The government have fucked up the re-opening of schools

[noblegiraffe]

They have, haven't they?

Back in June their five tests for reopening schools were:

First we must protect the NHS’s ability to cope, and be sure that it can continue to provide critical care and specialist treatment right across the whole of the United Kingdom.

Second, we need to see daily death rates from coronavirus coming down.

Third, we need to have reliable data that shows the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels.

Four, we need to be confident that testing capacity and PPE is being managed, with supply able to meet, not just today’s demand, but future demand.

And fifth, and perhaps most crucially, we need to be confident that any changes we do make will not risk a second peak of infections.

I'm pretty sure I know the reason for not reminding people of those five tests this time round, but particularly test 4 - capacity within the testing system.

I was listening to the radio today about how the lack of testing is damaging the NHS's capacity to reopen services as nurses with symptoms cannot get tests and therefore cannot return to work. The same goes for schools - if teachers cannot get tests, either for themselves or for family members with symptoms, then they cannot go to work. This has been the case even with priority referrals.

There also seems to be utter chaos around who gets sent home when there is a positive test. Some schools are sending home a year group, others close contacts. Teachers often have no idea if they'll be sent home if one of their pupils tests positive.

But surely the government are tracking cases in schools carefully? No, it turns out they're not even storing that data. schoolsweek.co.uk/its-official-dfe-doesnt-know-how-many-schools-have-covid-cases

And a survey suggests that covid protection measures in some schools are poor. www.tes.com/news/third-teachers-lack-soap-and-water-school

So with an abysmal test and trace system, less than adequate measures to prevent the spread, and a department that isn't on top of its brief we can expect more disruption to come.

Even if your own kids' school is fine so far, parents really shouldn't be happy with this state of affairs, particularly the lack of testing capacity that will mean children will be out of school or missing a teacher unnecessarily.

YABU: The government have done a sterling job
YANBU: The government have not done a sterling job

The schools in Southampton at doing a sterling job so I really don’t know what schools you are talking about.

We are all to blame for this fiasco. The country voted conservative, for Brexit, and now we are all breaking rules because we hate the government. We need to pull ourselves together, follow guidelines and use some common sense. Too many people are blaming the governments ineptitude to do what the fuck they like.

We are all to blame for this fiasco. The country voted conservative, for Brexit, and now we are all breaking rules because we hate the government.

Speak for yourself?

The schools in Southampton at doing a sterling job so I really don’t know what schools you are talking about.

Schools are generally doing a great job in incredibly difficult circumstances. The government on the other hand....

It’s hard with social services referrals up 400%. My ex is a head of education and has had to deal with some terrible cases. Our school is completely open but I am in a low risk area. The government haven’t handled things well I totally agree.

My class is in rows. We wash hands 6 times a day.
I have had at least 12 children off each day due to not being able to get a test. Parents are tearing their hair out.
None of them are getting the teaching they need- group work can’t happen (sat in rows), interventions can’t happen (no staff as so many staff off waiting for tests), and it’s awful to watch them struggling to stay seated and work unaided as we can’t do targeted small group. I have 60% SEND- all different conditions.

It is horrendous. I have had a fluy cold thing- but def not Covid- for the last few days and teaching like this, with these pressures has been the worst period of my whole career. I HATE it. I can’t do this forever. The gov has caused it by rushing everyone back too quickly and all at once. Just dealing with the parents is a job of its own. They aren’t happy but expect us to wave a magic wand- it’s not happening.

I don’t know any teachers that aren’t feeling the same.

I agree absolutely with the OP. It's absolute chaos. A totally useless government.

When did schools reopen in the UK, generally?

I'm in a New England state - my kids' schools reopened Sept 8th. Just wondering if/when we should expect to start seeing infections rising.

Shambles! SIL's DSS got a runny nose yesterday and has been told to stay home from school and not come back before he has a negative test result. SIL and her partner can't go to work before he's been tested but don't get paid leave for self isolation so are taking their holidays planned for Xmas, and spent the last 2 days trying to obtain a test online but being offered none. This has not been thought through!

