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?

Anyone here taken their child out. Have u been fined for doing this ?

Schools closure would really be shite for the kids who get free school meal as their only food of the day.

What do these children do during the 6 week summer holiday?

If schools were closed and I was able to, I would volunteer my time with a hospital or other service that needed support.

Ricekrispie- they don't really get fed properly throughout that time. We open for a few weeks and serve food but can't staff it all summer. We get very poor behaviour in the build up to school holidays because they are anxious about lots of things but mainly food.

I don't think we know for certain. But my kids have now got apps to receive lessons via video remotely and the teachers had their training on how to use them this week.

Our local school is now only cleaned weekly instead of daily because of budget cuts, that's not going to help.

My kid’s school has put in place the infrastructure to teach online should they need to....

Just to reiterate, the schools wouldn't really be shutting to protect the children in them, it's more to curb the spread.

Schools are filthy places, the toilets of a Reception classroom are just a total petri dish where you can feel the germs hit you as you cross the threshold, children are vile - it's a good job I enjoy working with them really! 😂

It mightn't look like schools are doing anything and they may not be talking to parents yet, but I'm sure staff will be planning for closures.

We're apparently 2 weeks behind Italy on the epidemic trajectory, so I think schools will close. Last week I thought they'd close a week early on the 27th, but now I think it's more likely to be 2 weeks early, 20th. I think they're more likely to close before Easter than wait till after.

My DC's Uni closes this Friday for Easter anyway so they haven't had to to decide to close early.

The plan to relax the pupil:teacher ratio to allow more children in a class is something I don't understand. Surely the virus would be even more likely to transmit to more children in overcrowded rooms?

Work in a school where they message has been to prepare to plan for closure I.e upload work to online platforms.

What I reckon might happen is that we close either side of Easter but staff can go in but students aren't. Then if it carries on longer then open to exam classes only.

The only thing is if schools are closed so teachers have to look after their own school aged kids

I’m not an expert but I don’t think they will close the schools as 1) children don’t seem to be getting particularly affected /dying as a result of Cv 2) too much disruption on the community, people would have to stop work to look after kids etc 3) culturally people in this country don’t like staying at home with their kids all day. They go out with friends. Which would defeat the purpose of closing schools.

If people are particularly anxious then I believe they should have the option to pull their kids out of school without a fine. I’d expect this to be the exception not the rule.

It might look like schools aren’t doing anything because they aren’t doing anything.

More than 22 countries are closing schools, it doesn't sound so impossible.

It might look like schools aren’t doing anything because they aren’t doing anything.

That was certainly the case on Friday afternoon based on information from the big meeting of headteachers locally - it wasn't to do with CV but it came up towards the end apparently.

I hope they do, mine’s a flea pit ridden pool of germs. During a Norovirus outbreak it was still filthy after a so-called deep clean so there’s no hope for us this time around. The cleaners rarely even empty the over-flowing sanitary towel bins. The hand gel keeps running out too. I think I need to self-isolate from my school in general.

FinallyGotAnIPhone That's not the reason they close schools. Evidence shows that closing schools is good for the whole community. Its not about stopping children from getting it.

It said on the BBC news that the plan was if teachers got sick there were ways of combining classes and relaxing ratios so schools could stay open

Hmm, "ways"....? I'm not sure how that would work and having more kids in one room would surely be beside the point? I don't think that's a real plan. At my school we all reckon it'll be an extended Easter Break.

@Helpwithaversion How old are they do you mind me asking? How did school react? I have a weakened immune system so I would prefer to keep my 5yr old off but I'm worried about her attendance percentage as she's already down to 92% due to being poorly

@Aragog but how can it be good for the community if all parents have to stop work to look after children? The economy will grind to a halt.

Note - I assume that the powers that be are taking advice from experts and considering all the pros and cons of shutting schools v not. As opposed to me feeling strongly either way. I will follow whatever the official guidance is.

I could see the schools shutting if/ when we get to an
Italy “complete lockdown” situation.

I think they need to act now. Put GCSEs etc on hold so the kitchen ds can do them later in the year ... No it's not ideal. But life is precious and everyone has their own situation. I feel by now they should at least be allowing parents to choose! If a child's got asthma or a sibling with asthma. Many children will have siblings with cancers and all-sorts of illness. Children will have parents and grandparents with a huge variety of illness. I feel our government is not giving people a fair chance to protect their own...

They should also give vouchers out to parents who are entitled to free school meals due to poverty etc. £10 a week could at least allow a parent to buy a bread loaf and sandwich fillings, fruit, yoghurts and crisps. It shouldn't matter as they pay for the meals provided at school anyway..

I am starting to feel uncomfortable with it now. My dad's got damage to his lungs from asbestos but he's lucky that it scarred the outside of his lungs. He would be so unwell with it and I love him to pieces. It would break my heart to see him unwell.

The numbers would surely drop if they shut schools, softplays, restaurants and cinemas for a couple of weeks. Businesses are often online now anyway and people could online shop still. Id rather life was boring for a month than anyone else loose a loved one.

Not to mention if we get the virus nobody is going to want to take our children whilst we get better. The whole things terrifying. Our poor kids being out at risk. Little infant aged children have no idea it even exists.

@backaftera2yearbreak For kids on FSM the summer is not survivable

Excuuuuse you?!? My DD gets FSM because of my disabilities but we absolutely do NOT live in poverty! How dare you?!???

I meant it is good for the community from the point of view of the health issues and the pressure on the health service.

calm yourself pal. Jesus fucking Christ. Hoarsely, talk about professionally offended. Poverty is a major factor in why people get free school meals. You’d have to be pretty removed from reality not to know that 🙄. Did it say you personally lived in poverty due I. Get a fucking grip.

*honestly

God so many typos because I’m so annoyed!