Do you think schools will close again?

[Beebityboo]

I'm disabled and considering removing my DC's from school in the near future. There are various reasons for this but obviously the number one thing I'm worried about is Covid. My DD was terribly unwell last year and I'm terrified to put her at risk again I also don't want to leave them without a mum. Numbers are rising, there is no testing and there are multiple children off in each of their classes. We also live close to an area that has absoloutely exploded in cases this week. I'm completely petrified.
After begging for flexibility and support from the school I've been told their hands are tied. Either send them in or deregister them altogether.
However I'm concerned I'll deregister, then the schools will close anyway and we'll have given up their places at a good school for no reason.
I'm massively struggling at the moment and just really need some advice. Every day I send them in I just feel sick to my stomach.
Please be gentle with me. I don't want schools to close, I just want some flexibility over the winter months.

I think the order will be:

1. Stricter controls on social mixing
2. Curfews
3. Banning anyone from visiting anyone else's house
4. Closing all bars and restaurants
5. Closing secondary schools 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off.
6. Closing all schools and non-essential shops.

So we have a long way to go before schools are shut. Notice that in France with 13,000 cases a day they are at 4 in Marseille but not the rest of the country.

@Bluelinings

The thing is with some schools open and some schools or bubbles closed, possibly on and off, is this a fair level playing field for children. Education is now a postcode lottery.

Yes sadly correct. And most of the children disadvantaged by partial or local closures are probably the children already most disadvantaged. That is why if all the schools in the most socially and economically deprived areas close then so should the schools in leafy areas of Surrey or where mine go to school in Mid Sussex.

Private schools with large grojnds, forest school, small clas sizes and larger rooms and corrisors are obviously at an advantage.

Private schools with large grojnds, forest school, small clas sizes and larger rooms and corrisors are obviously at an advantage.

They are at a huge advantage even if all the children are sent home. The disparity in the quality of online teaching has been vast.

@Beebityboo

I hadn't considered the flu jab actually. If they aren't in school can they get it via the Gp?

Have you tried to get a f2f with a GP at the moment?

I keep getting told I urgently need to see GP. 3 weeks ago yet again we need to see you, someone will be in touch to make an appointment. I had an appointment this week to be told over the phone, we need to see you someone will be in touch.

At this rate I can see me saying yes to a flu vaccine just to see someone if they start hounding me for it.

Yes that too. . Even locally the difference between state school provision was huge.

I'm so so cross that teachers raised that this would be a problem in sept (full return) but werent funded or allowed to provide any alternatives.

I'd have rathered a part time syste. That worked than the not knowing each week if your child was going to be in school. Or any way of making school work than full closure.

Why on earth should all children be sent home across the country if only some schools need to be shut ?! That makes absolutely no sense to me. If France shut all their schools should we follow, so its a level playing field?

Anyway, even if you do shut ALL schools, when only SOME need to be shut - the children in leafy, affluent areas will still have a massive advantage because (apologies for the sweeping statement - obviously this does not apply to EVERYONE) they are more likely to have internet/devices/parents who can more readily or easily support their learning.

So it makes no sense.

Looks like my area will be going into local lockdown very soon as there has been a huge surge in cases. Told myself I would pull them out if that happened but DS loves his school and is really happy there .

All the dramatic news stories about the 'number of schools affected' aren't helpful.

If you look closely, this includes all schools which have been affected since they went back 3 weeks or so ago, many of which are now operating normally and schools like one of our local secondaries which was closed to two year groups for deep cleaning for one day and has now been open to all year groups for nearly two weeks.

Of course the virus is circulating in the population. Headlines basically saying this are inflammatory and daft.

I think we are back where we were in February where everyone said nooooo schools definitely won't close, and there will never be a full lockdown. Then it happened.
I've got two in a very large school and I just can't see how it can be OK for them to mix di closely and all the parents have no choice but to cram into the yard to drop off and pick up. It's going to spread.

I told myself the same thing Beebityboo.

It feels strange going so much against my gut instinct. And yet not so strange ...

My kids are very happy at the moment. If things really are going to be shut down (and I think they most probably are) we need to let them glean as much time with their friends etc as they can ... whilst it lasts.

Inevitably they will end up closed, certainly the big ones with massive bubbles

@Beebityboo I've seen some of your previous threads and know how much you are suffering. Only you can make the decision about school (I don't think there will be national closure) but it will be impossible to do this when you are feeling so anxious. I urge you to go to your GP, explain how you are feeling and seek the support that you need and deserve 💐

Except in February there was hardly anything known about the virus, no-one had even heard of 'social distancing' or 'flattening the curve', people were mixing freely with large numbers of people with no virus control etc etc, UK HCPS had never treated anyone with cv19 or probably any type of corona virus.

Yes, it will spread. It's a virus. Hygiene measures can reduce its spread. Prompt testing and tracing ditto. Staff should be protected as much as possible which includes their pupil's family acting responsibly.