@BabyT1

Your message is LOUD AND CLEAR however I do agree with your very legitimate concerns. Initially I shared the same worries and reservations as you in recent months. However now back at the school my child and most (apart from very few shielding and vulnerable with special remote schooling arrangements) are surprisingly doing fine as if nothing happened. However the school has gone back to basics and will do so for initial weeks to ensure all children repeat and catch up on older learning materials etc. So effectively for nearly all, the current standard expectation is easy street for maths and English phonetics spelling tests etc.

These sentiments are generally the current views as most mums and dads I speak with in person are relatively satisfied given the ongoing potentially scary and fluid pandemic landscape outlook.

However that said should your view be common place you (and others in this position) have every right to suggest more repeat and levelling up learning as required. I don't believe a whole year is necessary though.

What do other primary schools parents think? I suggest possibility of for example extra "Nightingale" tutoring as required for those struggling academically to progress because of the Covid disruptions. And those that have not been impacted to continue as normal. We don't want society to be more polarised and gaps to grow because of a disease no one wanted, expected or originated here.

@Lua

Indeed *@duffeldaisy* This drives me nuts. Current situation was completely predicted by people here, you will think people that are actually paid to govern would too... It is like sending a bunch of inflatable boats full of holes out. People that point out the boat is filling with water, are pessimists. Boats keep going down, and the government just say: be positive this time. And never, never dare say "i told you so", learning is for nerds!

I genuinely think it's a side-effect of not having a representative government.

Who is in decision-making roles there who has children in state school with 30+ per class and limited facilities? Who has experience of zero-hour or low paid jobs where taking days off repeatedly because of testing or illness leads to you getting fewer or no hours next week? Who of them has had to live solely on SSP income, without any other savings?

I just don't think it dawned on them quite how serious this could be, because they don't understand the extreme pressures parents are under to get their children into school, regardless of any symptoms. Because they've never experienced that.

@HoldMyLobster

When did schools reopen in the UK, generally?

I'm in a New England state - my kids' schools reopened Sept 8th. Just wondering if/when we should expect to start seeing infections rising.

Was a phased reopening for many schools. Many English schools re opened from 1st Sept, with majority being back open by 7th Sept. Scottish schools back earlier, think many were reopening around 11th Aug onwards. Northern Irish schools I think may have been towards end of Aug/beginning of Sept. Welsh schools I think may be a similar start date to English schools.

@BabyT1

We Need as PARENTS To Pull together and FORCE THE GOVERNMENT to REPEAT THE YEAR!! Children are off school due to outbreaks, and coughs and Runny noses but NOT KNOWING PROTOCOL, CHILDREN Are being overwhelmed by going back to school and having to see big changes and NOT everyone complying thus leaving CHILDREN SCARED . We need to be PARENTS protecting our CHILDRENS MENTAL HEALTH!! Not SHEEP Following Guidelines that are Put together by IDIOTS!! THINK OF YOUR CHILDRENS WELLBEING!!!

No, we don't need to do that. You do not speak for all parents so why are you SHOUTING like this about it? You might be acting all outraged and behaving like sheep but that doesn't apply to all of us.

What are you doing to help? Have you volunteered as a governor seeing as you seem to want to appoint yourself as an expert who knows what is needed?

I’m a no for repeating the year.

We have had to isolate for 2 weeks after 4 days of being in, It's a total nightmare. The test came back unclear as I knew it would, impossible to test my son, I ended up battered and bruised, still not fully healed trying to do the test. He is autistic and simply couldn't cope with the test. Couldn't take him in to be tested due to the way he is and tbh had I of took him in they would of refused to test him because the way he reacts, he won't let doctors near him, it's a fight just to try get basic obs done when he's ill. I won't be testing again but pretty sure it's common cold as I started with it next day and I'm extremely high risk to the virus and would be alot worse, even flu would be alot worse. My other son isn't ill at all. But now also facing the possibility of unauthorised absence and a fine as the want my austitic son in 10 days from symptoms but not allowed to leave the house to take him for 14 days. Still waiting to find out if we will be fined. It's a complete joke. Not bad enough that I had to go through that to do a test which I knew I would be unlikely to be able to do it right because of him fighting me, and then the prospect that if it was covid I'd be screwed and they'd loose their mum but now looking at a fine I can't afford.

