Am I the only one not pleased that schools are closing?

[xtinak]

I understand that the government consider this necessary and I know it's about saving lives, possibly mine.

But please tell me I'm not the only who feels a deep dread at us all being home? I could cry. Until the summer. How.

For low income families, (I can't speak for everyone) but for us, we're in all the time anyway.

Going out is being in the garden with a picnic.

Swimming, cinema, eating out, zoos, theme parks, local stuff, any involvement with spending, isn't much of an option (maybe once or twice a year but not every weekend/every holiday half term).

So we're quite used to being indoors, and each other. Doesn't mean we all get along though

We don't. It's a huge problem right now. And, at least in the part of the US I'm in, unemployment is not covering the situation.

@kingkuta I’m a SAHM, my husband is WFH at the moment, I know how lucky we are I do worry for people who work.

well as a HCW who's job share has no child care available except elderly parents, what is she supposed to do.
I am in the at risk group being told to stay away.
So now no nurses in our GP surgery and half the admin and GP staff have primary school age children
The NHS will be seriously short of workers

I get why some people don’t want them to close etc but then try thinking of it on the other hand. I am a full time primary school teacher who is 20 weeks pregnant, making a decision as to whether I should be in school or not caused high amounts of stress and tears, why, because I care for all the children in my class/school and it broke me that I had to potentially be off for some time. Being at school etc is a constant social gathering so it’s not fair to say you can’t do such and such but it’s ok to keep the school open with however many hundreds of kids there are.

There's an estimate that in my state, 20% of critical healthcare staff are out of work to look after children as all schools are shut by state order.

There's talk of offering subsidised creche places (the creches are still open) to key personnel.

Agree if and where possible teaching staff wise it would be sensible to keep going for as long as possible on an individual basis.
The thought of children missing huge chunks of education is frightening too

I don't see why Gavin Williamson's statement has to come so much later than those in Scotland and Wales.

From a childcare point of view it is no longer an issue for me as my youngest daughter is now almost 18, but I am worried because as yet we have virtually no information on contingency plans for the coming public exam season. DD is doing her A Levels (like many others, I know) and has suffered badly over the last few years with mental health issues, including anorexia nervosa and anxiety. She is very anxious about this too and is only slightly mollified when I point out that we are not alone, the whole nation is in this together.

Maybe GW will be explaining everything (school closures, exams), but I daren't hold my breath.

One school in each area will be, by law, made to remain open. This is where the children of essential workers will go. The possibility has to be that it may be 24hr opening. Essential workers from Nhs, drivers, food retail supply chain, fuel, are everywhere, the need is great.
Friday from 6pm it is expected the next phase will begin.

Topsey my dd is yr 11 and is also struggling with her anxiety. They really need to make a decision about external exams ASAP.

Maybe GW will be explaining everything (school closures, exams), but I daren't hold my breath.

Yeah, i wouldn't. How can anyone possibly. Know? And with things ever-changing?

We are all worried, but this isn't the time to expect complete mapping of the rest of the year, or criticism of time of day of briefings

@Topseyt I think 5pm is just the update time they've chose each day whereas Scotland's has been lunchtime

Nicola Sturgeon has been accused all over Twitter several times of 'usurping' Boris and 'misusing her position' several times because of things coming out earlier in Scotland by people who seem to have forgotten she's the First Minister of a country and is entitled to update them daily.

I'm stuck in a leg cast for another 5 weeks, so I can't even get out of the house for a walk to escape them.

@yabadabadontdoit mine too. She'd much rather just get the exams done and out of the way.

I really hope they don't get postponed for a whole year. That would really suck.

I can't teach my dc and no laptop. No books have been sent home . Wtf

My DDs childminder is staying open regardless of schools closing providing everybody is well and of course, children who are showing symptoms are being asked to self-isolate.

They are offering free spare places to parents who work for the NHS and emergency services.

Maybe have a poke round your local areas and see if any local childminders are offering a similar service.

I like to think so.

I’m dreading the thought of the next few months of being home full time with 4 DC who all bicker, bitch and occasionally declare all out war on each other. Especially now adult DD, usually the worst offender, is WFH for the foreseeable future and wants us all to be quiet!

Teenage DS’s colleges are now closed and I expect primary age DS’s school to follow by Monday. I can’t even escape to the gym now it’s closed!

Anyone got any stockpiled Valium they want to share?

Education (and Health) in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, ie its a separate system not run by or from England.

I'm worried, it's not the most important thing but I'm supposed to be studying. With all my kids at home I'm going to fall behind, it'll be really hard to keep working. I'm quite anxious about it but I know the uni don't need me emailing to ask them about it now! What to do!

I work in a secondary and I don’t feel pleased - I’m worried for my year 11s and their GCSEs and all the stress this is causing them. I’m worried for the more vulnerable students who really do see school as a lifeline.
My job is going to be much harder to do online and we’ll have the joy of having one laptop and me needing to work plus 2 primary age kids needing to access their schoolwork.

On the other hand, I’ve had students in my class this week visibly ill, coughing, caring for ill parents and looking exhausted, and a few students I taught on Friday now self isolating this week. We don’t have much power to send the students home, and there’s really no way to stop them spreading illnesses to each other and their teachers. Anything we catch from kids at school we’re taking home to our kids, our parents (when we’re not avoiding them!) For all that we can avoid social contact, we can’t avoid being in a building with a thousand kids!

Yabadabadontdoit, I agree. It is unfair on the students and the staff (families too) who are supporting them. Decisions are needed and must be published soon.

I am sure there must have been some contingency planning done by now. I would hope so anyway. That reassurance is needed now. Nothing yet though.

My DD's mental health can be fragile at the best of times, so that is what is worrying for me. As much clarity as possible as soon as possible does help, but it isn't forthcoming because the situation has been evolving so quickly.

Decision time is surely coming.

themuminator I seriously don’t think dd would be able to cope with that, I would be worried for her safety if that is what they choose to do. I’m desperately hoping they use predicted grades

That’s me stuffed for months then I’m frontline nhs

I'm dreading it too. My 2 squabble like cat and dog, and the little one is only 5 so will need lots of parental input for any work set, which will mean I can't 'work' from home, so what then?

Topsey fingers crossed we’re told in today’s update.