AIBU to hope that school bubble isolation soon stop and to ask what you think is a viable alternative.

[Moelwynbach]

I'be been listening to radio 4 today and also read a Guardian article advising 1/4 million pupils missed school last week due the required 10 day isolation period.

The Minister for Education is calling for an end to the regulation stating that September is too long to wait. MPs have called for immediate change on 19th July.

My own thoughts are:

• School bubble shut downs disproportionately affect women as the main care giver. Affecting long term career options.
• Infection rates in poorer areas are higher, children in these areas are already at a disadvantage educationally.
• The time away from school is widening an already significant socio-economic divide. *Children from less well of families have less opportunities to access technology and internet.
• Parents cannot teach as well as a teacher. It is a skilled job.
• Many parents who have zero hours contracts will repeatedly have their child sent home and cannot earn money.
• Many parents like me cannot teach and work from home at the same time.....My kid just doesn't work that way he is 5.
• What happens after all the annual leave is used? I'm the main earner and can't afford to take unpaid leave.

To this end I agree that something needs to change it is not sustainable for children or carers. At some point we need to accept that this is part of lives. I'm not saying we need to all run out and carry on as normal but how we do sustain this unpredictably? What would be the best scenario for you? Mine would be for no requirement to self isolate unless you are the infected child.

I'm trying to form my thoughts and so many things whizzing through my head.

I’m 46 and it’ll be at least another 3 weeks before I have vaccine two. Many of my colleagues will not be double vaccinated when we reopen after summer.

HelanaJustina
Kids do not social distance in school. Thats not been a rule. Don't believe the DM! Im not quite sure where you got sitting in squares from from my post. Kids don't do that and no idea why you think that was a suggestion.

Yes crappy ventilation measures wouldn't work which is why we need money exactly what I said. Testing can be done much like diabetic kids manage daily with needles. No I didn't say it was a death sentence but there are cases that it has happened both in staff and adults. Burnley College put no measures in place in the first term and by new year they had huge staff absences and 1 dead member of staff as a result. It really needs more thought and things in place. No I don't have all the answers but going back to no measures etc will have an impact.

Anyone symptomatic- stay or go home. Take a PCR. Return to class if negative (proof of PCR given).

If positive - stay home for 10 days. No isolation for contacts. Contacts just keep eye for symptoms.

We cannot aim for zero covid spread. We have vaccines. Covid will not be eradicated.

[quote LadyPenelope68]@Peppallama
Staff have all had the vaccine so they are not working with "no measures" in regards to covid
No they haven’t, we’ve staff members who haven’t yet had the vaccine. Not all adults have been vaccinated, do your research.[/quote]
Where are people not being offered vaccines? In my area they are now doing drop ins for 16-17 year olds, so to me every adult has had the opportunity to get a vaccine. No appointment necessary clinics are running almost all day everyday.

Where are they doing 16-17 year olds?

@ineedaholidaynow

Where are they doing 16-17 year olds?

Yes, I’d like to know this!

Read this today. Was surprised at the 7-8% long covid statistic in kids as this gives me real pause. My DH had covid in September, previously very fit and now basically has to take to bed if he so much as jogs 2k - nearly ten months later plus the brain fog. I wouldn’t want to risk this my child as we just don’t know how long it will last or if it will ever get better. Some suggestions in the article. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/02/isolation-unreliable-covid-tests-pupils-england-education-masks

@ineedaholidaynow @Howshouldibehave Greater Manchester! Just checked my council website and most of the drop ins are Pfizer open to 16+, a few are 18 + and AZ drop ins for second doses from 4 weeks after 1st.

In fact AZ and Pfizer both available for 2nd doses 4 weeks after 1st dose, it really could not be easier or quicker to get it, so definitely in my area at least, any adult not vaccinated is choosing to be, or can't have it.

@Justajot

All of the talk seems to be about approaches that would apply to secondary schools. The media doesn't seem to be questioning that and asking what the plan is for primaries.

