1600 paediatricians have written to the prime minister

[havefunpeleton]

Demanding schools reopen or risk scarring a generation. Reported in Times today.

I am hoping this will be the push needed to ensure this madness ends and all our children can go back to school full time in September.

@Weepinggreenwillow

Ha ha so true. Is he on Twitter. I'm not. Let's get tweeting him!

This is on the front page of the Times today

Get all children back to school, doctors tell Boris Johnson
1,600 paediatricians warn PM he risks ‘scarring life chances’ of a generation

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/get-all-children-back-to-school-hundreds-of-paediatrics-doctors-tell-boris-johnson-royal-college-of-paediatricians-75dkqfhbx

I have written to my MP twice and she has responded. I have also written to Gavin Williamson and he has not.

I also wrote to the Childrens Commissioner (who is being vocal on this topic) and there was a lengthy response.

I agree we need a celeb. Seems the Government listen then. Finally.

@havefunpeleton

Also a load of stories from the children themselves. What it's like not to go to school, see teachers and friends etc. Plus the teenagers worried about their future.

yes, not to mention the massive increase in children and young people contacting CAMHS services, a rise in self harm and tragically a massive increase in those expressing suicidal thoughts.

[quote Orangeblossom78]This is on the front page of the Times today

Get all children back to school, doctors tell Boris Johnson
1,600 paediatricians warn PM he risks ‘scarring life chances’ of a generation

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/get-all-children-back-to-school-hundreds-of-paediatrics-doctors-tell-boris-johnson-royal-college-of-paediatricians-75dkqfhbx[/quote]
well done The Times.

You can email your MP very easily, don't forget to put your address and phone number on there otherwise they won't accept it.

I am sending my third email about it, I have also written to the PM. I would suggest you do the same.

@pigeon 999-I could not agree more. the kids are at FAR more risk from suicide than they will ever be from Covid. But still ridiculous spouting about keeping them "safe". It is beyond shocking. If someone had told us this time schools would be shut for most children for six months we would never ever have believed that could be allowed. And yet it has been.

The problem is that the teachers unions and large academy chains seem to have undue influence. My local private school has R-6 back full time plus years 10&12 7-9 back on Monday. They have marquees on the field!

The government are too weak for this, BJ has zero leadership skills and this is more evident than ever over this issue. Gavin Williamson also does nothing to build confidence in school staff or parents. There is no substantial evidence regarding the safety of children being shut in a room together with no social distancing and this does not help. Yes pubs and shops are open WITH social distancing, it would not be allowed for 30 adults to spend all day in a room with no social distancing but it’s ok in schools for children to do this? Where is the evidence base that his is safe? They need evidence now to support getting children back to school, whatever they say is not trusted by the public so evidence and real science is the only way to build plans now

The teaching unions made it impossible for our schools to open, absolutely impossible their list of demands was so long and impossible to meet - would crow away that it just could not be done and were delighted when they were successful...shame on them. What a disgraceful situation.

@okiedokieme how lovely that they have space and money for marquees, and enough staff to operate. Not all schools can operate under the governments current guidance and this is the problem for many

We need a 3 pronged approach - everyone back in school as normal in September without social distancing. A new piece of legislation that you cannot sue the state, teachers, employers for CV19 issues. Then we need the third element - parents required to send children back (unless they want to lose the school place) and teachers required to go back in Sept.

lou that is absolutely right you want to keep children 'safe' the best place for them is in SCHOOL!!!

I'm not quite sure where this evidence would come from @twinnywinny14

Covid hasn't gone away. I'd be surprised if anyone could provide evidence there will be zero transmission within schools.

However there is evidence that children are more likely to die of other causes. So there is no evidence it is unsafe for them

@pigeon999 the governments guidance makes it impossible and the fact they created a plan that was never going to work, even if schools ignore the unions advice it still doesn’t work. The governments leadership on schools has been a shambles and has made schools the scapegoats for public complaints when it’s the government who should be proving it with scientific evidence

At last. Unbelievable that the government need reminding that children arent being educated.

@havefunpeleton but this is the issue, for as many people who say it’s safe there are as many saying it’s not. It’s also not just the children to worry about here. The government are effectively saying it’s safe for schools to open on the basis they’ve set out but for many schools that plan is impossible to deliver. The concern here is the lack of plan for moving forward

But almost every single school in Europe is open op, they are seeing very little transmission. There was even a report, and I am trying to dig it out to link it now, that the transmission levels are extremely low/almost at zero.

Exactly what I would do @xenia

There would be outcry from some, but less than the DC reveal which is old news now

Just rip off that plaster and do it BJ!

Everyone would love for all children to go back full time in September.

But the virus isn't going to go away. Social distancing will still apply.

I see @pigeon999 is here with the teacher hate and blaming again.

It just hasn't sunk in yet that it's the government guidelines. A bit embarrassing to still be blaming the wrong people.

Do you mind me asking what your job is @twinnywinny14

twinny The unions representing the teachers knew exactly what they were doing. The 2m rule is being insisted on by the scientists and health officers, not the government. But even with the 2m rule, much more could and should have been done to get the children back into school. This makes for an interesting read:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/11/teaching-unions-accused-celebrating-schools-remaining-closed/

@havefunpeleton I have written to my MP twice and the replies are infuriating. In his most recent reply he states I should ask the headteacher what his plans are to open and that remote learning should be of the highest quality. This fails to acknowledge the point I made in my letter.... my DC1 currently doesn't have a teacher because she has been redeployed to teach DC2 in year 1.

Gavin Williamson hasn't replied to either of my letters.

DC1 (8) is going to write to the MP and BoJo today and set out her feelings. Mind you, she wrote to No10 last year about environmental concerns and they didn't reply even though they are supposed to reply to anyone under 16.

I hope my DCs remember this. In ten years DC1 will have the right to vote.

@Lianarose

Some Holiday clubs near me are hoping to run but with social distancing - as an example one chain can only take 15 not 40 children at each setting.

They opened up provisional bookings for their clubs (they have 5/6) and already have nearly 4 times more people on the list than spaces.

I don't usually use a childminder in the holidays (purely due to cost of that vs holiday club) but have had to this summer because I just need to get my dd booked in somewhere as I daren't hold off to see what the clubs are doing as they are suggesting they won't know for sure for another 3 weeks.

I am afraid dom that the virus may not 'go away' for the next twenty years, shall we keep the schools closed between now and then?

Seriously?

Your position is flawed, and will be more evident as the weeks pass the infection rate drops to nothing.