How/when did the tide turn on schools?

[LaceCurtains]

In the beginning the mood here was almost desperate calling for schools to be closed.

In the last week or so there's been a marked shift to getting them open (from peope here).

Is it the same people who wanted the closed, now calling for them to get back to normal or have the original campaigners gone quiet/new people got louder?

FWIW I always thought schools closed as early as they did because of public pressure and it seems to me that "other" things are getting back to normal more quickly than originally planned/expected (because of DC and the need to distract?) but schools don't seem to be included in that.

I'm at a loss as to why schools are being treated so differently. I'm SLT in school, if that makes a difference and the government guidance is a shambles. Changes daily but doesn't seem to have any clear aim.

I'm livid about this. Schools need to be fully open in September.

I feel like there's a distinct lack of discussion around older children/teens. These ew years are crucial for qualifications, normal socialising and social skills, career mentoring and health. They are so short and can never get them back.

It seems like hospitals can be erected in a matter of weeks but no solutions on schools. Children are being totally forgotten in all this.

There's been more discussions and 'can do' around opening up Football and Theme parks than our schools 😡
I'm a school Governors and our SLT are completely in the dark, trying to plan ahead with zero guidance from the government. No 'real' school until 2021??? I can't believe anyone thinks this is a solution.

It's unsustainable. I would be happy for my teens to go back NOW, even without too much social distancing and perhaps wearing a mask (like many many other countries are doing)

I think at the beginning I wanted DD (12yrs) school to shut, because it was all so scary and I wanted her to be safe. DH and I were both wfh so could look after her easily. Now 12 weeks later it's not so scary, the death rate is dropping, teens don't seem to be affected by the virus and DD is really suffering from a lack of social interaction with her peers, and a different environment. She needs the mental stimulation and camaraderie of being at school. Her school have been wonderful though, so I don't blame them, but I would love her to get some semblance of her normal life back.

@Streamingbannersofdawn

There is a deadlock - unions and teachers want to know that they are safe (understandably, so would I) but the Government cant guarantee that can they so here we are.

Right, so all schools must be closed for good, then?

Because schools were never "safe" from infectious disease and they can be.

So if this is the deadlock, then let's just call time on free universal education (strangely where fees are paid "safety" seems to be less of a concern).

I guess that means all teachers are now redundant. If my kids can't go to school and I can't work, I'm not prepared to pay tax for bullshit online education. I'll make my own arrangements.

There is a deadlock - unions and teachers want to know that they are safe (understandably, so would I) but the Government cant guarantee that can they so here we are.

No one can GUARANTEE anything is safe. It is all about risk reduction in all settings. If teachers/unions are expecting any guarantees about safety, they may as well give up now.

We have to make everywhere as safe as possible by doing what is practically possible to reduce the risks. Schools will be no safer in September than they are now, and won't be any safer in January nor September 2021.

Amazing how most other workplaces are working on risk reduction/management yet still operating or planning on opening again shortly. Yet the teachers/unions seem to want some kind of "perfect world" scenario that just isn't ever going to happen.

Time for them to get real.

The rationale and reasoning behind the whole schools debate seems so arbitrary. I just don’t understand why education is being thrown under the bus. There will never be zero risk; it’s checks and balances. Right now - it’s far worse for the children to be left in this limbo.

I’m so sad and angry because I can see how this is affecting my children. I have to work full time in a demanding job - I can’t dedicate the time to education that they need. My eldest has additional needs and struggling doesn’t begin to cover it.

There didn't seem to be much evidence coming out of China that children were hugely affected by the vIrus

I didn't think they were shut because of children getting ill but because schools were perfect for spreading it.

I actually totally agree with you both! I'm just describing where I see we are.

Its a complete mess.

Amazing how most other workplaces are working on risk reduction/management yet still operating or planning on opening again shortly. Yet the teachers/unions seem to want some kind of "perfect world" scenario that just isn't ever going to happen.

No, schools are also just trying to implement some “risk reduction/management” but this is sadly not compatible with the normal school environment which is bursting at the seams with people. It’s a mess I agree.

