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?

I'd guess Easter, but wouldn't be surprised if it wound up being September.

[quote Monkeytennis97]@parkpoolplunge in fact many many school staff are in now.[/quote]
Many? It seems to be almost all at my son’s school. All classes have their usual teacher AND TA in, despite the reduced numbers.

Totally agree with the pp who said to move this thread. I think some people are taking a disturbing amount of pleasure in frightening everyone as much as they can. Of course we can't know what is going to happen but of course the government want school open asap. They aren't going to wait until everything is perfect to do that, just until things have calmed down a bit and we've cracked on with more vaccinations. I genuinely think that there will be a massive effort to get on with that now, especially as the army are involved, there is no one better than the army at logistics. Imo, primaries will be back after Feb half term, not sure about secondaries but they're not going to condemn small children to month after month of no socialisation. The government do listen to some people who understand how important it is for children to be around each other.

People have short memories. At the start of the March lockdown, people were saying "after Easter", then it was "after Spring bank holiday", then it became September. What's the difference now? In fact, it could be worse now, because we actually had a proper lockdown in March, not this half arsed (close a few things but most things carry on) pseudo lockdown we have now. My money is definitely on September. No way will the teaching unions let schools back as normal until everyone's vaccinated and covid deaths are single figures, just like last time!

I think some people are taking a disturbing amount of pleasure in frightening everyone as much as they can.

Agree there’s a lot of this atm

I think after Easter there shall be a staggered return

Some of my colleagues who I have discussed this with (NHS) have the same view, some don’t

There certainly isn’t a blanket agreement on (and not all personally agree with the guidelines some think not strict enough other think too strict)

@Covidasaurus

Speak to any NHS or local authority staff and they are not expecting return before September. Might just be worst-case planning, but...

Would this be the same ones who predicted that last year?

There's no way that everyone being vaccinated is the aim, it just needs to be enough for the r rate to calm down. We aren't aiming for no one to die of Covid, that's impossible, and it would be a crazy thing to close down society for. All they're trying to do is to stop the NHS being overwhelmed, once that's less of a risk they will be opening schools asap because they know how important they are. Things are mad atm because of the time of year, hospitals are usually overwhelmed anyway so obviously this is now a crisis. As the weather improves things will calm down and schools will be the first to reopen.

@TheOtherMaryBerry

There's no way that everyone being vaccinated is the aim, it just needs to be enough for the r rate to calm down. We aren't aiming for no one to die of Covid, that's impossible, and it would be a crazy thing to close down society for. All they're trying to do is to stop the NHS being overwhelmed, once that's less of a risk they will be opening schools asap because they know how important they are. Things are mad atm because of the time of year, hospitals are usually overwhelmed anyway so obviously this is now a crisis. As the weather improves things will calm down and schools will be the first to reopen.

This.

Speak to any NHS or local authority staff and they are not expecting return before September. Might just be worst-case planning, but

LOL I work with people in this area and thats NOT what they are thinking or saying

Ive been assuming May.

@TheOtherMaryBerry

There's no way that everyone being vaccinated is the aim, it just needs to be enough for the r rate to calm down. We aren't aiming for no one to die of Covid, that's impossible, and it would be a crazy thing to close down society for. All they're trying to do is to stop the NHS being overwhelmed, once that's less of a risk they will be opening schools asap because they know how important they are. Things are mad atm because of the time of year, hospitals are usually overwhelmed anyway so obviously this is now a crisis. As the weather improves things will calm down and schools will be the first to reopen.

Thank you.

One of the first sensible and rational posts Ive seen on here!

NHS staff don't have any more information about schools opening than anyone else. Why are you lying?

Agree with this post to poster clearly making up rubbish to wind people up.

@TheOtherMaryBerry

There's no way that everyone being vaccinated is the aim, it just needs to be enough for the r rate to calm down. We aren't aiming for no one to die of Covid, that's impossible, and it would be a crazy thing to close down society for. All they're trying to do is to stop the NHS being overwhelmed, once that's less of a risk they will be opening schools asap because they know how important they are. Things are mad atm because of the time of year, hospitals are usually overwhelmed anyway so obviously this is now a crisis. As the weather improves things will calm down and schools will be the first to reopen.

Exactly

The truth is,no one knows and no one can possibly know for sure.

We have a vaccine now which is being rolled out. It's not a case of everyone having to be vaccinated before schools can return once the most vulnerable are vaccinated, things should start to improve. There was something in the news about another drug being approved/used the other day as well (can't remember what/where now) which is also positive.

I am not naive - I realise that cases at the moment are extremely high, the vaccine needs to be given and the NHS is struggling so of course it's not great but I do think we are in a better position than last year.

As a senior secondary teacher, if I had to guess (and that's all it is) I would say Easter for full return. Hopefully with Y11/13 coming in after Feb - even part time. At the moment, we are delivering remote lessons to all year groups and the kids at our school have been amazing with it this time. We have more vulnerable/KW children in accessing lessons and being supported by our fantastic teaching assistants where necessary. So even in schools, things are better than they were.

Whenever it is I think you can console yourself you'll have at least 12 hours notice along with the schools themselves

And if we are really lucky a week later some kind of guidance on how they plan to do it safely

Either end feb half term or Easter. The virus doesn't like UV light and numbers will naturally dip. As the weather improves the numbers will go down. And I think ever the optimist this will be the last school closure. I suspect there will be another 'eek' next nov/dec/jan with restrictions but not school closures. Then by spring 2022 we will be back to 'normal'.

Based on nothing but gut feeling and infection rate news reports I would guess at post Easter holidays return.

We need to at least have the schools open in summer when it's warmer, reopening at beginning of flu season is a bit crazy.

Fwiw I remember last April posters predicting schools wouldn't go back until January 2021.
Just remember no one here knows :)
All we know is the earliest will be after Feb half term.

@Kazzyhoward

People have short memories. At the start of the March lockdown, people were saying "after Easter", then it was "after Spring bank holiday", then it became September. What's the difference now? In fact, it could be worse now, because we actually had a proper lockdown in March, not this half arsed (close a few things but most things carry on) pseudo lockdown we have now. My money is definitely on September. No way will the teaching unions let schools back as normal until everyone's vaccinated and covid deaths are single figures, just like last time!

What’s the difference now? Vaccine!

Please stop scare mongering. Schools will be back well before September.

I’d have said easter last week but now I think June if not September. Too many still mixing under the guise of exercise, sending children to school when they are at home, bubbles everywhere, shopping used as as social activity etc. The message of stay at home isn’t getting through to many.

@Covidasaurus

Speak to any NHS or local authority staff and they are not expecting return before September. Might just be worst-case planning, but...

I'm NHS staff. I'm not aware of this being the general view?

They’ve said they would prioritise eduction over everything and else and Boris regrets schools being closed for so long last time.
It was such a mistake to have them closed during the warm spring and summer months.

But yes they’ll keep everything closed until September despite all the vulnerable being vaccinated. That would make a lot of sense 🙄

Personally I think Easter. It's horrendous at them moment, but I think lockdown, the vaccine, the weather getting warmer etc will all help in getting us to the other side of what is an awful and massive wave.