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.

And it's only taken him a month to address the actual children who have their world turned upside down...

@onlyreadingneverposting8

Most definitely. We are in this for the long haul I think. I hope his briefing makes those calling for us to go back ASAP realise that this isn't going to be a quick fix. We aren't simply able to reopen schools now and have a free for all.

I don't expect schools to go back to 'normal' for a long long time to be honest.

Either way it's not a great sign is it

Agree, he was defintely indicating vulnerable kids not going back for an extended period. And at the same time softening up for every other kid to go back and quickly too.

That will be very difficult for the kids who can’t go back.

If facilitation of learning isn't provided in school childcare, I can see this forcing one parent it'll be the mother to take furlough for childcare or universal credit to provide homeschool - damaging her earning prospects and putting herself front of queue for redundancy.

This will make women more financially vulnerable.

Bluntness, so you think they will be back in May?

That will be very difficult for the kids who can’t go back.

We can already see their little minds getting depressed. It's appalling for their mental health.

I think it’s clear the way the exit strategy is shaping up.

Healthy people with no known underlying conditions will be going back to work and school quickly. When the five pillars met, most of them already starting to be met. Vulnerable and the shielded will continue to have to stay home to protect their lives.

It’s logical, but is going to be so difficult for those people who will have very extended lockdown.

That's stupid! Even if it is happening my family is still staying in self isolation, if a kid has it and goes to school we all know that it will spread like wildfire!! Why would they even consider something like this? I understand people being desperate to get out and socialize- i feel it too and every day I'm going crazy, but to put not only adults but our children at risk? That's not right, this pandemic is no where near close to finishing and won't be for awhile!!!

Bluntness, so you think they will be back in May?

I don’t know, but he’s stated 130k kids still in school he’s made it clear they are not closed, and stated five pillars, many of which are already being met, so likely for anyone not vulnerable I’d say it’s highly likely.

I just don't know how they would decide who would go back If schools are only running at 50% say due to social distancing . Staggered times and times wouldn't work at our schools as it's a primary over 3 miles away so all the kids get school transport .

I think they just dont know - which is understandable really because there is so much they dont know about it!

The 5 pillars are for me very fluffy:

the NHS’s ability to cope.
daily death rates decreasing.
reliability of data on rate of infection falling.
testing capacity and PPE are being managed with supply meeting demand.
any changes the government makes will not risk a second peak of infections.

The top 3 are easily achieved. Testing capacity well they can fudge.

But the bottom one - what does that mean? It could mean anything.

It sounded to me very political. Make it sound like there was a plan when really they dont have one!

I dont expect anything until after half term so the resources make sense beyond that well I dont think anyone knows

if a kid has it and goes to school we all know that it will spread like wildfire

Actually we don’t all know that, in fact it might be the opposite.

For those of us who have been forced out fo the system with children who have difficulties in school due to unmet SEN needs and forced into home education anyway all this online provision at no cost to us is simply amazing!!
Home educating my usually school going children has been a breeze!

The top 3 are easily achieved. Testing capacity well they can fudge.But the bottom one - what does that mean?

Agree, and arguably we have already met the top three. Even testing capacity could be argued. The last is simply to give public confidence. It’s a softening up phrase, we won’t do it unless we are sure. Have confidence in us.

5. any changes the government makes will not risk a second peak of infections.

They can’t know that won’t happen with schools opening

Vague indeed

I wish I shared your optimism @blunteness 100 :)
They are not meeting all 5 tests, testing is a farce as is and that is not even factoring in community testing. PPE is not readily available to all who need it in England. Their data gathering is not reliable either. The issue with care home deaths is a scandal. His last point, one that mentions a need to avoid or limit the impacts of a second wave is a sign to me, that this is going to take much longer, longer than a month or two. Daily death rates may be plateauing, which is great, but we don't know how long that plateau is going to last. This is a curve and not a spike after all.

Watching the conference, as I did the Andrew Marr show, is a politicians way of saying " schools are not opening next month"

That's how I interpreted it

The last point limits a lot of changes to very measured.

@Bluntness100 really? I didn't see it like that at all.

If anything, the fact that there is such a big push on online learning suggests we won't be back to normal for a while yet.

I'm still hopefully for June!

I didn’t hear that early return either. Felt like a assuaging of people who are keen to go back.

I interpreted it differently. I interpreted it as he doesn’t wish to reveal when they will open, or how, but wished to stress they were already open. That over a hundred thousand kids already still in school, with five tests they could argue we have already passed, to be passed.

I read it vulnerable kids aren’t going back short term. I wouldn’t even guess September if they are giving out lap tops and routers. Likely everyone else will go back and quickly. There was no test in there they won’t be able to say we have passed in may.

I honestly think if you have vulnerable child at home you will be moving to home schooling for the foreseeable future because Of the risk to your child’s life. So online learning, lap tops, routers etc.

Everyone else will be in school

That’s a huge change to people’s lives. Parents and kids.

But we already knew children were at school. That isn't new news.

According to date from June 2019, 8.82 million pupils are in schools in England. 130,000 is a drop in the ocean compared to those out of school.

Bluntness100

What you're saying makes sense - the alternative is that the children of keyworkers continue to receive zero education. Those of us working full, full, full time (and managing stressed kids on any days off) have no scope to do this full time home learning programme. We just don't.

I think quite a few keyworkers are at their very limit already.

Data*

Who will be included as vulnerable? Everyone at higher risk or just those the government decided to protect because there are too many who are vulnerable?

If you include teachers, other school staff, children, household members who are at increased risk you'll have large numbers off or fined or sacked or risking their lives. Will BAME teachers, staff, and children be allowed to stay off? Male staff? It's affecting them more. Anyone with diabetes, cardiovascular issues, hypertension, obesity. The conditions with the highest mortality rates. Asthma is another common condition and the risk level is still unknown. We should not rush into reopening schools.