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Original poster

Is school allowed to just close?

114 replies

MinecraftMother · 20/11/2020 06:50

Morning gang,

My kid's primary has decided to close because there's "only a few kids in because the other bubbles are off".

There is a whole year of kids willing and able to go to school, but they've decided to close Friday and Monday to do a deep clean - of a tiny country primary school.

Do schools have this power, on an individual level to just decide to close?

As a bit of context, we've not been very happy with the school's handling of itself over the crisis.

There's also the worry involved in finding childcare etc - absolutely impossible at the moment.

I feel like lying down in a dark room for a while... 😆

OP posts:
Thatwentbadly · 20/11/2020 06:54

If they decide it’s not safe for the children to be in then yes they can close.

Passthecake30 · 20/11/2020 06:56

I think closing for a deep clean is reasonable. Our secondary school did the same when their was a norovirus outbreak.

ineedaholidaynow · 20/11/2020 06:57

Many schools are doing this.

Some schools used to do this pre COVID if, for example, they had a virulent bout of norovirus doing the rounds at school.

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General education
Tinyhumansurvivalist · 20/11/2020 06:59

Sorry op but I think the school are handling it correctly. 1 year group in school and everyone else out sounds like there is a fairly big outbreak. A deep clean is the very minimum they should do.

Of they are closing for 2 days plus the weekend they may be arranging to chemically fog the school which means 48 hours of no one being in it to ensure any residue is gone.

MorvaanReed · 20/11/2020 07:01

Assuming the scientists are right a long weekend will allow existing virus to die, add a deep clean in and they'd at least have a fresh start come Tuesday. If they're down to one year in, it probably seems worth it.

If it's like the small primary I work at there's probably no choice but to share toilets, library and hall with other bubbles, though they shouldn't mix in them. There's the possibility of cross infection of bubbles through air born virus and commonly touched surfaces.

MindyStClaire · 20/11/2020 07:01

Yes a few schools here closed due to norovirus last winter. I'd never heard of it before then.

Original poster
MinecraftMother · 20/11/2020 07:04

A norovirus clean I totally get. But this, surely they can leave it over the weekend and that's as good a clean for this virus?

It is a real pain to be told when collecting the child at 3pm of Thursday, instead of 6 because they told you that day after school club can't happen because just two kids are booked in, that that's the last time the school will be open until next week because "it's not worth it with just one bubble is in" and they'll take this time to clean.

It didn't come across as an urgent matter. Just very wishy washy, we're doing this, sorry...

OP posts:
Original poster
MinecraftMother · 20/11/2020 07:05

There's not a big outbreak, but a one person X-contamination. The year group my child is in is the only one which didn't have close contact with her.

OP posts:
AaronPurr · 20/11/2020 07:05

It sounds like a really sensible decision by the school. If all but one year group are out of school isoalting then that's a huge outbreak. Finding 2 days of childcare is much easier than 2 weeks due to a bubble closing.

littlebirdieblue · 20/11/2020 07:09

For goodness sake the school hasn't done it because they want to disrupt your life, they've done to try and stop the spread. Closing it for 2 days is better than someone else catching it and having to send children home to self isolate for a longer period.

lurchersrule · 20/11/2020 07:12

Yes they're allowed .Our head closed for 6 cases in a school with 1300 people, but the pattern was clearly emerging and he wanted to break the cycle before it got out of hand, so closed for a week. Had the MP and other officials on the phone asking why but they can't reverse the decision. The head knows far more about the situation in their school than you do and you should be pleased they are putting safety first.

Emmacb82 · 20/11/2020 07:16

Least it’s only 2 days, ours is shut for 2 weeks! But totally the right decision.

Ohdoleavemealone · 20/11/2020 07:25

If it is just one kid then yes, it is ridiculous. Presumably, that one bubble is a whole year group? So of course they should stay open for them. They can clean the rest of the school whilst these kids stay in their room.

Lovemusic33 · 20/11/2020 07:32

Ours has closed for a deep clean until Tuesday after a 3 cases last week and a few more this week. Dd has been off for a week anyway with a stomach bug, was due back today (yes she was tested for covid) and is now gutted as she’s stuck at home until at least Tuesday. Several bubbles were sent home last week, it’s a sn school so no masks have been being warn and there’s children with underlying conditions so they have to take it very seriously when there’s an outbreak.

cariadlet · 20/11/2020 07:35

They can clean the rest of the school whilst these kids stay in their room

This is a "tiny country primary school" so presumably with only a few sets of toilets, those will be shared between year groups and will need a deep clean.
What are "these kids" supposed to do when they spend the entire day shut in one room? Use a potty in the corner of the classroom?

If a small school needs deep cleaning, then all children need to be sent home.

nosswith · 20/11/2020 07:35

Allowed yes. Don't blame them too much though, remember the poor response overall is down to the government.

Lovemusic33 · 20/11/2020 07:37

It’s not the schools choice, it’s the advice they have been given by public health.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 20/11/2020 07:37

Maybe you need to look at this from the other side.

You are lucky that your dc only have to stay off for 2 school days and can still go out at the weekend.

Every other year group parent has their child at home (stuck in the home) for 14 days.

ineedaholidaynow · 20/11/2020 07:37

If one child has caused multiple bubbles to burst they are also probably reviewing their risk assessment etc to try and stop such a cross contamination happening again.

Redlocks28 · 20/11/2020 07:38

only a few kids in because the other bubbles are off

It sounds like multiple bubbles are off. Their decision to close temporarily and deep clean sounds very sensible.

Ohdoleavemealone · 20/11/2020 07:38

@cariadlet

They can clean the rest of the school whilst these kids stay in their room

This is a "tiny country primary school" so presumably with only a few sets of toilets, those will be shared between year groups and will need a deep clean.
What are "these kids" supposed to do when they spend the entire day shut in one room? Use a potty in the corner of the classroom?

If a small school needs deep cleaning, then all children need to be sent home.

Deep clean them at 3pm when the kids go home?
Turgha · 20/11/2020 07:40

I’d be pissed off with the way they’ve handled it too. To be told at pickup on Thursday is crap.

Original poster
MinecraftMother · 20/11/2020 07:43

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Maybe you need to look at this from the other side.

You are lucky that your dc only have to stay off for 2 school days and can still go out at the weekend.

Every other year group parent has their child at home (stuck in the home) for 14 days.

Trust me, with three at three different schools, we've done our time...
OP posts:
Sirzy · 20/11/2020 07:43

Sounds a very sensible decision to try to keep staff and students safe.

There is no need for the wording from school to make it sound like an urgent matter, they don’t need to encourage panic amongst the parents but a deep clean if all but one bubble has had to shut makes a lot of sense

FreshHorizons · 20/11/2020 07:46

Sounds sensible to me. Safety of staff and pupils must come first.

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