I think writing to educational minsiters and local MPs is probably the most productive thing to do.

I'm waiting as we're in Wales - and we've not been told yet what time ours are getting before end of term let alone the plan for September.

With a Y10 - I've been very worried for a while and like many disppointed in amount the school has been able to offer.

Huh? What about all those ‘superspreaders’?

On the one hand you have the WHO now reporting that asymptomatic spreading of Covid19 is very rare but at the same time our government has done a complete U turn this morning on the opening of schools and are now stating that all children will not be returning until September at the earliest.

It is just beyond a farce now....

It is beyond farce. Feelings amongst my friends has changed markedly over the last few weeks. Those who didn't want to send their kids back initially are now changing their minds.

I'm really cross about playgrounds.

I think it is dreadful and unfair on parents and children (and I haven't supported school closures nor lock down even from day one).

As for what working parents can do one possibility is hire a summer mother's help, perhaps live in or live out, a student to come to your house or where possible an au pair who lives in even if it costs most of your salary as it may be the only way many families will cope. There will also be loads of graduates without jobs shortly and some of those will be very good with older teens and can include tuition, working with them on work set by the school and just minding them all day or a few hours a day with parents in or not in the house.

Evidence suggests that children play a minimal role in spreading the virus. It really would have made more sense to reopen schools but still stop people meeting other households and keeping shops and other places closed, looking back now. But that's with the benefit of hindsight, of course.

fullfact.org/health/covid-19-in-children/

I didn't think they were shut because of children getting ill but because schools were perfect for spreading it.

There was already some doubt about this being true for this virus at the time schools were closed, but now the evidence is pretty clear that far from children being superspreaders, in fact they don't appear to spread this virus much at all.

We partly shit down to learn more about the virus. We have learnt a lot and it mostly points to school closures being unnecessary.

And a lot of people still believe the 'superspreader' narrative about children, which just isn't true. The opposite seems to be the case, in fact.

Can anyone point me to the superspreader debunking, please. Most of the world's children have been locked away unable to spread for the last few months, so which countries are the studies from?

I am so sad for all children. I think that further education now needs to free for all with a grant system to compensate them and help/ handout to get on the housing ladder.

It makes me cry when I see playgrounds still closed and Police being call if a child tries to enter.

Any Government that puts children and young adults first now will get my vote. They need COMPENSATING for protecting others to the detriment of their future lives and mental health.

We need a petition.

I linked it above.

https://fullfact.org/health/covid-19-in-children/

Can anyone link to evidence that children are superspreaders? In particular, the under 10s. Interested to know where this narrative has emerged from other than just the belief that children are germ pits.

Can anyone point me to the superspreader debunking, please.

Do your own Googling.

The superspreaders thing is not even news, even the lockdown enthusiasts have moved on to "children MIGHT spread it as much as adults".

It was an assumption taken from 'flu that is not true for this coronavirus.

As much as some people would like it to be.

I don't know, @ScarfLadysBag but I saw them referred to as "human soup" on here yesterday so the myth continues.

Anyone I've challenged just says they must be able to spread it as people spread it and children are people and spread disease by their filthy ways.

The primary school here was meant to open for yr 1 and yr 6 pupils last week. But practically all the parents refused to send their DCs so the school has remained closed. I think there’s going to be a big struggle on to actually get parents to let their DCs back, and instead of a voluntary invite to return, it should be compulsory. I think parents are driving the current situation - they need to start allowing schools to make the first steps to get back to normality.

Children are people when it comes to spreading disease, but not when it comes to having any rights.

The problem is the government has made mistakes at every turn. They locked down too late which meant lockdown needed to be much longer than in other countries to get cases to a manageable level.

Now with the relaxing of some restrictions the scientists are saying the UK death rate will flatline at 100 per day in mid June before rising again in the autumn with more indoor activity taking place. This does not give room for any more loosening of restrictions. I can see us ending up with another lockdown in October.

Hang on, the school refused to open to ANY children because some parents decided not to send theirs?

Jesus fucking Christ on a bike.