We were doing ok until we opened all the schools....

[Bbq1]

After lockdown was lifted pre September and pubs, restaurants etc were opened we seemed to have a handle on Covid with cases, hospital admissions and deaths all declining fairly steadily. Since we released millions of school aged children and thousands of teachers etc back into the classroom- boom, cases and consequently deaths, are now growing very rapidly again. It didn't take a rocket scientist to work out that this would happen. I work in a school and I have a 15 year old starting his gcse's so I 100% don't want the schools to close but surely there must be a more workable solution? Couldn't schools be one week, one week off for different bubbles or alternate days? Nobody wants schools to shut but surely in the long term if we don't get something safer in place and just continue sending kids and adults in day after day, then eventually they will close again?

I’ll pop this on again. He tries to keep it updated, but they are spreading too fast.

Was updated today

www.boycottunsafeschools.co.uk/reported-covid-19-cases/school-cases-after-12-8-20/?fbclid=IwAR2mb-3gP4JMR4M9c1-qHo8Gj-l0IuqDT78qEtG5I5qZF9xVQcH42Xq0zVk

Where do you find the stats on local schools? I only know which ones are affected from word of mouth. Incidentally we had very few cases before schools were opened and suddenly became and are of high risk.

www.boycottunsafeschools.co.uk/reported-covid-19-cases/school-cases-after-12-8-20/

Although they don't have, by any means, all schools listed.

Thank you. It's missing a few schools in my area.

As l said, the guy running it can’t keep it up to date fast enough. He relies on normal people sending in the info as the government won’t co ordinate it, so some places often get missed.

A few missing in my area too

And l think if they close schools they will have to close them all.

Otherwise there will be no level playing field. Some kids will get all the education and some none.

@Remmy123

I'm in Manchester; every secondary I know has year groups isolating. We only have 3 year groups left from 7 and 1 of them is on more than 2 weeks as more and more confirmed cases appeared one after another. My partner has 5 year groups out right now with very obvious spread across classes as we get more and more confirmed cases. Schools will end up closed as everyone will be isolating; we even have 8 teachers waiting for results now, 2 after direct contact with a confirmed case who was in school (unknowingly to use) waiting for results.

@Worriedmum999 'I'm alright jack' yes I am alright and so are my kids - why am I going to worry about other schools?? Blimey no wonder you have the username you do!!

I reckon just take your kids out now it may calm you down a bit.

@Remmy123

Why don't you all worry when the schools do close (which they won't) and stop wasting your time speculating 🤔

They already are, catch up.

yes I am alright and so are my kids

You need to add 'so far' to the end of that.

@noblegiraffe

Insisting schools must stay open and listing issues with schools closing won't keep them open.

What will keep them open is low cases in the community, effective track and trace, and mitigation measures that will prevent the spread should the virus get into schools.

We haven't got any of those things, and the government spent the summer insisting that anyone who wanted the above was simply 'blocking the re-opening of schools' and campaign groups were shouting loudly that it was simply unthinkable that children might need to go back to school in any way different to completely normal.

People who wanted the above were insulted and smeared and told they were overreacting and lazy.

And now it's becoming obvious why we need those things, but it is too late. The testing system is fucked, the government spent the summer encouraging people into activities that increased cases, and six months have been wasted that could have been spent improving mitigation measures in schools.

And schools are closing. Partly or fully. There's an awful lot of children at home, unable to go to school right now because of this stupid, stupid, head in the sand approach.

Absolutely!!!

[quote Remmy123]@Worriedmum999 'I'm alright jack' yes I am alright and so are my kids - why am I going to worry about other schools?? Blimey no wonder you have the username you do!!

I reckon just take your kids out now it may calm you down a bit.[/quote]
I’m not worried about my children. They go to an independent school so I could take them out whenever I like, no fines and still keep my place to return to whenever I like. We have had no cases and are in a low case area so I am happy to leave mine in until maybe half term. However, as a former teacher, it does not stop me worrying about other children who are not in a good place right now. We should all be working together to force the government to put schools and children first by pumping money into schools and coming up with a sustainable system so ALL children can learn. Not every man for himself

@Worriedmum999 thank you

www.st-margarets.bury.sch.uk/stream/news/full/1/-?fbclid=IwAR3EycHbxbYxjMlp-dx_AW_zvcltdvk1nbU7NMQaFBGowXrdWORGGp04ezM

Our school was very nearly in that that position too. Thankfully the head tested negative and there have been no cases so far so the while school is open with 98% attendance. Cant say the same for all the other schools in the area. They all have groups of children off and staff.

Our school adopted strict measures from opening. All adults have to wear a mask. Only one care giver per family for drop off and pick up. Staff are wearing visors. I think that's helped. However it's just a matter of time as we are in local lockdown and cases are rising fast.

The primary school where I work currently has four members of staff out. One is nearing the end of the so period, the other three are either still trying to book a test or waiting on test results. She has been waiting over a week for her results and I now seems more likely that the so period will finish before she gets them. In common with all schools (I believe), we received a total of ten tests at the start of the academic year which we are ising for families who are unable to access tests for various reasons (eg: no transport available to travel the 40 + miles to a test centre) We have used 7 of them. If many more of our staff have to so, we will have to close bubbles, if not the school as we simply have no capacity to cover those staff. Not sure where we stand if we are unable to cover 1:1 staff who are si and therefore ha e no-one available for those children.
Locally, a number of schools, both primary and secondary have sent bubbles home and at least one school has completely closed for a week due to the number of casesPopI don't know any teachers, or school staff in general, who don't want to be in school, but we do want to be safe. And whenever this was said before we returned, we were accused of not having a 'can do' attitude. The reality is, that many schools, ours included, simply cannot operate according to the guidance and remain open. So, we have year group bubbles but staff have to go between bubbles, which makes the bubbles pointless. In our school, there are no music lessons at the moment as apparently this is a dangerous subject. There are no IT lessons as we cannot accommodate all classes it room over the week whilst allowing for a full clean between each class. We do not have funds for ipads etc. Readingbbook provision is limited as all books have to be quarantined for 72 hours when they are returned to school.

We’re ok so far and staff are in. We’ve tried to put in as much as possible to help, no indoor play dates, masks etc

Does anyone know how the priority testing works and if it has been implemented?

My teacher mate spent all Wednesday evening and Thursday morning trying to get a test but the website was constantly 'too busy'. Then no slots at any local centres (no car) so eventually got a postal test. Now awaiting results.

If that's the priority service, god help everyone else.

I haven’t tried to get a test yet so I don’t know if it even asks your occupation, or how you would prove it

Loads missing from that list in my area too.
We have 48 schools, settings and childminders with at least one positive COVID case. School action ranges from year groups isolating at home to full closure due to lack of non isolating/symptomatic staff including those who've tested positive. All acting on DfE/PHE advice.

Low rates in the area.

The problems are those who wont wear masks, or wear them under their nose. No SD. Ppl who've attended raves, house parties and even weddings. Its ppl who dont wash their hands more often as hand gel is enough.
Finally its the group of ppl saying the wint respect current rules.

Most of us just want a nice Christmas. Those of you not following the rules dont give a crap as youll have the SAME Christmas yoy normally do, as long as you get what you want the rest of us can get shafted.

He said there was a box to say you were a key worker.

Ah ok

I don’t think closing everything else will stop the spread as schools are now accounting for the largest percentage of outbreaks. If that happened before schools went back it would have made a difference as community cases would have been lower.

It’s not surprising it’s in the largest group as schools are the largest gathering of people in the country, with very little mitigation in place.

I’m in an area with low cases but even then they are gradually rising.