Schools in England closing earlier to pupils (17th December)

[RaeburnPlace]

DfE announcement today...last minute. Thought families might appreciate knowing.

My primary has emailed saying they will still be open and once again stated the the Covid email that will be checked regularly during all holidays and weekends. They have asked us to email as soon as symptoms start and to then email results across. Symptoms so they can start to work out who incase of a positive.

Not heard from secondary yet.

Our primary and secondary have actually sent the exact same email just different contact email addresses so looks like they are all working together so no distribution to working parents.

No word yet from DS's primary. I have to work and I can't work from home, it's our busiest time of year so I'd like to know what's happening so I can prepare. Not impressed with the short notice.

[quote FriedPeach]@MrsWhites

That is against DfE policy on the school will be in hot water if found out. Schools can only go to remote learning under public health advice.

The government have been clear that the last day of term can be an inset day but teachers are expected to attend school as normal.[/quote]
Yes, and press coverage is hot. Our secondary is in a little village, but the press got wind of the plans and the fact that DfE had told them off.

[quote FriedPeach]@MrsWhites

That is against DfE policy on the school will be in hot water if found out. Schools can only go to remote learning under public health advice.

The government have been clear that the last day of term can be an inset day but teachers are expected to attend school as normal.[/quote]
Oh wow really, I wonder if they will change the plans back to finishing on 18th when they realise their mistake.

Our school is closing on thurs.

I have had confirmation today that the school I work in will be closing on the 18th . Inset day will be held.

My daughter's school has just moved to closing on the 15th. Caused me an absolute horror show trying to find childcare and am currently begging lifts of friends as I don't finish until the 18th

Our local primary school is closing on the 18th.
Not changing anything.

People in wales -
gov.wales/secondary-schools-and-colleges-wales-will-move-online-learning-monday-part-national-effort-reduce?fbclid=IwAR0DP6lAaPmgmMmvRGRs3PJ88K1bDc5bABZ3iimsjGKN5COwOM8LfoJc1Xc

My local massive primary was closing on 22nd but announced today they will close on 17th.

I understand why but it's thrown many parents a real curveball wrt childcare. I know school isn't childcare but to close a while week early with only one week notice is very tough on working parents.

I've had confirmation that DS's primary is open as normal on the 18th. They listed a few reasons - too short notice for parents, they've already booked teacher training days and it's difficult to arrange them, one extra day won't make a difference and they don't want any further disruption to the children. The head has said she will personally take over all track and trace over the Christmas period if necessary.

Teachers don’t do track and trace do they and in any case mostly refuse to do anything in the holidays? How many teachers are really going to be spending the Christmas holidays involved in track and trace?

Headteachers and SLT absolutely DO do the track and trace. And are expected to do it up to and including Christmas Eve this year. Some of them haven't had a break since feb - open for key workers during holidays and getting the schools ready to reopen/deal with exam fiascos during the summer.

@keiratwiceknightly

Headteachers and SLT absolutely DO do the track and trace. And are expected to do it up to and including Christmas Eve this year. Some of them haven't had a break since feb - open for key workers during holidays and getting the schools ready to reopen/deal with exam fiascos during the summer.

Exactly this. And just imagine being the person responsible for ringing a whole bubble’s set of families on Christmas Eve telling them they need to isolate when those families imagine you CBA to work over the holidays.

Is the idea that the school is told on December 23 that a child has had a positive case and the head then phones the parents in the class/year?

All our communication to date about covid cases has been by email. Why make phone calls this time?

Sorry didn’t mean to confuse you. Ours have been email too. It was just an example. But it’s a lousy email to have to send on Christmas Eve and won’t necessarily get a joyous response

Ok but then that is not a significant amount of work. Are schools shutting early for a different reason?

All our communication to date about covid cases has been by email. Why make phone calls this time?

Who did you think does this ?

Ok but then that is not a significant amount of work. Are schools shutting early for a different reason?

How would you know this ?

Of course the communication to the actual affected families is by telephone. How else do you think that you can be sure they a) get the message b) fully understand the implications (no leaving the house at all)? And c) in the case of school day notifications, that their children need collecting ASAP.

Just collating the info on who needs to isolate takes a while, let alone making the phone calls. During the school day, the whole admin team may chip on. On an evening/weekend/holiday, it will be the Head/DH themselves.

@notevenat20

Ok but then that is not a significant amount of work. Are schools shutting early for a different reason?

You’re involved with track and trace in schools are you? You seem very sure of the amount of work involved tracing a child’s contact amongst 1000+ others.

@notevenat20

Teachers don’t do track and trace do they and in any case mostly refuse to do anything in the holidays? How many teachers are really going to be spending the Christmas holidays involved in track and trace?

Teachers choose whether they work in their unpaid holidays. I assume you do loads of work for free in your job?

When all evidence . including an admission from the government themselves that heads are expected to do this beyond next Friday, tells you that teachers do contact tracing noteven it seems just perversely catty to get in your comment about teachers refusing to work in the holidays.And to suggest it is not much work is just ridiculous.