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.

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.

This. Many friends in US have kids who will be in school half time, masks at all times, and then half time at home (with laptops provided).

I'd bet good money that their education will be less disrupted by Xmas than my children.

The poor provision our children are expected to put up with really angers me when I see what's being done elsewhere (extra money to allow smaller class sizes, SD, masks, well thought through blended or back-up online learning and technology supplied where kids don't have it).

TheSunIsStillShining I am not sure you have fully understood the situation in schools. Some can not offer online schooling even if they wanted to, as it has been decided there are too many safeguarding issues, so many schools simply did not and could offer this, the children were left with emailed work that no one checked.

Secondly you are if I can put this gently, blindly assuming that everyone can afford and has access to laptops, computers and wifi. Why has it not occurred to you that the children that need the most support, will be those children set to lose their education because they have no access to a virtual school. Meanwhile their wealthier peers will continue to press ahead with the all the advantages.

Finally the most important reason for keeping schools open at all costs is protection. There are thousands of children in abject poverty, being abused and neglected without a safety net. Even the GP surgeries are closed. If for no other reason schools must stay open to ensure these children come safely through the pandemic.

You might suggest this and that, but the reality, and I should know given my line of work - is that many thousands of children already will never ever recover from the last lockdown.

So you are damn right, I want a no compromise approach, where possible we must keep all schools open and all children educated (and fed) and we close everything else before we even consider our schools. We owe it to our children, all of our children this at the very least. In my view.

And if I may respectfully add, I am not talking about my own personal experience of lockdown or what I personally have had to endure in the pandemic, it was what children from very difficult homes have had to endure.

I could do it all again tomorrow reluctantly if the NHS became swamped, most of us would have to, and would be fine. However, that is not the case for every family by a very long shot. We are seeing record child removals right now, it is a hidden crisis that no one is talking about TheSunIsStillShining

*It is what children from very difficult

I want a no compromise approach, where possible we must keep all schools open

In which case you'd better start campaigning for the best safety measures, PPE, money for cleaning, extra toilets and so on.

Because forcing schools to stay open whatever the situation with covid and not doing that is fucking over the adults that work in them.

And those adults deserve as much thought as your kids.

Well, the government is going to have to come up with an alternative plan very quickly, because this ‘every child in school’ approach is not going to work.

My friend’s year 8 son started school on Friday. She just received a call from the school saying a fellow classmate was infected and that her son must do the 14 days. He’s going to be set work but we all know how difficult it is to motivate some children at home. Her plans of returning to the office this week have also been scuppered.

So is this what the next few months of schooling going to be? And what if you have more than one child? A constant merry go round of self isolation?

Blended learning was the only hope we had to keep things rolling. I stand by that. Parents can make real plans regarding childcare if we get a definite timetable. Arrangements can be made with employers (I know this will get shot down but it’s a pandemic. And if it’s happening to you, it’s happening to someone else.)

It’s not forever but fooling ourselves into thinking schools are going to run like they did last September is part of the problem. We need to think outside the box to ensure our children get some consistent education.

Hancock has been everywhere telling young people to socially distance today. They should switch to social distancing in schools - for safety and to minimise disruption. Smaller bubbles would have meant far less children sent home today.

@MadameBlobby

“Non essential” sectors are essential not only to those working in them but also to bring in tax revenues to pay for public services. Nothing is “non essential”. That’s not to say that businesses shouldn’t be closed if they are driving the spread but not a blanket closure just because you deem places “non essential”.

Agree.

When businesses had to close due to lockdown there was no SD in place . Since re-opening every business is supposed to adhere to Covid regulations , either 2m distancing or 1m and masks worn .

Big difference between a bar/ restaurant where people are sitting at a table with plenty of space around and all staff in masks /visors and extra cleaning , than where everyone is standing up , pushing at The bar, dancing etc
There should be steep fines imposed on those businesses which are not putting adequate safety procedures in place including barring those individuals who refuse to adhere .

@Kingsley08

Well, the government is going to have to come up with an alternative plan very quickly, because this ‘every child in school’ approach is not going to work.

My friend’s year 8 son started school on Friday. She just received a call from the school saying a fellow classmate was infected and that her son must do the 14 days. He’s going to be set work but we all know how difficult it is to motivate some children at home. Her plans of returning to the office this week have also been scuppered.

So is this what the next few months of schooling going to be? And what if you have more than one child? A constant merry go round of self isolation?

Blended learning was the only hope we had to keep things rolling. I stand by that. Parents can make real plans regarding childcare if we get a definite timetable. Arrangements can be made with employers (I know this will get shot down but it’s a pandemic. And if it’s happening to you, it’s happening to someone else.)

It’s not forever but fooling ourselves into thinking schools are going to run like they did last September is part of the problem. We need to think outside the box to ensure our children get some consistent education.

I completely agree with you.

I hope the classmates and their families are ok too.

Elderly and vulnerable people are very likely to continue to be very careful although shielding has now officially stopped, therefore less likely to contract it in the first place.

At the moment. Speaking as a vulnerable person who had hoped to be able to go out after 5 months of shielding, I can only say that it's starting to look pretty risky again. The numbers may be down at the moment, but my risk of dying if I catch COVID hasn't. If people stop SD or wearing masks or trying to 'go back to normal', I can see me having to shield again. Pretty crap really.

