Timing, Routine and Free Learning for Home Learning

With the school closures happening as we predicted the thought of teaching the children at home has hit many hard.

For those who have read my previous post I hope that it’s useful and filled you with some encouragement.
However, I’m aware that it wasn’t as clear cut as I initially thought. Some parents have raised a few questions that I need to address.

Teaching through the Coronavirus

The world has gone a little crazy at the moment with the outbreak of Coronavirus.

I can understand why everyone is worried and panicking a little; this is a new virus and the rate that it is spreading is incredible.

At the moment of writing this the current status from the government is to “stay calm", to self isolate if you have symptoms of a new and persistent cough or if you have a fever at 38° or above. They have advised that all mass gatherings be cancelled so there isn’t a grouped spread of the virus and that adults above 70 and people who are medically vulnerable should isolate from now on (up to 12 weeks)

I’m sure at some point over the next 2 weeks schools will close. This will probably happen when the country or the most severe areas are approaching the peak affected number.

This then would leave a lot of parents “stuck" in a difficult position.

As an ex-teacher and a Home Ed parent I still think children should carry on with some education even if they are at home.

Our Accessible Challenge

Disabilities, accessibility, equality and general acceptance has been part of my life for the last 24 years.

When I was first diagnosed at 13 I was more active and “able” and I could walk unaided.

Yet, even then I was facing adversity against what I could or couldn’t do.

I was diagnosed halfway through Secondary school. The campus spread over 9 different buildings of which over half of those my classes were on the 2nd or 3rd floor.

I couldn’t at the time use the stairs. I could do stairs but my legs would give way; it was a health and safety nightmare.

So what were the options?