Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

2 weeks until schools reopen

114 replies

Maizeyflowers · 20/08/2020 14:37

Can't believe it's finally coming to an end (having the kids home not the virus)

I've got mixed feelings. It's going to be bitter sweet schools restarting. I'm hoping normality will help people feel better. I have my worries but lockdown has made me ill. I really hope a few weeks of routine will settle my troubled mind. I'm sad its going to be so different though. Not even allowed lunch in the hall and can't see friends in the other class. But I just hope its positive for everyone. I also hope that a vaccine is available soon to put an end to all this worry. But I know it's unlikely. I'm very nervous about the winter months too.

How's everyone else feeling?

OP posts:
Doidontimmm · 20/08/2020 14:38

Ours have been back almost 2 weeks in Scotland, it’s been fine!

mumsneedwine · 20/08/2020 14:39

Scotland has just reported the highest number of new cases in 3 months.

Original poster
Maizeyflowers · 20/08/2020 14:40

@Doidontimmm
That's great! Are they doing reduced hours or anything? So pleased it's positive

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/08/2020 14:57

I can't wait. DS needs to be at school.

TheGreatWave · 20/08/2020 15:27

Can't wait. My two dd's are back two weeks today, DS two weeks tomorrow.

They need to be back, I'm not overly worried, they were there in March after all.

RaspberryRuff · 20/08/2020 15:28

@mumsneedwine

Scotland has just reported the highest number of new cases in 3 months.
So?
palacegirl77 · 20/08/2020 15:33

@mumsneedwine

Scotland has just reported the highest number of new cases in 3 months.
Good theyre finding it. Are hospital admissions still declining? Because thats the significant news really.
RaspberryRuff · 20/08/2020 15:36

Mine are back, bit apprehensive and I’d have preferred part time for at least a while anyway but hey ho, but it seems to be going OK so far. Lots of eejits on fb pages etc panicking and screaming about the few cases we’ve had in schools. I think people have either forgotten or don’t know that the virus has not only just miraculously appeared, that it was probably swilling around schools at a much higher rate than before lockdown. Why they expected school to open and cases not to increase is baffling. And perhaps if more parents followed the rules and made sure their kids did we’d see less cases.

BillywilliamV · 20/08/2020 15:40

Only one week here, SO happy!!

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 20/08/2020 15:40

And perhaps if more parents followed the rules and made sure their kids did we’d see less cases

Now that would really help.

raviolidreaming · 20/08/2020 15:50

Scotland has just reported the highest number of new cases in 3 months

Percentage of tests that are positive is still 1% which is relatively unchanged from recent weeks.

BanditsBum · 20/08/2020 16:06

Scotland is increasing testing so cases are rising but it is still usually around 1% of tested individuals which isn't too bad.

My DS (7) has been back since last week and it has been fine. DD (3) is doing a phased return to her school based nursery and other than ending up with a stuffy nose after only a few days it has also been fine.

There are differences of course but neither of mine have complained.

My nephew is at high school however and says it is a bit of a free for all with no one following rules etc. so is a bit concerned.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 20/08/2020 16:11

Gosh, it is. Probably. It would be lovely to know what date they’re going back, and whether there’ll be buses.

I’m hoping the lack of communication from school is because they’ve been dealing with the A level/GCSE shitstorm, and that now they’ll turn their attention to a plan for next term. I live in hope.

dementedpixie · 20/08/2020 16:12

The number of cases was 77 - hardly a huge number. Just needs to be watched carefully and kept under control

EachDubh · 20/08/2020 16:23

My school is back. Our safety measures are washing hands and class bubbles. Staff to attempt to keep 2m apart not always possible and ppe for toileting, staffrooms are lmt to number of people. Apart from that it is business as usual kids are happy, staff are getting on with it and very happy to see the kids back. Will it spread, I don't know, I hope not for everyones sake.

minnieok · 20/08/2020 16:28

They open in 10 days here. Most people can't wait!

Doidontimmm · 20/08/2020 16:41

No reduced hours, mostly same as normal but with staff distancing and cleaning desks after use.

