On a day of extreme worry for parents not a mention re schools not opening in the daily briefing.

[Av0cetSi3sta]

Not a sausage, not even a question.
But plenty on business.

As clear as day where this government’s priorities lie.

[bingandflop]

Bloody terrible. I thought the same.

[starrynight19]

Disgraceful Gavin Williamson didn’t lead on that tonight. He hasn’t got a clue about how he is going to get schools back.
It’s a shambles he hasn’t even shown his face today.

[frozendaisy]

There was mention of bringing distancing down to 1m until that happens full schooling won't happen, I had a brief word with a TA at our lower school (reception to Y4), they have reception and Y1 in and not even all of them and the school is "full". So presume Y4 no chance before September.

[WrongKindOfFace]

Quite a few schools locally haven’t even been able to bring back all of years R, 1 and 6 as there isn’t enough space.

I don’t suppose state eduction is a massive priority for quite a few of the Tory government but it would be good to know they actually had plans in place depending on x, y and z.

[madasamarchhare]

Getting ridiculous now. As you say shops are all allowed to open from Monday. A few weeks from now will be able to go the pub albeit outside. But my children can’t go to school. Even my children’s secondary not even allowed to take one year group a day? Something would be better than nothing. I expected Gavin Williamson to lead tonight. And now they’re saying even September will be part time schooling. But everything else ver much normal? They need to address this now.

[HowAboutYes]

I agree, disgraceful. It is a shambles

[theseriousmoonlight]

I thought the same thing. I must admit I didn't really listen as I was doing tea but I was a little shocked when I realised it wasnt Williamson leading. But then I've thought the briefings have seemed to be more like a party political broadcast recently.

[twinnywinny14]

@frozendaisy tbh changing to 1m won’t make enough of a difference. All the time the limit on numbers of children per room is 15, there are not enough classrooms or teachers available

[twinnywinny14]

He will be hiding away because they are embarrassed and they know they’ve messed it up

[yearinyearout]

He didn't answer any of the questions properly today, just repeated their "this is constantly under review" mantra. Waste of bloody time.

[madasamarchhare]

No and I appreciate with the distancing rules they can’t go back full time but some kind of in school teaching should be proposed by now. It’s all very well getting the very small ones back (and that’s more to do with the economy) but the older ones have a lot to lose at this stage. They should be offered some form of in school teaching now.

[Av0cetSi3sta]

Yes I agree TheSerious they don’t answer questions properly anymore, just evade uncomfortable issues.

[azaleanth90]

At least Anne Longfield seems to be on the case and there's been questions in parlt.

[MsTSwift]

Yabu op golf courses are now open So it’s all good please get your priorities right men’s hobbies prioritised over children’s well being (sarcastic I agree with you obviously)

[theseriousmoonlight]

@Av0cetSi3sta they don't even do that well!

[DianaT1969]

I don't see the connection with golf courses? They are outside. Easy to social distance. They opened garden centres before golf. If we taught children outside all day on large fields there wouldn't be this issue.

[Frazzled2207]

Agree entirely though I also blame the journalists for not asking.
I just don’t think there is any kind of plan. If they seriously do want kids back in September they need to have a plan NOW because no way will the teachers do anything in August.
I’m livid at the whole situation. I run a business and my earnings are down 80%. Meanwhile my kids are suffering enormously. School is also useless.

[notheragain4]

I tuned in purely because I assumed Gavin Williamson would be leading. What an absolutely shit show of a government, I despair.

[snowballer]

This was particularly painful, and such a stark demonstration of where children are on the priority list.

[StealthPolarBear]

On another point the scientists have clearly left the building, haven't thwy

[Jinx2020]

Does any of cabinet have kids in State schools or are they all privately educated I wonder?

[HotWatBot]

This really is such a joke now 😠.

[ineedaholidaynow]

Private schools are following the same guidance as State schools.

Gavin kept talking about a long term plan, but didn't actually say what the plan is. Maybe he is currently writing it and so that is why he wasn't doing the briefing!

[notheragain4]

Haven't they said in the guidance though that schools can open up more if they can, and private schools presumably will be in a much better position to do so with smaller class sizes etc. So private schools are in a presumably better position.

[IrisPurple]

I am actually even more disgusted that the media aren't asking questions about this.

The only way to make a government sit up and listen is pressure from the media.