No longer a national priority to keep schools open

[noelgiraffe]

The government has surreptitiously dropped its priority to keep schools open.

It has replaced it with a priority to “keep education open”.

Remote learning is now a viable alternative to keeping schools open (as opposed to last Monday when it was a matter for the high court).

In the DfE media blog, tweeted earlier today regarding the delayed start to term in January they say:

“ Is this an extension of the Christmas holiday?

No, this isn’t an extension of the holiday and we haven’t asked that the start of term is delayed.

All students will return to education from the first day of term. Secondary school and college students should learn remotely for one week except those in exam years, vulnerable young people and the children of critical workers. It remains our national priority to keep education open and we are not closing education for any period other than during the set holiday periods.”

Interesting development.

Link here: dfemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/12/17/coronavirus-screening-for-secondary-and-college-students-in-the-first-week-of-the-spring-term-your-questions-answered/

Well that is sneaky wording!

That’s a not so subtle change actually. Especially if you’re familiar with their comms.

The penny is dropping finally. Lockdowns without changes to our schools set up are not very effective. Shame it's taken so long to reach this point.

Brilliant-good to hear it!

About time!

@Achristmaspudsskidu

Brilliant-good to hear it!

I dunno, I bloody hate remote learning, not looking forward to Jan.

It does raise the potential for schools to be included in future lockdowns.

Thank fuck for that!

Maybe now they will allow parents to keep their children home without fining us

I think I want to scream.

Nobody likes anyone who says, "I told you so, " but......

"WE TOLD YOU SO!!!!!"

Hiding subtle changes in official communications must be a specific skill in all their job adverts...

Should have shut a couple of weeks before christmas to re assess in the new year. Fooking eejits.

Rumours elsewhere of a tier 4 being announced soon...

I think this is terrible for children and young people.

This is dreadful for kids and families

@Thedogshow

I think this is terrible for children and young people.

So is poverty, stemming from never ending lockdowns which are not working because the main vectors are open without mitigation. That’s before you get on to delays in health care, etc.

Not sending children to school is not going to prevent further lockdowns.

@Thedogshow

I think this is terrible for children and young people.

So is unmitigated covid spread?

We're in a pandemic, I don't think it's particularly great for anyone (apart from the Tory mates making a fortune out of it).

I dunno, I bloody hate remote learning, not looking forward to Jan.

I don’t really mean ‘brilliant!’ in that I personally love remote teaching because I don’t (though what my DC have received from their school has been outstanding), it’s more the fact that the government appear to be acknowledging that education can still take place outside of the classroom as well.

if they had fucking got on top of it earlier than we would not be in this position.

I can't quite decide if this is a major policy shift or someone at the DfE trying to cover up the fact that they're closing schools in Jan for a week has accidentally created a major policy shift.

@Thedogshow

Not sending children to school is not going to prevent further lockdowns.

Of course it will, they are the main sources of transmission.

The real shame, if they had acknowledged this earlier, actually made schools safer. Rather than encouraging parents to turn a blind eye. You know, cramming people in, small rooms, unventilated with an airborne pandemic. We wouldn’t be in the shit we are now.

@mrshoho

The penny is dropping finally. Lockdowns without changes to our schools set up are not very effective. Shame it's taken so long to reach this point.

We need to close all schools and of course send home all workers who have children in schools. It's not like we need anyone to be going to work right now.

How come the govmint didn't think of that! it's so easy.

@Thedogshow @ForestNymph

I agree. The situation in schools is unbelievably difficult, but all those teachers calling for schools to move online - especially if this were to happen at primary level too - need to be honest about the fact that inequality will inevitably widen, some working parents (generally women) will lose their jobs and all children will to a greater or lesser degree end up with gaps in their learning. I say that as a former teacher myself who does empathise with the huge challenges - but it’s just a fact that remote learning will only work for a proportion of children.

Also children are children. Not ‘disease vectors’.

[quote TempsPerdu]**@Thedogshow* @ForestNymph*

I agree. The situation in schools is unbelievably difficult, but all those teachers calling for schools to move online - especially if this were to happen at primary level too - need to be honest about the fact that inequality will inevitably widen, some working parents (generally women) will lose their jobs and all children will to a greater or lesser degree end up with gaps in their learning. I say that as a former teacher myself who does empathise with the huge challenges - but it’s just a fact that remote learning will only work for a proportion of children.[/quote]
Yes exactly. My son has ASD and his school does 121 with him. No way I can provide that at home with twin toddlers. School helps him learn not only academically but also social skills and he has friends there and is happy. If DS1 is home all the time it will be very difficult and I can guarantee he will miss out on learning simply because I can't be everything all at once.