Schools close for "firebreak"

[Cocoagrowing]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/flu-school-lockdowns-health-b2880290.html

Lots of the language sounds very similar to that just ahead of lockdowns. Surely not?

Sensible precautions? Overreaction?

I know the secondary school I work at has 10 staff out currently, c. 10%.

I do not think there is even a small chance of any kind of widespread lockdown.

Schools closing for a couple of days for either cleaning or because they just don’t have the staff is different, and not unprecedented.

well this is an outcome of being told by government and school HTs that “every second counts” and missing a day of school for a cold is not acceptable (my dd is told to go to secondary school with a cold, unless she literally can’t get out of bed it will “do her good” to be up and about). On top of that strict uniform rules, so you can’t layer up … some teachers swear by fresh air so you sit by a freezing open window, others like it hot and steamy so germs spread.

I’m unsurprised schools need to close for a deep clean!

Schools often do this if there is d&v or similar too,.it's not a new thing

Completely true. And I'm seeing that when they do go in when not firing on all cylinders, teacher comments also come back that the DC's test performance is not meeting their expected standards. You don't say? I was really staggered to receive that feedback

Not in UK at the moment, so here goes.... I am often aghast at the Puritanical approach to school attendance. There's not much leeway at all regarding legitimate absence for things like illness, or taking a few days in term time for family stuff, breaks away etc. The recorded absence against a child and fines make children like convicted criminals!

Why not an annual five day self certification of illness, similar to employment? So what if some abuse it, most will not and that's the key.

Where I am there is no such scrutiny. Kids can be sick and stay at home, they can go on holiday during term time, they can go to granny's funeral over a few days and so on. The annual school holidays are much longer than in UK also, and the Educational standards here are very good. I wonder why?

We had this type of closure in 2 schools in December 2019 prior to covid. It was for norovirus. We just had kids throwing up in reception and throughout the school and then not enough well teachers to keep the school running. It was just for a few days and everywhere was deep cleaned.

It is daft, but we have a culture of presenteeism where I am (England), which is counterproductive and costs a fortune. Children are ‘punished’ in some cases for being ill or even having a bereavement (e.g. attendance awards), yet sit in classrooms that facilitate contagious spread - with ill children who make them ill, indoor air at low standards compared to other countries and no/limited ventilation. It is bonkers and especially awful for those children who end up with permanent health issues for them or their familiy members as a result.

The school in Caerphilly has 242 pupils and 12 staff off sick, no wonder they’ve closed, there can hardly be anyone left well! Sounds like schools are taking sensible decisions. I can’t see there being mandated lockdowns again for many years, the economy is too fragile.

@Didntpickthishill Agree with you on everything you said. I particularly agree with you on the daft notion that "Presenteeism" equates with perfect educational outcomes, no more than in a working environment, it doesn't.

Some schools have high numbers absent. Flu rates are very high this year. It won't be done without taking advice.

LA's need to get a grip as well.

I've got DS1 at home as he's tested positive for flu - DD is in hospital (long term health condition) and we were all tested for Covid and flu. DS has very mild symptoms, and when I phoned his school they were initially very "oh that's great, yes keep him away".

Despite the fact there was only 8 of 25 kids in his class in yesterday I got a phone call to say that they'd actually been advised that he needs to be in unless he's physically unwell enough to be there.

It's absolutely ridiculous. We know he has a contagious illness that is spreading rife. It should be no different to when he had Chicken pox - he had four spots, didn't feel unwell but obviously I kept him away from people!

Yes sometimes people don't know they've got flu and they spread it on accidentally, but we DO know he has it. I've just said "actually he's not feeling great today" and could actually hear the relief in the callers voice, they knew it was a nonsense situation.