R value and Schools

[palacegirl77]

Just wondered how those of you that have sent kids back to school feel about the rising R value? P.H.E suggesting it's now over 1 in some places? Should kids really be going to school unless absolutely essential (i.e. 2 parental keyworkers) right now?

[lunar1]

I'm in the north west and the R number is 1.1. I decided not to send my DC back and am glad we made that decision. My children are fine though, happy with their homeschooling, continuing some hobbies via zoom and have time to chat with their friends every day. We go on walks and have a garden. I may feel differently if my children were struggling.

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

Our R number is now high (south west) but

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

.. I think the benefits outweigh the risks.

Where there is only a sal numver infrcted in the SW the R number can change a lot I think.

(If 1000 deaths has an extra 9 deaths its a tiny percent increase. If an area wih previously 10 deaths has 9 extra deaths its a 90% increase.)

I am concerned about all the tourists on the beaches and landmarks , but also so impressed with hygeine measures undertaken by my child's school. Just yr6 are in the juniors building and she really wanted to "finish primary.:

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

(Small number infected . Typos.)

[Sockwomble]

My son has been in throughout as a vulnerable child as have most of his class and it is in his best interests to stay in. We are stringent about social distancing outside of school and have been told that the staff have strict rules to follow and the other families are likely to be the same as us so I think the risk within his bubble is small.

[BigBreakfast]

It depends where/why exactly the R is high. If it's "only" in nursing homes, for example and the rate in the community is lower, schools are not affected.

[bellinisurge]

@BigBreakfast , not massively reassuring, to be honest. Especially when our local schools have paused reopening because of it.

[BigBreakfast]

But what have schools based that decision on? The R rate is a very localised thing. If it's very high in nursing homes, it could still be negligible in the community.

[ShirleyB25]

@BigBreakfast Remember that all the care homes have people working in them who go home to their families and go to the shops same as everybody.

Any 'pocket' of Covid infection is significant. Obviously nurses and care assistants also may have children at school.

[TimeForLunch]

As others have said, the R rising slightly is less significant when the number of cases is low. The latest estimate of number of infections is 1 in every 1000. The decline in number of cases may be slowing but it's still declining in the community and odds of becoming infected are minuscule. Wouldn't stop me sending my children to school that's for sure. Children need to be back ASAP and it's outrageous that they are missing out on so much.

[MrsWhites]

My son is in Y1 but won’t be going back to school yet, I am a stay at home mum and he is coping fine with home schooling and his older sibling will not be going back to school until September. My decision might have been different if I had to go to work or he was struggling with being at home.

But I do think many schools in these areas with a higher R value will use this as an excuse not to open. Our school for example have announced opening dates twice now and each time they have been put back for some reason or another, it’s plainly obvious that some schools don’t want to open yet!

[bellinisurge]

Just confirmed y10s at my DD's school won't be going back at least till late June.
It's not an excuse to be lazy arses. I wish you'd get over that idea.

[SistemaAddict]

bellinisurge our year 10s are back in on the 16th doing one day a week. This is because the year group has been divided into 4 and each quarter will attend for one day a week to ensure distancing/bubbles etc. They are starting to do live lessons for year 10 and hope to extend this to other years. Dd1 is year 8 and I'm hoping she'll get some online lessons once year 10 have tested them so to speak. Dd2 is due to start year 7 in September but who knows when she'll actually be in school.They are doing some transition activities online though and helping to prepare them.

[Springhere]

I think local school closures (apart from children of keyworkers and vulnerable children) are the best course of action in areas where R is over 1.

[Namenic]

It would have been sensible to lift restrictions locally according to a number of metrics including number of infections, Distribution of infections, R number, population density, percentage and number of tests showing positive result.

But the govt have just let it be a free for all without much planning and co-ordination. Nevertheless, the govt still have a choice To block travel between regions and local re-impose/lift restrictions depending on what data shows. Sounds more sensible than treating England as a homogenous block and also allowing people from highly infected areas take the infection to places with low number of infections.

[Namenic]

Shouldn’t the central govt take a lead in trying to expand and improve Oak as some kids will be shielded and if there is a second wave, more online schooling will be needed?