Chris Witty "We're at the limits of the contact we can allow"

[confusedandold]

I've been watching the Press conference and I always find Chris Witty the voice of reason. He is saying that we are at the limit of what we can open without the virus spreading further and we may even have to take a step back. So where does this leave the opening of schools in a few weeks time?

Vetti I feel my energy is draining I’m not sure this tense stop start, and schools - will they won’t they is preferable to just cracking on.

Ok masks, SD, wfh where possible as instructed already. But closing things down and keeping us all on edge is tough.

If they don't keep schools open effectively they are saying Fk Women

But most of the people who may well risk their health and quality of working environment are women, also.

Yep. Vast majority of school staff are women and mothers.

That assumes that most parents will be happy with part time school. They won’t
I wouldn’t be happy with part time school in normal circumstances, but actually, I’d happily take part time school for the next 12 months over what I think the alternative is going to be. I am desperate for my dc to be back at school. As a family, our mental health is so low, I wonder how we will ever recover. But, I think An organised, part time Approach will be far better than getting everyone in, only to send them all home every few weeks because the bubble has popped (the bubble that contains 250 pupils, which as some of the earlier posters said, is not a bubble, but a quarter of a school).

76% of state school teachers are women (and there is an even higher proportion in primary). That's based on 2017 figures I think.

The government scientists will have access to exactly the same papers shared here. They will also be looking at the PHE surveillance reports that show outbreaks in schools increased after wider opening in June. The ground is being laid for yet another government U-turn.

Far better to have given the country certainty by planning for a model of education that can function irrespective of viral transmission. But this government seems intent on learning everything the hard way.

It works both ways. Closed schools affects women first, more likely to cost their job.

Even in schools with a higher than usual representation of male teachers, even if they were 50% once you add in the tas, student services, admin, cleaners etc that soon changes.

I’m a feminist and obviously see the problems but a lot of staff in schools are part time mums on shitty pay because it fits in ish with childcare responsibilities. Should they really be forced to take such risks rather than the government putting their hands in their pocket to make schools safe and protect women’s jobs?

I know. But the rhetoric of women suffering because of lockdown (I am not arguing it isn't true) often blindly fails to acknowledge that women are also bearing the brunt in the employment sector in terms of being expected almost literally to be Florence Nightingales : uncomplaining and selfless.

It would depend on what part time school looks like. I would be very against week on week off as I know my DD and several in her class would never settle and it would be horrendous. Mornings/afternoons would work.

There’s also a spiral effect there too. If most school staff are female and most childcare still falls to women then more school staff will be going off work when children have to isolate.

Dominoes all fall down.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53612390

What is the dementor thing?

My only hobby, Ice skating has been put back two weeks. How can a large ice rink with easy social distancing and limited numbers be more risky than a crowded pub?

@TheHoneyBadger

There’s also a spiral effect there too. If most school staff are female and most childcare still falls to women then more school staff will be going off work when children have to isolate.

Dominoes all fall down.

True, that.

If you’re a teacher with school age dc and it’s part time provision what will you do for childcare?

Personally I’m a lone parent and part time teacher. If the part times didn’t match I’d have to leave ds13 at home alone. If he was younger I’d need a key worker place.

Hence why we had kw childcare. Everything falls down without it though the qualifying criteria could do with being narrowed

@cantkeepawayforever

SengaStrawberry

That assumes that most parents will be happy with part time school. They won’t.

The vast majority of parents - except a very lucky few, probably in rural but not scenic areas - will get part time schooling next year anyway.

They will either get planned, orderly part-time schooling with a balance of in-school and online teaching, carefully planned by teachers (if we are given enough notice now)

OR

They will get chaotic, unplanned school openings and shutdowns - schools will open in September, then their children will be sent home without warning for coughs and temperatures; sent home because there have been cases in their group; asked not to come in because teachers are isolating and the class cannot be covered; told that the whole year group or school has been closed because of an outbreak; informed that the area has had all its schools closed as a result of rising cases; learn that their area is part of a local lockdown. If they have several children at different schools, one school may be open and another closed, or one child ill then another ill and then another.

Full-time, guaranteed daily schooling for everyone, every day just isn't going to be available next term. Would you prefer your part time schooling planned or chaotic?

Well said, please keep posting it on the million school threads!

I thought Witty’s sub-text was that schools will be prioritised and that we should expect pubs, restaurants etc to close. I hope that’s what will happen. I’m both a parent and a teacher. It would be a poor sort of society that tolerated entertainment venues and non essential shops being open and schools remaining closed.

Biffs I'm not suggesting it's ok or to keep these places closed forever.

But if there is a playoff to be had then schools have to be priority and so do essential workplaces.

The government should look at how they could redeploy people from nail salons and bars etc and a scheme of some sort for financial package.

But realistically if we can't have everything then schools have to be put above many other places.

@MarshaBradyo

If you’re a teacher with school age dc and it’s part time provision what will you do for childcare?

They would either have a KW place, or if old enough, remain at home alone or with siblings or a WFH parent and do their work remotely.

@puzzledpiece

My only hobby, Ice skating has been put back two weeks. How can a large ice rink with easy social distancing and limited numbers be more risky than a crowded pub?

I think it's to do with temperature. That was ten issue causing outbreaks in meat factories.

There was very much a misconception that 'children are back in school so everything's OK' - so there were playdates, parties, meet-ups, camping trips etc etc. Luckily, community transmission as a whole was very low so none of these ended up with an outbreak, but just picturing what would have happened if an asymptomatic child carrier had been in one of the 'bubbles' but freely mixing outside school did worry me, and of course many, many more of these activities will be indoors in the winter.

I was shocked by people I thought sensible and intelligent having playdates, sleepovers etc. No social distancing. It made a mockery of the excellent risk reduction measures the school made.

@puzzledpiece

My only hobby, Ice skating has been put back two weeks. How can a large ice rink with easy social distancing and limited numbers be more risky than a crowded pub?

That, I believe, is about the virus spreading 'stronger/faster/well' in the climate an ice rink is kept at.

Take up crochet -much safer!!

They won’t close schools or businesses, bar entertainment.

Children need education and the country needs money.

If they need to roll things back they will close gyms, then cinemas and then restaurants and also stop people mixing indoors. Hope it does not happen but it could.