Government reportedly considering schools going back in 3 weeks

[FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue]

On BBC News 24 now, article in tomorrow's Sunday Times says that ministers are considering schools going back in three weeks time. Plus allowing some shops and social gatherings, but not pubs and clubs.

Article also says hairdressers would open in the early stage too. Hmmmm

Most year 7's are nearly 12 now also. My dd is a June baby it would not be ideal but I could leave her if I had to. I understand some are more immature.

says schools on the 25th

A bank holiday in half term.

It says schools on the 25th not 11th.

Which is a Bank Holiday - and also half term, for the record.

It’s clear from these threads that teachers won’t go back until there is no possible excuse not to.

Sorry should have said - some teachers.

Oh do fuck off, Pomegranate.

DH is a teacher and they are now "provisionally" expecting 1 June for primaries. That is based on nothing though!

It's an interesting change from 3 weeks ago when schools were "definitely" closed until September and there seemed to be genuinely no thought about them going back earlier!

My three will go back when their school goes back, because I think it is the best thing for them. If this happens while I am still self-isolatinf it will be a nightmare, but I don't think the kids should miss out on education because of that.

As a teacher with a heart condition (not shielded though) I think I’m well with my right to not want to go back until mine, my colleagues and my students safety has been considered and assured as much as is reasonably possible.

It's an interesting change from 3 weeks ago when schools were "definitely" closed until September

Yes, the Times and Telegraph have worked hard to change that narrative.

Perhaps their portfolios are suffering.

@Pomegranatepompom In my RL experience, many teachers are actually really eager to go back.

Article also says hairdressers would open in the early stage too.

Did hairdressers close in Germany? I think they were considered essential?

@alloutoffucks

Are you missing that I said I lived in an area in the 80s that had much higher unemployment than 10%?
If you have only live through good times a recessions is doubly scary. But they do happen roughly about every 10 years. You will live through several during your working life. They are part of a capitalist society

No, not all, but I think @HoffiCoffi13
says it all-

having an area of the country with extremely high unemployment versus having the entire country with extremely high unemployment is a completely different prospect economically though

Ay up Sian. What’s your mumsnet name?

BBC have dismissed schools going back in 3 weeks.

Why would they spend all this money on laptops etc... for children if they will reopen in 3 weeks? My guess is a phased return after the May half term and probably all in September. But no one knows.

@Jourdain11 I agree with you.

It’s pretty disappointing seeing some of the responses on here but I’m sure they are not proportionate.

I find it really upsetting, I’d much much prefer not to work and put myself and my family at risk, but trying to do the right thing. We’ve had a dreadful week with 2 colleagues currently on itu.

But @noblegiraffe, leaving The Times aside, don't you think it might be that after the initial fear/flight response, many people are realising that 6 straight months out of school isn't really good for children?

My DH has kids at home who are struggling to complete work because they don't have enough devices for all the children in the household to use. One child's mum's laptop broke down and since there's nowhere for her to get it repaired, he can only access e-learning when she's not with on the main computer. Some children haven't completed any work at all.

I suspect early June. Can’t see the point of sending back the kids for two weeks before half term.

I have two kids with special needs. The youngest is 7 and would have no idea about social distancing and as his needs of complex if he did become ill, he wouldn’t understand ventilation at all. The data about deaths isn’t saying anything about ages. I imagine if a lot of children were dying there would be a total uproar. At the moment I’m not trusting much of what the government say because they seem more interested the economy and whilst I do understand why this is a huge issue we need a plan.

Fact is, as a country our government reacted too late. We don’t do enough testing and tracing and we’re clueless.

If schools go back to the previous normal, all other measures would go out of the window. A lot of local parents rely on grandparents for childcare, so I’m not sure how it would work.

@noblegiraffe I did not see that thread. The reason they want schools to go back is to infect everyone.

@Quartz2208 Yes I am glad that WHO were being very clear that herd immunity has no scientific basis at all. I was speaking to a friend who worked in the past in infectious disease control who pointed out that if herd immunity worked as a strategy, lots of infectious diseases that kill many people in Africa would have already achieved herd immunity.

This is what makes it clear though that the government has lied to us all along. They must know that herd immunity is rubbish.

@Jourdain11 Why do we have to commit to 6 months? Scientists are learning more about this virus all the time. It is too early. I don't know when it will be low risk for children to go back to school, No one does. No one at this stage has to commit to a timetable.
And the Labour leader is very wrong to pressure the government into this.

many people are realising that 6 straight months out of school isn't really good for children?

No shit, Sherlock. But there’s a deadly global pandemic on so the correct solution isn’t automatically to send kids back to school.

The BBC are offering an education package from tomorrow. The DfE are offering similar. Free laptops and 4G routers for disadvantaged families.

@Pomegranatepompom that's tough, I'm sorry! I understand your dilemma, honestly - even though I'm not a teacher. I think my DH will have to work and my DC will have to go to school, even though I will still be in chemo at that point. I guess I have to rationalise it by thinking that, even if this had happened not during Covid-19, there would have been risk of them bringing something home. Would I have worried? Yes, probably. Would I have kept the kids at home or asked DH not to work? No.

@Jourdain11 sorry to hear you are on chemotherapy.

Such difficult times. Wishing you all the best.

@noblegiraffe You don't need to be so snarky at me! There is most likely going to be a global pandemic for 18 months, so this can't actually be continued for that period. I don't see why it is unreasonable to lay out a timetable? If they have to change it, they will change it.

We are cursed with experiencing a once is a century pandemic. At the same time as we have the most incompetent, self serving and morally bankrupt government in living memory. People need to make their own minds up as to what is safe for them and their families as the government are under the spell of extreme free market right wingers who really don't care if masses of people die. The main stream media are part of the problem and are in general pushing their own free market agenda.

Just a few things I would like clarified before schools go back

Social distancing (this directly affects class sizes)
hygiene for pupils and teachers, very few schools continuously supply soap etc.
Cleaning of classrooms etc. With no disrespect to cleaners, this is sparse and is often no more that hoover, sweep and mop, no surfaces are cleaned disinfected.
IT equipment, Will schools be able to continuously clean these each day?
SEND provision, this often means breaking the 2m social distancing rule. (as teaching does anyway).
Travelling in to and from schools, including the alleged rule about face masks.