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.

I am praying primary schools open....even if it is just EYFS / lower primary whatever. The years that really can't benefit from looking at a screen all day.

Of course, having to isolate would be a nightmare but it's only 10 days and I'd at least get SSP. Last time schools closed in March and stayed closed for 4 months. I can't not work for 4 months.

You don't get SSP if it's your child isolating @Waxonwaxoff0 , it's unpaid parental leave at your employer's discretion. That's wearing a bit thin for the people who've had to do it four or five times. You do you, but the vast majority would rather take part time that was reliable over full time that was not. It lets us work.

@Waxonwaxoff0

Of course, having to isolate would be a nightmare but it's only 10 days and I'd at least get SSP. Last time schools closed in March and stayed closed for 4 months. I can't not work for 4 months.

If cases keep going up, it won't be just 10 days, will it? One poster from the north has a child who has had to isolate 5 times this term, and that experience will be repeated elsewhere with the new more contagious strain (IF parents bother to test, rather than sending their child in regardless because 'it's only a cold and I can't afford the time off work so I'm not going to get them tested')

@Barbie222 I said in my post that part time would be better than a complete closure. I'd be OK with part time.

@Delta1 I am praying primary schools open....even if it is just EYFS / lower primary whatever. The years that really can't benefit from looking at a screen all day.

Would you happen to have DC only in EYFS/KS1 Delta? I know young children have to be permanently watched but other children need to be in school to work effectively and learn with peers too and are not ready for independent learning. Not having a go at you, just pointing out all year groups can make a strong case based on need e.g. what about yr6 they are supposed to still be sitting SATS this year?

Until more data has been collected and analysed on the new variant even the government doesn’t know if in-person education will resume at the start of spring term. What is clear is the fact that it has been a government priority to keep schools open since September. This will no doubt continue as we can all agree it is a priority.

However, IF analysis shows children are as infectious as adults or even more infectious, clearly priorities have to shift. Surely IF children are confirmed to be as likely to contract and pass on as an adult the possibility of children becoming seriously unwell would also increase (as more children would be infected). A 10yr old at DS primary was one of 6 confirmed cases, obviously don’t know whether it’s the new variant or not but school is on border of tier 4 area. He was admitted to hospital with high fever, sickness and breathing difficulties, was kept in 5days and has been home 7days, temp still has been spiking and child has no energy not even interested in playing on Xbox!

I think this new information about a virus 'mutation' that spreads faster in children is yet more smoke and mirrors.

I'm not remotely in the SE/ London where this mutation is apparently spreading but COVID is burning through secondaries and primaries around my area and has been since Sept (Tier 3 area).

In fact, I am also now ill and awaiting test results. As are at least 5 of my colleagues. It doesn't matter if we all want schools to stay open- if it's not safe, it's not safe. And believe me, I would much rather be with my class face to face. And my own DC be in school. But this current situation is untenable.

I think it always did spread through children. Problem is, they haven't been displaying the recognised symptoms of at all.

It's only now that the Government realised that just making stuff up about schools being 'COVID safe' has well & truly bitten them on the arse and they actually need to tackle the problem properly.

Whether they do remains to be seen.

Sorry -'recognised symptoms IF at all'

I think it always did spread through children. Problem is, they haven't been displaying the recognised symptoms of at all.

It's only now that the Government realised that just making stuff up about schools being 'COVID safe' has well & truly bitten them on the arse and they actually need to tackle the problem properly.

I agree with this. I think it's always been a lot more prevalent in young children but because the test is unpleasant and invasive many parents will not put their children through it. Some children in my class have been for one test. None have been for more than one, can't really blame parents to be honest as I think the second time around you'd need to hold them down somehow from the front seat of your car.

[quote GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly]**@Delta1* I am praying primary schools open....even if it is just EYFS / lower primary whatever. The years that really can't benefit from looking at a screen all day.*

Would you happen to have DC only in EYFS/KS1 Delta? I know young children have to be permanently watched but other children need to be in school to work effectively and learn with peers too and are not ready for independent learning. Not having a go at you, just pointing out all year groups can make a strong case based on need e.g. what about yr6 they are supposed to still be sitting SATS this year?[/quote]
Yeah I completely agree with you. I'm just clutching at straws. I'd hate to a single child out of school for another day. It's fucking terrible for them.

