I keep hearing talk about school closures....

[november90]

Which is just talk at the moment, no facts behind it (or at least I don't think so!).
Does anyone know if this will likely be secondary school or all schools and nursery's? DS1 is currently in preschool which he absolutely loves! If it closed for the rest/majority of the school year I would be devastated for him!

Sorry for my Toe typo! Intent to say replies.

Every year is important in education for completely different reasons in my opinion. My son had a speech delay and was under a speech therapist. He didn't speak a word until he started nursery last October at almost 3 years old. He's been thriving since going back after the first lockdown, I would be gutted for him to not only miss out on all the fun were restricted to have outside of nursery but also not be able to develop in nursery aswell.
I'm not taking it away from any other years or any other situation. It's just so rubbish for all the kiddies :(

I think it is fine for them to close the schools if they are basically going to pay the wages of parents who then have to stay at home to school/look after their children. Last time round it virtually broke a significant proportion of the population ( mainly working females). If they aren't prepared to pay furlough level wages to let parents home school their kids without working then they will have to keep schools open this time round.

Let’s hope so for the sake of getting the numbers down. I appreciate schools are very important but so is the health of those working in schools and the nation as a whole.

My town went into tier 3 at the end of the lockdown which ended early December due to the levels across the county. At that point there was 120 odd cases per 100k. Two weeks of tier 3 and it’s gone to nearly 900 per 100k.

Recently every school in the area was having bubbles burst left right and centre.

It would be an absolute disaster for sen kids, closing schools is so important for their emotional stability.

Of course early years is important, I have a year 1 child with SEN who missed out on so much play from reception, however she has years to catch up. I also have a year 11 child due to take GCSE's in 6 months and has no chance of catching up. Of course the exam years are more important !

I don't think trying to one-up one another is helpful. It's really tough on those in exam years (and I think they'll have to cancel exams again this year if they don't go back after Christmas), but it's also really tough on primary age children, and their parents. Another prolonged period off for primary school would destroy many parents, mentally and financially.

I think we also have to be careful with saying this new strain is worse for children. The news reports are being really irresponsible, IMO, leading with "new strain is spreading more in children" then waiting until they're a couple of minutes in to say there's actually no evidence that children will become more ill because of it. We have to be really careful not to throw our children under the bus yet again.

@Londonmummy66

I think it is fine for them to close the schools if they are basically going to pay the wages of parents who then have to stay at home to school/look after their children. Last time round it virtually broke a significant proportion of the population ( mainly working females). If they aren't prepared to pay furlough level wages to let parents home school their kids without working then they will have to keep schools open this time round.

This. I can have another go at home schooling my children, or I can carry on working full time. I can't do both.

The virus is already very bad in my area. Personally I'd like to hear more about the new strain and how it affects children and teens before they return to school without even masks or social distancing. Education and socialisation may well be incredibly important but their physical health must come first. At this point I'll take the fines because over the last few months I've lost all faith in the government.

Tier 4 area. Teacher, Secondary School - schools were a scary place to be in the last 2 weeks before term ending. Y11 and Y13 only in for first week after Xmas All other year groups remote learning for a week. I'm expecting this to be extended as the testing system can not be put in place quickly. Education is so affected, even in school, teaching from the front minimum circulation with students, remote learning, even live lessons not great. Supposedly transmission is greatest in primary at the moment. So, even if in school expect class bubbles to be sent home and affect parents working.

I have a year 10 and a year 12 who missed exams. From an educational side they NEED to be in school. Looks like the school is prioritising year 11 and year 13 atm though.

I also have 2 in primary. They would be ok but I would go mad. I wouldn't have childcare.

We are iff now for nearly 2 weeks or 3 depending year group so adding another week or so and doing a 3 week or short harsh lockdown wouldn't be so bad aa only extra week off
Waiting to see and worst case numbers are not down and then doing lockdown couple weeks into jan is prob more disruptive
I think we need to be prepared for anything as new strain we still don't know enough about it yet

They need to be having good quality teaching whether in school or remote. my exam student has worked so hard and done all that has been asked by the teachers but has dropped 2 grades in every subject based on the mocks last month.

Our nursery have chosen to close for 2 weeks as we are in a tier 4 area and numbers are going through the roof. They will review once there is more guidance. It’s not looking good.

@Cecilia2016

We are in south east (tier 2) and just got the email from the school and the school will only open for 11& 13 and for the children of the key workers 4th -8th and the remaining years group will be going back from 11th January. Still waiting to hear from my son’s primary school.

We are in T4 and exactly this position.

Tier 4 here. I think it is only heading one way for us. DD’s primary school was ok all the way up until last week of school, all 8 classes ended up at home in the last two weeks. If they are going to do it I wish they would just get on with it though so we can at least attempt to make a plan with work etc.

Fuck.

@BertNErnie, I know that preschool is important. My youngest son is still in the infants. But I was able to stimulate him at home with cooking and gardening etc. My 16yr old daughter is not only struggling with that lack of socialisation but also the very real disruption to her external exams. For many kids, this is their last year at school (hopefully not DD) so what they get next summer really will affect the rest of their lives. The provision has varied dramatically across the country so much so that Scotland and Wales have cancelled them. Not us though. My youngest is not suffering the way my eldest is.

In Scotland we have been told schools will be closed till at least January 18 but the rumours are that means half term at the earliest.

I have written to my MSPs asking what support there will be for single parents like me who work from home full time. I cannot work and look after my daughter. It almost broke me last time. My boss thinks I am “inconsistent” and flakey as a result of the 6 months of lockdown this year. I am losing my mind thinking about this.

SIL is a teacher, being told closed until March

Year 11 and 13 are taking priority which is understandable but I worry about year 10 and 12 too, even though they are not sitting exams next year they are still working towards GCSE’s and A levels so having more time off will effect that. My Dd1’s school have already said they will be having a extra week off unless in year 11 and 13, dd is year 12.

I don't know but they need to announce it soon if it is happening so people can make plans re childcare really.
I bet it will be at 6pm the night before term is due to start though...

Tier 2 ta here. We made it right to the last day of term then got the please isolate call the next day due to a positive case. That means the whole class, myself and the teacher isolating all over Xmas missing any chance of being with families. It really, really sucks.
We have been completely ready to switch to online learning since October as required by law and the majority of children who have been off for testing, shielding or isolation have successfully linked up with Teams.
I am expecting to go back on the 4th (primary), whether we might get pulled after that, I keep changing my mind.
I do really think that the Government will close almost everything before they close schools again.

I'm in Wales. Local schools were closed nearly a week early, and the kids are going back a week late (maybe), as long as the evidence shows it's 'safe'. Locally, we currently have some of the lowest infection rates in the UK, so I can't see the council ever thinking it's 'safe'.

My child (primary age) will not or cannot access online learning, I suspect this is due to his SEN. I am not a key worker, and neither is DP, though we are both expected to be physically present in person in work (I am a vet). Employers not wildly understanding, I have had to take significant unpaid leave already. What are we supposed to do? Make our kids disappear?

@emilybev1986

SIL is a teacher, being told closed until March

Told by whom? We've not been told any such thing. How does anyone know at this stage, beyond a wild guess?

No, really no, I cant deal with more school closures.