Home schooling

[Lizzie48]

My GC are both doing home schooling with zoom, it is going well and they do follow all classes, do homework etc. DS and DIL both work from home so there are 4 of them all working. Luckily they had the office finished before this lockdown.

I do see them, at least once a week, luckily. They are both growing, it would have been a different matter if they were both much younger.

[Daisy]

During the first lockdown, GD2 was getting work from school via various sources, including some online lessons. Afterwards the school asked parents and children for feedback.

GD had really missed seeing her teacher and her usual little morning chat to the whole class. This time her teacher comes online every morning and talks to all the children as if they were in the classroom, and GD is so delighted to see her. DIL has fed back how happy it makes GD, and I'm sure the other children feel the same.

Both GDs change schools this coming September, and we were saying yesterday how we hope they are able to go back to school by, say, Easter, to give them chance to prepare for moving. GD2 goes from Infants to Junior school, which is on the same site and most of her friends will be going with her. But even so, she's already asking questions about what it will be like etc. It will be a much bigger change for GD1 who will have to leave home by 7 am, and be going to a completely strange environment. Luckily her best friend's also going to the same school, but even so it will be very different. It would be nice if they could visit the school and at least have a look round in the summer.

GD2 will probably stay on in his current school for Sixth Form, although he's also applied to the 6th form of another local school. So lots more changes for them to deal with this year.

[Gemini]

I am pretty sure they will want pupils back in school by Easter Daisy.
The school asking for feedback is a good idea.

My GD is in the same position as your GD1, that will be the last term before moving to a newer bigger school in September.

[Daisy]

Gem - how does your GD feel about it? Will she be moving with friends?

[Gemini]

Daisy, we don't know what school she will be going to. The secondary schools in her immediate area are not good. They have put her down for a good one in York as first choice, but as she's not in the catchment area and it is generally oversubscribed, she is unlikely to get in. We keep our fingers crossed though. One of her friends is hoping to go there.
If GD doesn't get a place, it will be an independent school for her. She will go with no one she knows, but there are a couple of older girls that she knows from ballet class.

[Plantaholic]

What a lot of changes for your grandchildren ladies, I do hope they can get back to school in time to settle before they have to make the school changes.

[Daisy]

Gem - I really do sympathise with your GD's predicament. As you say, she hasn't got much chance of getting into an out of catchment school if it's oversubscribed, but you never know and it's always worth a try. She will soon make friends at the independent school, I'm sure.

GD1's local school isn't great either, but she wouldn't have stood much chance of getting into a better one a few miles away. We're just thankful that she decided to try for the grammar school (even further away, in a different county) and got in. Even then, she could have passed the exam but still not got a place - they take the top 130 from across the board and the other places are allocated according to distance from the school. Over 700 took the exam.

It's a nail-biting time, waiting to hear where they get a place.

I think it's terrible that there are schools that parents feel they have to move house to avoid, and all but bankrupt themselves to live close to a 'good' school. All children deserve the best education.

[Gemini]

That's true Daisy, 90% of the reason for DD1 family's move is for GS1's secondary school.
My GD will be happy and settle wherever she goes I feel, but at 11 friend's are so important to girls and of course she is a little anxious about the topic of friends and the new school.

I'm glad your GD got her grammar school place

[Oma]

Such a worry for all these little ones ,
you know within weeks they will be settled in but as Parents and Grand parents you don't want to see them worried ,
Fingers crossed they are all happy , I do hope so .

It seems by the school letters GS1 may only get back for exams and not get back to school full time at all before he moves on ,
He leaves in September and there is talk of just the exams and nothing else , luckily he does have on line classes and private tutors that he really enjoys ,
He said when he was here he wished all his lessons were with tutors as its 1-1 and he gets more from it , sadly DD couldn't afford that

I think this year all children are suffering in one way or another , I do feel so sorry for them all .

[Daisy]

Oma - it is a worry. It's a scary thought that they may not be able to go back until September, especially if they're changing schools. Your GD1 is a hard-working lad and it's great he's had some extra lessons with a tutor to give him that bit extra.

I feel very sorry for the children who need extra help to keep up, but don't always get it, but in a way, more sorry for those like your GS1, my GD1 and (I suspect) Gem's GD who want to learn and could fly with just a bit extra help. They'll get there in the end because that's the way they are, but just imagine how much they'd benefit from that extra help at this stage.

[Oma]

I worry about the children who cant access computers or who have parents that just do not care ,
Bright children who are slipping through the net '
Children who struggle to understand without the help of a teacher ,

There will also be those that just refuse to do school work at home ,
If you have a stroppy teenager how do you force them to study ?

Plus the way of teaching is entirely different to when parents and grandparents were at school ,

I sometimes sit thinking about this when I cant sleep and I don't have small children but it doesn't stop me being concerned .

Roll on a time when the world is normal again our future lays in the hands of the children of today so they need their education but they also need to stay safe .

[WeeGranny]

I too worry about what the future holds for all these youngsters who are missing out, not only on their education, but the necessary social interaction too.

I know it's said that children can catch up with missed lessons, but what if those children aren't motivated or encouraged to learn? I fear for them and what they're going to end up doing.

MY GS, has supportive parents and a good brain, but even he has to be cajoled at times to get his schoolwork done! He is a very active lad, into his sports and physical activities, none of which are happening at the moment! He's doing lots of walks with DD and no doubt kicking a ball at the same time!, but it's not quite the same as a game of cricket or football!

[Oma]

WG he sounds the same as my GS , as you know he plays football but with no training or games , He is taking Storm for lots of walks , training in the garage with DD and SIL is having a kick about on the field by the house or in the garden but as you say its not the same is it .

[Plantaholic]

I agree, the children, especially teenagers are missing a lot not having any social life which is part of growing up. I do hope it will not last much longer for them.

[Daisy]

I agree. I've always had a lot of sympathy for the bright children who slip through the net - sometimes all it takes is for a teacher to recognise the situation and bolster their confidence. But there are many children who are really losing out at the moment - those without encouragement at home, those who haven't got laptops, or have inadequate broadband - or have to borrow a parent's phone. The unfairnesses of life seem to pile up for some children.

WeeGranny - it must be hard for an active, sporty lad like your DS to sit at a computer when there's the great outdoors just waiting for him.

Oma - you said it - you can't force a stroppy teenager to study.