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?

If they do I hope parents are allowed to take the time off work. Not annual leave or parental leave as I use all of mine. I'd couid just about take a hit of a weeks extra unpaid leave.

in 4 days tine this will be debated where did you find that out Legh? All it says on the petition page is that it’s been waiting 4 days for a debate. Regardless it’s only asking that they consider closing schools.

The answer Squirrel I think they’re trying to get to Easter with the possibility of extending the holiday by 1-2 weeks at the end.

The schools do not want to close. I teach at three, and my son goes to another one. They are preparing for the worst, but they are hoping for the best.

teach according to this thread, many teachers say their schools aren’t.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3842540-Teachers-What-is-your-school-doing

I hope so. An extended Easter holiday would be lovely for them.

Lovely for yours, maybe, but not for the kids of single mums on zero hour contracts who already rely on foodbanks and free school meals, or frontline NHS workers who'll be incredibly stretched or potentially ill themselves, or many dual income families who rely on school and grandparents and now need to find a way to manage with neither. I agree it might be necessary, but 'lovely' sounds a bit clueless.

At my DD's boarding school we have had word that international boarders can return home now

My school wasn't but today it has leapt into action

in 4 days tine this will be debated where did you find that out Legh?

I read it as in 4 days it will be debated as, I might have mis read it.

An extended Easter holiday would not be lovely for my Y11s who are prepping for GCSEs, either. I was talking to one of my tutor group yesterday, who (despite having a perfectly supportive family and resources at home) said he thought he would struggle to get much work done at home if schools did close. I think he's representative of many 16yos.

It also massively disadvantages students without a laptop/printer at home IMO. Many of these will be students who are already disadvantaged/vulnerable.

And that is not including the really vulnerable kids for whom school is their main source of support and stability.

@JustInCaseCakeHappens
People are just planning soft play outings and the like. FFS, what is the point of that?

I know, one of my neighbours e-mailed everyone earlier saying that if our local schools close, we should plan some group activities for the children?!

Luckily, someone gently pointed that out that this would undermine the point of isolation....

If schools close and everywhere else is open it seems pointless to shut them to me. People will still be out and about where they could catch/spread it. Surely you would need to go beyond that?

My DDs school is preparing to close, they are just waiting for the Scottish Government to decide. They are prepared for one month off at Easter but two weeks of that will be online learning.

Yeah I think you go big and close everything and ban large gatherings too or do nothing as we are doing.

Have any of you seen the corpses in Iran, on the BBC?

I know it’s a big deal. I understand worry about exams, money, inconvenience. It pales against what we could be facing.

I agree that if schools shut, it will be at a point where lots of other things have shut too.

However, it's worth thinking about the classroom environment compared to soft-play/other attractions. Admittedly the kids I teach are a bit old for soft play, but they are in a class of about 28-32, often sitting very close to other students for up to 100 minutes at a time. They have assemblies with over 100 other students, sitting very close in an enclosed space. There's limited access to handwashing in some classrooms, and they also do things like share drinks and food- even though I have suggested that right now that's not a good idea.

If schools close, even if students go out, they will be in smaller groups and can move around more easily, and will be able to wash their hands more often- it won't be ideal if everyone goes to soft play, but the park, for example, would be less of a transmission risk than a classroom IMO.

Coronavirus doesn’t even exist as far as my school is concerned. Business as usual. I’m torn between wanting to stop it spreading and not wanting to lose learning time before sats. So just waiting it out but considering options for home learning.

Yes.

I reckon this week is our last normal week for a while.

There’s definitely more risk at school. Younger kids are allowed to use toilets whenever they want to so can wash hands (but how likely is a 4 year old to wash properly). Older secondary kids have restrictions on leaving class to go toilet so obviously cannot wash hands that much. If school's relax toilet rules it will be chaos.

Petition/debate is pointless as its in the hands of cobra? Can't see tory majority in Parliament voting against decisions of cobra, who have to be able to make emergency decisions without debate?

At the moment, 400 odd people out of 70 million have a virus. Yes it's going to get worse, but closing thousands of schools with an enormous impact on the economy and probably very little effect on the spread of the virus, is an overreaction. As the experts have said, if the school closures come, it will be at the right moment when slowing the spread is crucial for the NHS to cope.

Schools closure would really be shite for the kids who get free school meal as their only food of the day. At my school they all have breakfast too.

I agree that school closures will be rubbish for a lot of vulnerable kids. If/when they happen, I will definitely be donating to the local foodbanks.

If schools close I hope the universities close too - because I want to be at home with my kids and not be relying on mega-classes babysitting DVD season... and because I've got a really shit exam looming! I won't be sending them to just be babysat because that will send DD1's behaviour loopy and it's just a potential avenue for infection and I don't fancy making the teachers ill as I really like my kids' teachers!

My bet is they will add 2 weeks into Easter hols. That's the impression I got from my governing body ( which I'm on). They won't do more as it will cripple the economy and actually possibly cause more people to die. There will be some kids going without enough food for a month though 😢

Exams in Art and Food Tech have already started - these are a bugger to timetable. Written papers start on 11th May. Changes to exam timetables and term dates will be a nightmare - if we break up early I can't go back early as we've booked and paid for a holiday. Same goes for Whit Week.

The only possible bonus is that they might ease up on the ridiculous pressure around Y6 SATS and GCSE league tables

I would imagine that the powers that be would aim to use any closures to extend the Easter break.