AIBU to ask if you think there's a chance schools could be closed till September?

[Turmericpie]

I had assumed worse case scenario would be summer term...but it was pointed out to me tonight that if vaccinations are slow in rolling out, it could quite conceivably be September.

Thoughts?

Realistically I'm hoping that exams years, so 11 and 13, can be back in beginning of March. Online lessons are fine to a point but all children need to be in school sooner rather than later. Mind you I would settle for Easter as September would be a disaster.

Hopefully not September. I’m assuming after Easter so April 19. 97 days. Yes, I am counting down.

A lot will depend on the success of the vaccination programme I suppose. I live in one of the hotspots of the new variant and we seem to be seeing the effects of the Tier 4 and then lockdown restrictions at last here, although things are now worsening in other parts of the country. So tough restrictions do seem to be effective. The issue, as ever, is successfully relaxing restrictions and I think we have to be reliant on the vaccine for that.

But yes, I'm thinking Easter. Hoping before, but trying to be realistic.

@millymollymoomoo

Better effing not be !

If people continue flaunting the rules, eg not wearing masks because they decide they're special, ie exempt, then it's a real danger. The solution is in our hands but I'm sure we could all name those of our acquaintance who ruin it for everyone else.

In schools a lot of us think Easter

I read the Hansard record of the debate on making school staff higher priority for vaccination (once the most vulnerable populations are complete)

I think it was the business minister speaking for the education minister (as he was elsewhere) but he said schools were the last thing the Government closed and will be first to be reopened.

I think it will be as soon as this 13/14 million in the first phase are vaccinated, so mid Feb if they hit the target.

And I’m in school at the moment with keyworkers,

Once they are vaccinated, over 90% of severe illness will be prevented so no reason for schools to stay shut. This is all about the hospitals. If they are ok, everything will open.

Then they should be able to do a half and half rota like they did in the summer

Schools were told not to use rotas in the summer.

I think the government need to have proper talks now with heads and phe to sort out reopening-what will be done about masks, self isolation for positive contacts, money for ventilation/heating (which could be avoided if we don’t go back until after Easter as it’ll probably be much warmer), additional staffing/spaces etc

If THE PLAN-ie the only difference from the autumn term, is to now stop close contacts of positive cases in school from self isolating by using the unapproved and inaccurate lateral flow testing instead, I expect we will absolutely not be back after February half term.

Government is not concerned about spread of Coronavirus. They are protecting the NHS and hospital capacity. Once the most vulnerable are vaccinated, there will be a huge drop in severe cases requiring hospital treatment, over 90%,maybe more according to Professor Neil Ferguson. After that, transmission won’t be as worrying for the vast majority of the population so I guess it’ll be open up gradually, education first and carry on with hygiene measures.

Children cannot be missing out on such vast chunks of their education, whichever age/stage they are at

Mine are not missing their education now, as the online provision has imporved so much. Theya re definitely missing out on seeing friends and their after-school clubs, but I do feel their education is covered now.

I hope for after the Easter holidays but don't expect normality.

I hope for normality in September, but it might not be until the following Easter.

There's loads of scope to be impatient and mess things up,

Again.

Children cannot be missing out on such vast chunks of their education, whichever age/stage they are at

Children shouldn’t be missing anything as remote education is being provided.

No not September

I'm hoping end of Jan not too optimistic no

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss in Many schools remote education is merely some work put up on google classroom and rarely even looked at! 0 interaction with a teacher at all. So I motivating for them.

@oopsiedaisie1

I'm hoping end of Jan not too optimistic no

The government have already said no schools will open until after feb half term at the very earliest...

[quote oopsiedaisie1]@IceCreamAndCandyfloss in Many schools remote education is merely some work put up on google classroom and rarely even looked at! 0 interaction with a teacher at all. So I motivating for them. [/quote]
Exactly, clips from bbc bite size and oak academy to watch, multichoice questions. Not rally active learning

@worriedandannoyed not in wales they haven't , reassessing it end of jan depending on numbers. I shall remain optimistic 😬

@BungleandGeorge yep! Watch this you tube clip! Half tempted to de reg at this point to save them spending 6 hours a day fixed to their laptops looking miserable because it's so boring!

I'm pretty sure that once over 60s are vaccinated then schools will open, they could conceivably open when the top four groups have immunity, which would be March, but I think the NHS could still be at risk by that point, so opening would be patchy, and foolish imo.

I think primary schools at least (and hopefully all schools) will open before non essential retail / eat in dining etc so I think March sometime, may be after Easter but not September. We do also need to fund the NHS/Army/school as well as support them by current lockdown and that will require reopening as soon as the vaccines allow.

@Benjispruce2 You’ve mixed up deaths and serious illness. Vaccinating over 70s will dramatically reduce deaths, but ICUs aren’t full of over 70s because they mostly wouldn’t survive it. ICU pressure won’t reduce until over 50s are vaccinated.

If all remains equal then I think after Easter. If there is a new vaccine resistant strain - then back to square one.

I am just praying the latter doesn't happen and being thankful for the vaccine and the fact that they seem to be doing ok rolling it out.