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.

@Badbadbunny

Schools only went back around here last week. It is reported that (local newspaper) "The number of people on ventilation in the region's hospitals has risen from 15 to 77 in the last 24 hours." That wasn't caused by schools going back last week. Infections in the community were rising before schools went back due to people not social distancing, not following guidance, etc. Schools being affected is the consequence not the cause.

Which hammers home the responsibility of everyone to suppress rates of infection by SD, wearing masks, limiting interactions, if they want schools to remain open doesn't it?

I'm astonished at the posters fuming that schools are closing but happily planning whole class parties, play dates or family get togethers

@EDSGFC which specific posters are these arranging these whole class parties and family gatherings whilst wanting schools to stay open ? Haven't come across them myself.

Cannot really blame the people for doing what the government said. Go out spend money.

Here's money off your meals, go out and eat. Local papers are reporting how well this worked. Government could have easily said take-away only to encourage people to spend.

Here's one I found. Over £2 million saved. That's a lot of people all sitting next to each other.

www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/islington-saves-2m-during-eat-out-to-help-out-1-6822752

@cantkeepawayforever that was a really helpful summary of the types of school closures, thanks. I guess the other point to consider is would some proactive measures - such as the tier 2 blended secondary learning - help reduce the number of reactive and consequential closures, both in the secondaries but also in nearby primary schools? I'd assume the government do think that would have some impact, otherwise why have it as a potential option. And would this be preferable educationally to random groups of students being sent home to isolate across the country due to reactive closures?

[quote rookiemere]@EDSGFC which specific posters are these arranging these whole class parties and family gatherings whilst wanting schools to stay open ? Haven't come across them myself.[/quote]
There are loads on many Covid threads. People who demand that schools are running and life be allowed to go back to normal.

I keep reading about blended learning like it's some magic bullet. It might reduce infection rates in schools and result in less DCs being sent home, but as the starting base is already much less school time - in Scotland it was 2 days or less a week - then they wouldn't be getting any more face to face school time with a blended learning approach either.

[quote Flagsfiend]@cantkeepawayforever that was a really helpful summary of the types of school closures, thanks. I guess the other point to consider is would some proactive measures - such as the tier 2 blended secondary learning - help reduce the number of reactive and consequential closures, both in the secondaries but also in nearby primary schools? I'd assume the government do think that would have some impact, otherwise why have it as a potential option. And would this be preferable educationally to random groups of students being sent home to isolate across the country due to reactive closures?[/quote]
I do think this would help as it would enable much more social distancing to go on in schools.

rookiemere

From talking to teachers in my family it seems like blended learning could flatten out the peaks and troughs that repeated opening and closing might cause. That learning could be planned and facilitated properly and continue uninterrupted rather than this sudden closure with no planning and no alternative in place.

@rookiemere

I keep reading about blended learning like it's some magic bullet. It might reduce infection rates in schools and result in less DCs being sent home, but as the starting base is already much less school time - in Scotland it was 2 days or less a week - then they wouldn't be getting any more face to face school time with a blended learning approach either.

It depends on how often schools have to quarantine groups of students and staff as to whether there is more or less face to face time. The advantage of blended learning is that the way the non school part of learning takes place can be planned and managed and may result in a better learning environment than random stop/starts It also reduces the chances of teachers getting Covid. They can't teach while they are I'll and this again means disruption to learning

To be honest the quality of what I'm doing in class at the moment (not crossing my demarcation line) I might as well be teaching in an online platform. The quality of teaching would be the same. I am there to babysit (albeit secondary pupils). My subject has lots of restrictions so quite a fair bit of the subject is not really happening at the moment.

@monkeytennis97

To be honest the quality of what I'm doing in class at the moment (not crossing my demarcation line) I might as well be teaching in an online platform. The quality of teaching would be the same. I am there to babysit (albeit secondary pupils). My subject has lots of restrictions so quite a fair bit of the subject is not really happening at the moment.

