Or have they just not got a clue

[Yolo2]

Jenny Harries today at the Government press briefing suggested that pencil cases will be banned at schools in case children share their contents, but lunch boxes will be allowed as she could "almost guarantee" that a child would not share their lunch with anyone sitting 2 metres away. What a load of utter nonsense. Is that based on any science whatsoever? If the Government are following the science, and this is the sort of dross the science is coming up with, we should worry!! How can a child not borrow a pencil but we can order takeaway food to our homes? How can the Deputy Chief Medical Officer "almost guarantee" that kids won't share their lunches. I'm afraid her medical training doesn't qualify her to have a better idea of the likelihood of kids sharing lunches than the average man on the street

So now we know pencils transmit Coronavirus (!) can we ever be safe using the supermarket? I handle my products, pass them to the cashier, who handles them, after touching all the products handled by every customer before me. (I understand some people have taken to bleaching their shopping but come on ) But shared pencils - prohibited. If kids can be trusted to not go near each other (?), can't they be trusted not to lend pencils?

We are in danger of utter madness invading every aspect of life. Social distancing, yes. Ridiculous rules from government on pencil cases etc. is quite another and is making things seem ludicrous.

[TimeToGetMeBack]

Well my year four child had someone who was stealing from lunch boxes! They had to put measurements is place! But that was hard to do (nothing against the school just hard to stop these things)

[priya38]

This is horrendous. Do they not have any concern at all about the mental well-being of children that these kind of unnecessary restrictions are going to have a profound impact on.

I really feel like I'm currently living in a nightmare.

The impact of all these unnecessary measures are going to have a deep psychological effect on our children. The future of this world.

[BatCrazyCat]

@priya38 exactly. I M not worried about the virus but I am very worried about the impact on our children's mental health.

[LadyGAgain]

Agreed. Leaving the very real teacher safety consideration at the door for a second, children are brought up to Beirut and care for each other. They need to play and interact. If they are to go to school then they should be "normal" in the playground.

Don't get me wrong. The bastard virus is real. And too many people are dying. But, the children need other children. Fact.

[LadyGAgain]

• be with (not Beirut)

[doubleshotespresso]

OP this is the same doctor who advised the government that Cheltenham festival going ahead was no risk...

You're right too these made up as they go along guidelines are absent if any logic or reasonable scientific basis.

And they wonder why folks are terrified to send their children back 🤷🏼‍♀️

[DustyMaiden]

Pencils end up in lots of mouths, food only one.

[Tr1skel1on]

Sorry to stop all the hysteria. I work in a school dining hall.

Children have never ever been allowed to share food due to the allergy risk.

Believe me I'm more worried about using an EpiPen for a child than coronavirus.

[Yolo2]

@DustyMaiden - that is a fair point. It's a shame that wasn't the sort of reasoning shown by Jenny though. Instead she rambled on a lot of nonsense. However, if primary schools go back, nurseries will go back and there is no way to prevent things going in multiple mouths. Kids will also have to share toilets in schools/ changing mats in nurseries etc. Either there is a real risk or there isn't.

In line with what doubleshotespresso said, these are the same people who once told us schools were one of the lowest risks. Who told us large gatherings were another low risk. Who can't make their minds up about face masks. A lot of this is made up.

I find it hard to believe that social distancing will make much difference in schools. If one person in a class has the viurs, it will spread regardless of whether they sit 2m apart. They will be in the same room for 6 hours a day, sharing toilet facilities, touching door handles, coughing, sneezing etc.

In my view, schools are either safe to open as normal (albeit gradual opening to suss things out) or they aren't. Social distancing is not going to change much.

[ilovecardigans]

Pencils end up in lots of mouths

And other orifices besides...

[NeverTwerkNaked]

@tr yes. For my children to have food sharing ever at school could be fatal for them . And schools have done an amazing job of keeping my children safe from milk and egg and soya and fresh fruit .which are probably in nearly every lunchbox

[SunflowerSeedsForever]

now we know pencils transmit Coronavirus (!)

