Primary schools in January

[IncidentsandAccidents]

It seems pretty inevitable that secondary schools will close for a while in January, but what about primaries? The government's messaging is focused on mobilising mass testing but this was only planned for secondaries. Does this mean primaries will open? Or will they keep them closed and plan to test in primaries too? I know no-one has the answer but I'd be interested to hear predictions, especially from those working in primaries.

Patel said still committed to opening all today on radio

Still wait and see but that’s the latest

@Barbie222 when did I say it was a good idea?? But yes my children were "made available " to attend school because I would have been fined for not doing so like millions of other parents who didn't really have any other choice but to have their children "available "

I expect they will close primary schools until end of Feb half term

To be clear, Priti used the word EVENTUALLY.

What she said:

'We want to keep schools open, let me be clear about that, but we will take all the appropriate measures around protecting children, the health of children and also protecting teachers and the rest of the population as well around schools.

But I do want to emphasise the role that mass testing plays.

Mass testing is up and running across the country as we know and we have been obviously speaking about mass testing in schools and that is something that is under discussion right now across Government for January and when the schools eventually go back.'

Yes shouting the word changes everything. Go back to your daily rag where they back it up.

Op you’ll only get panic and speculation on here. Avoid Sky and daily scare news.

Wait and see what MPs and government say.

Possibly just schools in tier 4 will close for a few weeks in January but really who knows. Our school has had zero cases, no bubbles sent home and a very high attendance rate as have other local schools, it would be a shame if we had to close. We are in tier 2.

@BaileyBoos

I’m a TA. Fingers crossed they’re closed. I have three children also in primary, and I know they’re better off at school. The vaccine isn’t too far away but for now health trumps everything else I’m afraid, and the health of the teaching staff matters. I would quite like to be around for my kids....

I agree with you. I would love my primary aged dc to be back at school - it's where they thrive - but it just seems too reckless at this stage. I really hope it's a short closure, though, and I hope the government make the decision soon rather than leaving it to the last minute yet again.

I don't understand how they can keep them open in Tier 4. Where I am cases are still sky rocketing, it doesn't make sense. If it isn't safe enough to see your family for one day at Christmas then its not safe enough to have 30 kids mixing everyday.

I teach in a small Primary in tier 3. I'm fully expecting to go back on Jan 4th. We have class sized bubbles and haven't had any positive cases amongst children or staff. We have had around 10 parents test positive.

I hope primaries in tier 4 close but if not, then I hope CEV and CV teachers can work from home managing the online learning of CEV and CV children. Without that option, the consequences become unthinkable.

There needs to he more info on that yellow line plus how this intersects with info on the new variant.

I imagine due to ongoing data collection, any decisions will be v last minute. And also likely to be area dependent.

I simply can't see the testing being organised in time.

We've deleted some posts from this thread. Please do bear in mind the Talk guidelines and address the post not the person.
Peace and love.
MNHQ

Maybe I should have since mn says address the post not the person. Which has pretty much never happened.

Yes. Mainly because cases won’t have come down by 30/12. Only 10 days from lockdown. You need at least another 2 weeks to see a reduction. I think (and I’m a big proponent of keeping schools open), all kids save for y11, y13, keyworkers and vulnerable children will be online till feb half term. Nurseries may still be allowed to open.

500k have been vaccinated in first week (and that’s with Pfizer vaccine which is difficult to role out in community). Another 9 weeks (to end of half term) (and with Oxford vaccine likely approved next week) we will likely have a big proportion of first wave vaccinated. We will be in a very different place.

As much as support the closure of schools to help break transmission, I do have concerns about some pupils not physically accessing school.

I personally feel it would be sensible to revert to KW, sen and vulnerable pupils.

I'm Sen though so it's an entirely different kettle of fish.

However if proper plans are not put in place, the absolute devastation this will do to how schools are run or even able to stay open and actually provide online any learning, will be huge.

I've also personally known more teaching staff than ever be very ill from this in the last two months. And still unable to work. So plans do need to be put into place, quickly.

I honestly feel sick at the thought of them closing again 😰
My 9 year old is behind and falling more behind the longer the schools are closed, yes I teach him at home but I have a 7&4 year old too. None of them learn well at home and then not to mention the social side of school last time they closed my 7 year old was so sad. I feel so sorry for the kids in all of this 😭