I expect ds's special school will stay open unless/ until staffing prevents it. They did that it in March and stayed open throughout.The children cannot learn remotely. There have been no cases since October and the rates are still falling where I live. Tiny classes with complete staff control over mixing so a rota system would be pointless.

The situation has changed with the new variant.

It is clear that primary schools were not really a problem unless community rates were high.

Secondary school has always played a larger part in driving the community transmission.

With this new variant though (and there is clearly something going on - its not just govts way of excusing cases in schools) it does look like primary school children are at more risk of catching it and ultimately spreading it.

I do think some form of school closure may be the only solution- and I say that as a parent who has never supported school closures.

Even though cases are not bad in my area I would support schools not returning until mid - end January. As it would be better to do this now rather than let it spread wildly 1st.

I don't think its fair to blame parents who sent their children to school previously, especially primary school as something has definitely changed.

@Christmascheese

I think primary school will open back up as normal except for possibly in tier 4 areas.

I think England will all be in Tier 4 or lockdown by January.

I would like primary schools to stay open but feel it’s increasingly likely they won’t be, at least not to begin with. How can it be justified when rates for primary schooled aged children are increasing so rapidly.

I think parents and teachers all know safety should be the first priority & obviously well-being including that of parents being able to provide for families by working and for children’s attainment and happiness.

The DfE have not shown forward planning on any of this though - just we’re shut (shit!!! March) rates too high to reopen in April (shit!) rates too high to reopen fully in May (shit!! Quick cherry pick some years, others continue to fend for yourselves), promise summer catch up (non- existent where I live!) plus sideshow of mutant Algorithm & exam results chaos, September (Gov declare schools are safe and open to all - ignore massive number needing to isolate in Hull/ Manchester etc) December 2020 escalating cases Greenwich respond by telling schools to teach remotely for last week (DfE legal action will be taken don’t you dare!) days after announce Tier4.
It’s hard to have confidence this will handled any better from January.

They better tighten critical worker categories, from May it got very arbitrary which children had ‘key worker’ parents and got to attend school. Also knew a key worker whose hairdresser wife was furloughed but their kids were at school while lots of us had 2 parents trying to work and homeschool. The system allowed for that but wasn’t based on need or availability of a parent to homeschool e.g furloughed workers.

Last time they gave a day's notice, IIRC?

So an announcement late on Friday 1st - or even Sunday 3rd - with provision expected to start on Monday 4th would be entirely normal.

I follow the DfE on social media and the latest blog has a significant shift in emphasis. Unlike the positive open atanycost messaging throughout last term the new post focuses on providing remote learning ending with:

Get help with remote education. The Department has published a package of resources, including best practice guidance, webinars and annotated lesson plans, to support teachers and leaders with remote education during the coronavirus outbreak. Take a look at the support available on GOV.UK.

Significant shift? Why can’t they just tell people so they have time to prepare??

*I do think some form of school closure may be the only solution- and I say that as a parent who has never supported school closures.

Even though cases are not bad in my area I would support schools not returning until mid - end January. As it would be better to do this now rather than let it spread wildly 1st.*

I agree with all of this. These are exceptional circumstances and I think short term closure is the only responsible course. I say this with a heavy heart because my own children thrive at school and another closure will widen inequalities even further, but it's the least worst choice at this stage.

So, the Times today, reports that the infection rate for secondary pupils last week was 2,509 out of 100,000. The ONS graph that has been posted on threads here several times in the last couple of days shows primary pupils to be not that far behind, if I'm interpreting things correctly.
How on EARTH can schools remain open, if that's the rate of spread?

We have done nothing but school/work/home since September and my primary aged children have isolated on rotation for the last eight weeks, one off at all times. Then we caught Covid from school and have isolated again and been unwell.
I cannot see how we can’t have some kind of closures especially in areas with high cases. It has been awful where we live.

[quote 3littlewords]@Barbie222 did you keep your children at home then and pay the fines for doing so?[/quote]
I kept mine home but don’t blame those that didn’t. The bullying from the LA has been untenable. But the response from the legal challenge suggests this won’t continue much longer so 🤞
Plus I am on a SAHM break so completely different.
I really hope that people who aren’t happy feel able to protest if necessary.
We need (safer, sustainable) schools.