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.

@Pomegranatespompom, "It is possible to want children in school plus safety measures in place to protect everyone."

Ah, well that is actually a change in tune that I've noticed in the last few days on MN. FINALLY, now, people are quietly abandoning their previous stance of "children don't spread it" and "children mustn't be "muzzled" in schools by wearing masks, and adopting the "let's have schools operating safely" stance. Which is what we teachers (and nobel has been particularly vocal about) have been saying for months, to much derision and abuse.

It is possible to want children in school plus safety measures in place to protect everyone.

Absolutely this 👏

That school’s consent form doesn’t have the information on it that the DfE’s template consent form has. That’s probably inadequate then. Pity the DfE released the template after schools closed.

Actually, the form we can see in the link is probably just the registration form;

"If you are happy for your child to be tested, please fill in the form below...The enclosed consent statement (one per student) will also need to be completed and brought into the academy on the day of the first test."

@CallmeAngelGabriel
A change in response to a virus that is changing.
I’ve always said there should be safety measures in school, so I haven’t actually changed my tune if you are suggesting this.
Cases on children remain very low in hospitals and routine testing shows very few cases in hospitals as well.
It’s really variable. We had our first positive test in school last week.

"A change in response to a virus that is changing."
Whilst it seems that the new variant is exacerbating things, it doesn't change what school staff have been saying from the get-go; children DO spread this virus (the original "old" version), even if the government and plenty of Mumsnetters and UsforThem fanatics have been denying it point-blank.

I am sick and tired of people moaning and being over-dramatic because they have to actually spend time with their kids!

I'm sorry you are having a hard time and I have mixed views on schools opening, but can we establish that the vast majority of people wanting schools to be open are saying this because they are concerned about their children's education and social and emotional welfare, not because they don't want to "spend time" with their kids.

I would agree with you there, @Kokeshi123

It's a cheap shot - and untrue.

@DonnaScozzese

You can’t have family spending Christmas Day together but you can have 30 odd people from 30 odd different households spending 6 hours a day, 5 days a week together in a small room.

Surely it's obvious the reason education continues is because it's a need and the calculated risk is it's worth it. Sitting next to someone while you both eat turkey is a want.

That people haven't that figured out yet is why we're in such a mess.

Exactly. That's why I think schools need to stay open where possible while at the same time we do not visit my vulnerable parents nor have they seen their grandchildren inside a building for 9 months.

Also people forget it's not binary - close schools, see parents. The choice is close schools, don't see parents or don't close schools, don't see parents.

When there was uproar about loosening restrictions but keeping vulnerable people isolated, I couldn't understand why people couldn't see that the alternative was everybody being restricted. The logic is just not there at the moment.

Absolutely agree, we simply can’t see people. It’s still not sinking in with people - SIL still intending to see PIL in 70s who have been shielding- she hasn’t.

I have to say sorry for my rant earlier

I'm not retracting the motion behind it, but my wording was way to generalizing and was more about me letting of steam than any normal discourse.

and also sorry to @noelgiraffe for being so nasty on her thread when these ones are usually/mostly normal discussion places.

@TheSunIsStillShining

I have to say sorry for my rant earlier

I'm not retracting the motion behind it, but my wording was way to generalizing and was more about me letting of steam than any normal discourse.

and also sorry to @noelgiraffe for being so nasty on her thread when these ones are usually/mostly normal discussion places.

Everyone is ultimately on the same side. We just see things differently depending upon our own circumstances.

No doubt about it, the whole thing is a mess and we're here fighting with each other when we have a government that simply must have been preparing for a pandemic scenario for decades and yet acts as if the whole thing came as a surprise and there are no plans for what to do. They are criminals and here we are throwing accusations around at each other. That's what THEY want.

@dividedwefall
Yes. It just got to me today for some reason that no matter how many times I say don't let them divide and conquer, in every country I lived in this happens. I don't get why people don't see this and act against it...

And brexit is not helping. We moved here with the sunny dreams of staying forever, and even after the vote we didn't really contemplate moving. We set up our lives here.
But the non/mis-handling of covid + no deal brexit just broke the camel's back. We are not even sure that it is worth the stay for the sake of the so called best academic school...

Today broke me. I'll put myself back by tomorrow.
But even if I feel broken I should not have been so inconsiderately harsh and rude.

I think everyone is pretty much at the end of their tether this weekend, TheSun. Look after yourself and thanks for apologising - not something many people would do!