RandomTree · 20/08/2020 16:43

I can't wait!

sunseekin · 20/08/2020 16:48

@mumsneedwine @palacegirl77 surely numbers increasing comes before hospital admissions? Very glad hospital admissions lower but have concerns about viral load in classrooms.
Totally think loads of kids need to be back though obviously, just wish the government was affording teachers and students the same protections as other workplaces especially as we have no relevant data for how r might change etc.
Not trying to drag you down to my level btw, just seems sensible to share all views on a public forum as we are all in such different boats. Coronavirus a far bigger concern for some than others.

ItsAlwaysSunnyOnMN · 20/08/2020 16:57

Very pleased DS is going back

He is a little nervous about getting on the bus but he isn’t about being in school

They need a proper education and to be socialising with others

Hopefully no more homeschooling

Uhoh2020 · 20/08/2020 17:31

surely numbers increasing comes before hospital admissions

At the peak it was mainly hospital admissions that were being tested though and only confirmed cases added to the official number of cases. There could have been tens of thousands of cases during that time from those with mild cases managed at home who couldn't get tested
then and even asymptomatic cases we probably didn't know about. We will inevitably get more positives the more testing we do, 99% of todays testing figures came back negative. I feel that along with an average rolling death figure in the single figures is promising. Obviously we cant get complacent but the amount of positive cases being found need to be put in perspective of the amount of tests done.

sunseekin · 20/08/2020 17:35

@Uhoh2020

surely numbers increasing comes before hospital admissions

At the peak it was mainly hospital admissions that were being tested though and only confirmed cases added to the official number of cases. There could have been tens of thousands of cases during that time from those with mild cases managed at home who couldn't get tested
then and even asymptomatic cases we probably didn't know about. We will inevitably get more positives the more testing we do, 99% of todays testing figures came back negative. I feel that along with an average rolling death figure in the single figures is promising. Obviously we cant get complacent but the amount of positive cases being found need to be put in perspective of the amount of tests done.

Yes you’re right. However complacency about hospital admissions just before schools open and autumn starts concerns me.

As do comments like 77 isn’t a big number. If r gets above 1 or near the 2.2 we managed to get it down to (with social distancing) in March) then 77 is a very big number. Or will be very soon.

I know children want to go back. Need to go back. People’s concerns are centred around how can we make things safer.

I’m not even close to being convinced that bubbles of 200 and hand washing are enough. If we just want a break until October maybe (although it still feels like a very unfair ask of teachers).

Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/08/2020 17:36

@sunseekin numbers have been increasing since pubs reopened over a month ago. Hospital admissions are still continuing to decrease. We would have seen more admissions by now if there were going to be any. Potential explanations are younger people catching the virus who get a milder version.

sunseekin · 20/08/2020 17:45

[quote Waxonwaxoff0]@sunseekin numbers have been increasing since pubs reopened over a month ago. Hospital admissions are still continuing to decrease. We would have seen more admissions by now if there were going to be any. Potential explanations are younger people catching the virus who get a milder version.[/quote]
And viral load? Like the poor whistleblower right at the start of this? Quite a young optometrist who got many face fulls of the virus.

I really hope we get more long term immunity as a result of asymptomatic summer spread but we need to at least consider (I’m not saying it’s definite, we are all shooting in the dark after all) how viral load could change in autumn classrooms.

There isn’t one right answer. It’s an impossible juggle. With lots of crap compromises to choose from.

We need to be as kind to each other as possible and accept people’s differing choices and concerns (and avoid terms like idiots (can’t remember the cool spelling, I’m such a nerd) and “screaming”.

It’s not fair that people, who have perhaps lost family members, are being made to feel like they’re being ridiculous just so the rest of us can carry merrily on our way.

And it’s not fair that teachers are expected to take greater risks than other workers.

It feels like people want to bully people into just shutting up. Forget about covid, that mentality is not helpful or healthy for our society on so many levels.

jor456 · 20/08/2020 17:49

I can’t wait, no apprehension whatsoever!