First School Closure in Scotland

[FlySheMust]

metro.co.uk/2020/08/24/coronavirus-outbreak-shuts-school-17-staff-two-pupils-test-positive-13169219/?fbclid=IwAR3hIqGrO5MDwKgBrRiQsvlOchvOv8umJ52_ZdIQlyTMn4jLhVRf3aw-Wpc

Makes "safe to open" look a bit silly.

I am pleased to see that the authorities have acted quickly and efficiently where cases have been identified. Realistically it was always going to be like this, but it means every other child can still be in school.

The school closure was very specific and sadly I do think if any schools do need to close it will be the ones for pupils with complex needs.

This was always going to happen. Spread looks like between teachers.

The Covid anxious will be leaping over any school closures but this means that the testing and tracing system is working as planned.

The school opened and closed within a week. Chances are that some infections were prior to reopening.

I think the outrage is in part because we have been told that coronavirus doesn’t happen in schools. Agree it was always going to happen. We could do with some honesty from the government. They need to stop trying pretend schools are safe and start trying to make them as safe as reasonably possibly like other indoor public and work spaces.

Totally agree with the people above. Expecting no cases is completely unrealistic.

I think it highlights what the teachers have been pointing out all along. Most of the cases are adults. The children may not be at high risk of contracting covid and for them it is safe. However the adults are clearly vulnerable to catching it.

NB I think it's important that kids are educated so I'm not saying that it was wrong to open schools, I'm really not sure what the answer is

So plans need to put into place to reduce risk of transfer between adults. Some of the measures my work place has put in place include no face to face meetings, one person in the loos at a time and no kitchen facilities.

I'm not sure how many things are workable in a school, but there must be things that can be done.

@sunseekin

I think the outrage is in part because we have been told that coronavirus doesn’t happen in schools. Agree it was always going to happen. We could do with some honesty from the government. They need to stop trying pretend schools are safe and start trying to make them as safe as reasonably possibly like other indoor public and work spaces.

You didn't read the link, did you? That total school closure was because A) all it's pupils are at high medical risk and B) a high proportion of its adult, specialised staff tested positive

"NHS Tayside confirmed on Sunday that 17 staff members, two pupils and three community contacts had tested positive. The school, which will undergo a deep clean while it’s closed, has around 185 pupils aged between five and 18 who all have additional support needs. The decision to close the school for a fortnight was made due to the complex medical conditions and disabilities of the pupils."

The decision to close the school for a fortnight was made due to the complex medical conditions and disabilities of the pupils

^ it is important that this isn't overlooked. All the children have additional needs which had affected the decision making where other schools may have stayed open / isolated bubbles.

Well this isn't very comforting as the parent of a disabled child who attends a special school.

It doesn't fill me with hope as a parent of a children who attends a special school nor as a parent with children in mainstream.
If my son attended this school his siblings would also have to isolate as no way could we physical distance (in their words) from him in the house nor would we want to.

Things like this would have an impact on all my DCs education.

Inevitable given the government plans. Hopefully parents have/are making back up plans.

@MoreW1ne

Inevitable given the government plans. Hopefully parents have/are making back up plans.

It isnt inevitable because of government plans. It is inevitable because it is a virus. Even before the hols when very few kids were in there was outbreaks. Social distancing might make it less likely but it is unreasonable to say it will only happen because of the government.

Spin it how you like. But with better planning and measures in place I wouldn't think it inevitable that there would be a lot of closures. However, with their poor planning there likely will be. Let's hope working parents have understanding bosses/co-workers.

@2bazookas so you don’t think it is happening in other schools.
I have read articles about the school in question and other closures.
I don’t like the reaction of “of course outbreaks were going to happen in schools” like people are silly to be highlighting them. The government has been trying to tell people that covid doesn’t spread in schools. And that is simply bonkers.

@MoreW1ne

Inevitable given the government plans. Hopefully parents have/are making back up plans.

I’m feeling very hot headed about the whole thing, may have to isolate for a while to be safe. Have ordered the workbooks.

It’s going to happen. It’s a contagious virus. Why are people surprised?! It’s one school & the whole closure was due to the children having additional needs. In mainstream primary, it’ll be bubbles that close. Not the entire school.

I think parents need to acknowledge the risk & deal with it. My daughters been back at nursery since June. I acknowledge the risk of her catching it, the family catching it & the risk of isolation & nursery closing. It is what it is. We’ll just have to muddle through this shit period of time the best we can! 🤷🏼‍♀️

@MoreW1ne

Inevitable given the government plans. Hopefully parents have/are making back up plans.

Completely agree if it wasn’t they really wouldn’t be bothering with all the covid secure safeguards that exist in every other indoor public meeting space and workplace. Crikey they even exist for gatherings in the home.

That's not the first closure in Scotland. There was a school that never managed to open on the first day due to a positive staff member from the inservice days.

But they are using the arguments that it doesn’t spread in schools” as a way of justifying zero safeguards. It does spread. It’s an airborne virus. Washing your hands doesn’t cover it. Your children and the teachers deserve the same protection being afforded to everyone else.

Half of mumsnet have been reminding us constantly that there were outbreaks before the hols with very few children in school and social distancing in place.... but are now saying outbreaks are not inevitable,even though they still happened under social distancing. I also don't think the government have actually said it is impossible to get covid in a school. They have said the risks of transmission are low (which may or may not be true), not impossible. Mumsnetters just like to use this to make sarcastic comments about the government saying schools have magical walls or whatever.

It will be the first of many.

All it really proves is poor social distancing among staff, and that they need better protocols in place. The kids weren't the issue/ staff not complying with guidelines is. It's true of many of the bigger outbreaks. I'm based in Australia and all our big hospital clusters have been linked back to the break room and poor social distancing, not patient care. This school outbreak demonstrates the same.

@x2boys

Well this isn't very comforting as the parent of a disabled child who attends a special school.

As the parent of a disabled child, who has been shielding until now due to his medical vulnerabilities and complex needs...and who goes to a special needs resource base in a mainstream school, I too find it worrying.

If there are cases at ds's school, bubbles may close, but we will still be expected to send ds despite his medical needs.