In your opinion, when do you think the kids will be back at school?

[HowFurloughCanYouGo]

I change my mind every day depending on what I read. It ranges anywhere between May and September.

I just wondered what others thought?

@Emcont or they're struggling to work to keep a roof over their heads and care for their children at the same time. Are you working at the moment?

@GeordieGirl47

6 weeks of summer break is not comparable to a lockdown. In August, many parents have a summer holiday planned and everyone can still see their friends. This is nothing like a holiday.

I've got one in year 6 and one in year 11. I am concerned how the youngest will cope with being thrown in the deep end at secondary school when he was already flagging in year 6. The year 11 is fretting about GCSE results and whether they'll be a true reflection. The resilience argument is a bit pat and is often trotted out without a lot of thought and meaning.

School may not be childcare but many parents do some kind of work while their children are at school. That is the reality.

Please let's not suggest this situation is ok. It is shit. Yes, it is shittier for the people dying and their families. We know that and we are grateful for our health but we are allowed to think this is shit

I asked my friends who both work in different schools when they thought we'd be back at work, and they both said after half term immediately.

Since then the government have said that in opening schools they have to consider if parents are happy to send their children in and also if the teachers are comfortable working in a high volume environment.

My friend is on the school rota and feeling extremely uncomfortable about being there (as was I on the approach to lockdown). My other friend and myself are relieved not to be in but are doing our own bit in the community as a contribution to all this. I think it'll be a long time until we're totally comfortable with being back, for me I'd like to see us literally at zero and mentally if that could happen by late June so we can have a few weeks of normality.

September

I've spoken to our HT and he said the same.

we can have a few weeks of normality.

It won't be normal though. Have read up about Denmark.

They are doing social distancing in the Danish schools and it is only the Primary schools that have gone back. It helps that their average class size is a lot lower than ours, and also the Primary school is usually in the same building as the Secondary school so they have plenty of empty classrooms they can use.

Nobody knows. HTs don't know, even the govt don't know. We need to watch how it goes in Denmark, how they handle it and what it does to their CV rates.

In England & Wales mid June, short (5-6) week half term instead of the planned 7 week one, with holiday clubs running as normal during the summer so teachers can have their break. In Scotland & Northern Ireland, possibly not until the next a/c year unless they go in for a couple of days just to find out which class they're in next year as the usually finish at the start of July.

I suspect, if the above happens, they'll have to relax the attendance rules until next school year though.

Denmark have banned gatherings of over 500 until September-that would cover most schools over here.

Considering they’ve only had 300 deaths to our 16000, I can’t see our schools going back before September looking anything like ‘normal’. Ten to a class maybe.

Your friend who work in schools are guessing the same as everyone else. I work in a college. Daily I think it’ll be a few weeks, or September, or just before the summer holidays...I don’t have a fucking clue. My opinion has no more weight than the guy walking past on the street so can we stop quoting friends as some kind of experts!

We need to bear in mind what Denmark does, but crucially the scientists will watch what happens here.

In my opinion, OP, September, earliest.

Countless threads which ask questions no one, not even the scientists know the answers to yet.

Accept please that we don't know.

Denmark have banned gatherings of over 500 until September-that would cover most schools over here.

When that happened in Scotland it was because of police and ambulance support and did not apply to schools.

John Swinney said this morning he expects schools (in Scotland) to be closed 'at least unitl the summer break'.

@fuckweasel I was just going say that about John Swinney gutted for our P7s.

Yes that's what they are saying just now. But there is 11 weeks left of term in Scotland, including this one - in our area anyway. Things change very quickly. I wouldn't be surprised with a few weeks in June and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't go back until mid August.

IMO there's no point in repeatedly asking politicians etc about this because they do not know and can only give us the worst case scenario.

I second the post about "If its September just bloody tell us" yes people will moan but at least it will stop all the uncertainty and bloody questions every. Single. Friggin day!!

I'm not sure but I doubt it will be all back at once. It may be your child gets a set day to go in and the rest of the week at home. Until a vaccine (which is looking less likely now that it was a few weeks ago) they will have to maintain social distancing when things start to open up.

September and not a day before

whattodo

We aren't told what's going on because there would likely be civil unrest.

@Devlesko

I would like to think this wasn't the case. I for one would just like it black and white so I could just crack on 🤷‍♀️

I can imagine some primary schools in some areas will go back with reduced number of pupils during the summer holidays for those who need that schooling for whatever reason. Holidays may need to be flexed accordingly. As they are currently for the NHS or paid to the staff.

Those who are coping at home or need to be shielded I think will be asked to carry on longer but with much better support than they are receiving currently.

Just my own feeling...Because it may be quite some time before transmission rates slow right down and staff can make themselves available and be/feel sufficiently protected.

There’s little point in speculating, in Scotland its clear it’s going to be August, which allows us to plan accordingly.

whattodo

I think there's less chance of civil rest if they keep us in the dark, but the september comment was only my opinion. I hope it's when it's safe and not for any other reason, economy, childcare etc.

What if it's not completely safe until next Summer, because that's when there's a vaccine?