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????

All our schools close today too. We were told late Friday eve. South Wales.

Not in Greenwich and secondary here but our school announced on Saturday night that all years are learning online this week.
We are one of those places where rates increased during and after lockdown and the rates in secondaries are ridiculous. We aren't the only secondary school who's had to do this too.

Yanbu to think what are working parents supposed to do. Only half of UK jobs can be done from home

I got an alert from school last tuesday and home schooling from wednesday. Very slick and smooth transition but I have had to support him during my own meetings. School was closed by the thursday as more of the year groups and teachers tested positive. It is what it is...London too

@MarshaBradyo

My DD’s Primary school in Greenwich has been working since 6am to contact all the necessary parents and arrange for them to come to school.

What other working parents would give.

Oh Marsha. I know this doesn’t apply to your situation as you are a keyworker.

As a working parent myself who has had to juggle all of this for 4 weeks, including actually catching Covid, you know that was a low blow to my comment.

What I would have ‘given’ for a selfish parent not to have sent their Covid positive child into my DD’s Greenwich school whilst waiting for a test result and starting a knock on effect that took out many children, staff and yes, working parents too.

Even you have previously said it sounds sensible to close a school but keep open the KW, vulnerable SEND etc.

Most teachers here in kent are on their knees. Schools can't function because too many are off with covid or awaiting test results. I know of staff still suffering the after affects of covid (brain fog, extreme tiredness) who are dragging themselves in trying to teach when they can barely hold a thought in their head. How are they meant to open with no staff to even keep the kids safe let alone teach them? They can hardly bring in staff with covid to teach kids so parents can have a week's notice can they?

Tweacle is it the whole of Wales? Your govt does at least look like they try to do a bit of forward planning.

Listening to Sadiq Khan now, wants colleges & secondary to close now - not as worried about infant/junior.

Although I would be in favour of staying open for any vulnerable kids or keyworker's children.

Chloe no I haven’t? The unequal provision is what I don’t want. Hence agreeing with the word ‘equitable’ in the list you provided.

In March there was more appetite for this split provision than there is now. We are going backwards and it is concerning.

This is a precedent and we may end up in patchy local strict lockdowns where schools are linked together and closing rather than actually needed by the school.

My MP is for schools to remain open, reflecting their constituents, as is the whole party so we’ll see what happens.

We had a whole-school closure in an area where the number of cases has been relatively low - unfortunately a fair number of the teachers got it at once, and a combination of over half the classes needing to isolate and having no senior management meant that closure made sense. Somebody on the radio this morning said that decisions at borough or even school level might be most sensible.

I suspect the teachers weren't best pleased to be told on Sunday night that their lessons for today would have to be re-planned!

When people talk about keeping schools open for children with SEN ,what about special school,s at my son's special school every child obviously has SEN and they are all vulnerable due to their disabilities.

To be fair it's not just London. DSS got an email last night to say not to come into college until after Christmas now. Learning will be online.

This makes a huge difference to us as he's not allowed in the house on his own (long story) so now we have to make sure one of us is home between now and when he goes to his mum's for the holidays as it's her year this year.

If your child trachear has to isolate or needs to look after there child then there is staff shortages and school will have to close. This has been happening up north since September welcome London.maybe now you would be happy for your child to wear a mask in class and listen to teachers saying not covid secure.I can’t believe people thought having 30 kids 15 years old sat in a room with NO social distancing or masks being 6 foot tall and 12 stone was safe.and believing pictures on bbc. Any way were is gav spiderboy

Schools can’t stay open sen or not if not staff THInK

MPs can want schools to say open I want 10000 pounds but it’s not going to happen unless you mp planes to teach. No staff no school. THINK marshabradyo

@happystone

MPs can want schools to say open I want 10000 pounds but it’s not going to happen unless you mp planes to teach. No staff no school. THINK marshabradyo

We’ve been fine and all in this week so no need. So whatever with your weird think shouting posts. To odd to bother with.

Greenwich schools have been ordered to reopen or they'll be taken to the High Court

Ridiculous move by the govt, in the one hand a new more virulent strain is rampaging through London but in the other hand we’ll fight to the death to keep schools open for 4 days! What a hill to choose to die on...

I think they are worried about January. It's going to be an absolute shitshow then. I can't understand why they'd fight this battle otherwise. (They'll also have to admit they have done fuck all to provide laptops for vulnerable kids for online learning.)

@YikesMusthaveusername

Greenwich schools have been ordered to reopen or they'll be taken to the High Court

Bring it on. This is a battle the govt cannot win.

Williamson is a fool. Does he not know that there are already masses of schools which have closed and moved to 100% online learning? It's not just Greenwich and Isso.

I’m in a London borough. Rates are soaring, every day I’m getting emails about another case in my kids (three different) schools. My sons school had to close 3 year groups due to lack of staff. Several secondary schools in the area have closed all but one or two years because of so many cases and lack of staff.
I wish my LA had said the schools should close. As it is I’m keeping my kids off for the last 3 days (so they will miss watching films and playing games) because we want to be able to see my elderly parents on Christmas Day.

Well done to Greenwich council I say.

Basildon has been allowed to close schools. 8 out of 9 secondaries have. Brilliant interview with council leader 1.28 world at 1 radio 4 today where he justifies it. Goodness knwos why basildon can and greenwich were threatened.

I'm just outside London in Surrey and every secondary school I can think of has now called it a day and closed early (or as scheduled, last Friday) - the ones that were due to break up this Thursday/Friday are doing remote learning. This included some over the border in SOuth London. Why are they picking on Greenwich?