Not looking good for schools. Evidence of more “explosive” covid outbreaks.

[Mumof3andlovingit]

Was expected really as scientists were hinting that the new strain was more prevalent amongst students in schools.
Let’s hope the government make the right decision in regards to schools now 🤞

And what's the right decision?

They need to forget the tiered system as that won’t work in my opinion.
I know too many people not following the rules because their excuse is what’s the point if schools are open and kids mixing freely with so many other families.

We are very clearly being eased in to the fact schools are going to be different as planned in jan. Whether thats key worker/vulnerable only, rota or what not they are laying the ground work now.

And is the only reason the new strain discovered is more prevalent in schools because they’ve increased testing in schools? Might it have been around for a while but only now being discovered because of the increased testing?

How many children have been seriously affected? Teachers? Support staff? I’d like to see those statistics before I hear the scaremongering.

Yes, I recognise this tactic of hints and leaks. Off to re plan January's lessons.

The 'more explosive' is part of a description of events that is explicitly described as anecdotal, so aim off a bit.

But interesting that SKY's reporting on it is contained in a two paragraph article, the seeing paragraph of which is a recap of the DofE's decision to threaten Greenwich with prosecution when they wanted to close schools a few days early last week

@Wakeupin2022

And what's the right decision?

Well as a mother the first thing I want is to make sure my kids are safe and their teachers are well enough to provide an education. I want the government to do what it can to find a balance between giving them a somewhat decent education and protecting our kids, teachers and families. My kids have isolated that many times now that a couple of weeks of school closures to learn more about the impact of the new strain on students would be a good idea.

January will look different to normal, that’s for sure. I just hope the DfE let schools know with a bit of warning what is going to change!

Mum the tier system is working relatively well where I am (Tier 2).

If people think they can break the rules because the kids are on school then they should give themselves a hard shake! Schools are essential for the kids.

However I do think it may be worthwhile to have a short closure to get numbers down in SE and stop them exploding elsewhere.

And then after that we need older kids in masks and testing made available to pupils when there are cases identified.

To just close schools for many months like they did in March is not the way forward.

There is no choice now is there. It's been bloody obvious from the get go that schools are a hotbed for it. The kids are ok but will be taking it back to their families. I took it home and infected all my family. Fortunately we all had it mildly.

Three teachers at our school are still very ill from September and there are still no plans for them to be returning soon.

@PerhapsOverlyWorried I got Covid in November and so did 16 of my colleagues at our secondary, despite the locked staffroom and having meetings on Teams only. Loads of kids had it. We had to close the school for a fortnight. 15 of us are back but we're not working at full capacity because we're still recovering. Does that count as affected?

@PerhapsOverlyWorried

And is the only reason the new strain discovered is more prevalent in schools because they’ve increased testing in schools? Might it have been around for a while but only now being discovered because of the increased testing?

How many children have been seriously affected? Teachers? Support staff? I’d like to see those statistics before I hear the scaremongering.

I’ve heard that excuse too many times that cases have increased because testing has increased. That’s what was said before when we started hitting 20k+ cases daily after summer. However, here we are and now we have 35k+ cases daily and still increasing daily which proves its not just the increase in testing, but it is indeed an increase in cases.

I’m pretty sure that I’ll be in (probably full time) and therefore so will my children (I teach in a special school). We had about 50% in over the last lockdown.

I hope there's at least a rota system so they are in some of the time. Another full closure for months would be disastrous for us personally.

@Wakeupin2022

Mum the tier system is working relatively well where I am (Tier 2).

If people think they can break the rules because the kids are on school then they should give themselves a hard shake! Schools are essential for the kids.

However I do think it may be worthwhile to have a short closure to get numbers down in SE and stop them exploding elsewhere.

And then after that we need older kids in masks and testing made available to pupils when there are cases identified.

To just close schools for many months like they did in March is not the way forward.

I agree. I just don’t want the government to ignore the scientific advice. I want them to follow the guidance and protect our kids and do whatever they can to allow teachers to teach in a covid secure classroom. If my children aren’t isolating then they have a mixture of cover teachers who are basically just baby sitting them, because their teachers are off poorly for weeks and weeks with the virus. Not the teachers fault obviously, but if the government don’t do something to slow the cases in schools then it will just get worse for everyone.

@PerhapsOverlyWorried

And is the only reason the new strain discovered is more prevalent in schools because they’ve increased testing in schools? Might it have been around for a while but only now being discovered because of the increased testing?

How many children have been seriously affected? Teachers? Support staff? I’d like to see those statistics before I hear the scaremongering.

Testing in schools? Where?

“PerhapsOverlyWorried
And is the only reason the new strain discovered is more prevalent in schools because they’ve increased testing in schools? Might it have been around for a while but only now being discovered because of the increased testing?

How many children have been seriously affected? Teachers? Support staff? I’d like to see those statistics before I hear the scaremongering.”
@RigaBalsam
Testing in schools? Where?

Exactly.

The "right decision" should have been made in September to open schools safely.
Not just send everybody back like before while shouting Schools Are Safe and keeping fingers crossed.
Too late now though.

@DownstairsMixUp

I think the people who have been desperate for the schools to close will be sorely disappointed this time. I know there's a lot more keyworkers in my school now and we will still be full to 70% capacity.

Who is desperate for schools to close? Are you hoping that your children will be crammed back into small classrooms? This would be foolish. I hope schools schools stay open safely for all children but especially vulnerable and key worker kids.

@Wakeupin2022

Mum the tier system is working relatively well where I am (Tier 2).

If people think they can break the rules because the kids are on school then they should give themselves a hard shake! Schools are essential for the kids.

However I do think it may be worthwhile to have a short closure to get numbers down in SE and stop them exploding elsewhere.

And then after that we need older kids in masks and testing made available to pupils when there are cases identified.

To just close schools for many months like they did in March is not the way forward.

Yes, it is easy to forget that there are still considerable areas of the country in tiers 1 and 2 and schools will be closed in those areas for another 2-3 weeks so pupils won't be mixing in that time. Closing schools in tiers 1 and 2 makes no sense.

Plus once schools are closed it is very hard to reopen them as we saw in the first lockdown due to the sunk costs fallacy and unions holding all the cards at that point.

I’m not disagreeing that schools should close, on a time limited basis. But round here soft play is still open - personally I’d be starting there.

Plus once schools are closed it is very hard to reopen them as we saw in the first lockdown due to the sunk costs fallacy and unions holding all the cards at that point.

The unions have never had any power. What a load if rubbish.

Not anti-union, but remember in June, it was the unions who stopped schools reopening and were able to limit reopening to exam years only in secondaries (and 3 year groups in primaries also).

Who holds the cards depends on the situation. When schools are open, it is the DfE and government. When schools are closed it is the unions because it is much harder to reopen schools when they are closed.