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.

Marsha they already have closed secondaries with some exceptions for the first week of Jan.

What do you think will happen in Tier 4?

Those who say ‘if you work from home’ you do realise it’s WORK from home not look after your children from home.....

Closed?

I'm in one of the boroughs that was threatened with legal action. Dd1 went back to school on Wednesday, and has just tested positive. Now all the kids in her class need to isolate over Christmas which wouldn't have happened had the school been allowed to follow the council's directive & remote school for the last 3 days of term.

If you mean online first week yes I am aware. I already received school email.

No I do not think tier 4 will alter it.

The main concern is travel out of tier 4 and spreading new variant. Schools don’t do this.

Until I see it it’s the usual hype.

I dearly hope they won't close early years. Our children need to be in.

Selfishly as well my job is keeping me mentally afloat and I worry we won't manage financially if we suffer another shut down.

The main concern is travel out of tier 4 and spreading new variant. Schools don’t do this.

They do on tier borders.

So what. It won’t change it.

I know you’re keen to close schools in tier 4. Or not I can’t keep up but you are hyping people up again.

To what end?

@Stokey

I'm in one of the boroughs that was threatened with legal action. Dd1 went back to school on Wednesday, and has just tested positive. Now all the kids in her class need to isolate over Christmas which wouldn't have happened had the school been allowed to follow the council's directive & remote school for the last 3 days of term.

Sorry to hear and I hope your daughter gets better soon. Bad news for her classmates and possibly her teacher also. Sadly many will likely be getting these notifications.

The main concern is travel out of tier 4 and spreading new variant. Schools don’t do this.

Rubbish.

Hundreds of DC here get the bus and train in and out every day. That’ll be from Tier 3 areas in and out to a Tier 4 area daily.

I know you’re keen to close schools in tier 4. Or not I can’t keep up but you are hyping people up again.

Wtf. I’ve only just heard about the existence of Tier 4, and I’ve posted on this thread that I don’t want schools to close.

Am I not even allowed to discuss breaking news without being accused of campaigning to close schools? Ffs. Everyone else is allowed to discuss stuff but not me, right?

Tier 4 is two weeks

It will be over by schools start so it doesn’t matter if they travel on a bus then

@noelgiraffe

I know you’re keen to close schools in tier 4. Or not I can’t keep up but you are hyping people up again.

Wtf. I’ve only just heard about the existence of Tier 4, and I’ve posted on this thread that I don’t want schools to close.

Am I not even allowed to discuss breaking news without being accused of campaigning to close schools? Ffs. Everyone else is allowed to discuss stuff but not me, right?

Obviously.

The change in tone from the PM is frightening. Education will be changed, transmission of this new strain so much more rapid...of course schools will close...whether planned to save staff and children's lives or by default as too many staff are ill.

If schools are to remain open, mitigation is absolutely essential. Transport, classrooms, staggered attendance, PPE everything that is needed. You should all be lobbying your MP's NOW.

You think Tier 4 will end on December 30th marsha ??

@WheresGav

You think Tier 4 will end on December 30th marsha ??

How long are you gunning for then?

@ByersRd

The change in tone from the PM is frightening. Education will be changed, transmission of this new strain so much more rapid...of course schools will close...whether planned to save staff and children's lives or by default as too many staff are ill.

If schools are to remain open, mitigation is absolutely essential. Transport, classrooms, staggered attendance, PPE everything that is needed. You should all be lobbying your MP's NOW.

This.

gunning ??

The new Tier 4 measures in southeast England will see all non-essential shops, gyms, and hairdressers close, with people ordered to stay home apart from limited exceptions such as work - if people cannot work from home - education, childcare and exercise.

It’s exempt anyway.

Parents cannot work unless kids in school. Online education is awful.
If they close the schools next I am telling you we are screwed as a country as it has such a knock in effect on everything

Remmy don’t worry education is exempt from stay at home order in tier 4

At the moment, yes. That was an exemption even in peak lockdown because people did travel for education.

You may well be right that the government will carry on . All that is being discussed is a change in their wording and a recent acknowledgement of asymptomatic transition and that young people are the most infected subset of the population. We cannot be ostriches about that.

Boris behaved as if he was incredulous that people thought that asymptomatic transmission wasn't thing. He claimed that had always been a message. They change their narrative all the time.

I doubt this. And all it does is ramp fear unnessarily.