Surely they can’t keep schools open as normal if cases keep going up like today!

[Worriedmum999]

My daughter went back to school last Thursday. She really needed to go as lockdown played havoc with her mental health. She was fine doing her academic work but she is someone who needs the social side of school.

We are a vulnerable family and, with this shitshower of a government, I had no faith that cases wouldn’t rise and I wouldn’t be forced to take her out of school again. But I cannot believe that she has been back 2 days and the jump in cases has been so huge. I honestly expected us to be able to get to half term. Of course deaths are going to rise now. Why wouldn’t we follow the pattern of the other European countries. Add to that the fact that people can’t get tested now and we’re fucked. And I’m so fucking angry and upset about the damage that this is doing.

What are the government going to do? Surely it will be impossible to expect parents to keep sending their children to schools when the death toll is huge again and the ICUs are full.

Didn't the study say this was probably because those children were already in hospital and caught it there and that's why they hadn't been discharged?

@Jrobhatch29

No. The study specifies that in fact there was actually a small percentage who were already admitted for something else and caught it in hospital.

@angryattrauma - I understand this, but how many tens of thousands of asymptomatic children running around with it and not impacted

Of course they can , life needs to go on . School shouldn't be shut again regardless of numbers

People who are need vulnerable need to stay shielded and the rest of us carry on as normal

There are also reports now of spikes in type 1diabetes in children post Covid. Noted here and in France. We still know so little about this virus.

I am pretty sure you don't have secondary aged dc if you think they can be sacrificed for younger children, not even acknowledging that for them it is absolutely critical to be in school for important GCSE and Alevel exams. It is the follow up comment well they can just sit outside in the middle of the winter or wherever that is annoying TheSunIsStillShining I have young and older children, and the worst impact both educationally and in terms of wellbeing without a doubt has been worse for my teens, additionally younger children have years to catch up. That is not the case for older teens about to take their final exams.

Please think about what you are actually posting. No school should be closed at any age, no shift patterns of half days for cleaning. Zilch. We already put up with enough, sacrificed more than enough already.

It pains me that these kids have no voice themselves, they can only hope that the adults around them will do the right thing (and not put pubs before schools ever again!)

I would expect governing bodies to employ people like me to come up with a list of alternative process routes

Schools can't afford to buy in these services though. I've been a governor. When you are forced to restrict the number of toilet rolls and packs of printer paper you can buy the idea of budgeting for a consultant to advise on pandemic planning is laughable

Please think about what you are actually posting. No school should be closed at any age, no shift patterns of half days for cleaning. Zilch. We already put up with enough, sacrificed more than enough already.

Just to say as a parent of older children, I totally DISAGREE with this.

People who are need vulnerable need to stay shielded and the rest of us carry on as normal

No. That's selfish. They have suffered enough. They need to be able to leave their homes and everyone else needs to accommodate them. They have as much of a right to quality of life as everyone else. More so after what they've endured.

People need to keep to the guidelines and wear masks as well as social distancing. Then everyone can have a little bit of normality.

Actually we have been restricted too for months

So you could argue it’s selfish that the entire country suffers because of one group? Most of that group have loved a long virus free life have holes pensions etc

It’s all of us who’ll have no job next month

So like kids ‘if I can’t be free then no one can?’

Please think about what you are actually posting. No school should be closed at any age, no shift patterns of half days for cleaning. Zilch. We already put up with enough, sacrificed more than enough already.

What exactly have you sacrificed? No more than anyone else, I expect. It's what decent people do, look out for each other.

Schools will close when there aren't enough teachers. Teachers will not go in if they have covid symptoms. Of course they will close. They will close if there is infection in the school. It's happening already. Daft to think otherwise.

Extra cleaning is needed. Not sure why you think it isn't.

Chance I genuinely don't care.

@Vinoonasunnyday

Actually we have been restricted too for months

So you could argue it’s selfish that the entire country suffers because of one group? Most of that group have loved a long virus free life have holes pensions etc

It’s all of us who’ll have no job next month

So like kids ‘if I can’t be free then no one can?’

That's not what I said. Don't put words in my mouth. I said we should all keep to the guidelines so that vulnerable people (not just the elderly) feel safe going into society again, as is their right.

Do you disagree? Do you think it's ok to break the rules as some on MN brag they have done?

If everyone keeps to the rules we can all have a chance of some normality.

So you could argue it’s selfish that the entire country suffers because of one group? Most of that group have loved a long virus free life have holes pensions etc

Who are you including in the group, only both the vulnerable and the extremely clinically vulnerable groups include all ages - children, those with cancer, immunocompromised, pregnant women, those with asthma, high blood pressure etc etc as well as the elderly.

Plenty of those in the vulnerable group have jobs and lives and education that they need to participate in as well as social factors too.