Children suck and chew pens and pencils. They are generally pretty vile- and need to be avoided in any class regardless of CV19

They don't suck and chew their lunchboxes.

[ttim985y]

If they ban pencil cases then won't the children have to use pencils/pens from a shared pot in the classroom that someone will have to touch to give out and then they'll need disinfecting afterwards?

[SunflowerSeedsForever]

If they ban pencil cases then won't the children have to use pencils/pens from a shared pot in the classroom that someone will have to touch to give out and then they'll need disinfecting afterwards?

No they will have their own labelled/individual set of equipment.
Lots of schools do this anyway.

[JemimaPuddleCat]

I could have sworn the government papers that went out said no packed lunches. It's late now but I'll take another read tomorrow.

I'm with you OP, it's either safe or it's not. I'm more concerned about the mental health of my children going into a school where they'll be treated like high risk prisoners than children. I do not see how the strict distancing they propose at school can be healthy for them either. Many of the things my DC rely on to keep them safe and happy at school are being removed, so how is school going to be a good environment for them to be in?

[redandwhite1]

My 5 yea old admitted he shares his snack so she clearly doesn't know kids very well!!

[PhilCornwall1]

They are making a lot of shit up as they go along and this Harries individual is right up there for this.

Ask her anything of real substance and it's "we don't currently have the figures for that so don't really know". About as useful as a sneeze in a room full of people!!

[SnoozyLou]

Everyone on here seems to sing her praises, but I absolutely cannot stand Jennie Harries after her take Matt Hancock’s lead and insinuate nurses/care homes might be wasting PPE. Give me Whitty any day. She’s just a Yes Woman.

[PhilCornwall1]

Give me Whitty any day.

Completely agree. He seems to be the only one who thinks for himself when giving answers.

[LadyPenelope68]

This is from a school my friend's children go to. I'm a teacher, we haven't drawn up our letter to parents yet, but I expect it to be along similar lines to this.

[PhilCornwall1]

Set times for the toilet, how does that work? Even as an adult I can't pee to a timetable.

[SnuggyBuggy]

We always shared lunchbox food in my day. Has child psychology changed that much in 30 years?

[Nquartz]

@LadyPenelope68 how is the teacher meant to teach with all that cleaning to do?! That sounds awful

[Whatsthis1515]

@Yolo2
I totally agree with you. The psychological mess that it going to appear after this will be appalling. And like you say, I simply can't see these measures making any difference We are going to have a generation with massive OCD problems. Mark my word.

[SimonJT]

My sons primary school sent their proposal to parents last week, nothing was a surprise, by actually seeing it written down hit home.

Children are not allowed pencil cases etc, just a bottle, lunch box and any vital medication to self administer.

-Desks are 2m apart and each desk will be given its own set of stationery, not to be touched by other children. When the desk is cleaned the stationery will be as well as children often chew pens/pencils, cough near them etc.
-Students eat at their desks, this prevents food sharing, it was also pointed out that the teacher/TA cannot open lids etc for children.
-Lunch boxes (along with hands) will be cleaned on arrival
-Students use the toilet one at a time, only one cubicle is open, that way when they clean handles, taps etc between each use it is much faster. The school only has one set of boys and one set of girls toilets. As they are used one at a time they are ignoring the gender split as it is a girl heavy school.
-No outdoor time as the outdoor area isn’t large enough for 15 children to socially distance and be supervised by an adult.
-No assistance will be given to children who have a toileting accident
-As per government guidelines if a child shows any symptoms they will be placed in a room, alone with the door shut until they are collected. 4/5 year olds cough a lot.


A big issue is first aid at many schools, my son is in reception and has an epipen, they have two members of staff trained to use his epipen, however this requires very close contact so understandably they have been told not to administer his epipen.