Will the government ever put money into schools for Covid?

[lunar1]

The emphasis from the government has been about protecting the economy and workforce. Everything has to be 'Covid secure.' Except for schools.

I understand completely that we need to keep the country going, but why on earth can't they apply the same to schools? It feels like such a head in the sand approach. Everyone needs to limit contacts and social distance apart from children and teachers, who can be in 'bubbles' of hundreds with zero distancing.

I'm in greater Manchester and our schools are a mess, how can we even have an effective workforce while we are all looking after isolating children.

I understand what you mean OP, but the problem is that we're not just talking about a quick fix. To properly socially distance, most schools would need to have literally double or triple the amount of classrooms than they currently have. We're not just talking about ringfencing a bit of the budget, we're talking about building thousands of new buildings (on what land?) and training tens of thousands of new teachers. I'm no fan of the current government, but I simply can't see how it would be logistically or financially possible?

What would you like them to do OP? I get what you're saying, but the job is so massive and chances are it will just be this winter that's an issue and hopefully after that we'll have a vaccine or something that will mean Covid is a much smaller threat than it is now. So at a time when the economy is on its knees is it really a good idea to throw billions of pounds at schools for something that will likely (hopefully!) be redundant soon.

A working test & trace system would make a huge difference. Access to local, quick turnaround tests would allow children with symptoms to get a negative all clear quickly, reducing the time the rest of the household needs to isolate and allow children with coughs due to the common cold back to school sooner rather than later. Ditto teachers and other staff.

redistribute pupils to the private schools, I say.

@TheEndisCummings

I had an assisted place at private schools, I would rather we supported the state schools and dear me I don't think my DC would enjoy it,

I DO think this would make a great comedy TV series though,

Because children will not learn very well at all in a covid secure way. None of them will want to be in school with all the restrictions etc.

Right now children love going to school as it is the one place that resembles normality. Let's use this to our advantage instead of trying to turn that into a prison aswell!

Extra toilet blocks and sinks are needed by most schools and extra cleaning budget (as it had been cut anyway). Also extra staffing so groups could be made smaller /teachers be covered for break.

Making school safer doesn't need to resemble a prison. More toilets and sinks would help as a previous poster said.

I think it's easy to want things as they are, if you are in an area with low numbers. I'm in one of the worst hit areas right now, nothing about schooling in the NW feels normal. Schools are collapsing bubbles all over the place. Our children would really benefit from social distancing because so many are infected.

I've tried to chase our tests, they look to be missing so we will have to isolate for the full time.

Regular testing like care homes get would really help.

If they wore masks thats almost free the gov. Would drastically reduce illness/ isolation/ time off work and ill teachers.
The kids would still want to go

Well our school have just said that all pupils must wear masks when changing class, going to lunch, basically any time they are moving around the school. The only time masks come off is once the classroom door is closed and for lessons and for games.

If all schools did this I think it would make a positive difference. It's a no brainer IMO and I am surprised it wasn't mandated from the start of term - particularly in hard-hit areas like the North of England.

In short, I doubt it.

They've poured money into serco and deloittes, they did not give a stuff if the testing worked.

If they wanted schools open safely, they could have done it.

I think they genuinely give zero fucks about the Manchester economy.

@RepeatSwan

In short, I doubt it.

They've poured money into serco and deloittes, they did not give a stuff if the testing worked.

If they wanted schools open safely, they could have done it.

I think they genuinely give zero fucks about the Manchester economy.

You are right there, they really aren't bothered what happens up here are they.