I'm actually amazed, given the questions now being raised about long term impacts of Covid infection amongst the previously healthy including heart and lung damage, pots and diabetes, that so many people are eager and happy to risk catching it.

By supporting all the vulnerable perhaps they’ll have lives left to enjoy

Currently with restrictions half the country is closed

Even places and businesses that are open are running at lower capacity/profit

Many still have half workforce on split shifts, staggered starts, furlough etc

With distancing comes less work, customers/numbers, profit

Half the people on this thread risk having no job once furlough ends - even if they’re not on furlough

Companies have taken loans, had low profits, can’t think of many who haven’t made a loss and so don’t you think they’ll want to recoup that loss through redundancies over the next couple of years esp given there’s no sign of light at the end of the tunnel!

You may think your job is safe but I bet your boss is having difficult discussions behind closed doors

It’s not about the status quo - the current situation is dire and will result in poverty for millions and as such worse health for many more long term

@ChanceChanceChance

Please think about what you are actually posting. No school should be closed at any age, no shift patterns of half days for cleaning. Zilch. We already put up with enough, sacrificed more than enough already.

Just to say as a parent of older children, I totally DISAGREE with this.

I DISAGREE too that online learning was abandoned. I have primary and secondary children.

Schools won't be able to just operate 'as normal' anyway, no matter how much some people want them to.

We need to find another way.

Here in Scotland schools have been open just over 3 weeks and already over 85 schools have had cases and quite a few have had to shut with outbreaks.
Nearly 20,000 pupils in Scotland were self isolating on ONE day last week!!

@Vinoonasunnyday

That would be happening anyway. Measures need to be in place to stop the rapid spread of the virus again. Precautions would be happening with or without the extra danger to the vulnerable. It isn't asking too much for people to keep to the existing guidelines for everyone's sake.

I'm not sure what you think should happen.

Please think about what you are actually posting. No school should be closed at any age, no shift patterns of half days for cleaning. Zilch. We already put up with enough, sacrificed more than enough already.

I really wonder what you have sacrificed? And what have you had to put up with that others didn't?
In a global pandemic where a virus which we don't know enough about (death rate, treatment options, long term complications,...) is infecting people regardless of their beliefs I think it is utterly stupid to pretend that everything is fine and carry on. There needs to be layers of options to cater for majority of common cases (eg. have plans for kids who don't have internet access,...)

I don't like putting my life on hold either. But I understand that in the long run this is the best option. The solutions should be overarching and thought through from all angles.
Schools:

• how can we make it safe? Currently it's not safe. So let's look at alternatives, even if they may be an inconvenience
• look at how these changes will impact these kids and adjust followup things accordingly (eg have a plan for gcse and a-levels for kids who are now 2 yrs from those)

....

The vulnerable should shield themselves.... I love this. As soon as you have to send your kid back to school this becomes a utopian fantasy. Why is it so hard to acknowledge that by adhering to some very simple guidelines BY ALL, we could create a liveable space for ALL?? Is it really that hard to wear a mask, not go to the pub and keep a normal distance???

Not to mention teacher absences. Supply teachers can't just be magically found. Many supply teachers are older and won't be coming forward.

Quite frankly it's a disgrace they don't have online learning back up set up.

@Namara

Not to mention teacher absences. Supply teachers can't just be magically found. Many supply teachers are older and won't be coming forward.

Quite frankly it's a disgrace they don't have online learning back up set up.

But they do don’t they? Oak Academy

To be clear: I'm not advocating for online learning forever. What I am saying is that as a society we need to adapt to current situation and make the best of it. Sticking head in sand and going back to normal is just making it worse again.
Because of this instead of a managed and planned blended learning (sticking to schools) schools will end up switching to online learning "that will be good enough" until the 2 week isolation/bubble is up. But given how this is likely to happen frequently, schools will actually be delivering sub-standard education to please all those who want thing back to normal. (potentially)

@Friendsoftheearth

I agree we need to keep schools open, but taking a “no compromise” attitude is counterproductive and makes it more likely restrictions will increase and schools will close.

@MarshaBradyo

I didn't mean the schools I meant the government.

I've not heard anything about any back up online learning and I've got kids in both primary and secondary.

[quote Namara]@MarshaBradyo

I didn't mean the schools I meant the government.

I've not heard anything about any back up online learning and I've got kids in both primary and secondary.[/quote]
I meant the government too. Oak Academy is funded and backed by them according to info on their site.

It’s pretty decent, easy but you can tailor, it saved our bacon when school provision was very poor.

Whilst I realise the economic impact will be awful, they surely cannot close schools while pubs etc remain open.

(Have only skimmed thread, apologies if that's been debated)

A lot of elderly relations may not see Christmas this year.
Isnt that the case every year? Due to the fact that they are elderly...