News roundup
As we embarked on the last week of partial school closures in England, teachers and schools are focusing on how they can best get pupils back into the school routine and deal with wellbeing issues as well as academic recovery, which we showed is likely to be a more pressing issue in parts of the country that have not engaged with the National Tutoring Programme as fully as others.
The national children’s charity the NSPCC called for teachers and schools to be equipped to cope with traumatised pupils when they return to classrooms next week, while headteachers have warned that the “unsustainable pressure” that they and school staff have been under could set back catch-up plans and lead to an exodus of experienced teachers if not addressed.
Those hoping there would be more support for schools recovery drive from the Treasury unveiled in the chancellor’s Budget speech were left disappointed, and influential think tank The National Foundation for Educational Research called on the government to rethink the new school funding formula as the current system - designed to “level up” funding between schools - means that those with the most disadvantaged pupils were receiving smaller increases in funding, and their need has been exacerbated by Covid-19.
In terms of more immediate practical concerns as schools reopen, the DfE has moved to dismiss claims by teaching union the NASUWT that employers could be liable under the European Convention on Human Rights if staff died from contracting Covid-19 having been required to return to school pre-vaccination.
And as if getting schools ready, complete with testing facilities at secondary schools, wasn’t enough, some were having to deal with a possible IT security breach too as the DfE warned that those using Microsoft Exchange servers must act to ensure the safety of their systems after the tech giant issued an urgent security attack update.
Features roundup
After being away from school, it’s important to give students time and space to rebuild their friendships - so we looked at 6 ways to help students rebuild their social worlds at school when they return.
How manageable is it to teach while wearing a mask? An international teacher with four months’ experience of masked teaching offered advice for staff in England in preparation for the new way of working.
Transition is always a challenging time for schools, and the coronavirus has made it even harder. So, how are schools reacting? We spoke to leaders about their approach for managing this big moment for young people in 2021.
How can we help children with speech, language and communication needs readjust to school life? Pupils with SLCN may find it difficult settling back into school, says Sendco Alexis Doyle, but there are some useful approaches that can help ease the process.
Has remote learning killed the art of feedback? Teaching is about being in a constant state of feedback, argues Mark Enser - but has being behind a screen has curtailed this vital skill?
Everyone is talking about “catching up” on the learning lost through lockdown, but the solution is not as simple as sticking on a few hours of extra school time. Finding out what has been “lost”, how much of it is missing and what the best way to support pupils will be is going to be a complex and lengthy process that stretches far beyond the current academic year.
Is there a psychopath lurking in your staffroom? The signs will be more subtle than a colleague wielding an axe - but the control inherent in teaching may bring out some people’s dysfunctional, manipulative behaviours.
