To think schools should not reopen in Sept?

[SusanFrimp]

I think that schools should not fully reopen in September and instead be partially reopened to some years. It is just not safe enough to reopen yet. I'd say December at the latest for full reopening. If they can't reopen other smaller places, how can they reopen schools with 1000's of kids? AIBU?

@ineedaholidaynow

But this is surely an issue with a pandemic, things get disrupted, life doesn't go on as normal, and measures have to be put in place both for health reasons and to try and minimise the disruption.

There have been zero cases in my ward ( and two surrounding wards) for nearly 2 months. Our overall cases have been negligible.... to not open our local school would be criminal

But no-one is saying schools don’t open, they just want appropriate measures in place so schools in high rate areas are on a level playing field with schools in low risk areas

In lots of other countries that have opened schools, staff and children are wearing masks. I think it is crazy to open fully with no masks - especially secondary schools. If it was nationally mandated everyone would get on board with masks and it would limit transmission. I am dismayed there seems to be no push for masks in secondary schools at the very least. If other countries can manage it why can't we?

"Schools should be teaching online."

Some children cannot be taught online.

Childminders can offer supervision for kids needing to school remotely

Childminder places are down overall. There’s no way they could come anywhere close to plugging the gap left by partial schooling in any case.

I saw one trampoline place whose business has been decimated by Covid. They are setting up distanced desks for the kids to study during school hours and then the kids will get playtime to cover the rest of the parents work day.

Well that’s wonderful, but just one facility. Again, these solutions are not coming anywhere close to the numbers of places needed.

Lots of university students are taking the year off so there is a ready workforce of people to watch the kids and help them with work as needed.

I see no evidence that this ‘ready workforce’ you speak of have any desire to mind children, much less get themselves CBS checked, insured and find premises to do so. It’s the realm of total fantasy.

It’s not helpful at all to spout bollocks like this. Many parents are very worried about the real possibility of having to give up their jobs and default on their mortgages.

I’m not spouting bollocks. I live in a place where schools are extremely unlikely to open. The schools have released conditions under which they will open in September and we aren’t anywhere close to meeting the criteria. That means every parent who wanted to send their child to school is looking for child care and multiple businesses are opening up to meet the demand. That doesn’t mean it will be enough, I suspect there will be some 2 parent families where one parent has to give up work or reduce hours, but faced with a start date of online school in just a few weeks, parents have no choice but to come up with something. I’m meeting with some parents next week as we seek to work out a plan to help one another deal with weeks or potentially months of distance learning.

That means every parent who wanted to send their child to school is looking for child care and multiple businesses are opening up to meet the demand.

And in a highly regulated sector like childcare, there is no way that degree of demand can materialise at such short notice. Childcare is closing where I am, not opening. You’re living in lalaland.

@Purpleartichoke

I’m not spouting bollocks. I live in a place where schools are extremely unlikely to open. The schools have released conditions under which they will open in September and we aren’t anywhere close to meeting the criteria. That means every parent who wanted to send their child to school is looking for child care and multiple businesses are opening up to meet the demand. That doesn’t mean it will be enough, I suspect there will be some 2 parent families where one parent has to give up work or reduce hours, but faced with a start date of online school in just a few weeks, parents have no choice but to come up with something. I’m meeting with some parents next week as we seek to work out a plan to help one another deal with weeks or potentially months of distance learning.

Yeah cos it's really that easy to open a childcare business.

I really worry about haw blasé people are about the fact so many people may have to quit their jobs if schools don't open - the vast majority of these will be women. Why aren't more people angry about this?

@Purpleartichoke where do you live?

@Purpleartichoke - why wouldn’t your school open next term. The government has said schools to start again.

Actually laughing at a random trampoline business opening as a school/care facility