To be shocked at yet another last minute gov announcement.

[wantmorenow]

New guidance for schools just announced on a Friday night before schools return. Breathtaking incompetence.

What are all these slush funds?

Seriously, my school would love a piece of the action. Meanwhile back in reality, those actually in the state sector are living the reality of the last decade's education policy.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'So many U turns even a Tory backbencher complains. '

Or, guidelines changed as the data has? Why this constant accusation of 'u turns', surely we want leaders who listen to experts and review/change instructions as needed.

The data didn't change for a few weeks.

They didn't need to do it last thing Friday night.

@herecomesthsun

NHS staff get new guidance every single week, the police do.

I'm senior NHS. If we had contradictory messages from the government every hour or so on how to do our jobs we would bloody well tell them where to go.

I think the teachers have had rubbish leadership from government. They are doing their best for our kids despite and not because of this. I am really shocked at the lack of respect and appreciation these dedicated professionals have had. Get over yourselves people.

Thank you.

And I hope you and all your staff are ok? I understand form my friends who work nhs those, especially those who witnessed ICU etc are really being hit by the horror now worst is over and they've had some time to reflect?

For pirmaries - and also in state secondares, though possibly confined to certain members of staff - a VERY significant proportion of time was spent on what i might loosely term pastoral / vulnerability issues.

Obviously, this 'first line of social services' role is always a significant proportion of primary workload, but the remoteness of offsite learning made it a larger proportion. While in school, noting a neglect issue can be as quick as observing a hygeine issue, noting it in the school system and having a quick chat to the relevant person while both on break duty, the issues of delivering food and care to some families, being sensitive to and observant of issues, and referring them to anyone open, was MUCH more time consuming while schools were closed - as well as being FAR less responsive to actual student need, as the frenzy of referral activity - to internal services, external services, health professionals etc - that followed the first day of partial return testified.

@mumsgonetogreenland

Yes, but that just illustrates how different schools are. At some private schools income is significantly more than 3x state funding. Some private schools are huge, so the overhead argument doesn't apply. Income might have to match outgoings, but if you're already starting from a situation of superb facilities, high end IT and lots of outside space, then you're already at a big advantage. Other private schools won't have any or all of these things. I think it's fair to say that ALL schools will have made plans - but they will be quite different depending on very, very many factors. This is unavoidable - but it is also what has enraged parents.

ROFL

'And I hope you and all your staff are ok? I understand form my friends who work nhs those, especially those who witnessed ICU etc are really being hit by the horror now worst is over and they've had some time to reflect?'

ICU had massive resources chucked st them. Staff from theatres redeployed to assist, hundreds of thousands of pounds for new kit. Everyone I know in critical care coped just fine with the 'horror'. The real test will be winter bed pressures, seasonal flu plus covid on top.

'the data didn't change for a few weeks.They didn't need to do it last thing Friday night'

It's changing all the time, spikes etc. Don't you watch the news? I agree a fri pm seems an odd time but unless it's a massive impossible new rule like all classes must have 10 pupils only I really dont get the angst

The government also announced it on a weekend where there is no Andrew Marr or Sophy Ridge programme to interview them. When Parliament is not sitting. Yet another way to dodge scrutiny.

Mrs Thatcher, whom I am sure most in the government see as their idol, would never have done that.

They (the Govt.) don't have a sodding clue.
I mean, FFS, Matt Hancock turned round the other day saying they were going to 'change the law' to allow nurses and pharmacists to give flu jabs!' When they bloody well already can, and HE'S THE HEALTH secretary!!!
I mean, they say that kids desperately need school so they can grow up and get a good job, but it turns out that all you need to run the country and be in charge of its health needs is rich parents and to be thick as shite.

The government should have erected portacabins in schools to allow for smaller classes of no more than 15 months ago and allowed rotas for blended learning. Worse still some parents will have to choose between transport costs and or school dinners...

Yes, YABU to not have previously known this was going to happen. This is no different from outside school if you find yourself having tested positive, you need to self isolate and so should the people you have come in contact with. It’s also why we do the track & trace. It WBU to find there are sick people among the students and everyone continue to go about their business as if nothing happened. Remember, this is just a worse case scenario.

Two brilliant posts that I completely agree with. Both leave me sad at the state of our country as people in general don't give a fuck.

That's @nosswith @carriecakes80

@swelchphr schools were already aware of this and were prepared for it. I am not sure what students you are talking about

I thought Theresa May was incompetent. BoJo the Clown makes May look like Angela Merkel.

Localocal please respect clowns and do not compare them to Mr Johnson.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'And I hope you and all your staff are ok? I understand form my friends who work nhs those, especially those who witnessed ICU etc are really being hit by the horror now worst is over and they've had some time to reflect?'

ICU had massive resources chucked st them. Staff from theatres redeployed to assist, hundreds of thousands of pounds for new kit. Everyone I know in critical care coped just fine with the 'horror'. The real test will be winter bed pressures, seasonal flu plus covid on top.

'the data didn't change for a few weeks.They didn't need to do it last thing Friday night'

It's changing all the time, spikes etc. Don't you watch the news? I agree a fri pm seems an odd time but unless it's a massive impossible new rule like all classes must have 10 pupils only I really dont get the angst

Have you ever got anything positive to say?

I thought Theresa May was incompetent. BoJo the Clown makes May look like Angela Merkel.

That's it delete perfectly acceptable posts.

A ot of children will need to travel by bus with other children outside of their bubble anyway, plus a lot of kids will have brothers and/or sisters in other bubbles, and so they will have direct contact with them anyway. In theory they should all be sent home too, because they would have had contact and/or been on a bus with someone who is confirmed as having Covid.
On the other hand, maybe it's just a case of trying to think of ways to get some degree of normality back. Children have missed so much school, and it could be an effective strategy...well, if kids can distance on buses maybe. We have not been given any information if there will be distancing on our kids school bus, and if they will be providing extra busses so they can all get a seat. Literally no info from the council whatsoever, and the school aren't taking any responsibility for transport. I get that it's not their issue, but it affects their pupils and their school. It's appalling really, especially as the school is no way in walking distance, and a lot of parents will be working and not be able to drive their children to and from school. I worry that this has been completely overlooked which doesn't give me much confidence. It could be completely unworkable if children cannot be kept safe as possible on the busses.
I feel like our school does have other things sussed out quite well, and even with the new guidance, they will adapt as best as possible and do everything required, but there still is a lot of uncertainty. That's natural I suppose under the circumstances, and let's face it, none of us know what will happen in the next few weeks.

Hard to tell if the government are just incompetent or doing all of this on purpose as part of some master plan...

@Carriecakes80

They (the Govt.) don't have a sodding clue. I mean, FFS, Matt Hancock turned round the other day saying they were going to 'change the law' to allow nurses and pharmacists to give flu jabs!' When they bloody well already can, and HE'S THE HEALTH secretary!!! I mean, they say that kids desperately need school so they can grow up and get a good job, but it turns out that all you need to run the country and be in charge of its health needs is rich parents and to be thick as shite.

Haha - love it - even Hancock is an idiot.

Not just Big Gav who has no idea what he is doing. Certainly had no idea that he should be around for results days not off on his holidays whilst his mutant algorithm was creating chaos

BoJo the clown, Gav the muppet and Matt the prat.