put in hours of preparation for the arrangements that they were originally told they would need to have in place, only for this U-turn two days before they are due to go on a well deserved holiday.

Emma may think that teachers have lots of holidays but I’ll bet that there are now lots of them who are going to spend the next few weeks changing the plans they had so painstakingly made then communicating it to parents.

Parents too don’t know whether they are coming or going trying to make arrangements to ensure their children get the proper care when they are not in school.

Yes I’m delighted that everything appears to be returning to normal.

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Yes I’m relieved that my grandchildren and all the other children are probably going to go back to school full-time.

But, and it’s a very big but, I have concerns about the speed with which this change in direction came about and we’ve still not seen any evidence that it will be safe for children and staff.

And that must be everyone’s priority.

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