The exit plan and schools.

[NeverGuessWho]

I know this whole thread will be hearsay, but I’m just interested in hearing people’s opinions of where schools are likely to fit in to the exit plan?

A friend thinks they will be opened early on, as this will free up more people to work, and hence enable furloughed workers to return to work. This will crucially save money.

IMHO, schools will be one of the last restrictions to be lifted. Once schools are opened, there will effectively be multiple mass gatherings in every town and city, all at the same time. Surely this will result in a surge of cases of the virus.

Unless of course, they pursue the antibodies/certified passport route?

What do people think?

I didn't say that you said 'perfectly safe' laprofesora - I never mentioned you at all! - but others have said that. Decisions about school closures have to be taken based on reasonable risk - and putting workable precautions in place. FWIW I agree that social distancing in schools is impossible. I think it's more workable to wait until infections are at a very low level (after maybe two more months of lockdown, or whenever that is?) and then reopen schools, but perhaps still ban unnecessary mixing eg inter-school sports matches, summer fetes etc. The most vulnerable staff might not go back yet - or perhaps could take time off if a new case occurs in the school, or could go back after a positive antibody test. Something like this already happens in fact, for example where there is a chickenpox or slapped cheek outbreak in a school - pregnant staff might take time off if they are not already immune.

It was Chris Who try, I believe, who asserted schools were safe : just a couple of days later they shit them all.

Abundant protective gear for staff, the apparently limitless opportunities to wash hands and abundant supplies of alcohol gel... and biddable pupils who will under no circumstances enter anyone's 2m zone....

Whitty! Although Who try suits.

Oh... and they shut them all!!!!!

So if they were to reopen schools, I reckon a lot of the wealthy who could afford a loss of earnings would keep their kids home. The poorer would have to send them in so they could work and pay the bills. Chance of the poorest members of society being infected sky rocket. The wealthy sit at home waiting for rates to die down and the nhs to get on top of things again. Social cleansing in action..

Greathat that's exactly how I fear it taking place...

@Xenia
In the immortal words are our beloved Ofsted.
Your attitude requires improvement.

LockdownLucy
I know teachers aren't contracted during that time but tbh nothings set in stone right now

Who says nothing's set in stone? I've been teaching from home every day since the schools closed in Ireland 3 weeks ago. I will NOT be teaching through my summer holidays too! If the restrictions lift, I'll be in Portugal! The unions in Ireland would go apeshit if that happened.

Maybe they'll ignore the summer holiday and restart lessons during that time. Avoiding another peak in autumn whilst enabling children to catch up a little. I know teachers aren't contracted during that time but tbh nothings set in stone right now

Extremely unlikely to happen.

Having no summer holiday will have a huge impact on my DD’s mental health. They are working them so hard at her school-a holiday is needed for all concerned.

Based on how hard our teachers have been working, I really don’t think that would be reasonable.

I really hope the schools aren’t the first thing to reopen. That just feels like using kids as test subjects. Children are getting sick from this wether we like it or not. I don’t want mine to be one of the sick kids. We kept our asthmatic children home from primary school during the last week before they closed. During that week there was a case in his class- very poorly child- the school did not notify the parent body. Nobody could make informed choices as a direct result. The school was never deep cleaned. It’s a disgrace. We only found out after closure though people chatting that it had happened.

But if the schools don’t go back how can parents get back to work?

I for one won't be sending mine back. One with special needs and the other with asthma combined with a family history of young deaths. No chance.
The calls for the schools to go back early are clearly from those that dont grasp the reality of deaths of young healthy people as they've never seen it up close.
I wouldnt trust this Government as far as I could throw them and I'm not willing to risk my children for economic concerns. Im not the only parent who will just point blank refuse.

Really not trying to be goady, willyoujustbequiet, but what will be the trigger that does make you eventually send your children back? People upthread were saying that the UK was the only country 'going for' herd immunity, but that's not true - the whole world is 'going for' herd immunity, as it's the only exit strategy ultimately, as far as I can see. Of course a vaccine will massively help - but even a vaccine is only a step towards herd immunity, as not everyone will have the vaccine, and the virus will still circulate to some extent. It takes decades to actually eradicate a disease (like smallpox). We still haven't managed it with measles. Coronavirus may also mutate into a milder form, but nobody actually knows that. So I'm just interested in when those who are saying they won't send themselves or their children back too early will decide when the right point has been reached? Flu is an interesting comparison - there is evidence that flu might actually be more dangerous to children than coronavirus, yet about half the parents in my kids' school choose for them not to have the vaccine each year.

May be if we reopen and some staff feel they are too vulnerable we could do a scheme where those ones are seconded to work in some area with worker shortages (with less contact such as driving groceries which my son does and there is a shortage of workers) for their same or slightly reduced pay?

Xenia - the problem with that plan is that we actually need the teachers to teach and keep the chikdren safe. If the schools reopen before shielding is up you end up with shielded teachers staying home ( as they should in any industry) any self isolating teachers for the new temp cough or family member with a temp/cough not being available (as they should in any indusrty) and now you have an option to be seconded to lower risk jobs if you feel vulnerable but are not part of the shielding group.

It’s the government who have created this vulnerable group and told them not to come in-that’s why schools weren’t able to staff properly.

It’s not staff decided they are vulnerable.

If the plan is to get y 10 and 12 back there might be enough teachers to cover that? I would hope tests would go to those teachers and kids first?

Then possibly y9 and then primary back in sept?

All speculation as ever of course.

New but is the main reason the kids go back the economy? So would have to be primary.

Not being goady but will have to look at the reasons why we open schools before shops etc

For the parents jobs - whether as a cleaner, a builder, a chef, teacher etc

Many of us haven’t got an income and are waiting for gov money which will take months to process. The uk can’t pay for half the population to eat for months.

If you have a partner still earning you are lucky!

If the plan is to get y 10 and 12 back there might be enough teachers to cover that? I would hope tests would go to those teachers and kids first.Then possibly y9 and then primary back in sept?

I actually think this is far more likely.

Prioritising year groups with imminent state exams, who are more likely to be able to be spread across classrooms if there are only 2 year groups in, to retain some form of social distancing, is far more palatable than the government saying ‘we don’t know if things are very safe yet, so we’ll start by trialling things with your very tiniest children first to see what happens!’

But all exams are already cancelled for GCSEs and A levels.

It would give the schools space to spread out, possibly part time too.

Teachers still able to work at home teach those kids at home.

These are the years BEFORE exams.

But all exams are already cancelled for GCSEs and A levels.

I know-that’s why I agree that just getting the years 10/12 back first would be sensible as they are the next cohorts to sit external exams-next summer (maybe imminent was a bad choice of word). They would benefit from getting back to continue with the course content and it might be manageable to just have two year groups in.