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Original poster

Greenwich schools closing tomorrow

498 replies

Starch1e · 13/12/2020 20:16

Leader of Greenwich council tweeted an open letter this afternoon asking schools to close from Tuesday. Our school is complying.
I need a meltdown emoji. Work is stupid f*king busy this week for me and DP and I cannot do it with 4 & 7 year old at home Sad Sad

OP posts:
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6
reluctantbrit · 14/12/2020 11:11

@ancientgran

I think in primaries in particular the children are all tired by this stage in the autumn term and a few days off would do them good. Obviously it is inconvenient for parents but that is part of being a parent, there aren't many children who go through school without ever being off sick.
Sure, and lots of employers are so happy to have staff dropping everything again.

I am sure most parents are aware that children getting ill and schools close suddenly.

But I would assume most parents have used all annual leave, traded favours and re-arranged work plenty of times already this year.

It is again poor political planning for something which was on the horizon for weeks.

ancientgran · 14/12/2020 11:39

Obviously it isn't convenient but shouldn't the welfare of the children be top of the list? I agree it should have been looked at weeks ago but that is how this govt play it, everything done last minute or too late. I'm glad I didn't vote for them.

If annual leave is all used up parents and carers do have a right to take leave to deal with an emergency and no child care is included.

It is unfortunate if employers aren't happy, hopefully they are aware there is a pandemic and it isn't possible to make people happy all the time but we should do our best to keep people safe.

Char2015 · 14/12/2020 12:13

Islington Council have now advised schools to move to online learning from the end of Tuesday and advised them to remain closed after the Xmas break too with online learning taking place until January 11th.

RedToothBrush · 14/12/2020 12:20

BBC reporting T3 possibly from tonight. They are trying to head the school spread in London ahead of the Christmas relaxation and avoid 'super friday' on the last friday before christmas with t3 scheduled to come in at midnight (as was the planned schedule for any possible tier changes)

They are worried and want to give time for isolation/symptoms to appear before the 23rd and the 3 household bubbles.

Bluegreen70 · 14/12/2020 12:23

Islington schools told to close too. That won’t be the last

MarshaBradyo · 14/12/2020 12:27

Both Labour and Cons hold school open position - although have only seen Starmer’s statement so far. Wonder when they’ll get their act together and actually use MPs to make decisions on it

Char2015 · 14/12/2020 12:33

I hate the say it but there needs to be a re-think to how schools operate in the new year. Rota systems possibly in both primary and secondary. Evidently, the current guidelines being implemented is just not enough. My Mum's primary school currently has nursery, reception, year 2 all isolating.

Char2015 · 14/12/2020 12:33

I wonder what borough will be next to announce school closures.

ineedaholidaynow · 14/12/2020 12:36

Ages ago the Government came up with a tier system for schools, but that seems to have disappeared. Maybe they will need to resurrect it for the New Year, because I can't imagine the situation is going to be any better for a number of areas after all the household mixing that's going to happen at Christmas.

Littleposh · 14/12/2020 12:42

Absolutely disgusting, they'd better not try this up north or I'll be making my feelings more than clear

Isthatitnow · 14/12/2020 12:45

I can't imagine the situation is going to be any better for a number of areas after all the household mixing that's going to happen at Christmas

All areas. There is no doubt that there will be preventable covid deaths as a result of Christmas mixing.

ineedaholidaynow · 14/12/2020 12:45

@Littleposh are schools struggling where you are?

RedToothBrush · 14/12/2020 12:48

@Littleposh

Absolutely disgusting, they'd better not try this up north or I'll be making my feelings more than clear
And how will that make a difference?

Who would you direct your anger at?

Char2015 · 14/12/2020 12:50

@Littleposh

Absolutely disgusting, they'd better not try this up north or I'll be making my feelings more than clear
Disgusting? What is disgusting about leaders of councils seeing that there is a problem and acting upon it to try and slow the spread and save lives. They are making sensible decisions in comparison to our Gov.
Littleposh · 14/12/2020 12:51

So I can't have an opinion?? Or stand up for my dd13 whose mental health is through the floor??

To the school, to the council, I'd think that was fairly obvious really

MarshaBradyo · 14/12/2020 13:01

@Littleposh

So I can't have an opinion?? Or stand up for my dd13 whose mental health is through the floor??

To the school, to the council, I'd think that was fairly obvious really

Yes you can. Both parties take same stance - Starmer made statement earlier in any case
Char2015 · 14/12/2020 13:04

Sky News reporting that Downing Street have confirmed schools should remain open until the end of term and that there will be no change to the 5-day period over Christmas where rules are relaxed. What are Government playing at. As I have said before, if we thought March/April/May was bad, January will be much much worse.

formerbabe · 14/12/2020 13:07

@Char2015

Sky News reporting that Downing Street have confirmed schools should remain open until the end of term and that there will be no change to the 5-day period over Christmas where rules are relaxed. What are Government playing at. As I have said before, if we thought March/April/May was bad, January will be much much worse.
Good.

I want schools open. I'd rather cancel Christmas.

RedToothBrush · 14/12/2020 13:07

@Littleposh

So I can't have an opinion?? Or stand up for my dd13 whose mental health is through the floor??

To the school, to the council, I'd think that was fairly obvious really

You can have an opinion. Its not really going to change anything. If they are closing schools they aren't doing it for fun. Precisely because they know its having such a huge impact on kids.

I really don't think this decision can have been made lightly. But the numbers in London, Kent and Essex are REALLY not good and we are 9 days out from a huge relaxation of regulations which will put lives directly at risk.

FWIW, I don't think there is strong case for following suit in many places outside the capital - the north is going MUCH MUCH better than it was and the south is.

But looking at the experience the north has had and where London is, I do think that the move is not one which is unjustified unfortunately.

OverTheRainbow88 · 14/12/2020 13:11

I predict strict Jan lockdown, including school closures. This can’t continue.

It’s tempting to call in sick first 2 weeks of back to school after loads of kids have be all over the place for Christmas

Char2015 · 14/12/2020 13:14

@OverTheRainbow88

I predict strict Jan lockdown, including school closures. This can’t continue.

It’s tempting to call in sick first 2 weeks of back to school after loads of kids have be all over the place for Christmas

I had been considering keeping kids off first 2 weeks of January at start of term. The problem is the numbers will be so high that it will make no difference when kids back. Numbers will be sky high on day 1 of term and two weeks after.
SquirmOfEels · 14/12/2020 18:03

Islington have closed schools too

But the new variant (a phenomenon that has been known for some time and they've never bothered to brief about before) has rather knocked schools down the news agenda

Char2015 · 14/12/2020 18:07

Waltham Forest Council schools now moving to remote learning. Only keyworker children and vulnerable can attend school.

Char2015 · 14/12/2020 18:08

Should of added the council has recommended this action, but leaving it to schools to make a decision if they close or not and have learning online.

Aozora13 · 14/12/2020 18:12

Lol just had an email to say my DC’s Greenwich primary will in fact be open as normal the next 3 days. What a shambles!!