It’s never going to happen is it?

[MyDcAreMarvel]

The schools are not going to close are they, at all. Just seen on bbc news they are passing emergency legislation so that when teachers go off sick the remaining teachers can teach large class sizes. That and the law to force head teachers to keep schools open.
The government are determined to ensure as many children as possible are infected whilst isolating the elderly.
I wish I lived in a country where I could feel safer.

The main reason some aren't voting with their feet is because they are afraid of fines they can't afford.
currently the only legal way is to deregister and not everyone is able to.
Some have just said to hell with it and have done it already.

I'm still not understanding the rationale that gp's will be "expected to", "have to", care for gc, Of course they won't they'll be self isolating, or working themselves, if younger. I'm seeing this a lot on here and in rl. I'm sorry but it sounds so entitled.

They are going to close for sure in Scotland (have it on good word from a source high up) within the next two weeks. They're just trying to give nhs staff as long as possible to work out their emergency childcare. My husbands not nhs but DWP and their big concern at the moment is if the dwp staff level goes down to skeleton staff and people can't get through to get their statutory sick pay that they'll ignore the 7 day isolation and try work instead or worse if people don't receive their benefits because they can't get through on the phone that they'll starve or potentially start riots/looting. I work for an energy company and they're worried that if lots of have to stay at home for childcare that people could be stuck sitting in the cold and dark because their prepayment meters broken or because they don't have enough money to top up but theres nobody to man the lines or engineers to send out to them. Theres also sanitation workers, supermarket staff and police who need to figure out their childcare plans as even if the whole country goes into lockdown there are many people who will still be required to work. There are so many people who require childcare to keep the country running at the bare minimum level that if we were to cut off schools immediately without warning people could be dying without even catching the coronavirus.

Just ring the school and say your kids have a fever.

After speaking to a few teachers, someone who works in government building and Nicola Sturgeon stating she is not following herd immunity theory I am expecting our schools in Scotland to be shut very shortly. Nicola has said that decisions on schools and other measures will be made imminently. If that does happen and also Wales as a pp said and NI already planning to follow suit, then Boris will not only be the only one in Europe not following these measures, he'll be the only one in UK!

Why are people so keen for the schools to close?

Easter hols soon anyway.

We're probably all going to get it at some point. Let's focus our energy on helping each other out and saving healthcare for the vulnerable.

Anyone moaning about teachers complaining about being made to look after super spreaders in order to create herd immunity can ram their shitty attitude up their arse and look after their own fucking kids that they gave birth to and whose responsibility they are, instead of expecting someone else to.

I wonder if preschools and nurseries will be affected? I worry about how the financial hit would impact them, especially the smaller settings.

8 million “expected” to be hospitalized in the UK.
The government is committing manslaughter.

Schools wouldn't need emergency legislation for doubled-up classes if they were funded at a suitable level, as they'd be able to finance the cost of supply teachers.

I can see the argument about keeping schools open so that vital key workers can go to work. However, year-on-year budget cuts by the Tory government have left many schools in a such a desperate financial position that they can't afford to pay supply teachers when permanent staff are off sick. Schools are going to end up with 2 or 3 classes crammed together to share out the available staff.

If the government is going to proceed with a policy of keeping schools open, a significant injection of emergency funding is needed so that schools can pay cover teachers. Clearly, the NHS will also need a massive funding boost so meet the incredible demands it's about to face. Social care structures need a financial boost so that hospital patients who need non-medical care can leave hospital.

But none of those will happen, because the government has prioritised squandering billions on brexit instead, and because they want the NHS to fail so that it can be declared not fit for purpose.

Why are people so keen for the schools to close
not just the schools, but leaving them opened sent a very wrong message to everybody, it's fine to go around and keep spreading the virus.

Holidays? Parties? Events? It's fine, schools are not closing so no need to worry and change our plans.

Surely if you’re genuinely concerned for your child/family’s safety, you just keep your child at home? Don’t try and force it on everyone when some people need schools to remain open (and aren’t getting in a huge panic).

