to wonder WTF Greenwich?

[Standandwait]

Okay: I'm a parent in London, but not in Greenwich -- and I do have some backup help. And I'm all for controlling CV. But still: Greenwich borough announces SUNDAY NIGHT that all schools will close and go back online from Monday evening. Does not a single person in charge of these decisions over there have both a job and a child????

On this very forum, just a few days ago, parents were claiming that teachers were wusses just wanting time off, when closing a week or two before the end of term was mooted (because numbers were rising, and to protect those older family members who the kids would be mixing with at Christmas).

Now we have this.

Dds school (SE London) is down to just yr 11 & 12. Lower years have been at home for a couple of weeks, 60 yr 11s sent home last week to isolate. Some kids have done 4/5 lots of isolation (missed 8 or 10 weeks)
They’ve got 4 days left - don’t know why they don’t just close them all

I agree but I will say this, children don't learn anything during the last week of term. It's all Christmas Jumpers, classroom parties and writing lists...so they won't be missing academia.

@happystone

I can’t believe anyone thought schools were safe.instead of people supporting schools by saying wear masks etc the parents just said teachears lazy ect.people believed Norris and pictures from bbc.just think.teachers have children having to isolate teachers have to isolate no money for supply staf. What the hell did people on here think was going to happen.you can say we need to work,maybe support schools and listen to teach ears.then school might be open.

.... Parents can be their worst enemies. There's a Covid denying couple who sent their coughing + lethargic kid into school. They cost his entire class their final 3 weeks of school because they delayed testing him from the day the bubble was sent home, but it was still positive.

Norris said schools will be open not that child would be there what about the laptops for children on fsm they don’t want to spend ANYMONEY on your children to keep them or school staff safe .ther children are all right private schools. This is way I did not vote conservative they cut everything. If I was rich I was as I could go private for schools and healthcare,

@nancy75

Dds school (SE London) is down to just yr 11 & 12. Lower years have been at home for a couple of weeks, 60 yr 11s sent home last week to isolate. Some kids have done 4/5 lots of isolation (missed 8 or 10 weeks) They’ve got 4 days left - don’t know why they don’t just close them all

I’m SE London too, you have many more cases. I don’t think it should be blanket approach.

As for Greenwich I’m interested in why this LA seems to be first on this and what process is

happystone

That was at your " telling you in advance hope that enough time" comment

Jaydot500 I agree with you I have read parents comments on hear about teachears.They should have respect for them they are caring for there children and they have so little regard for them it makes me sad and angry

Now hang on. I wasn't criticising teachers at all, but politicians and bureaucrats who just blithely make decisions without considering the realities on the ground.

Which at this point seem to be heavily female not only the parents expected to homeschool, but the teachers expected to teach most of whom, I'd remind you, are not only female but also parents themselves.

I think this whole thing (I won't call it a conspiracy, just idiocy) is well illustrated by how, at the start of the debate this autumn, the national papers kept going on about how children should be in school because they don't face any risk -- the risk to teachers being totally irrelevant, of course.

Marshadradyo You will be next there la is acting because it’s a problem. THINK THINK.

Standandwait well said

@happystone

Marshadradyo You will be next there la is acting because it’s a problem. THINK THINK.

Next for what? This week? We’ve got four days left.

If you’re talking about next year well plan is remote if needed which is fine.

My 4 children are all at secondary school so I have it a lot easier than parents with young children and I do feel sorry for you it must be a nightmare having to sourt out childcare I would try and arrange some childcare for the last 4days marshadradyo just in case, I hope you don’t need it and your children can finish this term.2of my children are home due to staff shortage,I’m just thankful there are old enough not to require childcare.

I’m not a parent, but know closing schools with little or no notice is very hard for working parents. In the United States, there are many mums who are discouraged workers because there is no school or accessible day care.
How can students who have lost most of two terms take GSCEs? They have missed so much work, and many students don’t or can’t study on their own. The lack of textbooks would be worrisome as well.

Closing schools with little or no notice is really hard. Especially on working mums as you say @Ericaequites

The government should have seen this coming and given more notice. There have been lots of petitions requesting a slightly earlier finish this term but for political reasons this has been ignored.

Unfortunately our government new this was going to happen,they just don’t care

Wow I think tbh you're incredibly lucky to have made it this far without having your children isolate suddenly for 2 weeks.

Are you completely unaware this has been happening up and down the country, repeatedly? Schools are spreading covid like anything. We're tier 2, were tier 1 and already had a whole school closure for a week and a 2 week isolation.

I have offen wondered with all the strange gov policies whether most people have just gone "lalalallala sending kids into crowded, badly ventilated spaces without masks is fine" until it affects them??

Particularly regarding the towns up North.

The whole gov policy of pretending schools are open but not safe meaning parents play Russian Roulette as to when their turn to have to isolate will be (at less than 24 hours notice, for 2 weeks, often repeatedly) or catch covid... has been crazy and the schools calling for better safety have been shot down. I guess if this OP is how parents have been thinking, and chosing not to see, this is how they've got away with it?

When childcare falls through, 90-95% of time mothers have to pick up the slack. Children have fathers, but few expect them to rearrange things to care for their children.

The most surprising thing about this announcement is that it is actually being reported in the media. I don't know which of the powers-that-be in government has managed the news blackout for so long, but thank goodness the real picture is finally being shown.

Schools across the country have been shutting for weeks now. My own primary in the South East was shut for two weeks recently as we couldn't staff it following a Covid outbreak. DH teaches in one of the worst-hit London boroughs and they are moving online for this week, just having the most vulnerable pupils in on-site, because of the huge numbers of cases. They've had at least 2 whole year groups out in isolation at a time since half term. The idea that these poor kids have to sit exams as normal is a complete joke.

My children have both had an entire uninterrupted term at school. Sounds like this is unusual.

Lavender it’s because it’s a big deal re an LA doing it. The first I think. Now the Mayor is calling for it. But DfE do not agree. It’s a big wrangle.

I'm in a London Borough with relatively low numbers. My children are in 2 different schools. The elder is in an SEN school which took an extra week at half term as they had numerous staff members catch it. They spent those 2 weeks reworking everything. Only 1 staff case since then. I'm really impressed with them. It must be a logistical nightmare.

DS2's mainstream school shut on Monday at 5.30 for the Tuesday. On the basis of 1 case? I think there might have been more but the school communication is much poorer. He is out until Wednesday when they are going back for 2.5 days. It hardly seems worth it.

So yes, it happens in London too. Not just the North

I’m genuinely concerned that some children are going to be left alone due to parents having no other option, but I get pounced on for this

Yes, I know some schools are having to close because of bubbles bursting but there is a difference between one year group being out and a whole school shutting.

A better solution to me would be ‘we will open but if you can have your child stay home, please, please do.’

The decision should have been made by central government at the latest at the time that the five day window was announced.

A government who had the second period of restrictions at least a month later than it should have been, and cannot even be on time for a press conference they call.