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.

I didn’t interpret it like that at all, Bluntness.

I didn’t hear anything that made me think schools were reopening to most quickly. We are still having hundreds of deaths a day.

I'd love for all vulnerable pupils, key worker children and SEN pupils (with and without EHCPs) to be the first to come back.

He just skated over the concept of how long in that question.

I think its simply a matter of they dont know. They cant answer it because they dont know.

I would be amazed if it were before mid June.

I would be shocked if it were later than September

And he certainly didnt answer about school holidays at all

@Bluntness100 - I don't think he went particularly far at all and all his words were carefully chosen to give no firm hope of any normality soon. The investment in routers and laptops, and the provision that the BBC is making suggests that school won't be an option for very many people in a few weeks.

Oh no, they're talking about socio economically vulnerable children.

Right. Well the kids with a SAHM will be fine.
Kids of full time keyworkers are fucked.

Their plan assumes there is a person woman at home to facilitate home learning.

MarshaBradyo
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

Quite. The thing is that this virus is so new and unknown that no-one can possibly know what will or won't risk a second peak, for sure. They just have to guess based on limited evidence. We don't know how many children and teens have it without any symptoms. It's not even known for sure whether infected peope gain immunity!

I'm really hoping schools will go back in June as I have a Y10 child so this affects his GCSE courses. But, saving lives has to take priority, and I really feel for shielded people who might be facing months and months inside.

@Quartz2208 I'd imagine all schools have come to the conclusion that we will have to open for key worker children during the summer - I know we have already.

We are planning on having staff in on a voluntary basis. There should be enough of us who are willing to do a week here or there to enable those who choose not to come in don't have to.

She picked him up on it!

He really wont be pressed into giving an answer on anything is he

No plans currently to open over the summer just confirmed

He said schools won't open over the summer.

Oh no, they're talking about socio economically vulnerable children

I missed this, yes makes sense if it’s this as we haven’t yet identified vulnerable children in the same way we have adults wrt CV19.

But laptops for socially economic vulnerable makes sense.

Although I do believe they will still expect us to remain open for key worker children as those parents still need to work? The virus won't have disappeared by Aug?

@BertNErnie the question I think was over the summer holidays for all children. He said they hadnt look at it yet which wasnt a yes or a no

He manages to not answer any question at all because I don't think he wants to give anything away.

Certainly we are at home for this half term (as we should be) I think anything beyond that cant be said because this is so fast moving

I think he’s trying to not give an indication of when they will go back, part of rhe dont reveal an exit strategy thing.

The only thing that’s clear is vulnerable kids are not likely going back any time soon, and will need to be home schooled for the foreseeable., and clearly work places will need to go back before the vulnerable kids do.

For those parents who need to work, but have vulnerable kids who can’t go to school that is going to be a real concern.

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

It depends on how they are vulnerable. Lots of children are vulnerable at home, not school.

Picsinred I agree, I'm full time with no option of supporting my daughter whose in year 9. We do log on at the weekend but it's no compensation for what she's missing in the week from me. She's going into school two days a week from this week, it's my best option to continue her education

@Quartz2208 I agree.

We are currently considering 4557373 different schooling options for after June and are also considering what this means long term from September.

I do feel this gives us a chance to have a real change of curriculum and start education the youth of today for a technological world. I can't see this government moving to anything other than exams though - they are not progressive enough.

Bluntness how do you think they are defining vulnerable?

To the virus or low sociopath economic status? The latter requiring laptops.

Has he defined?

@Quartz2208

He actually said ‘no plans’ to stay open over the summer and that they were looking at online learning like the Oak Academy.

It’ll boil down to no money to pay staff to open the schools over the summer.

This will also have implications for vulnerable adults. There are many of these working, eg in schools, and if they are told to continue being at home, many schools may be unable to safely open.

But laptops for socially economic vulnerable makes sense

I guarantee that is just a salve to make people feel better, they aren’t giving forty percent of kids lap tops. No way no how. They will put them in schools before they do that. That’s worst case if they can’t get them in school.

The kids who get laptops will be the economically and medically vulnerable who are not permitted back into school

Bluntness it’s a question of definition.

Not sociopath! Low socioeconomic

@DBML he actually said "currently no plans" which to me is neither a yes or a no. I find him one of the worse at not actually answering a question at all

Because he is right in saying it is fast moving and no one knows. We have no idea what it will look like in June at all