Interesting article here: inews.co.uk/news/politics/government-looks-at-vaccinating-secondary-school-pupils-to-control-covid-spread-802282

“Government scientists are so concerned about the risk of secondary schools fuelling cases of the new coronavirus strain they are drawing up plans for vaccination of teenage pupils, i can reveal.
Those present heard that the surge in cases in Kent, London and other parts of south east England associated with the new strain in November, was in part driven by secondary schools remaining open during the month-long lockdown in England.

Teenagers were passing on infections inside their households, official figures show.“

Why would they be planning for vaccinations which are ages off due to no vaccines being approved for kids instead of looking at immediate measures for reducing transmission in schools?

It seems fairly obvious that this new strain really took off in schools rather than a particular age group because they’re perfectly designed to spread covid.

Hope all goes well in Jan/Feb, Leodot, and don’t feel guilty; I’m sure your colleagues are just looking forward to hear some exciting baby news!

TheSunIsStillShining

Don't worry. Everybody is struggling with fear and anger right now. You won't be the only one who writes a post in a way they regret afterwards--I'm afraid I've also done it more than once recently. It's so hard on everyone right now.

@TheSunIsStillShining this weekend just about broke me too - it’s taken the best part of the term for my daughter to be ok back at school after lockdown and the thought of the impact on her if more time out of school tipped me over the edge. We all have our moments.

@noelgiraffe I don’t understand why they’d look at vaccinating teenage pupils but not prioritise teachers for vaccination, that feels more than a bit short sighted. I thought they weren’t clear that the current vaccine prevents transmission so vaccinating children won’t necessarily prevent teachers getting it 🤷‍♀️

I really want to know that lateral flow tests are as (50%) effective on the new strain before I accept them as a replacement to self isolation.

Thats a huge admission if true re vaccinating teens!! Not even covered other front line workers, care home patients and staff...

And yes should not school staff also be finally included in these vaccination plans if they are adamant school stays open.
I'm seriously thinking about holding my two off in January until we see how this plays out. If they fine me I'll go to court and ask for their duty of care risk assessment.

Agree this past weekend has reached a new low for me also. Before this latest situation it at least seemed as though the new year would be better. It's now slowly sinking in just how grim a time we are in for.

Absolutely vaccinate teachers. I'd be happy for my teens to be vaccinated too (and so would they), but have the vaccine been approved by the regulator for this?
Also, they're going to want teachers to watch a PowerPoint then vaccinate all the students aren't they.

Mrsoho I think it will be a totally different situation in spring. This is winter, it's hard in winter anyway re hospitals, adverse weather, its compounding at the moment and looks bleak.
I always knew this virus would take off in winter because it likes the cold. But who knew a new strain would blind side us!
We will prevail, eventually.

[quote Clavinova]This academy school has already updated its website - consent form for the lateral flow tests in the link;

www.elizabethan.notts.sch.uk/news/?pid=3&nid=1&storyid=1049[/quote]
Link seems to have disappeared this morning. Interesting.

@PandemicPavolova

Mrsoho I think it will be a totally different situation in spring. This is winter, it's hard in winter anyway re hospitals, adverse weather, its compounding at the moment and looks bleak. I always knew this virus would take off in winter because it likes the cold. But who knew a new strain would blind side us! We will prevail, eventually.

Thank you and yes I agree we will get through it. I think it was the headlines of panic buying/brexit borders doom that sent me crashing yesterday. I'm escaping with Netflix today!

@EndoplasmicReticulum

Absolutely vaccinate teachers. I'd be happy for my teens to be vaccinated too (and so would they), but have the vaccine been approved by the regulator for this? Also, they're going to want teachers to watch a PowerPoint then vaccinate all the students aren't they.

But that’ll be easy because they can combine testing and vaccination in one streamlined operation. They can line up in tutor time, get tested, swab in bin (as suggested on another thread), join the back of the queue, get vaccinated, and off to Maths, rubbing arm and complaining of dizziness.

Given that uptake of flu vaccine in children is 60% and that is a very safe and well tested vaccine with very few side effects I would be very surprised if vaccinating children is the front runner in containing spread. Not to mention that we have very few vaccines available. The Moderna one appears to be the only one starting trials (so some way off) and is one of the novel rna ones with special storage requirements. I’m very sceptical
Is there any recourse if your school don’t provide sufficient quality of education, eg 10 minutes live teaching a day and some set work?