It's been useful to have school discussions.
Scroll past if you don't like.
School data does matter but they're reflective of the community transmission. They'll add to it by taking it home to parents (and vulnerable people) but closing a school or bubble for 2 weeks are supposed to be the break for the school.
Individual school will go under completely if rates don't go down, which is where I think there should have been better prep, eg use if community spaces.
EXCEPT that when I then think through the logistics and equipment and extra staffing needed to facilitate it, you really are talking doubling the nation's teachers and TAs.
The U.K. mostly follows an inclusive approach to education; so many TAs support a child or small group with additional needs in each class.
Not to mention how hard it would be so hard as we rely on so much it equipment etc, and not least for safeguarding procedures etc. Fire practises.
School dinners, which in some areas are increasingly hot again.
How do you transport them children safely? Parking, and so on.
Schools aren't going to close; they may individually and may need to go to a blended learning model in some areas (in working on my subject and what that looks like today.)
When I take a step back, the gov know education is fucked due to class sizes and numbers. They've been woefully shite at reassuring staff and providing the money, but they dug a hole for themselves there by de centralising education.
I DO think they should be giving more info and data so we as teachers and school leaders can decide if we should wear masks more. Especially for SEN schools. And I do think they should allow more parents to take pupils out and provide state funded online education which is partially there with the bbc and wouldn't be too expensive in real terms.