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.

I think if they are going to close the schools then we need to go into full lock down. Loads of my friends are talking about okay dates, meetings in the park, cinema dates etc 🙄🙄🙄 so unless we go into complete lockdown it'll be as useful as pissing into a tornado

Better not close kids are not even affected by it.
^ this is not true 6 children where hospitalised and 1 on the HDU in Wuhan.
No child deaths, but children do get it. Oh and those 6 children had no pre-existing condition, they were fit and well aged from 1-7.

I work in a school and last week parents were sending their children in to school with coughs "oh they're fine in themsleves" etc etc dont have a temperature etc etc "but please can you give them their next dose of calpol at xxx" children are usually affected less but because of that it makes them really dangerous as spreders. Wouldnt be surprised if half the school staff are off next week. Some staff are recovering from cancer treatment, another waiting for a kidney op, many staff with ill and vulnerable parents. Whilst school is very convenient as childcare it's not why school is there and teachers have families and sometimes health conditions too. I agree that there should be provision put in place for frontline nurses and doctors children. But how many families really have both parents as medical staff? This is bandied about so much but there must be an option where provision can be put in place for those parents that are genuinely both medical staff, but those teachers who are vulnerable or have vulnerable family members aren't put in harm's way. A skeleton school staff supervising the children of medical professionals perhaps?

Employers will have to make some reasonable adjustments to help parents.

My dd’s School shut on 23rd January (China, so some of the time was school holiday anyway) and has yet to reopen. We live in Jiangsu and had 600 cases and no deaths. There will probably be a staggered start when the school reopens with grades 11 and 12 starting first.

If schools close I predict it will be from the week before Easter and go back after the half term in June.

We’ve taken ours out now. We’re financially working on the basis of the Easter hols being extended for a further two weeks - 6 weeks in total.

However it will be something we reassess on a regular basis.

Yes I thought so too. Thanks

It would be possible to do a levels and GCSEs in September, university starts in January. Once it hits big, we will all be on lockdown until it calms down again so easily from beg of April until end of June.

I hope they keep schools open but whatever they decide to do, they won’t be able to cancel / change / shorten the usual school holidays to make time up.

@mnistooaddictive not in the UK, uni starts in September.

They've said the peak will be in early summer and the main cases with be 5 weeks either side of that.

I'm thinking that means Easter to September everything closed

@MT2017 It could be changed. There are going to be lots of changes and we will all make it work.

Kids might not get it badly but teachers aren’t kids and the schools can’t open without enough teachers.

I really hope we close for two weeks from Friday. That would make 4 weeks including the holidays. I'm terrified of what will happen to my Yr11's if they lose time or miss exams.

Cyprus are now on lock down schools closed till the end of April . Hotels etc all shut and flights cancelled

Schools in my state are closed beginning Tuesday for three weeks. But the governor said today not to be surprised if they don't go back for the remainder of the school year. Which means they'd go back in August. The schools are still distributing breakfast and lunch in my district, the bus drivers are taking them to the regular bus stops and the kids and go get them.

No one should bank on the schools closing at all.

They have not mooted it in the slightest way.

I'd like to see the evidence of dc in hospital in wuhan...

I think only shame and pressure will get them to close.
The NI lady is taking them to court over forcing her dd to attend.. Hopefully more will do as well.. Wheres gina Milla when you need her.

I can't believe people talk about exams though as if it's only their dc who will be affected?
All dc are in the same boat and allowances /provisions will be made!

Most of us also have holiday booked we will miss out on!

Surely with GCSEs and A levels they can appropriately peg the results to last year. As long as all dc are affected the top x% get a 9, the next y% get an 8 etc. Open the schools just for the exams. Check fevers using no touch forehead thermometer at the door. Have a resit option either in summer or Autumn for anyone who missed too many exams to get a grade.

It'll be 4 weeks max, including the easter holidays, if at all. I'm a teacher, I'm expecting to work anyway - childcare for essential workers - so long as I can take my child too if her school is closed. I'm not necessarily happy about this - I have an immuno-supressed partner, and would chose to work at home if that were an option - but we're sort of essential services, same as lots of other non medics will be. People in shops, delivery, pharmacies will be expected to work too - difference with us and medics, is that medics dealing with suspected cases will be wearing PPE.

I worry about the long term mental health effect in many children if there is a prolonged school closure and they have to isolate from friends and remain indoors.

@mnistooaddictive it's nowhere near that straightforward. We can't just 'make it work', it would mean enormous changes to timetables for students, teachers, supply staff, examination boards, invigilators and many more.

Lots of people have booked summer holidays too.

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

This would not happen for two reasons.

1. Teachers will be expected to work during any lockdown. Whether that be remote teaching; setting work; or taking care of key workers children as pet of a skeleton staff in school. They will not have ‘extra holidays’.

1. Teachers will have booked vacations during the 6 week summer holiday. I always go abroad (long haul) for 5 weeks. We simply won’t be here. Plus, we are not paid for the holidays, so we can’t be asked to work.

If we get to August and things are improving, we'll all need a holiday, teacher or not

I worry about the long term mental health effect in many children

Worry about that anyway. This is scary for them. I'm concerned about how much learning will go on in school this week, and that's just primary. GCSEs and A-Levels are already stuffed in my opinion. There will be a marked increase in challenging behaviour from children who already struggle, especially if they talk about larger classes. Unions are already 'on' this, unsurprisingly.