To wonder how long the schools may close for

[Takemebackto]

I’ve been reading different articles about the risk that schools may be closed. Some are saying this could be 13 weeks plus with the summer holiday to still go ahead as planned. Aibu to think this could be very unhelpful for parents and children. How will exams go ahead.

Better not close kids are not even affected by it.

There's a piece in The Guardian where it's being suggested GCSEs, A levels and SATS are cancelled til 2021.

How that works in reality (uni places, for example), I have no idea

I think it will be 6 weeks including easter then open through 1/2 term and until start of August to make up lost time.
I don't think that will be the end of Covid19 though, I just think it will be said that closures haven't helped the spread

guys, would you mind if i had some opinions of kids returning from holidays in italy and returning to school

We are closed for a month in our district. But it varies heavily by district and state

Anyone returning from any part of Italy is meant to self isolate? Not 100% sure if it's a blanket 14 days, or just 14 days if you've been in North?

I reckon 4 weeks over Easter

Hopefully not for too long. The loss of education will be dreadful for some children.

Maybe @Missarad but everyone else who works in schools are affected by it.

would you mind if i had some opinions of kids returning from holidays in italy and returning to school

They should not go to school. Isolation for 2 weeks!

I hope they don’t close for too long. How could they delay the GCSEs and A levels for year?! How would that work with A levels for start September and uni places?

I’m surprised that a lockdown hasn’t happened considering many other places around the world are. I worry that it will happen by by the end of this week though. I think the worry is although children aren’t as affected by it they can infect people who might be from what I’ve read.

I don’t see how delay exams for a year is possible and would be terribly unfair to the young people who are due to sit them.

In NI here, 16 weeks is being batted about then plus our standard 8 week summer holiday on top

I also dont believe all schools in England and Wales are going to close.

Kids get it mildly right? And they've stopped testing everyone with symptoms? So no proof anyone in the school actually has CV, ergo no reason to close school.

I would imagine schools would only close if a case of someone who dies / is tested on hospital can be traced back to a particular school or a mass amount of kids need to self isolate.

They want our kids to get it. It's the only way for herd immunity!!

Kids might not be affected but they can still spread the virus @Missarad

I’m immune compromised so my views are probably clouded, I’d rather my dd education is delayed to help stop the spread of this but I’m lucky not to need childcare. I can’t inagine the difficulty parents who don’t work from home will face. It’s an awful situation.

I’m currently in America and apparently they’ve shut the schools for 4 weeks. We’re on one of the last flights out tomorrow.

@Missarad that's not true! A friends daughter has a confirmed case & is fairly unwell.

Missed children are affected however they have milder symptoms than adults which can go unnoticed. This becomes an issue when they are then sent to school and possibly infect others who take it home.
However this seems to be part of Dickhead Johnson's plan.

As a teacher, I am worried about potential closure, the impact on exams and how I will even begin to attempt to teach remotely. However, I don't think they will be able to enforce going to school through normal holiday times. I've booked my family holiday (to Wales) during holiday times. I'd lose out on hundreds of pounds because my working conditions would change for something that wasnt my fault. Also, I am expected to set and mark work remotely, so, I'd be working from home. It wouldn't be fair to take holidays from pupils and teachers too. I hope whatever happens, we are given enough notice to thoroughly prepare GCSE pupils. If we look at China, they have gained control after a lockdown for 40 days, so I doubt we will be off for 13 weeks.

Those children reliant on free lunches and for whom school is a sanctuary are a huge worry.

It's a huge conundrum.

I suspect GCSE and a levels may be done on predicted grades.

Think they'll close for 4 weeks over Easter and reassess where virus is at that point.

Kids are called superspreaders for a reason. But some of my colleagues at school are vulnerable.

Be kind to headteachers. They are in a hugely difficult position right now.

Switzerland - schools are closed as of tomorrow until end of april (including the spring holiday). People thinking is likely they will stay closed through to the end of the summer holiday though.

However much encouragement around handwashing etc, children are massive germ spreaders! Even if kids aren't getting ill from it, I believe there will be lots of staff and families catching it from them. Schools are so important to communities but it's also essential we protect the surrounding communities by taking necessary steps.

I wonder if they will turn the Easter hols into 6 weeks and then just have 2 weeks over the summer instead.

Though there are rumours that in Scotland it'll be from the Easter hols til the new term in August.

The problem is so many people rely on schools for childcare. I can see long term closures like that resulting in people losing their jobs or even children being left at home alone younger than is ideal so people can work. Not everyone can WFH, afford unpaid leave (if it's even available) or has grandparents who can take over (if indeed grandparents even should, right now).

How are people expected to survive if schools close for weeks?

I cannot stay at home with DS until the summer holidays. I need to work. What a nightmare.