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?

Boris ACTUALLY just said that "schools are safe."

Lying FUCKER.

@britnay

but surely most secondary age students don't need parents to stay at home?

This is what I was thinking too? Primaries & nurseries would cause a massive childcare headache but most secondary students should be able to take care of themselves.

How is Greenwich not on that list?

Yes I noticed that. How on earth...

All of my mathematics is kitchen table mathematics - that's where I work :o

I assume that is why most Primaries are open, not because they are safe but to help with childcare. It is only in the really bad areas they can't justify keeping them open, as they would probably have bubbles bursting continually anyway.

Goinglive As I understand it, it will be learning from home as of w/b 4th for all years at secondary, rather than just non-exam years.

But even that's not true.

There are boroughs with far higher rates and increase in numbers that aren't included on the list.

Is it not better to wait until your school sends out guidance? That's what I'm waiting for, and I don't expect to receive it an hour after the announcement.

but surely most secondary age students don't need parents to stay at home?

Many of ours will be used to provide childcare for younger siblings in this case. Many others don't have access to live learning as in different year groups and sharing devices. And we have a very high intake of SEND and behavioural issues, so a fair few of Y7 and a few Y8/9 would also be unsafe at home.

SAGE says shut the schools but Johnson is ignoring the science as usual. We'll never get on top of this virus with these muppets in charge.

But he keeps saying schools are safe

Greenwich I think, is most likely due to political reasons, to provoke the local Labour councillor into unilateral action again. Or too conspiracy?

Is it not better to wait until your school sends out guidance?

I am awaiting news from 5 schools in 3 different counties due to living on the border of all 3 and children attending schools in different council areas and both exH and I are teachers in separate counties.

Interesting Greenwich isn’t on the list - the hospital went into red alert due to having oxygen issues - Greenwich was the area that wanted to close schools earlier - government perhaps doesn’t want to be proved wrong!!!!

I’m a bit baffled as to how Islington has escaped the list of doom. (But also relieved, which I know makes me a horrible person).

Interesting that Greenwich isn’t on that list, although neighbouring Bexley is, given Greenwich was the Council that wanted to close early before Christmas. That’s surely political point scoring.

Areas are in here:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948580/Contingency_framework_implementation_guidance.pdf

Both mine off until 18th.

Decision could have been made and announced days ago - like it was in Wales. Blame the government.

They've taken it to the wire as shutting schools is the last thing they want but they have reached to point where infections have risen ( peoples fault not the governments) so no choice.

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay

I know things are constantly changing, but it certainly demonstrates what a willywaving arse Gavin Williamson was, ignoring Greenwich council's decision to close schools a week early before Christmas.

He should have been sacked for his stupidity about the schools in Greenwich. I wonder how many much lower the infection rate would have been if they’d been willing to close the schools 4 days early

Can the secondary school age children not be left alone in most cases?

@christinarossetti19

I'm waiting to hear directly from my children's schools.

Tier 4 secondary, non exams years.

But the SLTs only found about this on the telly, same as everyone else, so they'll need a bit of time to formulate plans.

Thank you for acknowledging this. SLT’s find out the info from the TV like the rest of the country. It’s shocking how little the Government tell schools directly and also how little warning is given.

Planning in schools is a mammoth task and every headteacher will now be trying to get plans together to send out to parents as soon as humanly possible.

rwalker how is it peoples fault rather than the governments that rates have risen?

It has been the government who have provided no additional funding to schools, mandated against the use of face masks in the classroom, sent home the bare minimum of 'close contacts' when there's been a positive case, refused to entertain any suggestions about remote learning/blended learning/part time schooling to promote social distancing, and sat back and watched as rates have climbed to 2,500 per 100,000 in secondary schools and 2,000 in primary.

How, just how, is this not the government's fault?

He's been told not to say "Alas" hasn't he?