Schools should close for 2 weeks after the Christmas mixing

[OverTheRainbow88]

I think that schools should remain closed for face to face teaching 2-3 weeks after the end of the period in which Boris will allow families to all mix.

I don’t want to be in a classroom with 30 different kids 5 times a day who’ve mixed inside with all different family members and friends.

I say online learning until mid Jan, if Boris will allow us all to mix at Christmas

As a teacher I won’t be letting me children mix. We’ll still be socially distancing when dropping off presents - I don’t want my child disrupting others education. I know the students at my school do not stick to guidelines currently so I don’t think relaxation at Christmas will make any difference.

@OoohTheStatsDontLie

Unfortunately , as we have seen from many posts , people will just ignore a ban .

Personally I think it’s going to go back to local restrictions for a few weeks anyway .

I agree OP, otherwise I think cases in schools will be very hard to manage. My eldest in secondary school is already in the second period of self isolation since October.

I also believe that schools should close a week early for Christmas to allow teachers to spend time with their families at Christmas without worrying about bringing Covid home from school! They don’t have the option of taking holidays and I do think they have been overlooked as a key worker!

If schools go back on the 6th January, that’s 11 days from Boxing Day. So that would catch the majority of cases. It’s obviously not quite 14 days but it’s close.
Depends what the deal is for new year though.

The sensible way really would be for people that are going to be mixing to keep off school the fortnight after (never going to happen) and be fined if they don’t. Children that aren’t mixing can go to school as usual. The problem is that the people that will be doing a lot of mixing are the ones that don’t give a shit and there’s no reasoning with them.

Surprised to see this thread from you, Rainbow. Have you changed your mind?

@Oly4

Of course not. What should be banned is people mixing With extended family over Christmas. It’s unnecessary.. (exceptions for those with a terminal illness etc of course). My children’s education is necessary

Really?

So unless they have a terminal illness, elderly /vulnerable mentally or physically relatives should just sit on their own for two weeks so your child doesn't miss two weeks of school?

You sound lovely.

Why should the children suffer with 2 weeks off school? This year people have missed many major celebrations and festivals around the world - but hey guys let's have 2 weeks off school so people can socialise and DIE because of Christmas celebrations?!!!

No thanks, not fair at all! If the government do that I suspect there will be backlash.

Most parents can't magic up two weeks childcare at six weeks notice. Schools should stay open.

Children have missed enough school time. Though I won't be seeing anyone, I don't resent those that will but keep schools open .

Did you think the same during Easter, Ramadan and Eid in the first lockdown, or Diwali recently?

So unless they have a terminal illness, elderly /vulnerable mentally or physically relatives should just sit on their own for two weeks so your child doesn't miss two weeks of school?

That's what bubbles are for. If you're not already looking after your vulnerable relatives, why not?

So unless they have a terminal illness, elderly /vulnerable mentally or physically relatives should just sit on their own for two weeks so your child doesn't miss two weeks of school?

This is exactly what I will be doing. Because my children are also vulnerable. They need to be in school. Don't minimise this, these children have missed so much more then 'two weeks of school' - they very much need every single day they can possibly get now.

I think that's a good idea, it should go for colleges too.

Right well I won’t Bother going to work either. Will struggle with childcare for mine if schools don’t open. I do ultrasound scans so all those pregnant women who mixed with their families over Christmas will have to do without a scan.
No thought not!

I’m a teacher too. I’d like to close a week early, so that I can see my elderly mother over Christmas without worrying that I’m incubating something that I’ve caught at school. Not a lot of learning gets done in that last week of term - it’s usually class parties, carol concerts, nativities etc... so I don’t feel the children will be massively missing out.

Not a lot of learning gets done in that last week of term - it’s usually class parties, carol concerts, nativities etc... so I don’t feel the children will be massively missing out.

Maybe, given the huge loss of teaching time suffered this year, a lot of learning should be happening in that last week.

Most people that will be mixing would have mixed anyway and people will probably mix in that extra 2 weeks. People that are choosing not to mix will only miss out on more school for the benefit of people choosing to mix.

Kids need to be in school. Everything else can shut and will have to because cases will go up but kids need their education.

🤷‍♀️

Yeah ok whilst you're in your safe employment protected from redundancy the rest of us working parents will just have to carry on yeah?!

Schools are largely where it’s spreading. People do not follow guidelines, people don’t care, people will be mixing households over Christmas whether it’s “allowed” or not - I’ve heard so many people IRL say it, and so many online say it “I don’t care, I’m seeing my family at Christmas”

People don’t care, don’t listen, don’t see the bigger picture. We need to close (almost) EVERYTHING inc schools. It’s worked in other countries! Why is our government not learning from places where this is under better control?

Close the schools for 2 weeks before Christmas. Then that’s 4 weeks off to break this. In my area while schools are closing anyway due to spreading cases and not enough staff. It’s getting worse.

Re open everything slowly carefully and safely. Not throwing money at people to go out for a half price dinner.

Christmas is going to see cases skyrocket if this isn’t sorted. Because people will not follow the rules cos “it’s Christmas!”. But at least if we’ve all been inside and schools are shut for three weeks beforehand there will be less cases to spread.

This is a fucking mess.

I think you're right. Open them again mid-January.

I'm a teacher and don't want to break up a week early (I fear it may happen by default, though.)

I don't plan on seeing anyone over Christmas but I'd love there to be be an extra week on the end so that all those who do mix don't bring Covid into my classroom for me to take home to my ECV husband.

The thing is it's all very well saying kids need school for their MH but for some kids they also need a break from their home. We don't have a bubble and DS desperately needs to get away from his violent sister for a few days. If schools shut early he could get a break at his grandparents. He loves school but after this year he needs some company.

Not every family has two adults or family in the same town / county where they can go and sit on the doorstep to chat.

The thing is it's all very well saying kids need school for their MH but for some kids they also need a break from their home.

This is absolutely true. As well as your own personal example there are may many children living in awful circumstances where school is their only 'safe and normal' - let's not take it away so people can sit slugging brandy with auntie Ann and the rest of the gang.

That sounds tough, Meglet. I'd take him out early then anyway so you can do that (unless Yr 11).

People talking about MH in kids although don't acknowledge that more of them have plummeting MH now than during lockdown because the situation in school is horrible, scary and not at all like normal.