I’m interested too.

Isolation brings a heavy cost to children, not sure what the answer will be but it will be here by Sept or earlier

@Awalkintime it’s not that you haven’t got all the answers, it’s that you aren’t offering any practical implementable solutions. What would you realistically like to see in schools at the moment or from September?
Whilst I appreciate diabetic children may test themselves daily, are you really suggesting that all primary children would submit to this? Are you really suggesting parents would do this to their children? How do you manage those who refuse? Or lie about whether they have done the test or the result? Should staff test the pupils in school? How do they do this without parental consent/being accused of assault?
Ventilation is a great idea but really isn’t practical for many of our school estates. Throwing money at the problem doesn’t always make it solvable, much as many people seem to think it does.

HelenaJustina suggested ideas, you decided they were not suitable and then spend your post pulling them apart but they were ideas so I did therefore offer some.

I'm still not sure where you got the kids in the squares from.

They should wait to change any rules until the school summer holidays. Infection rates are rising rapidly and the benefit of waiting a few more days until schools are closed is enormous in terms of infection control.

18 July is a stupid date to unlock - all the private schools will already be closed for summer but the state schools are still open for a couple more days. Typical Boris Johnson decison.

By September every adult will have had the opportunity to have a double vaccine.

I hear what you’re saying OP especially about zero hours contracts, the government should have done a universal equal benefit for people deprived of income during covid, not paid a fortune to some and nothing to others. That is the problem, not bubbles.

Schools won't make changes for the last few days, it really isn't worth it to rework timetables etc. They will just roll it out in September.

I bet any child who tests positive will isolate but nobody they have come into contact with. That will be what happens from September I bet.

I get why people are saying they want it to end but won't the virus just spread easier without the bubbles and then children will be off isolating with actual covid rather than isolating to hopefully prevent spread?

Children aren't really getting it though, especially not primary school kids

@Leeds3

I don't know what the answer is but I'm the second double vaccinated adult at my school to test positive this week. I'm CEV and now very ill.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Was your vaccine quite some time ago and have you had blood tests for antibodies? My DH had his ages ago (also CEV) and we are in a study where we get antibody tests every few weeks. His did not kick in until the second dose but we're worried they may wane too quickly and we're hoping for an autumn booster as early as possible.

Kids are getting it LemonSherbetFancies

I'd rather have a constant stream of supply teachers but have my DD in a consistent setting with her friends than be pulled in and out

Why not be honest and say what you want is a babysitter? You clearly know nothing at all about what is going on in schools.

Whilst I appreciate diabetic children may test themselves daily, are you really suggesting that all primary children would submit to this? Are you really suggesting parents would do this to their children?

Type 1 children are at risk. Why should they be testing alone? Why not the full class in an attempt to keep them safe? It’s pretty pointless finding out you have it at the point you are unwell. The point is to avoid it. You are suggesting the parents of type 1s should test and ‘do this to their children’ so why not every child?

Burnley College put no measures in place in the first term and by new year they had huge staff absences and 1 dead member of staff as a result

Yep. What they did (or didn’t) do was nothing short of criminal. How it hasn’t been a scandal is beyond me. Or maybe not, it’s quite clear that the majority consider us collateral damage and utterly undeserving of even basic protection.

@Getawaywithit if you rtft then you'll see it's not about childcare it's about having someone qualified to educate children rather than unqualified time-short parents. Unless we are saying we don't need teachers to be qualified and we should just rely on apps and scrap the entire system?

@LemonSherbetFancies

Children aren't really getting it though, especially not primary school kids

Yes they are. Almost 15% of our primary school population tested positive back in May.

In my school that should have said.



if you rtft then you'll see it's not about childcare it's about having someone qualified to educate children rather than unqualified time-short parents

You clearly know nothing at all if you think a) the supply teacher in front of your children is either qualified or being paid as a qualified teacher and b) you think think schools have the budget for supply and c) there are supply teachers a plenty.