Boris Johnson admits school face mask advice might change

[FlySheMust]

www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/25/covid-19-boris-johnson-school-face-mask-advice-change?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1yzapQ3GD6aI3G2l-p0D-GvDuffPovLRSBP7ytZoIZtyDeeLy5bkLqbL4#Echobox=1598365661

Someone on here said this was exactly what would happen a week before they went back.

It's all part of the "Nudge" manipulation of the masses that this government like to use.

This won't be a nudge. It is going to be really bad news for Boris that he is behind Nicola in decisions yet again. The only reason why he hasn't immediately fallen into line is because he wants to find a way to brand this as his good decision making, but the longer he leaves it the more people will think he doesn't care.

It will go against him like the lockdown. What parent will be pleased that all other schools are asking for masks in crowded places, and theirs isn't? Schools will need to just get on with it. I don't think any heads rely on Boris to make his mind up about anything now and the fact that Khan is thinking about making them obligatory in London will make Boris look weak.

This seems to be the pattern of how they announce policy change - so Johnson will make a statement to suggest something might happen, then a few days later it becomes official. Ugh.

It feels manipulative, like we need softening up as a population...

Dd2 will not be happy with this but having been shielded I'd be happier. Dd1 won't be too fussed and ds who is 5 has actually asked to wear one. I can't imagine how a class of 5 year olds would manage though.

The tactic is really weakening his position as PM though. Leaders need to lead with their own good ideas. Now, this is Nicola's good idea, and nobody seems to have a problem with it.

Off topic but he has also been massively tone deaf over the Proms too.

@Bercows no five year olds will be wearing them. The advice is for secondaries when they are away from their desks and moving round school.

My son would not cope with a mask. He is in mainstream 2ndry but has sen that includes sensory issues as part of asd.
I am sure there are lots of similar children

I assume it will be for secondary schools. Where I live in the US our school guidelines are as follows (we are all fully masked by law outdoors)- all kids above age 8 will be masked. All teachers will be masked. There will be mask free zones in each school and students will be encouraged to sit there socially distanced and read/play/colour multiple times a day. To be fair our kids have been masked for nearly 5 months now so it’s somewhat second nature to them.
For kids under 8 the CDC guidance was that because they keep fiddling with their masks they don’t need to wear it in school.

My 3 year old will have to be masked on the way to school (he’s been doing summer camp anyway) and then he takes it off at the door, we self certify that everyone is healthy, he washes his hand at the door and he’s handed over to his teacher. We are not allowed inside classes and they will be outdoors as much as possible (this is not feasible for long as New England gets v cold- although up to -12 Celsius they normally play outside in snow gear).

@vickibee of course, but that shouldn't be a reason for most children not to wear masks - like public transport etc

I’ll be honest and say that DS1 is so excited to be going back to school that the mask is a minor inconvenience. His school had a positive COVID case on March 9th. It shut down for 48 hours to deep clean. And never reopened because our Governor shut schools down that weekend. So he’s been home for a LONG time.

Who pays for the masks? They are not cheap, and if you use them probably you will go through several a day.

It feels like we are telling the PM what to do, was the same with lockdown - he dragged his heels for a week too long then. Frustrating.

Who pays for the masks?

See, this is something that could be usefully funded and quickly provided, and would make a local company look really good. If I was still a Governor I'd be reaching out right now.

That said I think the majority of people should pay for their own masks if they're the same sort we're expected to have anyway to go to shop etc.

Who pays for the masks? They are not cheap, and if you use them probably you will go through several a day.

Parents will have to buy them like they buy other essential items for their children.

Masks are available free of charge in many places and in particularly food banks certainly in my area we have provided several thousand free of charge and are encouraging people to have 3 or 4. We have also provided for hospitals, Gps, Dentists and others

Free ones are out there - try looking up Mask Trees

Could this be any more predictable?! They could have planned this sensibly weeks ago 🙈

How can anyone have faith in a government who keeps giving in to pressure?

His hand has been forced by dear Nicola.

As to masks, there’s lots of you tube videos out there on how to make your own. It’s not difficult, and lots don’t need sewing

In Heseltine's words: Boris Johnson is a politician who waits to see the way the crowd is running and then dashes in front shouting "Follow me!".

Perhaps a change to y7 textiles lessons- DIY face masks?

@Nellodee

In Heseltine's words: Boris Johnson is a politician who waits to see the way the crowd is running and then dashes in front shouting "Follow me!".

Exactly this! Just had this precise discussion at home,he's no bloody leader.

Did we notice any difference when he was in hospital? I'm glad he's better for himself, but what difference did it make nationally him coming back?

They had months to sort something out about the A level and GCSE results, they left it til the last minute and only because of pressure from the students and parents and the u-turn in Scotland they made a last minute u-turn.
They have had weeks to sort out advice for the schools and nothing was done to make schools safer for the kids or the teachers and now again due to pressure they are going to make another u-turn.
It's a complete shambles , how can the public trust this government to make a right decision.
What they are good at though is entrusting their cronies with billions of funding to make a f**k up of something simple. Track and trace and now with funding a new PHE, this pandemic has just been an exercise in filling their pockets. They have wasted millions and billions in giving contracts to people who are just not qualified and in the end are unable to deliver.
I'm just surprised anyone thought it would be any different when it came to schools going back.

How about all the kids are taught sewing! We did at school.

Where Nicola goes Boris follows.

Sounds like a great slogan. This government seem to favour them.