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.

@NeurotreeWenceslas

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 hope SEN, vulnerable and KW can still access too. They need to decide and quickly.

I think what is most likely is that primary schools will re-open on the 4th as normal, but that a large proportion of the country will be in tier 4-like restrictions (ie no out of school activities for children, and many parents wfh)

There will be a short lull, because relatively few secondary pupils will be in school exchanging the virus, and primary pupils do not show the same symptoms so, although infected, they will be in school.

Then the bubble and school closures will ramp up over the following 2-3 weeks (especially if secondaries are mainly online), and be reflected in the ONS data to such an extent that keeping them open will start to be seen as futile (in other words the number of parents outraged due to isolation closures will be equal to or exceed the number outraged by the very idea of schools pro-actively closing).

Primaries will close round about the end of January / start of Feb, either side of half term. Whether they then re-open on sensible lines with sensible mitigations in place is yet to be seen.

@NeurotreeWenceslas

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.

This doesn’t help students outside those groups.

This doesn’t help students outside those groups.

Who ?

The ones outside you groups you listed?

I honestly feel sick at the thought of them closing again

Honestly, I do too. Even though I'm CV. I can't teach my subject remotely, can't do anyone else's effectively and I can't wfh with a mummy addicted toddler and homeschool my eldest.

But two weeks to organise testing and self isolate would reset a lot.

KW, sen and vulnerable pupils

Over half of my school's pupils have parents who fit under the definition of KW, SEN or vulnerable.

If we are to keep the school open for them in any way safely (like the 1st June re-opening, but obviously less safely because of the higher infection rate, new variant and winter weather), then that will use all staff in face-to-face teaching in school, as well as all staff being required for full time online learning for the children at home 9which will have to be asynchronous not live in the main, due to the fact that very few primary age children have a device suitable for school work of their own).

Testing and self isolation, as well as all secondary age siblings learning online would help a bit.

@NeurotreeWenceslas

This doesn’t help students outside those groups.

Who ?

Children who have parents who aren't classed as keyworkers yet still work outside the home. Children without any Internet access. Children with parents who are working from home but actually have to work so are unable to supervise home learning at the same time

This chart is key here.

If primary rates are rocketing, primary schools can’t remain open exactly as before, no matter how many people really want them to.

My son is outside that group.

Those facing exams need support.

The others are not as disadvantaged as that group. I'd keep my son out to enable another more in need to go.

Short term, not months. Area focussed.

Children who have parents who aren't classed as keyworkers yet still work outside the home.
Children without any Internet access.
Children with parents who are working from home but actually have to work so are unable to supervise home learning at the same time

Exactly. But also just children who thrive at school. Must children be edit from socialisation with peers at school. It’s vital for their overall well being and development.

When people say it’s fine we’re open to KW etc. It’s not fine for the rest who are excluded.

So what is the answer?

Schools will close anyway if infections sky rocket.

We were all given pcr tests to be done 28-30 December before we go back. The results could be interesting!

@PencilFace

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.

Sam experience here and we are in tier 4. The knock-on effect on closing primary schools is much greater than closing secondaries. I really really hope they don't close, but we'll cope if they do.

It would have to be tier dependent.

@Achristmaspudsskidu

This chart is key here.

If primary rates are rocketing, primary schools can’t remain open exactly as before, no matter how many people really want them to.

However, that is ONS data - ie random testing.

I would be REALLY interested in a chart which showed how many cases in primary age pupils were detected over the same period through the 'normal, reponsive' testing channels, which require children to have the 'classic 3' symptoms.

I suspect that the 'normal' testing hasn't gone up as much, because IME children don't get tested because they don't have the normal symptoms. That is why teacher infection - as the 'canaries in the coal mines' - is really the only measure of what infection is like in primaries.

As I say, I think primaries will go in as normal after Christmas, then close reactively, initially in response to teacher illness and shortage, because primary children won't be tested.

I am so anxious at this thought I can't do a job full time home school and look after 2 kids

There have been more infections in my child's primary school than in my eldest's secondary. And at least 3 other children (that I know of) infected after a case in his class.

I repeat, I want them open I really do. My own mental Heath was affected trying to juggle it all. Which was absolutely nothing compared to the mh of some of the parents at our school with pupils with asd, and SEMH difficulties. Domestic violence was a huge issue. There was a suicide.

Without emergency plans however it will be chaos and there will be no learning.

Sort out decent testing and take it seriously and maybe we have a chance.

So far that's proven too slow.

@Spiratedaway

I am so anxious at this thought I can't do a job full time home school and look after 2 kids

If schools close except for KW / vulnerable / SEN, I will have 3 jobs:

• Full time teaching of the above groups in school.
• Full time teaching of those children not in school
• Homeschooling DD

Those ranting at teachers for schools closing forget how many of us are also parents.

Without emergency plans however it will be chaos and there will be no schooling repeatedly during spring.

Cant why wouldn’t you get a KW place?

[Though there is of course the issue that I have already been

• Full time teaching my class at school
• Reactively teaching any child self-isolating
• Homeschooling DD after school as she is isolating due to cases in her school....]

I'm not sure why anyone is all aghast that they've not been told yet (even though they're a teacher, etc) as it's quite obvious there's not been any kind of decision taken yet.

Personally I'd hope for primaries remaining open in areas where case rates aren't too bad but the option for all parents of home educating on a temporary basis without losing their school place - if this is encouraged and supported by schools (via provision of resources, sharing curriculum etc) it would reduce the numbers in school and so make distancing a bit easier. There are a lot of parents who need school for childcare but aren't classed as keyworkers.