@noblegiraffe

I want a no compromise approach, where possible we must keep all schools open

In which case you'd better start campaigning for the best safety measures, PPE, money for cleaning, extra toilets and so on.

Because forcing schools to stay open whatever the situation with covid and not doing that is fucking over the adults that work in them.

And those adults deserve as much thought as your kids.

And adding to this it’ll be the students in deprived areas who will be failed again as these are the areas with the highest numbers and thus will have due her isolations whilst students in the least suburbs with lower numbers will rarely need to close.

Just today 3 separate schools local to me have closed year groups due to positive tests.

Another 3000 cases today isn't exactly good news.

noble honestly I am not going there again with you

@Friendsoftheearth

1. These type of schools could have been prepared in the past 6 months
2. laptop/internet: see point 1. - gov should have done this already
3. There could be options to help kids who need it - similar to keyworker's children being in school.
4. Finally the most important reason for keeping schools open at all costs is protection. There are thousands of children in abject poverty, being abused and neglected without a safety net.

As much as I see your point, this has nothing to do with education, and should be handled by social service. Again, what the actual fuck has the gov and governing bodies been doing to address these issues?

So you're saying that because we have a faulty social net, whole of society should be prepared to get infected (with god knows what long term effects) so that the most vulnerable children can be safe? Or all children should be okay to be in school, off school, in school,.... and take whatever education they get.
It seems to me that you are very passionate about a minority issue and look through that lens only. And whilst we have to make sure that minorities are catered for, it should never be at the expense or the majority.

I wholeheartedly agree on the issue though, but think that it should be re-phrased and demand that these kids have special provisions and be looked after properly?

@Friendsoftheearth

noble honestly I am not going there again with you

No, I know you don't care about teacher safety, but I do, so I'm going to continue posting as I like.

Jax I agree I am sorry to say. My parents are now shielding again despite no update on the advice. It depends on your health issues, and where you live, you can assess the risk at the moment.

My kids have been back at primary and secondary for a month now with now rise in cases, no burst bubbles and no teachers dropping like flies so far as everyone seemed to say would happen.

Still never had any answer off anyone who advocated Blended learning about how I could continue my job in community nursing and home school my children 3 days a week?

thesun I am afraid we are NOT talking about a minority at all firstly, and secondly tens of thousands of children have suffered horrendous mental health issues as a result of the lockdown. I would argue it is in the interests of the majority of children for schools to stay open. Not just a small percentage. In an ideal world every child would have a loving home, plenty of food, limitless wifi, printers and laptops - with parents there to oversee everything. This is not the reality for tens of thousands of families. Many of whom will be at work, and will have to continue to work outside the home if they want to keep a roof over their heads.

What you are describing is a fantasy solution that has no bearing on reality.

And yes, unless there is a successful vaccine soon the whole of society excluding those at high risk, SHOULD be prepared to be infected. Coronavirus is highly contagious, as infectious as a common cold, the chances of you avoiding it for decades are slim to none unless you live on a desert island (by yourself) with no contact with the outside world.

This is the point Sweden have been making, quite rightly all along.

@Friendsoftheearth

TheSunIsStillShining I am not sure you have fully understood the situation in schools. Some can not offer online schooling even if they wanted to, as it has been decided there are too many safeguarding issues, so many schools simply did not and could offer this, the children were left with emailed work that no one checked.

Secondly you are if I can put this gently, blindly assuming that everyone can afford and has access to laptops, computers and wifi. Why has it not occurred to you that the children that need the most support, will be those children set to lose their education because they have no access to a virtual school. Meanwhile their wealthier peers will continue to press ahead with the all the advantages.

Finally the most important reason for keeping schools open at all costs is protection. There are thousands of children in abject poverty, being abused and neglected without a safety net. Even the GP surgeries are closed. If for no other reason schools must stay open to ensure these children come safely through the pandemic.

You might suggest this and that, but the reality, and I should know given my line of work - is that many thousands of children already will never ever recover from the last lockdown.

So you are damn right, I want a no compromise approach, where possible we must keep all schools open and all children educated (and fed) and we close everything else before we even consider our schools. We owe it to our children, all of our children this at the very least. In my view.

Totally agree!!!

Actually I would argue the majority of children benefit from and deserve education in school. Not only because they are vulnerable.

Actually I would argue the majority of children benefit from and deserve education in school

Indeed. Schools' main purpose is not social care or childcare.

School is also not a cure for all teen mental health problems. Often it's a factor.

This is the point Sweden have been making, quite rightly all along.

No it isn’t. The point Sweden we’re making all along was that it would be easier to get people to stick to the regulations for a longer period of time if they weren’t forced to. So there’s a short list of things that are legislated for, and a much longer list of guidelines and regulations which people are encouraged to follow as it is their social responsibility to do so.

It’s a psychological thing, not a herd immunity thing.

I had my first full day in school today. It is mayhem - the kids are packed in like sardines and mixing all day (albeit within a year group). There is absolutely no social distancing and the crush at lesson changeovers is as bad as it ever was.

If we get a case it will rip through like wildfire.

I work in a school (Alternative Provision) which is supposed to remain fully open through all the tiers up to and including the Apocalypse, according to the DFE. How we do that if staff have to quarantine, I dont know.

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

I’m getting really pissed off with this. Many people who were considered vulnerable or even extremely vulnerable are now working in schools. There is no “carrying on as normal” if they shield.