@DoubleDolphin

Nurses get tests at separate venues to the general public, so they will always be able to get tests.

Not true at all. We have to apply for tests through the same system everyone else does.

@OhMyDarling

My class is in rows. We wash hands 6 times a day. I have had at least 12 children off each day due to not being able to get a test. Parents are tearing their hair out. None of them are getting the teaching they need- group work can’t happen (sat in rows), interventions can’t happen (no staff as so many staff off waiting for tests), and it’s awful to watch them struggling to stay seated and work unaided as we can’t do targeted small group. I have 60% SEND- all different conditions.

It is horrendous. I have had a fluy cold thing- but def not Covid- for the last few days and teaching like this, with these pressures has been the worst period of my whole career. I HATE it. I can’t do this forever. The gov has caused it by rushing everyone back too quickly and all at once. Just dealing with the parents is a job of its own. They aren’t happy but expect us to wave a magic wand- it’s not happening.

I don’t know any teachers that aren’t feeling the same.

Well no wonder loads of children are off if you're in while ill spreading your germs! Have you had a test to know it's "def not covid"?

Not true at all. We have to apply for tests through the same system everyone else does.

One of my family members recently got a test for her son through NHS Occupational Health. They couldn't get one through the regular online system.

@millymollymoomoo

I didn’t vote as I don’t like the choices Schools need to be open with all children in. End of HTH

This! Definitely this. My kids are so much happier. It’s about education. Who cares if we think the government have done a good or bad job - our kids need to be back in school to get the education they deserve and all the mental and physical health benefits that come from it. Boris bashing isn’t really going to achieve anything

We are all to blame for this fiasco. The country voted conservative, for Brexit, and now we are all breaking rules because we hate the government.

Not ALL to blame. My city has only non-Tory MPs and voted greatly in favour of remaining in the EU.

Yet my city and the LEA still has to endure the incompetence, shit sound bites and arrogant twattery of this Government.

Shame we can't opt out.

This article looks quite helpful for spotting Covid in children. It’s from the Covid symptom study I am a member of.

covid.joinzoe.com/post/back-to-school?mc_cid=bd6f59275b&mc_eid=d7f479caef

@gemmydoo

This! Definitely this. My kids are so much happier. It’s about education. Who cares if we think the government have done a good or bad job - our kids need to be back in school to get the education they deserve and all the mental and physical health benefits that come from it.

What planet are you on, in the nicest possible way?
The government's incompetence is exactly what's threatening my child's education!

Have you not read the thread, and seen how many teachers and pupils are having to self isolate - meaning they are getting NO education - while trying and failing to get a test and subsequent result, unable to get back to school where everyone WANTS them to be, because the system is so shit?

Was a phased reopening for many schools. Many English schools re opened from 1st Sept, with majority being back open by 7th Sept. Scottish schools back earlier, think many were reopening around 11th Aug onwards. Northern Irish schools I think may have been towards end of Aug/beginning of Sept. Welsh schools I think may be a similar start date to English schools.

Interesting - thank you. I guess we're a week behind then.

I think the plan here is that if the school has any positive tests, they switch to online-only schooling, but they haven't had any yet so we'll see.

We've been told very firmly that if kids have any of the listed symptoms they stay home that day, talk to doctor, and see if a test is required. What I'm not sure about is what we do if they have one symptom for a day, but it disappears before they've had a test.

Symptoms are: fever (100.4F or greater, so that's 38C), headache, chills, new loss of taste or smell, cough, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, difficulty breathing, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, body or muscle aches, and shortness of breath.

Based on that list, I would have to stay home from work about 2 days out of 5 right now, I've had so many migraines.

And that’s why I now home educate!!! I don’t trust these fools in government to keep us safe, nor do I trust anyone in general! The school families I see are making dry little effort to follow ANY SD rules and generally seem to think Covid doesn’t exist.

Who cares if we think the government have done a good or bad job - our kids need to be back in school to get the education they deserve and all the mental and physical health benefits that come from it.

Because if the government had done a good job, your kid would be at less risk of being sent home to quarantine for 14 days, and at less risk of catching covid and giving it to you.