But saying that 'it's going to spread' is like saying that 'people will get flu this winter' or 'there'll be norovirus around this winter'. Obvious, clearly not completely avoidable or we'd have found out a way to do it by now, some people more vulnerable and should be more protected and cautious than others.

But it's not possible to put life on hold, and it would be positive damaging to children and young people to try to do so.

Hmmm. But they are wanting to limit the spread as the spread will mean deaths and less nhs provision/full hospitals/reduced care etc.

Did you listen to the monday speeches. Scientist and heath expert.Under 10mins and v informative.

@christinarossetti19

Except in February there was hardly anything known about the virus, no-one had even heard of 'social distancing' or 'flattening the curve', people were mixing freely with large numbers of people with no virus control etc etc, UK HCPS had never treated anyone with cv19 or probably any type of corona virus.

Yes, it will spread. It's a virus. Hygiene measures can reduce its spread. Prompt testing and tracing ditto. Staff should be protected as much as possible which includes their pupil's family acting responsibly.

But saying that 'it's going to spread' is like saying that 'people will get flu this winter' or 'there'll be norovirus around this winter'. Obvious, clearly not completely avoidable or we'd have found out a way to do it by now, some people more vulnerable and should be more protected and cautious than others.

But it's not possible to put life on hold, and it would be positive damaging to children and young people to try to do so.

This in spades

@notevenat20

Private schools with large grojnds, forest school, small clas sizes and larger rooms and corrisors are obviously at an advantage.

They are at a huge advantage even if all the children are sent home. The disparity in the quality of online teaching has been vast.

Agreed. Which is why several times I have suggested that the government should have spent the last 6 months Bringing in the best subject specialists to write a curriculum that could be delivered online. We have a 'national curriculum' which is anything other than national or universal. Managed the change over to part time schooling so that children had some access to f2f teaching or time to reinforce this curriculum, in very small SD groups. I think all of the extra provision made by private schools would be partly impossible anyway, and they too should be compelled to offer the same online curriculum. The vast inequalities of opportunity could at least be partially ameliorated at least now. At least most children who are at least moderately disadvantaged due to the unequal impact of Covid could be prevented from falling so far behind the most advantaged. But hey ho, Eton tested every child before their return....to board, i can only assume they are safe in their bubble, so they won't be closing any time soon! hurrah for Bojo and pals.

Absolutely Mini. All those things. Yet teachers were hounded and criticised for saying this. Makes no sense.

My daughter did so well with her small yr 6 groups. If they could have at least somecontact in the week then online learning can be put into perspective and explained/introduced/reinforced etc.

What we have now is just a disaster waiting to happen.

And the profession, that cant affoes to lose more teachers, will lose more teachers.

[quote DewDropsonKittens]@Trackandtrace

That's shocking advice.

Maybe spare a thought for those of us having the process the administration and reporting sides of that kind of attitude

Its bad enough being shouted at all day by parents[/quote]
If symptoms but not positive it means nothing changes at the school.
Maybe the schools should stop harrasing parents to send the children to an unsafe covid spreading enviroment

@christinarossetti19

All the dramatic news stories about the 'number of schools affected' aren't helpful.

If you look closely, this includes all schools which have been affected since they went back 3 weeks or so ago, many of which are now operating normally and schools like one of our local secondaries which was closed to two year groups for deep cleaning for one day and has now been open to all year groups for nearly two weeks.

Of course the virus is circulating in the population. Headlines basically saying this are inflammatory and daft.

This is true. My friend’s child’s school went back 6 weeks ago (Leicestershire). The following week, a bubble popped and one class had to self isolate for 14 days. In that time, no other pupils, staff or family members developed symptoms. Their bubble has now been back at school for 3 weeks, no other year groups were affected and no cases since. Yet it’s still included in the ‘number of schools affected’.

Because it was/has been affected?

I don't understand what you mean @SoUtterlyGroundDown

@Dustballs

Because it was/has been affected?

I don't understand what you mean @SoUtterlyGroundDown

Presumably because there are dozens of instances of one isolated case, that is dealt with, and then everything gets back to normal but yet still those instances are being used by those making the case for "SHUT SCHOOLS THEY'RE NOT SAFE"

I mean - the cumulative number isnt going to decrease is it?!

@Regulus

I think they will close, it wasn't long ago everyone was saying no second wave, no new restrictions, no new furlough - OK this not confirmed yet but looks like there will be a more specific financial support and no national lockdown. Raab said its a possibility, so school closure must be a possibility.

Exactly. It’s playing out exactly the same, schools won’t close, schools might close... it’s not sustainable.

Presumably because there are dozens of instances of one isolated case, that is dealt with, and then everything gets back to normal but yet still those instances are being used by those making the case for "SHUT SCHOOLS THEY'RE NOT SAFE"

Exactly this. So we can say ‘1000 schools are affected now’, whereas in the vast majority of those cases it’ll have been dealt with and all back in to school. It’s not 1000 schools with closures at this moment in time.