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Original poster

Italy closes all their schools and universities: how will you cope if we follow?

301 replies

ChristmasFlint · 04/03/2020 18:57

I can work from home but not everyone can. It made me wonder how on earth people with sort childcare?

OP posts:
MelbaToast · 04/03/2020 19:48

It would be okay for me but not perfect. I work in education so my kids would probably be off at the same time as me (hopefully). I think the important thing is to try and be as pragmatic as possible. If all employees are in the same boat employers can't complain.

TheVanguardSix · 04/03/2020 19:50

I wonder how they’d manage the A-level/GCSE pupils? This concerns me... among other things!

ChickLitLover · 04/03/2020 19:52

My kids are in Year 11 and Year 6 so GCSEs and SATs would be affected. Health comes first though and there’s nothing we can do about it. We can both work at home though so we’re fortunate in that way.

Marmite27 · 04/03/2020 19:52

My childcare is a workplace nursery. I’ll be taking the time off sick. Work have already confirmed it will be at full pay with no impact to sickness record / disciplinary.

KittenVsBox · 04/03/2020 19:53

I know people in a couple of places where the schools have been shut. Work us being emailed to all the kids, and they are being expected to do their lessons.
We had days like this in old country (for adverse weather or mass road closures). They are really hard work with KS1 kids. Easier with KS2, and I would imagine secondary kids could be pretty self sufficient.
It will be really hard going if a parent is trying to work from home and juggle electronic s hooking if primary aged kids.
We would be ok, as DH can do half his work from home, and I'm currently unemployed. I dont fancy a month of it tho.

BridgeToTerabithia · 04/03/2020 19:53

My teens school has said they will set work through their online homework portal.

Perhaps they would stream the classes?

Grasspigeons · 04/03/2020 19:54

I work in a school so i would be a bit concerned about what happened pay wise as most of my work cant be done from home. I also wonder if we'd work over a different holiday instead - which is fine in principle but not if my school, child a's school and child b's school dont coordinate.

megletthesecond · 04/03/2020 19:54

We would go mad.

Gizmo79 · 04/03/2020 19:55

I’m nhs so have to work. DH would also most likely ha due to his work.
So, who will paying for the extra childcare? We can’t afford it... I’ll be on 24 hr call given my job. Be interesting to see how this pans out.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 04/03/2020 19:55

I'll be fucked. Single mum, no one who can have DS and I work for a small business so it's unlikely that I'd get paid time off. I can't work from home either.

Mummyoflittledragon · 04/03/2020 19:55

Omg. The hit on the economy and supply chain. Food, sewage, water, utilities. Who the hell manages all this if parents are home with their children?

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 04/03/2020 19:55

Ofqual is currently looking at whether additional contingencies need to be put in place for GCSEs and A Levels in the event of school closures becoming widespread. And the DfE has set up a helpline for anyone who has questions about coronavirus and its impact on schools.

Lulu1919 · 04/03/2020 19:56

I'm a TA if we close I won't get paid !!!

ItsJustASimpleLine · 04/03/2020 19:58

I wouldn't have anyone, I would hope I could have sick pay I wouldn't have the leave. Surely if the schools are closed the government would recognise that a parent would be required at home and get employers to pay

However how would businesses survive?!?!

Original poster
ChristmasFlint · 04/03/2020 19:58

It took 3000 cases and 100 deaths for Italy to close....no one do the math on that mortality rate....

OP posts:
SistemaAddict · 04/03/2020 20:00

I'd need Valium.

fedup21 · 04/03/2020 20:00

And the DfE has set up a helpline for anyone who has questions about coronavirus and its impact on schools.

What answers do they actually have though?!

TheMammothHunters · 04/03/2020 20:00

I work 3 days, one at a University so that would be ok. I feel like I’m on the front line to get it at work but am not essential (dentist) so happy to be off taking care of DS quite honestly. I would suffer financially but can afford that.

Nuffaluff · 04/03/2020 20:01

I’m a teacher. If we close I will be working from home as I’ll be preparing work for the children to do online. At the same time I’ll be looking after my kids and a friend’s kids.

Equimum · 04/03/2020 20:02

We’d be okay as I am SAHM and DH can easily WFH (staff at some of their offices in other countries have been WFH for several weeks now), but it would cause chaos in general. We’d certainly offer to have neighbour’s kids if needs be.

Nuffaluff · 04/03/2020 20:02

I hope the schools don’t close. I don’t want my kids (my own actual kids and the ones at school to miss out).
Obviously I don’t want people to die either. We do what we have to do, don’t we?

Rebellenny · 04/03/2020 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

parrotonmyshoulder · 04/03/2020 20:03

I don’t really understand how closing schools is supposed to help. Can someone explain the reasoning?

bellinisurge · 04/03/2020 20:04

Children are super spreaders. That's why.

CokeEnStock · 04/03/2020 20:04

I could work from home normally. Mine is a teenager though so would be OK by herself.