Schools reopening before May half term?

[Manchestertimes]

What's everyone's opinion on when the schools will reopen? I think they will reopen a few weeks after Easter.

But has the government told schools to expect it to be September? Or are headteachers just guessing? Because my daughter's school said they knew nothing and had no clue to time scale?
Schools are planning as though the rest of term is a write off, but nobody knows. It's just much easier to get plans together for the rest of the year than it is to be continually changing. For example, staff with gained time from y11/13 can use some of this time to do the tasks they'd normally do in the end of exam period and over the summer.
Boris said that the tests needed testing for reliability first and that supply would go to frontline workers before general public
This.
His advisors also said that no test was better than a bad test and there would need to be proper testing and serious planning on how at home tests would be allocated, and planning on how to validate the test results.

Is the test accurate?

Are those who have had Covid19 immune?

Can those who have had Covid19 and are immune still pass the virus on to others?

I doubt they will open before September. Maybe in late August for a couple of weeks

So if schools open in August there's potential for a 12 week half term until October? Seriously?

My toddler DC is part of the shielding group. So we are in until Mid June.

Even if by some miracle the schools went back earlier than that, I couldn't send my older 2 back, due to risk of them being something home to the toddler.

So if schools open in August there's potential for a 12 week half term until October?Seriously?

That will never happen.

a 12 week half term - you are kidding. Most kids barely survive 7 weeks. They are children!

They just need to get back into a routine when schools restart formally - morning registration, lessons, break etc.

I really don't think it's a good idea to open schools again until we know a hell of a lot more about COVID-19 and who is vulnerable to catching it. Otherwise it could lead to tragedy. It just isn't worth it for the sake of a few weeks.

I don't like saying this, as it's obviously making life hard for a lot of us ;including my DH and me!) but it's how I see it.

I teach in FE. I've spent the day doing one-to-one meetings with students using Teams - far more tiring than being in a lecture! I absolutely don't see us being back this academic year, and feel really sad I won't see my final year students again in person.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses that saddens me too - one minute year 13 and year 11 are there kicking balls all over the place and the next they are gone ☹️

a 12 week half term - you are kidding

Two 8 week terms could be doable. But I doubt the unions would allow this so imo it’s a non starter.

@Manchestertimes

Wishful thinking I think.

Probably gonna be September now.

I was already completely shattered-not having yet recovered from an Ofsted-when we closed last Friday.

We are now running a childcare provision plus in addition, planning for, setting work for and assessing our current class. We will provide childcare all through the Easter holiday and May half term as well. We will then carry on teaching, planning and childcare whilst writing our reports. Most of us are on our knees, but not complaining (just like NHS staff) because it’s what needs to be done.

The thought of the summer holidays being cancelled and having to work through the autumn term with one week off in October would finish me off completely, I think. The unions just wouldn’t let that happen.

True, the unions would block any attempt to extend the summer term.

everyexit it was so lovely to see their faces today - even though some were in pyjamas, and we were joined by various pets and small people!

This isn't going to go away in a few weeks. Life is very slowly starting to return to normal in China and they've been in lockdown since January. They've also been much more aggressive in their approach to Covid-19. I doubt schools will be open before September.

I still think Boris might look at it two ways.

He might say (if the peaks Easter) then give it another 4 weeks through may to calm down. Then allow kids back to finish the last 7 week term. This would mean everything is in place for September. Year 6s say goodbye. Secondary kids get chance to catch up on heaps of missed lessons (working from home will only work for some kids) pre schoolers get to settle into life away from parents again. Reception intakes for 2020 will get the experiences of previous years, meeting teachers, taster days etc. Also the parents will be able to fill out all the paperwork, order uniforms, set up school meal accounts and tapestries. We had three parents evenings last summer and they were a huge help. The taster days provide a huge benefit to the new starters and help settle anxiety.
Also the teachers will have the chance to prep and say goodbye to their classes. Introduce the kids to the next school year. Prepare for the summer holidays (hopefully get to enjoy them)

Or if coronavirus continues to stay around in large quantities like now and It's proven it's high risk to send the kids back until September then he might well say that.

Realistically though he's going to want the schools to return to normal asap. One day normal life needs to begin again. We can't just shut down like this for months and months. If people do work together añd stay home and stop going to Asda every 5 minutes we stand a chance. Just like any other virus it can't spread unless we move. If we stop moving the virus wont move.

I think it all comes down to the public now and how much they stay home and play their part!

I think best case scenario, schools might go back for a couple of week in July-to sort classes out for September and do a bit of transition and paperwork. I can’t see it being any more than that.

No way are they going back this academic year. They also won't use the summer holidays as teachers will have already done all the weeks they are paid for and then some as many are working during the Easter hols to provide childcare for key workers. Events are now being cancelled nationally May and June. Those self-isolating due to health conditions (many of whom are teachers) will only end the minimum period (12 weeks) by June .

I doubt schools will be open before September

They payments for self employed people don't start until June. This isn't going away overnight.

Thing is you can’t shut a country down for 5 months, the government will want business as usual as soon as possible and they have to balance that with the impact of the virus.

Also, that money is arriving in June to cover money lost from now until then.

I've been watching a couple of American doctors on YouTube and they've started to look at exit strategies from lockdown. Apparently, first we have to get a plateau in new cases ( which depends on people obeying the lockdown) but then scientists are looking at strategies used by South Korea and Singapore which involve widespread testing, testing and quarantining anyone with confirmed disease and then tracking all contacts, using technology.

They are also saying that antibody tests would allow those who are immune to return to normal life, with other groups allowed back as feasible.

They do seem now Tobe talking about the growing need to consider the economy and balancing harm due to tanking the economy with harm caused by COVID19.

I don't know about schools but I work in a university and we are planning to push our mid-September start date. Late October is being discussed, as is January 2021.

I think it's naive to think any schools will be open before September.