That’s a shame, esp babysitting part. Could those things happen if they were home? What’s the subject?

@MarshaBradyo I don't want to say for fear of outing if that's ok.

No probs Monkey
Was pondering which subjects ds might have with restrictions, but totally fair enough

I do think things need to be looked at further, kids were in less than a week now off with a coronavirus type symptom for 2 weeks in isolation, certain the test will come back invlid cause the battle to get it and won't be attempting it again due to the potentially dangerous situation it caused as he's autistic. So they then go in after 2 weeks get another illness with coronavirus symptom after another 1 or 2 weeks and off again for another 2 weeks in isolation. I don't know if its as big of a problem for NT children, but the asthma nurse said schools are germ factories and only so much can be done to limit spread of diseases. So at least for primary school children, it really feels like they will be spending most the year in isolation anyway. Really think Boris needs to look at a better way of dealing with schools, because at the minute it doesn't feel like it's going to work, I might change my opinion when they go back if they manage to stay in for longer but atm I have my doubts.

@MarshaBradyo

No probs Monkey Was pondering which subjects ds might have with restrictions, but totally fair enough

From my school I'd say the subjects with restrictions are: science and DT - no practicals. Drama - students need to stay in seats, no physical contact. Art and music - not in specialist room due to bubble so limited equipment, also recommend no singing. PE - no contact sports. Basically any subject that isn't your traditional write in a book every lesson has major changes. Even for subjects where book work is the norm, some of the more interactive group activities may be out.

Thanks Flags makes sense, a couple here from list, sciences and music

@Badbadbunny

Schools only went back around here last week. It is reported that (local newspaper) "The number of people on ventilation in the region's hospitals has risen from 15 to 77 in the last 24 hours." That wasn't caused by schools going back last week. Infections in the community were rising before schools went back due to people not social distancing, not following guidance, etc. Schools being affected is the consequence not the cause.

Just watching the briefing. Dh looked at the graph showing 17/18 and 19-21 year old positive tests skyrocketing. He went "so two weeks after the A level results came out, we are swamped with teenagers with covid-19. Can't work out why thats happened".

I suppose the other issue is those restrictions would still apply at home, or rather it wouldn’t be possible to do much of it

64 in Northern Ireland
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54088398

Another person in education in hospital
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-54056697

Parents blamed already
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54089211?intlink_from_url=www.bbc.co.uk/news/education&link_location=live-reporting-story" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54089211?intlink_from_url=www.bbc.co.uk/news/education&link_location=live-reporting-story

As someone who works in a school I feel like I've been thrown to the wolves. Everyone wants what is best for children, it's insulting to suggest otherwise. School is normal. It's pretty much exactly as it was. The government have done nothing to make it safe. Every single other workplace in the country will be different to before, yet school staff keep being told 'it's safe'. Utter horseshit.

In fairness parents at the school gates really arent distancing... And could do with a rocket up their arse.

@monkeytennis97

To be honest the quality of what I'm doing in class at the moment (not crossing my demarcation line) I might as well be teaching in an online platform. The quality of teaching would be the same. I am there to babysit (albeit secondary pupils). My subject has lots of restrictions so quite a fair bit of the subject is not really happening at the moment.

That's the impression I'm getting from my teen son, you guys as still babysitting. Not having a go btw, it was inevitable that the guidelines would create a spike. It's also difficult because of the mental welfare of students and indeed staff also needs to be looked after.

[quote [AUTO]d3jqakcn9qlt2]As someone who works in a school I feel like I've been thrown to the wolves. Everyone wants what is best for children, it's insulting to suggest otherwise. School is normal. It's pretty much exactly as it was. The government have done nothing to make it safe. Every single other workplace in the country will be different to before, yet school staff keep being told 'it's safe'. Utter horseshit. [/quote]
Yup. Agreed.

Over 400 now

Computer science is out for us because we have too few computer rooms.