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Original poster

How long do you reckon the schools will be shut for?

200 replies

Forfoxsake29 · 19/03/2020 13:04

and if they are shut for a long time, how will they
Cope with things like children starting school September, gcses, alevels, uni etc

OP posts:
carly2803 · 19/03/2020 13:54

what on earth do we do with the kids at nursery until then, if they follow schools direction?!

parents need to work

fivesecondrule · 19/03/2020 13:55

I think September but I got ridiculed for it on our school WhatsApp group. I hope I'm wrong but you're hardly going to want to send them back during the peak are you?

MustStopSnacking28 · 19/03/2020 13:58

I think September as well...

Puddleduck42 · 19/03/2020 14:00

What will happen though if is September. Is it acceptable to force the kids into the next year? Especially reception children. They have only had a few short months of play and phonics. They surely would need to return to reception for a few months to carry on doing basic stuff. They will not be prepared for such a huge change after being removed from their familiar surroundings for months. They will be completely lost and starting at the bottom again.

Puddleduck42 · 19/03/2020 14:01

Also new starters won't be able to look around and have tasters in the summer?

MordredsOrrery · 19/03/2020 14:02

itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted not 100% unlikely at all. If they can't get this under control then there won't be a choice.

JamesNesbittsBrows · 19/03/2020 14:03

6-9 months

Foobydoo · 19/03/2020 14:03

I think September but I got ridiculed for it on our school WhatsApp group. I hope I'm wrong but you're hardly going to want to send them back during the peak are you?

Why do people just refuse to take this seriously and shout down those who have the foresight to see what is likely to happen. Are they honestly expecting schools to only be closed a few weeks. The cancellation of all exams tells us otherwise.
It is like the 'it's only flu' brigade all over again.
Sometimes I wish I were like them, I would probably sleep better.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 19/03/2020 14:07

I wonder if we will just restart the year and children due to start reception wouldnt and everyone would just repeat the year but that would have quite dire consequences up the school Yr ladder.

Onedaymyluckwillchange · 19/03/2020 14:07

I think the government initially were hoping after Easter (it all didn't seem so bad then) if not, after June half term. However, I've seen so many reports say September and that just feels so sad. It's not just the education and parents needing to work, it's the social interaction and friendships our kids will be missing out on (in the life of a child, 6 months is a very long time). I am so sad for my DS that he might never be with his current reception teacher and TA again as it's such a lovely class. I will definitely cry tomorrow on pick up. Never in my wildest nightmares did I ever think something like this would happen.

Jerseygaly · 19/03/2020 14:10

I think reception kids will be ok going to year 1.
It would be easy enough for parents to continue with reading from now on.
Other year groups it would depennd.
I think kids not meeting should be allowed to repeat.

tempester28 · 19/03/2020 14:14

I think schools are providing online school to an extent so summer holidays should go ahead as normal. Hopefully by then we can enjoy them!

Selfsettling3 · 19/03/2020 14:18

September. GCSE and A level exams have been cancelled. Teachers are employed and paid for 193 days a year. They will be working when not in school, many will be required to be in school or pupils and other vulnerable group.

GrumpyHoonMain · 19/03/2020 14:19

Until we get widespread antibody testing which may be around June.

enjoyingSun · 19/03/2020 14:23

I do wonder when they do get back whether it will just be a matter of time again before they have to shut to avoid the second peak getting larger than NHS can cope with.

I think it may depend on whether they can get an anti-body test working ie ones that test to see if people have had it already and have immunity that at least would cut down on people having to self isolate just in case they have it rather than a cold or flu.

anothernotherone · 19/03/2020 14:24

Puddleduck42 in Germany (disclaimer it varoes by state, but in my state) children start school at 6 or 7 with no formal academic learning - sometimes a once a week phonics and numbers session in the last year of kindergarten) and can read within 3 months and write in beautiful cursive script with a fountain pen a year after that.

Children aren't actually ready for reading and writing in reception, so they learn really, really slowly. If you drop them in at the deep end age six and a half they learn five times as fast.

What they do need to learn at 4 and 5 is all the self care and social skills - in a family with siblings and a parent not struggling to work from home those things can be done at home, but its harder where there are no siblings or no time...

HoffiCoffi13 · 19/03/2020 14:25

i do wonder when they do get back whether it will just be a matter of time again before they have to shut to avoid the second peak getting larger than NHS can cope with

I think that’s a strong possibility. We may well see more than one period of school closures.

enjoyingSun · 19/03/2020 14:25

Until we get widespread antibody testing which may be around June.

I hadn't heard they expected one so soon - that would be very good news. I expect they'll want the school open as soon as possible.

pigsDOfly · 19/03/2020 14:25

I imagine it'll be September.

Feel so sad for my DGC. The 5 year old is doing so well and loves school. She so sociable and is really going to miss all her friends and her teachers.

The 3 year old is in pre school and has settled down nicely after taking a while to get used to it. Going back after a long break is going to be like starting all over again.

And yes, obviously their parents read with them and they will keep up the work, but it's not the same as going into their fantastic school every day and mixing with all their friends.

olivehater · 19/03/2020 14:27

I was thinking maybe the English schools should start on the Scottish s
Timetable and go back in August to make up for lost time.

HoffiCoffi13 · 19/03/2020 14:28

Our English school goes back in August anyway olive hater, it’s scheduled to be the Monday before the bank holiday this year. Leicestershire schools follow a slightly different timetable to the rest of the country!

PlomBear · 19/03/2020 14:29

Yesterday, the Daily Mail was saying 18 months to get back to normal. Can you imagine schools being closed until September 2021?

Such strange times.

namechangenumber2 · 19/03/2020 14:36

I'm thinking September but have every thing crossed they'll be back May/June. It won't help my yr 11 DS but it will my Yr 6 DS as hopefully he'd get some sort of transition to secondary school

BiNgOoOo · 19/03/2020 14:36

I think they will open May/June. I can't see them closing them until September

Usernamealreadyexists · 19/03/2020 14:40

At least until June. My place of work has told us to expect to work remotely until then and I expect the same for schools.

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