When do we think schools will shut and likely turn of closure.

[whodunit3]

I don’t like either Nicola Sturgeon or Boris Johnson but I thought NS got it right with her press conference outlying the finding is the meeting and the plan for the foreseeable future. I didn’t agree with the outcome but I was a lot more reassured by her speech than I was by the wally BJ who waffled on with no real clarification or plan.

Are the schools likely to close, how soon do we think this will happen and for how long...

Surely if school closure is imminent the more time you can give people to put childcare, change of work plans, etc in place the better...

I’m a childminder so probably come in to even closer contact to my mindees. I am also needed to stay open to allow others to work. I don’t see this as a problem though. I don’t really understand why teachers do? The difference also being I don’t get paid if I don’t work so maybe that’s a factor!

I’m wondering what private schools will do. I know at our school there is already rumblings at pick up about recouping fees if we are closed for a substantial amount of time

I think it’s just so unprecedented that it’s hard to fathom a two month + closure but to be honest with the peak graph that was shown at the press conference it doesn’t seem possible any other way

Two weeks added onto Easter break would just mean schools going back right at the start of the peak rise ...

That’s why I think in Scotland it will be til Aug term time return

All the govt scientific advisors say that school closures need to be 12-16 weeks. 2 is useless. They’ll leave it late as possible but when it happens it will be right through till exams.

I’ve had a letter from school today, staying open unless they are told by both the government guidelines and LEA to close, they are also reviewing and not cancelling school trips until they receive specific instructions however if staff number reduce due to illness they will reduce the years taught with a partial closure.

I guess the difference, Georgie, is that I can teach 150 different children in one day, plus encounter hundreds more in corridors. You presumably mind fewer than 5-10?

This is why it's being delayed until it's needed, they could be closed for months. Quite a few unis appear to be closing and going online, no idea what will happen about exams though!

As a teacher I do feel we’ve been completely overlooked, we keep getting told that it’ll be ok because ‘kids don’t get it bad’ I have many colleagues who are high risk and feel like we are basically sitting ducks in a hotbed of germs, however we have to stay in work as long as we are told, until schools are shut we are basically waiting to get it, there are two weeks until the Easter holidays, I don’t believe 10 days of missed school is life changing when we have the technological ability to still deliver lessons, staying in school however may literally be fatal to some

The schools in Gloucestershire are prepping to close next week, running it into Easter to make it a month off.

I work in a school and I don't think they''ll close because the government say so. They'll be forced to close because of staff self isolating or falling ill with the virus.

I agree that they are waiting for Easter, then they won't reopen until summer (universities) or September (schools)

This is what I think. Sturgeon said yesterday schools would need to close for months. I think they will limp to Easter and then close til summer. That will mean the actual school closure itself will be shorter as the holidays are within it. 2 weeks Easter, 6 weeks summer. Our schools finish in June and back in August.

My kids are a bit older, 11 and nearly 14 so if I’m at work can hopefully be left to their own devices for the couple of days a week both me and husband will be working. Assuming we are.

@Katexoxo but what about children who need teaching as in being able to ask questions and need the work explaining to them as they go along and maths for example being broken down can that be done via logging on and reading from books or worksheets? I’m wondering how that will work with those with exams in a few months.

I highly doubt we will be closing schools for months on end.

What difference would it possibly make? You’re telling me that if schools closed until September, that you would all keep your kids inside your house for a solid five and a half months

I'm a teacher and I do not think we will close.

Unless there's a significant change I think the Easter break will be the 2 week isolation period.

Sounds sensible - what local authority is that?

Sorry that was aimed at FAQs

@FAQs we have already planned members of staff to be on call all day for any child struggling to access material or who have any questions and are in close contact with parents

I think now it's unlikely they will close. They are going for herd immunity, they actively want children to catch it.

What difference would it possibly make?

The school holidays reduced the impact of the swine flu pandemic

I think they will close. I’m a teacher, we’ve been uploading material all week so students can work from home.

@FAQs my colleagues and I have also already reordered multiple virtual lessons through FaceTime so the experience can be as close to classroom reality as possible

University of Edinburgh is moving to only online teaching. No exams for years 1 and 2. Other years exams to be done online.

No way would I record myself on facetime 😱 I don't think the schools will close now Boris has halted testing unless hospitalised.