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 think independent schools’ contracts will probably cover them for this. If parents don’t pay their fees then they won’t be able to pay teachers and their child won’t have a school place, so not necessarily a good move.

Leicester uni isn’t closing. It’s teaching remotely until Easter so no face to face lectures. The uni is open.

I've had a letter from DD1's school to say that there's a strong possibility that classes won't be able to run and transport (SN School) will be disrupted without contingencies made.

One of my other daughter's schools has warned that they may restrict to morning/afternoon only, spread classes throughout other classes, restrict year groups, etc.

My third DD's school has removed biometric payments and is generally telling us 'wait and see'.

The trouble is that schools will potentially be unable to remain open, even if Boris wants them to, if they have too many staff 'self isolating' at any one time. I think it might be this that he's waiting for - when it's no longer actually feasible to keep them open (if indeed it ever gets to that point - it may not).

Currently it seems closures are being planned for but through a "no staff due to isolation" tact.

My school will do partial closure on rotation for classes. But it's special and so parents with vulnerable children have been told they can keep kids at home and it's authorised.

Ds secondary will do what they need but prioritise yr 11 pupils.

Both schools have said won't close unless government guidelines state too.

I do think the most likely outcome will be extending Easter holidays but I suspect which side and how will be decided when they know the outcome.

The cynical part of me thinks the whole "any temp or cough - self isolate" is the giver nets way of shutting things without being the ones to state it!

Durham and Newcastle Uni have sent students home for online learning.

As for schools, LA's are planning each day as things are changing so quickly. We have LA officers working 'full time' on this, removed from their usual duties. We are also told to expect to have to be flexible with the work we do, we could be called away from advisory roles to support wherever needed in the public sector.
We don't yet have a time scale for closure but it could happen dependant on circumstances.
We do have quite a few schools with high rates of absent children, where parents have made the decision to protect their own children by keeping them at home.

Don't know if anybody mentioned but the government may gamble to keep primary schools open but close secondary schools first?

Universities up here are mixed in their response. Durham and Northumbria have gone to online teaching for the last week of term, with Durham telling students to take all belongings home, just in case. Newcastle have said there's no need for it.

@katexoxo in all due respect you need to get a life. What you're doing is madness and unreal. I'm assuming you have no other commitments other than work and are maybe early in your career. It is unrealistic.

The UK is grossly irresponsible. It is the only country severely affected by the virus that is doing NOTHING. Absolutely nothing. "Business as usual" is not delay you absolute moron Mr Johnson. Where are the two-three million who fall seriously ill in the next six months going to go? Your private clinic?

And no school is open until 10pm

@PickAChew
Of course they're mixed up because they have a government of cretins whose advice is limited to telling old people to avoid cruises.

Think the Easter holidays will be extended and the government will try and take it as close to Easter as possible. I suspect they will then be off til whitsun at least. All these two week limits we are seeing mentioned in other countries are going to prove to be rolling time frames

I think the U.K. government are doing the best thing. All countries are having peaks at different times. We can’t stop people getting it, in fact it’s desirable that the majority get it. The need is managing the resources of the healthcare system.

I applaud the U.K. government’s reaction, not bowing to hysterical pressure and holding firm to follow scientific advice.

Three months of warning and watching things play out in China and here we are: Chaos and confusion. As new cases in China reduce to a trickle after 3,00 deaths, the UK is prepping for possibly a million deaths. "oh but how will I look after my kids for two months in a row if schools close?" Wake the fuck up people. This government is intent on state sanctioned manslaughter (to be generous).

I reckon they will add on two weeks beforehand Easter holidays giving a full month off.

I don’t think they can close for longer, what about students sitting vital exams to allow them to go to university and college? My dd has been studying for her 5th year highers and to miss sitting them or having them pushed back would Be soul destroying for all the hard work she has put in.

My third DD's school has removed biometric payments

Sensible. We were just talking about this today, every kid in school sticking their finger on the same fingerprint reader.

@CatEnabler I need to get a life for putting my life a second priority to the many children in my care for a few days while I try and prepare as much as possible for them? FYI I am a carer of my 97 year old grandma in every hour of my day outside of work so find your comment quite offensive

In Canada. Schools shut today, for 2 weeks. Needs must.

Can't believe the UK's reaction.

@Lifeisgenerallyfun
Funny how the scientific advice is counter to every other severely affected country and plenty of scientists within the UK itself. Everyone else is wrong. We are right. Sure, sure.

Bristol university is closing a few days early (a student has tested positive) and reopening as normal after Easter. I think a PP’s nephew is telling his parents he’s getting a term off to skive

@managedmis
It's insane, but a good 20% of the British populace is used to kowtowing to the the words of people with posh accents such as Mr Johnson, even when they are known serial liars and advise a course which could see a million deaths. "Look at those silly foreigners overreacting, I'm sure good old Boris will be sharing a hospital floor with me if it comes to it"

Cam77 a lot of the countries who initially closed schools are a lot further on in the virus cycle than we are so it made sense to close schools at that particular time, just as we will at the right time too. It’s all a balancing act.

Agree with you Cam77, all schools/colleges etc closed since yesterday in Ireland. Playgrounds no go, no social mixing, businesses working from home. All ramped up here. Kids told to stay away from grandparents. It's actually surreal here at the moment. Everyone taking it so seriously. Shops mental with Q's but restocking. (Even though that defeats the purpose with people so close)

Our job has now divided into teams and only a few in, all working separate days with same people so we all don't go down with it. We all have to have 2 desks between us. Cleaners in then to deep clean before the other team comes in again

Borris needs to be shot . And as a result NI are landlocked ffs

Now that people are being advised to self isolate for a cough/temp the impact on staffing will inevitably have an impact. I can’t see how the college I work at can keep open for more than a week or so.