So parents now have 5 days to...

[Tanaria]

... find appropriate childcare?

The announcement that secondaries are not going back until w/b 11th with exam classes and w/b 18th for all other years, together with the very vague "some" primaries will be shut in high-infection areas.

Given that most of us have been plunged into Tier 4, how will we actually find out whether our children can go back to school?

Islington does look like it may have peaked (but nothing is certain with Covid). From the BBC

My borough next to Islington has a similar trajectory - cases much lower the last few days than previously.

It does sort of suggest that children not going to school makes a significant difference, despite the Xmas mixing.

Rates dropped off among secondary school children after half term, so it good to think that with a delayed start for most children that they may well continue to drop.

I think Islington (and Hackney and Camden) also has a lot of 20-somethings who are either on furlough or working remotely, and took the opportunity to leave London and go to their parents homes when it became obvious we would be going into tier 4 (that’s what our upstairs neighbours did). That might also have helped the numbers.

I could have coped with an 11/1 start, but it’s the indefinite nature of the situation in the listed areas that alarms me and makes me thankful we’re not included.

@Velvian

I do not trust Gavin Williamson to make these decisions at all. I do not trust his motivations and he is totally overstepping into decisions that should be made by parents, schools and most importantly, local authorities.

This government's whole response has been reactive and too late. They have failed to learn during this and are still issuing dictats from the top and including personal vendettas (Greenwich) in the decision making.

Obviously why the schools in Waltham Forest that did the same as Greenwich and Islington are closed

I agree the schools should be able to close according to how high the cases are. Which is why they are actually allowed to do that. And many in London did before Christmas.

Local politicians need to not bring their point scoring into the playground. Heads can put their case to public health England and regional regulator. School can go online and have a fire breaker if they need it.

[quote TaxTheRatFarms]I’m no fan of Boris, but he and his Government aren’t making up the Guidelines willy nilly to suit themselves. They are acting on the advice given to them by the experts such as those who are in the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)

Sadly this isn’t the case. SAGE advised that secondary schools should be closed throughout January. This government clearly has no problem with ignoring their advice.

www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-uk-government-scientists-close-schools-january-boris-johnson/amp/?__twitter_impression=true[/quote]
I think we all know in the end most secondaries will be closed throughout January.

Government are just slow on the uptake. So us grown ups need to plan around that.

My London secondary will be lucky to open after February half term.

Surely you had some idea this would happen?

@christinarossetti19

My borough next to Islington has a similar trajectory - cases much lower the last few days than previously.

It does sort of suggest that children not going to school makes a significant difference, despite the Xmas mixing.

Rates dropped off among secondary school children after half term, so it good to think that with a delayed start for most children that they may well continue to drop.

Or people stopped going for tests over Christmas holidays

Children will have on line teaching from 4th .... majority of schools will be spending the next few days adapting planning and putting it in line.. I’m a primary school teacher in tier 4 in a closed school, my children are both in secondary schools ... so we are desperately trying to work out a timetable for all to work virtually..

Primary should be back. Secondary could be left on their own? I am a single parent with no family so mine have to be left l.

How much notice is acceptable during a pandemic when things are fluid with constant changing situations?

Check your local council website.

Our primary school has already sent a email with the closure, so other schools will definitely be emailing parents directly.

Most schools already prepared before they broke up for Christmas for something like this happening, so it's not an extra effort for teachers.

Thankfully the Scottish government made the decision BEFORE Christmas to keep all schools closed until 18th January with home learning from the 11th. They could’ve done that 🤷🏻‍♀️

Its a real pain, I agree. I guess it would be prudent in these times to perhaps have a plan B, possibly C,D through to Z.

Not sure how we are supposed to go to work and have children at home.... again. But I do see they are allowing childminders to open.... so obviously the virus doesn't spread through primary and childcare.... im bamboozled...

@Ribrabrob

I don’t mean to be rude and I’m certainly not intending to be fussy but, genuinely, what do you expect the government to do? The situation is fast-moving and they are reacting when need be.

I get that it’s frustrating but I do wonder what people want the government to do. They are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

I totally agree I’m sick of the moaning I’d like to see anyone do better It’s a pandemic !!!!!!!!

Tbh this is not going to get better, it is gonna get worse.

metro.co.uk/2020/12/31/covid-map-shows-which-primary-schools-are-closed-in-tier-4-areas-13829369/

I had an idea this would be the case so put in plans. At my daughters primary school both parents have to be on their list of essential workers for them to get a place. I am, hubby works in construction industry and isn’t. Luckily my son is in 6th form so at the moment he will be at home and can have my 10 year old. Glad this time her school has actually set up Google classroom as opposed to the 100+ sheets we had to print off each week in the last one!

There was a published list of schools that won’t be going back. It’s not hard to find a simple google search will answer whether or not your school is closed.

You can form childcare bubbles with other households and I think this is what most people are going to have to do if possible.

Special schools will be opening lots planning will have to go into this.
All schools want to keep both staff and pupils safe.To be Frank most schools have done brilliantly .Everything is changing so fast.
Really feel for SLT within schools.
There is only as much as can be done.
We all need to follow the guidelines and keep our families safe .Hopefully this time next year we might just be able to breathe a sign of relief .
A happy new year in advance everyone

I expect the government to Do some goddamn forward planning! All they are doing is fire fighting with inertia and reluctance to make any hard choices. By now we have enough information to know how to do some forward thinking with this virus. We knew before school finished that the new year return for schools would be a big problem.
In Germany schools already knew the plan for delayed return before they finished for the holidays. This is obvious stuff here!!

All schools knew I think the issue will be the new information thrown out.
Moving into another tier is whats made it trickier.

There is a list of areas on gov UK website.
Teachers have 2 days to prepare online lessons and learn how to test pupils. It is a horrible situation all round
I have to teach online, whilst teaching my child at home. Happy new year folks.

You really didn’t think that this was on the cards? You had more than 5 days but I know lots of parents are choosing to bury their heads in the sand and/or be overly optimistic when actually what you should be thinking of is what’s the worst case and planning for that. Anything not worst case is a bonus quite frankly.

My son's 2ndary SN school (Tier 4) is opening on the 5th but they have asked that all pupils take a test before start of term. We got a text tonight and it is unclear whether they expect the rest of the family to be tested too.
Anyone got the same message? (Greenwich Council)

School is not testing directly (change of policy) because the test is classed as a medical procedure)