Has anyone been told the circuit breaker two week half term is happening?

[justanotherneighinparadise]

We’re in the south east and it seems like my children’s primary school are telling the children they’ll be working from home in a few weeks and they’ll need to wear their school uniform. A letter will be sent out apparently.

Is it a done deal? I thought this was stuff that was just being discussed and not confirmed.

[MoiraNotRuby]

I'm in the Midlands and our secondary school has brought forward some exams which were going to be in a few weeks time. I think they are just preparing for the worst rather than having an actual lock down plan. Seems sensible to me.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

Remember when everyone on here was saying schools were preparing for blended learning from September? Which didn't happen.

No one on mumsnet knows anything for sure. Schools have to be prepared for every eventuality but it certainly doesn't mean it's a done deal.

[andannabegins]

My DR is year 6. They had a day yesterday where they worked online in school all day to iron out any kinks 'just in case'

[NellWilsonsWhiteHair]

I find it really surprising that people expect schools to have any advance warning at all if this is on the horizon.

I work in central government on covid-related policy issues, and I don’t know The Plan either. It will be a very small number of people who do (and usually IMO not the ones who are rushing all over social media trying to imply they have some sort of insider knowledge!).

[CrappleUmble]

@justanotherneighinparadise

That’s what I would think. Parents need notice for this stuff so they’d need to tell us soon.

I'm not sure making it easier for parents to arrange work and source childcare is going to be a particular priority with this lot, if I'm honest.

[Velvian]

I'm not sure I can cope with homeschooling while WFH again.
The kids and teachers, could do with a 2 week break though. This term has seemed wearing on everyone, going back to a more rigid regime after 6 months off has been exhausting for the DC.

[andIdidntliketheending]

@Waxonwaxoff0

Remember when everyone on here was saying schools were preparing for blended learning from September? Which didn't happen.

No one on mumsnet knows anything for sure. Schools have to be prepared for every eventuality but it certainly doesn't mean it's a done deal.

Well given the fact it will be a legal requirement from October 22nd then yes it will be a done deal!

[HauntedPencil]

Schools had no warning last time, no one really knows anything.

[DailyLotion]

We're doing lots of work with the children to be ready to do remote teaching nd learning better next time, should a further lockdown or (more likely) period of isolation be necessary.
It's possible some children are getting the wrong end of the stick or that some teachers/schools are communicating it as "when" rather than "if" but no, there definitely isn't any actual news.

[Shitfuckoh]

@andIdidntliketheending

Schools have been told that by law, they need to be able to offer a full online curriculum and that this needs to be in place by October 22nd. Which does make you wonder!

Timed nicely for half term here that is!

[Flatwhite32]

I'm a teacher and haven't heard this. No letters or anything have been sent out either.

[cologne4711]

@andIdidntliketheending

Schools have been told that by law, they need to be able to offer a full online curriculum and that this needs to be in place by October 22nd. Which does make you wonder!

I think it's smoke and mirrors so the government can say "we told schools to be ready" after some schools were so useless between March and July.

However, it is interesting that it was timed for half term in most areas of England.

[Barbie222]

Not heard anything, but we'd probably just find out in a press release like everyone else.
We're all checking who has laptops though, not that we have any to give!

[H1978]

We’re in a lockdown area and nothing from either the primary or secondary school as to any changes.

[DailyLotion]

I don't think it's unusual for schools to be set deadlines that correspond with the end of a term or half term, I think you're all reading far too much into that.

Schools have simply been asked to be ready to teach remotely through the flu season.

[winterisstillcoming]

Unless you've heard directly from school it could just be Chinese whispers.

[Flatwhite32]

@andIdidntliketheending where/who did you hear the October 22nd thing from?

[Chosennone]

The school I work at is getting very organised for remote learning. I was under the impression this is due to govt regulations. A number of students are self isolating and remote learning is kicking in for them.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

@andIdidntliketheending no it doesn't. Nothing is a done deal.

[DailyLotion]

The reopening guidance included a requirement for a remote curriculum. The guidance becomes a legal duty from 22 Oct.

[NandosPeriometer]

It's not a done deal and I suspect schools will find out when parents do (That was the case with June reopening)
Schools have to be ready for remote learning at the drop of the hat from 22 October in England

[EvaHoffman]

I don't understand these threads. There have been several. Teachers,even headteachers, don't have any access to secret information. They really don't. schools know as much as anybody else, they are just making good guesses to be prepared, just like everyone else.

Sorry but I do find it slightly annoying that anybody might think there is secret information out there which is being withheld or which has to be pieced together from clues. a bit like thinking there is a metropolitan elite.

Not even Boris Johnson knows for sure what is happening at half term because the situation has to be monitored from day to day.

A close family member is involved in this kind of stuff. She has to answer questions about how all these covid rules work. She gets the information at exactly the same time as everyone else and in not much greater detail. She just has to make sure she has read it more carefully than anyone else.

Nobody has privileged information so far in advance. Least of all teachers.

[HappyDays10101]

are you there Boris?

I think you’ll find him on the relationships board

[KetoPenguin]

I work in a school and they did have some warning of the first lockdown. Not full details but we were told the week before to expect it.

[nevernotstruggling]

Surely this ha about providing a full curriculum since it's law that exposed households have to self isolate. The 14 days self isolating will likely be a policy that's here for years maybe.