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!

@emilybev1986

SIL is a teacher, being told closed until March

Well this simply isn't true. I doubt Boris even has a clue what's happening next week, let alone what is happening with schools until March.

DDs school aren't letting non exam year children back until 11th January, were in T4.
Honestly, she's finished the term and has covid symptoms.
Shes had to have a test, and regardless of whether schools are open or not, I'm going to be registering to home educate until this is over.

It is absolute madness in our position to continue sending her to school where she may pick up this virus, which I am at huge risk of.

I did it for a term, I didn't put myself first, but until I was in the position at 3am thinking, if I die what will that do to DD I don't think I'd given the repercussions too much thought.

So, we all know what's happening here, new variant, kids seem to catch it more easily. Lots of children NOT in school NOT being educated because they're off isolating all the time as cases rise.

My friend's child (primary) lives in a US state wears a mask all day - happy to do so just as he is to be polite and wash hands - knows he's doing it to save lives. Only takes it off to eat. He's in half time so small class sizes, SD desks, half time online learning.

Who has had a less interrupted education? Him or my kids? Who is having a lovely relaxed Xmas safe in the knowledge that in his state cases haven't risen much, and that his schooling will continue half time in person, half time online exactly as before after the break?

Answers on a postcard.... it's obvious.

He's getting socialisation and interaction half of the time. The rest he works at home, the education he's getting in his smaller class size in school is better than the larger class sizes before. The quieter time to focus at home is benefitting him too. He really values his time in school. Basically it's about a million times better thought through and funded than here and their cases (and deaths) have remained low. Plus no new variant.

I am angry my kids have such a shit show compared to my friends' child.

Sage have said many times that secondary schools account for between 0.35-0.5 of R and primary schools for around 0.2 (so, altogether, up to 0.7 of R). That's before the new variant.

It's a very challenging picture.

It’s the last thing anyone wants, I guess we will do what we have to do though.

I hadn’t thought about schools but it does seem to make sense for us to go into lockdown in Jan/Feb, roll out the vaccines to the most vulnerable and be in a better place for the spring.

People spend less after Christmas anyway and the weather is rubbish so it makes sense to lay low then and emerge like a butterfly in March. I know it’s never that straight forward of course.

I've tried to take up the issue with my local council (I would support short term closure/part time schooling if local infection rates were high), but their online portal was not working - funny that!

And, yes, the SIL story is very irresponsible. No one knows the square root of sod all what's actually going to be decided at this point.

Yes, I think there will be either a delayed start back to the spring term (2-3 weeks?) or the government will tell schools to start back as normal (barring secondary maybe) and cases will continue to rise and THEN they’ll have to close them as everywhere else will be already closed so they will have to do something.

I’m talking tier 4 in particular here. Not sure about everywhere.

North West. Secondary expected to go back a few weeks after normal Jan 5th start. Local paper...doesn’t mean much.

[quote NellyJames]@november90, at least your child is only in preschool. My daughter is Y11 and taking GCSEs in June. She’s missed so much school due to self isolating because of positive tests in her year/bubble. She’s had virtually no instrument instruction for her music and she needs to submit a piece of coursework analysing a field trip that didn’t take place. This year’s Y11s have been shafted.[/quote]
Same with my year 11 DD. Football team mate tested positive so she had to isolate for 2 weeks , went back for 3 days then off another two weeks as one of her school bubble was positive. Also had time off herself as she felt unwell and waited days for a test. She has done remarkably well in mocks considering, but is highly anxious about GCSE's.

@IloveJKRowling

So, we all know what's happening here, new variant, kids seem to catch it more easily. Lots of children NOT in school NOT being educated because they're off isolating all the time as cases rise.

My friend's child (primary) lives in a US state wears a mask all day - happy to do so just as he is to be polite and wash hands - knows he's doing it to save lives. Only takes it off to eat. He's in half time so small class sizes, SD desks, half time online learning.

Who has had a less interrupted education? Him or my kids? Who is having a lovely relaxed Xmas safe in the knowledge that in his state cases haven't risen much, and that his schooling will continue half time in person, half time online exactly as before after the break?

Answers on a postcard.... it's obvious.

He's getting socialisation and interaction half of the time. The rest he works at home, the education he's getting in his smaller class size in school is better than the larger class sizes before. The quieter time to focus at home is benefitting him too. He really values his time in school. Basically it's about a million times better thought through and funded than here and their cases (and deaths) have remained low. Plus no new variant.

I am angry my kids have such a shit show compared to my friends' child.

My friend is an epidemiologist in the US (she's British) and has been involved in the safe return to schools in her district- implementing many many things that you have said here also including improved ventilation in schools. She is aghast at what has been happening over here in schools. She says the scientists are pulling their hair out with the government's 'all in at all costs' mantra.

@YouKnowItsTrue

It’s the last thing anyone wants, I guess we will do what we have to do though.

I hadn’t thought about schools but it does seem to make sense for us to go into lockdown in Jan/Feb, roll out the vaccines to the most vulnerable and be in a better place for the spring.

People spend less after Christmas anyway and the weather is rubbish so it makes sense to lay low then and emerge like a butterfly in March. I know it’s never that straight forward of course.

I don't think many working parents who would be expected to home school full time again would be "emerging like butterflies" in March.

@emilybev1986

SIL is a teacher, being told closed until March

Children are being told a bloke in a red furry suit will be coming down the chimney with presents too.

Thats also bullshit, but young children can be excused for being gullible.

What's your excuse?

@YouKnowItsTrue if working parents aren’t expected to homeschool then who will homeschool my child?

@emilybev1986

SIL is a teacher, being told closed until March

WTF? Literally no plan in this entire pandemic period has been for more than a month at a time at the outside, I genuinely want to dig into this more despite knowing it's absolute bullocks. So who told her this?

*bollocks, obv 🤦‍♀️

Agree with you @IloveJKRowling. My friends in the US are incredulous at what's happening here.

I'm not sure the US is much of a shining beacon in how it's handled the pandemic in general though...

The only way they (secondaries)could open in tier 4 would be if they sort regular testing surely.
This has been promised but who knows if it will actually happen.

@snowballer

I'm not sure the US is much of a shining beacon in how it's handled the pandemic in general though...

No indeed but my friend's area has far better safety features in schools in her district. She did tell me that sadly it wasn't the same in other districts down to funding and policy of each district.

Oh god I can't do full time school closures again. I'm front line NHS and my husband was juggling home schooling with our 5 year olds and his very technical, high stakes mistakes job. I genuinely think I'd have to leave work, it's nearly broken us this year.

I don't think many working parents who would be expected to home school full time again would be "emerging like butterflies" in March.

Fair point. After last time I don’t want to be doing that again myself.

I recieved my key worker letter earlier so I think all schools.

Well let's do it the US way.........

Although I have been incredulous looking at some FB posts from USA!

Not sure we should really be looking acrossnthe pond to see how to do it........

@Wakeupin2022 absolutely I agree but my very highly qualified and experienced friend has put together school systems that are keeping the schools in her district (on the east coast near a very, very famous university) open. As I said before she expressed sadness to me that it isn't possible in other districts. Unlike here school districts have ownership of their schools not central government.