Why can't there be a proper lockdown in January, schools to but open them for any extra month in summer?

[TheInfected]

So schools closed Jan but open until Jul/August? So no education missed and people & NHS are protected during the most dangerous time of the year?

Because a month of being locked in the house in January is not the same as a month of holiday in sunny August!
Why don't you take January off and then make up for it by working every weekend in the summer?

Because that’s a bit last minute for people who have to work ?

Believe it or not it’s not just the nhs Staff and supermarkets that have worked throughout this

Because staff contracts can't be changed at whim. That does not just include teaching staff, but also those who usually have other work over summer - cleaners, kitchen staff, site staff, to name just a few.

Because summer holidays are the only feasible time to complete repairs to buildings crumbling apart all over the place.

Because we have enough families reliant on the food boxes we make every week and send into the community without having to worry about an extra month now, when keeping the heating on is a struggle as it is.

Because it would make things far more expensive for families than in summer (utilities).

Because exams can't be pushed back even further than they have without chaos to the start of autumn term for universities, colleges and new starters in primary/ secondary.

Because staff would still be expected to look after vulnerable students during a nationally enforced lockdown. They are NOT PAID for more than 195 days; you can't just slap a few extra weeks on for free.

Why should teachers give up a month of their summer after a horrendously stressful year??!

During this January lockdown that you are proposing I am assuming all online education stops - children have no focus/no support? I am asking because you are expecting an additional month of education in the summer. Also, taking away from children the opportunity to get out and about in the summer if the virus allows.

I welcome a lockdown I do not welcome schools closing esp secondary. My child did not cope well with online working but since starting back in September has made incredible progress and is back in tne right state if mind for learning, to take this a early now for every student would be unforgivable. I do think alternate weeks of in school and home learning would be a good idea to reduce numbers on school. If learning is disrupted over tne next few months then I think secondary school students should be given the option to repeat the year.

Because we've already seen how variable online learning can be - our school was great, DD2 came out ahead of schedule, but that's not so for everyone or even the majority.

Because it's unreasonable to expect teachers to work through a lockdown providing blended learning (because yes, this is work) as well as being in to teach keyworker children, and then expect them to work an extra month in summer as well.

Because, in short, it's a stupid and unworkable idea.

One of the main reasons why schools should remain open is that there are so many children exposed to domestic abuse and violence towards them. This only increased during the initial lockdown.

I’m a teacher and we had vulnerable children in school but I can promise you that there were so many more children who needed to be in school - their safe space- and were not.

I completed some training in September on safeguarding and the figures for all types of abuse - both inflicted on the children and witnessed by them went up massively during the lockdown.

They won't pay us is why
Even if they locked down for January we would still be open for key workers kids and still have to teach online so couldn't just take leave then.
Are you proposing we work for free as it's our vocation, not for paying the mortgage or anything.
And this is before taking into account the mental health and wellbeing of the children and who is going to look after them in January when their parents need to go to work.

For the same reason they didn't do that this year. And my daughter is doing her GCSEs this year so that would be no help at all.

So teaching staff getting a few weeks off in January, when it's bloody freezing and we're in lockdown.

But then work through the summer when everyone is hoping we'll be on our way out of this?

I worked through Easter, may half term and October half term. I'm working through most of Christmas. I haven't seen my family - in another country - for twelve months. Please, please let me have a summer holiday to look forward to.

And actually, won't most families and pupils feel the same?

No

Take your kids out of school and let everyone else get on with it. So sick of SAHP's thinking this is an option for everyone. So short-sighted.

January is a hideous month for me work-wise. My son is back in the swing of learning and the only reason lockdown was manageable the first time was because of the weather, and using up a lot of annual leave to take a few random hours in the day so they weren't stuck in all day or not having any attention while I was working. That means OH and I haven't had the usual weeks off as normal, so not properly rested and knackered. I need my annual leave to be proper annual leave to cover school holiday next year, not to take a couple of hours out each day so my kids aren't bored and stuck indoors all day during a school closure.

We always get stupid posts like this before the government make an announcement of some sort. I'm convince they throw ridiculous ideas. On these. Forums to see if they'd stick 😁

Not sure where all those full stops are coming from! I sound angry, but with very poor punctuation.

Because schools would still have to stay open for key worker children like mine. Because my autistic child hated home schooling, it was a disaster. Because what about all the safe guarded children who went completely under the radar last time? Or the ones who don’t have the internet or a lap top or parents who don’t give a shit? Because teachers will still have to be school and you want them to give up their summer holidays as well? Ok then.

I'm a TA, worked my arse off in lockdown including the easter holidays and half term. lots of staff worked throughout the summer to help vulnerable children. I didn't as I have my own children to look after! I've got a holiday booked in August (that I have paid double to non school holiday price for!) and I am flippin well going! So no let's not shut schools in January and make us take our holiday (that we don't get paid for!) then instead of in the summer when we want it and deserve it!

Because the worst affected kids long term are the exam students. GCSE and A level exams have already been put back, meaning that results day has also been put back and is now only approx one week before the start of the new term. If exams were any later, it wouldn't be possible to have the papers marked and the grades distributed in time for people to accept 6th form offers. It'd be pretty pointless to have schools open until mid August if it wasn't going to benefit kids going through crucial transitions.

nosswith

The week later start for most secondary schools is only out of panic.

Schools are required to teach online and provide places for keyworker/crucial workers.

It isn't a "week later start to the start" to the start of teaching.

@TheInfected

So schools closed Jan but open until Jul/August? So no education missed and people & NHS are protected during the most dangerous time of the year?

Not a great idea really. What's the point of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted?

Teachers will be working if schools shit in January, setting work, recording videos, marking work, phoning families. I'm a teacher and I'm not paid to work in August so I won't be.

Also, if schools close at any time my own primary age children will need to be hone schooled by me.

I work in early years - won't close. I don't want my Ds home January when i can't yake holiday then alone in the summer.. This year has been a wash out our children need time to be children and play, go to the beach, swing in the park.

I have already booked 4 days in a caravan Easter. I am hoping for some normality by then

Lots of people asking "why should I give up my summer" "why should I miss my holiday" etc etc.

Because it might save lives, that's why I would have thought that's a pretty damn good reason.

@Lockheart

Lots of people asking "why should I give up my summer" "why should I miss my holiday" etc etc.

Because it might save lives, that's why I would have thought that's a pretty damn good reason.

No, the lockdown might save lives. Asking teachers and school staff to work and extra month will do nothing to save lives. If it really is going to save lives, then it’s worth education making the sacrifice right?

I work in a school and don’t want us to close at all, but there’s no way the government will to pay us all to work an extra month anyway, let alone offer a bonus enough to make us actually consider doing it.