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Original poster

Government reportedly considering schools going back in 3 weeks

999 replies

FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue · 18/04/2020 23:38

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.

OP posts:
covetingthepreciousthings · 19/04/2020 07:25

I will be " carelessly " flooding them all .

But then if everyone did this as soon as were are out of lockdown, won't we end up in a worse situation that we are in now? In that more people will get the virus and it'll be like a second wave and the issue is the NhS won't cope then?

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 19/04/2020 07:26

If people have not realised before now that diseases spread by not washing your hands , large crowds with bad hygiene etc then heaven help us all .
The good that might come out if this is maybe public places ( including hospitals) might be cleaner in future .

Bitofeverything · 19/04/2020 07:27

The private hospitals that they hired are empty. The nightingale hospitals are empty. We can’t wait for a vaccine - ie we are basically ready to go back to normal life inc as much social distancing as possible. If people want to deprive their children of an education, fine. Everyone else needs to crack on.

covetingthepreciousthings · 19/04/2020 07:27

I also wouldn't send my children back if they do reopen so early.

I don't know how coming out of lockdown will look, who will decide which shops will open up first, and will they have to implement social distancing like supermarkets have done, or will it just be a free for all? I work in retail, and I'm really concerned about going back.

MegUffin · 19/04/2020 07:27

Dontforgetyourbrolly

I think you'll be very surprised at the new normal going forward and it certainly won't be how it was or how you expect...

Hanamuslim · 19/04/2020 07:27

Completely agree Death by boredom

Heihei · 19/04/2020 07:28

I doubt it will be in 3 weeks. Far more likely to be June 1st. If it were in 3 weeks I doubt the DfE would be spending money on their free laptop scheme for year 10 as publicised today in the TES www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-free-laptops-disadvantaged-pupils?amp&__twitter_impression=true If they want to approach the idea of using shifts for the learners to reduce class numbers that’s all good and well, but how will that help people go back to work? If my little boy is only in school a couple of days, what am I supposed to do for the other 3?

JohnMcCainsDeathStare · 19/04/2020 07:28

Anyone saying 11th May is deluded as that is not how infection rates work or how statistic work come to think of it. We have only just become linear with respect to death rates and they are still very high. Premature lifting of lockdown will result in a spike and bye-bye to any summer holidays. I am doubtfull of it being safe before June at the very earliest.
The best solution is a easing of lockdown from mid-June onwards - people can still holiday in the UK then return in September.

PS having a longer summer holiday from June makes far more sense - we should adopt Scottish timings.

cptartapp · 19/04/2020 07:29

I have a year 10 and year 12. Would be quite happy for them to go back.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 19/04/2020 07:30

Coveting- yes you are right . There will be a second wave, and a third and a fourth and probably every year for decades. People will need to stay home for YEARS if they are waiting for this to disappear.
There are waves of flu and chickenpox every year. ( and these also used to kill people) we just need to learn to manage it and hope for a vaccine and a reliable treatment for it , like malaria- which incidentally also kills many people ( but no one seems concerned about Africa - standard)

Hanamuslim · 19/04/2020 07:30

So being indoors safe is being miserable don't save your brolly???????? And you will carelessly go out and about. I mean seriously. What's going on

underneaththeash · 19/04/2020 07:30

The "stay at home" message was just to get the NHS into a state to manage 1.lots of people becoming ill at the same time. 2. Allow buying of tests and setting up of the infrastructure around testing so that we can trace contacts more effectively.

I think the government went slightly too far with it's message and have scared a lot of people.

The chance of children or youngish adults with no underlying health conditions dying of coronoavirus is tiny. What you don't want to be doing though is to then be visiting elderly grandparents at the weekends. My mother's partner is one of the most at risk and we won't be seeing him or her for a long time, we know that. But, you can't deny children their eduction just to protect older and vulnerable people.

There are going to be people who decide not to send their children back in a few weeks and personally, I think that's fine. There are also going to be vulnerable children (and their siblings) who can't go back.

