Is it really likely the schools will close?

[sqirrelfriends]

I've seen a few comments on other threads about schools and other childcare settings closing indefinitely to prevent the spread of Covid 19. Do you really think it's likely to happen?

I’ve heard from several people in Glasgow that schools are being told to prepare home study packs for students. I think that’s the main reason for delaying closing tbh - preparation. My work is the same, we’re looking at what we can do to enable as much work as possible to be carried out at home. I think if shutdown happens too early more people will get fed up of it and breach it.

They just have in France (from Monday).

All schools colleges and childcare facilities closed here in Ireland now until 29th march - it will most likely be after Easter before they return to school aside from possibly exam years. All the students in my son's school have either been given work plans or access to online portals for remote learning etc. I'm relieved as i have an underlying health condition which puts me at risk, so it benefits us and has taken that extra worry/pressure off. There are many worrying about childcare etc but the general feeling is better to be safe than sorry.
I don't think it'll be long before the UK and Northern Ireland follow suit. X

poppiesway1

“Pooled childcare”, surely, is just a fancy word for
“Schools and holiday clubs”?
In other words if they are concerned about the risks from a school, why aren’t they concerned about the risks of “pooled childcare”, however that is different....

It's either never going to happen or it will be the last of the drastic measures (that's my bet anyway)...until we see a drastic rise in cases we've not reached the drastic measures stage.

A lot seem to have happened today. Boris gave a very interesting speech on how we are tackling the virus and why. Biggest update is that from tomorrow, anyone with a new continuous cough or temperature, however mild should stay home and self isolate. They are trying to delay the peak of the virus in the UK for as long as possible so we are able to better prepare for the peak. We’re about a month behind Italy at the moment. I think it is likely schools will close at some point in the next month or so, and large events will be cancelled as well.
I have a cough and debating whether I can really take a week off work for what is probably just a seasonal cold.

Apparently it’s fine if you sing happy birthday and wash your hands

Meanwhile, my home state in America has just announced the decision to close all schools for at least three weeks, starting on Monday.

They have FOUR cases. Four. 🤔

Yes, schools are preparing for the possibility of having to teach through teams (online software), or similar. They will wait for government advice though- I agree they'll try and get to Easter if possible.

I am starting to worry about how I will manage if schools close, I work in the nhs and would need to be home as have just had guidelines from my childminder stating if schools close she won’t be able to have any children other than her own so that’s me stuffed, DH won’t get the time off as he is a structural engineer and can’t take extra holidays and doesn’t get parental leave aside from being a higher earner than me. I could use my parental leave days of which I get 5 days but after that? Probably have to be unpaid leave

My DD (12) came home from school today to say that they were told by the HT that tomorrow they will be given printed home study packs to cover lessons for the next few weeks, so I think they must be planning to close fairly soon.

@Motherofpearl
My son came home today and said the same thing. Are you in Scotland? We are Glasgow.

They are closing here in Spain for 15 days from Monday. They’ve even suspended the Premier football League here! It’s just a matter of time before the measures come into place in the U.K., as they should. All affected countries need to do it to stop the spread.

What about protecting school staff? Nobody seems to have given their health a second thought!

MrsPablo, to be fair you could say the same about a lot of occupations. Anyone who is customer facing is potentially exposed. I am an HCP in the community and run busy clinics and visit people at home, in and out of various GP surgeries too. But I don't expect my services to shut down to protect me.

@Mrspablo we don’t count

No @Nearlyshitmypantsthere we're in the NW.

@ThecountessatHotelCortez I also work for the NHS and feel the same as you.
I'm hearing lots of conflicting information. I heard today that one of our managers has said we need to start pooling in childcare if schools close as the expectation will be that we are at work.
My husband won't get paid if off so I am definitely starting to get worried.
My 5 year old DD has had a dry cough since last weekend and I'm also wondering if I should be keeping her off.

@KarenTookTheKids I have nothing but love and respect for anyone who chooses to work in healthcare. I’m very worried about my own terminally ill father and my three children.

@TheCountessatHotelCortez
All parents are entitled to parental leave. I think you are confusing it with paid dependents leave. Parental leave is unpaid, but everyone is entitled to claim it.

Well I work in a school for SEN kids we have been categorically told that we are NOT to self isolate unless we have had definite contact with someone we know to have tested positive for Corona virus and we have not been told of any plans to close early for Easter.
I travel on the tube everyday and then overground and then national rail, I have no idea of who I'm standing within 6ft of for 15 minutes or more, I think it is a ludicrous situation here in London at least, we should take action to prevent until the crisis has been brought under control

I think the schools should close asap. If they're not going to do that, they should make attendance non-compulsory, so that those who are willing or able to take their kids out of school can do so without fear of fines etc.

My DH is a mental health clinician, I'm not sure if they're expecting schools to close but they were asking him about childcare arrangements and flexibility today. So I think they're trying to put contingencies into place. Not too bad for us as I work nights. Would cause a huge amount of disruption for lots of people though.

My DH is a mental health clinician, I'm not sure if they're expecting schools to close but they were asking him about childcare arrangements and flexibility today. So I think they're trying to put contingencies into place. Not too bad for us as I work nights. Would cause a huge amount of disruption for lots of people though.

And that's ignoring the fact that in a lot of 2 parent households, especially in cities, the higher earner will want to stay at work to keep the family afloat. And who gets paid less? Our nurses, carers, teachers, cleaners etc etc.

The very people we need to be at work. Perhaps this will lead to a rethink about how we value our key workers as a society... or is that wishful thinking.

I’m in the US, schools and universities are now closed indefinitely here (in my state). Supermarkets are very, very busy today.