School and work

[Cocoandclive27]

Have now been told to work from home indefinitely.

What I can not grasp is why the schools are staying open when all big gatherings and socialising have been now told to stop. Schools are hot beds for germs and all the parents who have been told to keep away from others are all having to see mingle during the school run. Is it just me who thinks this makes no sense?

I have held off panic buying and just stuck to my usual weekly shop but I'm thinking this morning I need to go out and buy a few extra bits.

Because they want children and teachers to catch it in the herd immunity idea?

Kids will be fine - some people (teachers) will die - look as it as cuts to the education budget

I don’t think we can know for certain that kids will be fine.

But what about all the parents doing school runs daily? We are now in a position where many of us are working from home to avoid others but we have to be part of this mass gathering twice a day!

The government is bringing in emergency legislation that will last for at least 2 years.

The cynical side of me (which is actually both sides) thinks that the legislation that will not allow schools to close can be used at a later date to stop any teachers from striking.

Schools, nurseries and children’s centres are magical dimensions where Corona does not exist.

It's childcare to keep the economy going (and the moment very high quality childcare because staff numbers are still
high). I think now is the time to keep children at home if you don't require childcare if we really want to "flatten the curve." But what do I know. I strongly suspect the area I live in is slightly ahead of other areas of the UK though.

If I had school age children, I would do everything I could to keep them out.

The PM wants the children to build there immune systems but I think it is utterly disgusting.

My children are both asthmatic with my youngest having chronic asthma. I have to take action myself. I've kept my children off school so they don't catch anything.

I work in a school, and right now I feel like a sitting duck.

I'm going round and round in circles deciding about my kids.

I have been told to work from home so my dc can stay home if necessary but all the guidance from the school is to keep sending them until we hear anything different. Really don't know what to do now.

My dcs school have said any absence not due to self isolation/actual illness will be counted as unauthorised, so essentially any parent keeping dc’s off through worry will potentially be fined.

I am expecting fewer in than yesterday. I am also hoping that we will lessen the amount of parents who are there 20 minutes early on the playground for a chat. (Part of what makes us a really lovely school) but not really a good idea right now as it will mean that anyone who has it but doesn't know could pass it into us via the kids. They have rashes from the handwashing and they are all anxious and unsettled but they are germ mongerers, bless them. I cannot tell you how many times I reminded them to stop picking noses, take hands out of trousers, take their hands out of their mouths and mine are 9 or 10.

We got as message last night saying DCs school is now closed indefinitely because they can't meet the staffing ratios. I expect others will be in the same boat

I really don't know what to do either.

I can't afford fines but kids health is more important.

I read last night on here about the WHO press conference and then mentioning child deaths., Apparently it was on sky news but then cut out to switch to Boris.

I looked it up on you tube and the lady definitely did say that children do die.

I don't know how to link but it is on you tube.

I know the risk is small etc etc but I just feel the government are changing their stance so much that I honestly don't think we are being told the truth.

I also get the free flu jab for chronic health condition and my DD immune system is bad (currently undergoing testing) so I think I've reached the stage now of keeping her and DS away.

I just don't see the logic of social distancing but school still open (with the exception of providing childcare for those who need it).

I think I may develop a fever this morning and that's us isolating for 14 days. I know it's a lie though. Just stuck at what to do.

Forget fines, I really don’t think they will be enforced at this time. Keep them off.

I'm keeping my kids off. I think it's awful to expect teachers to work when others are advised to work from home. If you're able to, keep them off.

itsallwrongisntit This really is a no brainer, stop hand wringing and ACT !

IF YOU as a PARENT decide that the risks outweigh the benefits to keep your child in school the TAKE THEM OUT ! Why on earth are you waiting for permission to act in your child's best interests ?

The government has clearly said that anyone with a cough or fever in the family means the whole family SI for 14 days. Simply tell them you have a cough . The schools will be closed within 14 days anyway because the teachers will be too sick/fucking scared/looking after their own kids by then. !

@Patchworkpatty I think it's because nobody really knows what to do for the best. We are waiting to be told by the government because nobody has been in this position before and we don't understand what's going on.

I've made my decision just now. My DS friend normally gets dropped off at ours and they walk up to school together.

I've just text his mum to say I'm pulling my dc out.

Now I just need to ring both schools.

DS is secondary and already been given loads of work to do. He will not be my friend once I tell him it's not a jolly and he can't be plugged into Xbox 24/7 😂

Cover is horrendous at school today. We have to teach usual lessons, upload work to portals and email work home! Kids will be put into super sized groups. Schools are not clean places as cleaning is done on the cheap. Schools are a giant Petri dish full of super spreaders

The sad thing is that for many children school is the only safe normal place they have to go to. I work in a school and I know that we have many families that will really struggle once schools close. Plus there's all the kids that get (and need) free school meals.

Schools will be shutting soon on tends that they have insufficient non-isolated staff to operate safely.

Thsi week will, I expect, see the emergency planning.

They will need to,sort out
a) GCSE and A level coursework (completion dates all by the end of March, I think - can schools stay open for pupils on those courses)
b) provision for remote study - Y11 and Y13 priority for teacher support
c) what will happen about GCSE and A level exams
d) whether any partial opening can be supported and if so who is priority for attendance
e) whether their communications with parents actually works as well as they think
f) what is the actual capacity of their current IT to support online learning
g) how teachers can provide support to pupils online during normal school hours

It is odd that my DS is still going into the centre of London to school whilst I'm now working from home. They are trying to keep the schools going for a week or two longer but they will be closed soon. They are more immune and the disruption to education will be huge particularly to those found A levels (like my DS) and GCSEs.

My partner was sent home coughing so decision wasn't made for us.