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...

@Cam77 new cases in China reduce to a trickle after 3,00 deaths

China is the most densely populated country in the world. They had 3,000 deaths. So what on Earth makes you think that the UK will have a million deaths?!?!

@CatEnabler I get to school for 7am every day and I have a partner who is very supportive so no need for tinder, I find that a very immature suggestion in the current situation, I’m by no means suggesting everyone can do the same but am merely making a point that teachers are adaptable and are mostly willing to put their absolute all in to ensure the wellbeing and education of their pupils

The chief medical officer and Chief scientist clearly stated in the press conference yesterday that schools would have to close for 13-16 weeks to have any effect. The virus does not care when Easter is. The peak of the virus is now predicted to be circa 4th June (press conference yesterday) and The Chief Medical Officer advised 7 weeks either side of this date will be crucial. IF schools do return after the Easter holidays it will only be for a couple of weeks and then they’ll be closed until Aug/Sept. i Have twins due to sit GCSES, so I’m not saying this lightly.

FizzandChips exactly what I was about to say. They stated it yesterday and have repeated it today. If they close schools (and it’s likely they will) it will be for 13 - 16 weeks over the peak period.

Wales is cancelling all non urgent operations, out patient visits, they will empty beds the elderly are occupying into care homes no choice in where you are sent. Their worst case scenario is 25k deaths.

moggiek according to dd2 who is doing her MA there, it is just closed till after Easter.

Catenabler you sound like a jobsworth. These are unprecedented times and I for one am incredibly appreciative of the amazing effort that a teacher like Katexoxo is putting in for her students. And for the record, as some working for a large corporate and responsible for contingency planning, believe me there are a lot of people working those kinds of hours at the moment to protect the future of our economy and our children.
So get back in your box and stop being so fucking rude

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
This!!! I am a teacher. Do we not count? Just sling all the kids in the one class with a teacher and that will be fine. FFS!!!

Nobody knows what is going to happen. Future 'plans' are just going to be hypothetical at this stage.

As to closing schools, in some countries such as Spain and Italy, this has actually contributed to the spread of the virus.

At the moment, as a teacher, I am putting in my usual lengthy days + 1 day at weekends to give the children I teach the best possible experience while they are in school. I don't have the extra capacity to simultaneously sort a distance learning solution for the same material - especially as each day school remains 'in' for puts a day of the online material into the scrapheap.

If we close, then for primary distance learning is trickier than it is for secondary. I imagine that we will spend at least the first week getting it up and running, then put in the hours to keep it running thereafter. It will be easier if the schools close e.g. a week early for Easter - a week to sort distance learning in a basic form, the two weeks of the 'normal' holiday to test it out a bit, then 'back to school', albeit online, after the break.

i think the issue is going to be 'attendance' / variability in accessing online content. So however well we do the online material, a proportion of every class will simply never touch it, so it will have to be taught again once schools reopen (with however many staff are there to do so - at least 2 are in very high risk groups, with a number more, including myself, in high risk groups).

Just like to say thanks for all the support!! Wasn’t expecting a confrontation on here but just voicing genuine concern, I’m doing everything I can to help our children in this unprecedented time, as I’m sure are many others, lots of love

As to closing schools, in some countries such as Spain and Italy, this has actually contributed to the spread of the virus.

I don't think this makes any sense. Children are well know as super spreaders. One child has it, goes home spreads it to his/her family and beyond. Comes to school, spreads it to other children who then spread it and beyond. That's not even parent interaction with the school. We had a parent event today to come and join in with the children!! Really? People are deluded. What do they think the school is? I just really don't get it. Also, the teachers and other staff spreading it out to all and sundry. When children are off sick from spreading it, who is going to look after them? The grandparents? Honestly. It makes no sense.

@Littlemeadow123
As to closing schools, in some countries such as Spain and Italy, this has actually contributed to the spread of the virus.

How can you possibly know this? Italy closed its schools 9 days ago - any effect would not show up in active cases for a few more days

University of Westminster classes canceled think since Wednesday due to some staff being unwell, students to submit work online but advised they can access the library on site to study if wanted as security guards will be at gates.

Expecting from 23rd March through to summer holiday. Possibly not all announced in one go, an initial month that gets extended.

Our school are saying that officially they are being told to say they are staying open no matter what even if kids gets coronavirus. One teacher said today they are being told week by week if they are open or closed. Another said they are expecting to close imminently and kids have been given log-ins today for a new online teaching site school have set up for closure. Parents evening on 19th March off "to prepare for school closure". Dh's work also shutting down to wfh roughly same date. It said after cobra meeting schools maybe closed until summer as will peak over next few months. I think Boris doesn't want school closures or Cummings but hopefully will get overruled soon.

My DS’s teacher (Y3, state school) told the class yesterday that there is a good chance that school would need to shut soon and that they are preparing packs of work to do at home.

@Katexoxo, there’s always one! I have huge admiration for teachers. It’s a job I could never do. That said, if the schools have a long period of closure, I will do my best to “home school” my son using any resources the teachers provide and other internet sites. I do realise that many parents won’t have that option but hopefully those that do will give it a good go.

If I’m honest I hope the schools (at least secondary) close soon as dh is in an at risk group and ds3 has asthma. We have no (known) cases in our area at the moment but if that changes I will keep him home.

I think teachers have not been considered too. We are in the middle of densely populated germ breeding areas. We have no protection at all. I think the unions need to be into this. Is Boris considering our ( or indeed anyone’s) Health and Safety?

No-one does seem to have considered teachers health - normally there's risk assessments for everything in sight. I've raised this with our school as some of their older teachers in particular are higher risk and older with health conditions death rate of those getting it can be over 10% but they are still in school and officially going to be even with cases. Really reckless and unions should definitely be involved.

I suspect schools will close on the 20th, so adding a week and a bit onto the Easter holidays. I work in a related area and there are definitely things going on. We've been prepped for remote working as well be shut down as soon as schools shut to work from home. I've told my DS to make sure he remembers his google classrooms login just in case.

That's the date they seem to be working to here as well. DH's work seem to be working to same date.

I'm desperately seeking passwords, my DS is ASD and loses everything. He came home and said Mummy 50% of children will not be doing any work, I will not be in that 50%. I'm going the use the school's 3 websites, one of which is new. He's never managed to use a school website yet as he loses all the passwords so I said have you got the passwords then he just looked really sad and blank and said No. Have to buy him a laptop this weekend.

Koalas my teaching union is getting some stick on Twitter about not doing anything. I think they will soon. Schools have to consider the health and safety of staff.

@neveradullmoment99

In Italy and Spain, the schools closed and the parents whisked their children away to 2nd homes outside of the cities, which resulted in the virus being spread across the country and causing more hot spots to spring up.