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.

don’t think they’ll mess around with holidays by more than a few days. The powers that be will be keen for us to spend our money boosting the economy again over summer, and that’s surely more likely if we’re off work

Good point.

I've warned ds that this could last up to a year & if he gets back to start sixth form before then it's a bonus.

Part of me thinks not til September. Part of me thinks one week after May half term, with a shorter summer break and then maybe another closure in Winter again, like a 6-8 to get past flu season. It would be very tricky to plan for and i am not sure how the less resilient kids woukd cope.

I am hoping they write this academic year off and re do it all.. . I am gutted as my son has a lovely teacher this year and doubt we will be back before September

Good point about Gov wanting people / parents to be spending money.

September at earliest, very possibly later.

No no no this is not happening, school will resume as soon as possible I m thinking after may half term worst case , the economy won’t hold up that long and kids need proper structure! Let’s think positively ...may !!!! May !!! May at the worst

I would plan for a long term closure and hope things improve.

Our local hospital is gearing up for the next 16 weeks as figures rise.

We just don't know.

Italy is planning on ceasing the locking down towards the end of April and it's likely to be early May in France. So somewhere in May would be my expectation. Summer will help get rid of the virus as well so we're unlikely to be in this situation till September and beyond. Its not impossible for there to be another peak next winter though.

Dep Chief Medical Officer said tonight that the weather/season will have no effect.

There is no way they’ll repeat the year-we’d taught 2/3 of it already. It wouldn’t work for the year 11/13s and we’d need to start the new Receptions providing things are even safe/back to normal by September.

There is no way they’ll repeat the year

Agreed. Everything @fedup21said and the fact that they would have to ask the new reception class to go back into childcare for another year and their parents to pay for it. They won't do that to the economy apart from the other stuff.

Very unlikely.

Italy was hoping to have the lockdown last until the start of April. There's still staggering rates of infection and deaths, so they don't know how long their lockdown will need to last for. Their curve is not flattening and lowering just yet.

I'm guessing Christmas... I hope it's September though

Totally understand where you're coming from re; missing out on secondary education but the priority has to be avoiding a second flare up if we go back to real life too soon. Hopefully your kids will be provided with lots of work to help stop the gap.

I'm thinking will my kids get to university in October!

So many parents on here that can’t cope with actual parenting. You had children by choice now it’s your responsibility to look after them in times of adversity.

Bulb1976
Yes there's some like that and they're clearly annoyed at losing their babysitting service with the schools being closed.

However, there's also a lot of parents who are supportive of teachers/schools, want to do their best by their children in these difficult times and are understandably concerned that their DC could be missing months of school with their best efforts at remote study falling short of a typical learning diet in school. I think this group are usually very reasonable in their concerns and it would be wrong to lump them in with the first group even though both want the schools to be open.

Probably September at the earliest. To suggest they shorten the summer holidays is ridiculous. This time "off" isn't a holiday. They can't see their friends, let alone play with them. No days out. No visiting relatives. Can't even eat out or go shopping. This "now" is incomparable to the summer holidays. Plus the schools aren't all fully closed. Teachers , office staff, kitchen staff, cleaners are all still there for children of keyworkers. They deserve time off too. They need it. Families need it too.

I hope September.

I fear January, with a condensed school year (and shorter summer) in 2021.

No way will it be earlier.

A friend’s niece, who’s in New York, isn’t going to school until January!

September at the earliest. We're being told at work (by people who know) 6-12 months

There are no “people who know”.

My dc’s College and secondary school don’t expect to re-open this academic year.

They’re teaching the children online.

My work don’t expect to be back onsite any time soon either. Premises are completely closed down now. During a meeting we were told four months at least. No idea what the updated estimate is.