Straycatstrut · 19/04/2020 07:30

BUT my youngest is really really struggling not being at school. We are quite concerned about him and his behaviour is not great. Even though he's only young its clear he's struggling with lockdown. On a personal level, I think going back to school would be good for him, even if it was different to what it was before.

My youngest is too. I think it's easier (slightly!) when you have an understanding of what's going on. At least then it makes sense. Youngest is 3 and has no idea why we have to stay away from people - he repeats "You'll catch the virus" if you go near people but just the same as a parrot would. He was thriving at Nursery. I'm doing my best but it's not the same as a pre-school environment, not by a million miles. I don't want him launched straight into Reception. I think he'd really struggle unless they did it SO gently - which I think they will... but I still worry.

Eldest is almost 8 and understands a lot more, but he also thrives in the classroom and I cannot teach KS2! everything he's doing is coming from activity books and through online learning tasks from his teachers. Not the same at all either.

And socially they both struggle anyway.

OBVIOUSLY I want it to be safe first. I'm just hoping like mad it's safe in May or Early June.

I need to start college in September. I need to start earning good money and provide them with a good role model.

MarginalGain · 19/04/2020 07:31

The private hospitals that they hired are empty. The nightingale hospitals are empty. We can’t wait for a vaccine - ie we are basically ready to go back to normal life inc as much social distancing as possible. If people want to deprive their children of an education, fine. Everyone else needs to crack on.

Totally agree.

My kids will be back at school at the earliest possibility.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 19/04/2020 07:31

Meguffin ‐ I agree, moving forward this will hopefully make people more aware of communicable diseases that can be prevented . If things to change it might be for the better

covetingthepreciousthings · 19/04/2020 07:32

How does anyone think it will work in regards to illness in the schools and workplaces going forward, do you think we will still all have to isolate for every cough and fever when we are out of lockdown?

MarginalGain · 19/04/2020 07:32

Reading the comments on the dm you can see the message has got seriously distorted and out of hand. Most seem to think we are locking down til it's all gone away. Poor Boris. He's got an uphill battle now. There goes his convalescence.

You are absolutely correct. The comments in the DM section are squarely in favour of lockdown-harder-longer-forever. Boris has trouble ahead.

flowerycurtain · 19/04/2020 07:32

How are all of you who aren't going to send them back planning to cope with your own work and education.

I do understand why people might want to keep them off due to vulnerable people in the family.

But I'm cracking trying to work and educate. Doing neither right and the effects both on my Job, family life and kids education is already beginning to show.

PrimalLass · 19/04/2020 07:33

More likely 1 June. That's still 6 weeks away.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 19/04/2020 07:34

Hana I'm totally entitled to my own personal opinion of my experience as you are with yours.
This is how I feel , I don't tell anyone else they need to feel this way but if you think you are ' safe' from everything then crack on .

MarginalGain · 19/04/2020 07:36

How does anyone think it will work in regards to illness in the schools and workplaces going forward, do you think we will still all have to isolate for every cough and fever when we are out of lockdown?

Maybe Hancock could organise a some kind of testing apparatus!

covetingthepreciousthings · 19/04/2020 07:37

How are all of you who aren't going to send them back planning to cope with your own work and education.

We are fortunate that we have shifts that mean one of us could be at home with the kids, though know this isn't the case for everyone. We also have vulnerabilities in the family so feel extra cautious.

I've actually been quite happy at home despite some anxiety in the first week or two, but I think it will go through the roof when we all go back to 'normal'.

Widget123 · 19/04/2020 07:37

A thousand people a day are still dying and they don’t think we’ve even peaked yet... is this a joke?? Fuck them if they think I’m using my children as Guinea Pigs.

HonestCentrist · 19/04/2020 07:37

It’s bullshit. The press are lying as usual.

SophieB100 · 19/04/2020 07:38

They won't go back in three weeks!! The article is rubbish.
Raab clearly stated that 5 objectives have to be achieved before they even think about softening the lockdown, which will be gradual.

None of the those objectives can be achieved in 3 weeks.

Sorry to disappoint some of you, but it won't happen.