School NOT going back after Easter

[Saladfingers95]

The headteacher has just phoned me to say my children's school will definitely not be back until after Easter. It will be after May half term at the earliest. I'm in the North East. Has anyone else been told the same?

The expected peak is Easter Sunday according to the news

I think we’ll be very lucky of the peak is that early!

I work in a school and we know as much as anyone else. HT found out about the closures on the news and the council emails us all with letters to send to parents the same day so we know more detailed info about an hour before all parents. We found out about our reopening for key workers at 10 pm the night before it happened, then that we wouldn't be open during the holidays the day before we 'broke up.' We have absolutely no idea what's happening next or when government might suddenly reopen schools (or not) so I'm very surprised you've had confirmation of anything

To add we aren't expecting to be back this school year at all but definitely can't say anything as definite

Assume September and anything earlier is a bonus.

It will depend on wether the government wants to create another small spike in cases. It might be that we all go back to ‘normal’ after may in June for a few weeks to allow a small spread of the virus then everyone on lockdown again for the summer to allow the NHS to catch up and then again back to normal in September and possible another lockdown at October half term.

@cornishdreams1 my son is at an independent school and was meant to be sitting A levels. We had the Ofqual news yesterday about teacher assessed grades but also had a letter from the school telling the students to continue to study (3 hours a day!) in case they're able to use evidence from further assessments set next term. Surely this won't be allowed as there would be nothing to stop students achieving perfect marks with a computer by their side, and would be completely unfair for those students at home without access to computer/good working environment. DS thinks it's a way to keep staff working and therefore justify readjusted fees (which I completely understand - no judgement there) but I don't want him wasting his time. I'd be really interested to hear your views. Thanks.

They've said lockdown might be partially relaxed at the end of May if stats stabilise.

@NeurotrashWarrior I have seen that headline on both the guardian and bbc news pages this morning but can’t find an article or any quotes that it relates to-have you seen one?

shelsley - this is the guidance Ofqual have given schools with regard to your question:

"There is no requirement to set additional mock exams or homework tasks for the purposes of determining a centre assessment grade and no student should be disadvantaged if they are unable to complete any work set after schools were closed. Where additional work has been completed after schools and colleges were closed on 20 March, Heads of Centre should exercise caution where that evidence suggests a change in performance. In many cases this is likely to reflect the circumstances and context in which the work is done."

There IS a case to be made for him continuing to study if he feels that he may wish to take a gap year and sit the exams at a later date (if a session is offered in November, for instance).

They are talking about not going back until September now.

They are talking about not going back until September now.

Which they?

The problem is it's just gossip and talk - schools are preparing for 'worse case' - which is September return, but they don't know either.

And this is part of the whole problem with how the government has handled this. Everyone is guessing at not returning after Easter and possible return at May/June or perhaps not until September - but it's guessing as the government seem to want to leave it to the last second to make an announcement.

There should be a clear announcement in the next week. It's not fair to leave people unsure. If they lift the lockdown as planned on 14th April, many 2 working parent families will struggle if the parents are expected back in the office after the lockdown. Saying now gives companies time to plan on staff WFH not just being for lockdown but long term.

We had the school newsletter emailed to us Friday and they said we would be getting the usual end of year reports as soon as possible. Instead of waiting until July they are being compiled now.

No I think it was guardian Apus.

Reports are being written now simply because it's a good use of teachers' time right now in some schools. You usually do them in May/ June.

I usually start my reports in the Easter holidays as they take a very long time.

Whilst I agree it’s highly likely that the schools won’t be going back after Easter, and many simply won’t be able to open (at least fully) anyway due to staff sickness and shielding etc, at the moment the government has said nothing as far as I’m aware regarding when the schools open, or when the lockdown will be lifted.

At the moment, no one knows. Our school has said that they will send more learning resources out at the end of the Easter holidays, so they are not planning to be open, clearly. But if you want my opinion, the schools will go back before we are encouraged to go back into our offices, and possibly before other restrictions are lifted too.

I know there's been a gov directive to provide childcare during the summer hols for key workers.

What that means in terms of schools reopening I have no idea.

Assume sept and anything sooner is a bonus.

Wales now, as well as advising the vulnerable to shield for 12 weeks, have suspended the childcare free hours at nurseries and are using that fundnig to provide free preschool age funding for 12 weeks for key workers.
Which enforces my opinion that they are basing a lot of their measures around the 3 months of social measures being what it takes to bring things to a close (initially).

I know there's been a gov directive to provide childcare during the summer hols for key workers.

Can you share it?

I know there's been a gov directive to provide childcare during the summer hols for key workers.

Where, please? Williamson’s letter to head teachers and the DfE guidance asked schools to remain open over Easter but there has been no mention of the summer that I have seen.

I’ve read about that summer directive somewhere. I can’t remember where though!

I'm looking for it now, this was from a Ht in a teacher group. He said they've been told to provide child care till end of July.

Bbc have been instructed to create online lessons to mid July which is when schools break up.

Our school extended Easter break to April 27 (they originally would have gone back April 13), and extended the summer term from July 3 to the 17th. The children will go back to full schedule of remote learning at end of Easter break. Hoping they may physically go back after May half term but the head is waiting for the government of course. I don't think anyone thought it would be earlier than half term. There are about 40 key worker children going in every day over the break though.

I can't find a link to the info but the HT said "we've already been given a directive to be open until 31st August for child care."

Now that might be on top of any school openings but many schools were struggling to stay open due to the guidance around socially isolating for two weeks if showing a cough or fever and then also those with vulnerabilities. So if they do open I expect it will be very patchy and possibly more like childcare.

Nothing can be assured till tests are being used more widely and antibody tests work well.