But there has been no provision made for children or school staff who are vulnerable due to underlying medical conditions. Or for their family members who could be vulnerable.

I can tell you at the schools I work at that statement is categorically untrue. We have compiled details of these families and worked with them. What they want for their children has been accommodated without question.

What we don’t do is she’s that with anyone who isn’t directly involved.

It absolutely doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

BonnesVacances
if you are a teacher in such a mood, just don't go to work tomorrow. Nobody is making you.

And what about the day when the children start getting ill

How can they be so sure, with such a new virus that children will continue to be largely unaffected?

Surely if you’re genuinely concerned for your child/family’s safety, you just keep your child at home?

If the government scrap fines, I will.

I can see both sides and I think unfortunately we’re in a lose-lose situation.

There are many workers needed to keep this country running through this pandemic and not just for the economy. We obviously need NHS workers but we also need police and fire service. We need utility workers. Carers. Key workers. Supermarket workers. Cleaners. Teachers. People in the supply chain - farmers and factory workers (hand soap and toilet paper comes to mind). Public transport drivers to get these vital people who don’t drive to their jobs. There are probably people I’m missing who we need to keep this country surviving during this but NHS workers are just the top of the iceberg for helping us get through. This isn’t about the economy, my husband works in financial services - all his clients are working from home and still doing what they need to do. But those people who keep our country ticking over in the background need childcare. I know most of the operational people at my work (who fall into one of those categories) have kids, very few have a SAHP. Some are single parents. Some have partners who are also in these key roles. Any grandparents who are around that could take care of children fall into the vulnerable group category. If all schools close - we are fucked operationally and that will have a massive impact on people trying to survive this. Taking a child out as they are ill, means we’ll have reduced staffing levels for a while but we can continue operationally, albeit probably with overtime for operational workers and more support from non-operational roles.

I understand there are children who fall into the vulnerable category or children who cannot be separated from vulnerable family members. I think in those circumstances, those children should absolutely be able to be kept at home without fear of being fined. There is also the issue of teachers picking up the virus from the germ factories and taking it back to someone vulnerable or being vulnerable themselves. Ideally I think in this instance, allowing the vulnerable teachers to work from home and create online content for the students at home should be possible (I know it’s probably not because we don’t have the investment and infrastructure in education to do so). It would then be a case of merging classes for teachers, not ideal but if you have a number of children being kept at home that should limit class sizes. I think a more flexible approach is needed but the downside to that is that some people can’t be trusted with the flexible approach and we have to have a blanket rule for all, which of course don’t work for many.

@StillbreathingStillhere no sorry , it was on bbc news.

@aphrodites I'm taking our son out of nursery from Monday but will continue to pay. It's my choice after all. I work from home so will just have to squeeze it in somewhere. I appreciate not everyone has this choice though and can see there will be big problems.

Surely if you’re genuinely concerned for your child/family’s safety, you just keep your child at home?

but that's the point, because the schools are opened, people are not concerned or worried!

No one needs schools to remain open. Childcare should be set up for the children of emergency personnel , exactly as it is organised in countries currently on lock-down. If they can manage, surely we could do similar.

@TSSDNCOP Not happened at the school my kids go to.

Where is Boris?

Maybe he wasn't as lucky with the testing as Trump.

Even Trump is giving briefings on a Sunday afternoon.

Have you actually listened to his briefings? Listen to yesterday’s and count how many time he said handshake in his conversation with his sock-puppet.

We only have 61 cases and schools are closing from Wednesday till after Easter. All non urgent domestic flights canceled. Visas from abroad cancelled and visitors cancelled. My DP did a delivery at a retirement village and was checked for the virus before being allowed entry. Also gatherings of 100 or more people prohibited.

Not happened at the school my kids go to.

You cannot possibly know that. I’ve spoken directly to impacted parents and discussed their concerns and options. I didn’t ring the several hundred non impacted parents.