Schools could be closed until Feb half term!

[DfEisashambles]

Reported in the DM. I’m surprised at this and don’t think it’ll go ahead.

This is bloody infuriating! We are losing a war against a virus and affecting millions of working parents, especially mothers who will look after the children while trying to WFH.
It will be a bloody disaster!

Hopefully they won’t drag it out and we’ll know more tomorrow.

link?

FML

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9091287/Conservative-mayoral-hopeful-urges-Boris-Johnson-delay-school-opening.html

Well I’m not surprised.kids getting it and passing it on what else can you do.Government have not invested in schools for years. We have the largest class sizes in Europe. They have only had since March to sourt this out,instead they gaslighted everyone saying school are safe and children don’t get it or pass it on. How many people believed what they said. I didn’t I found it unbelievable people did.

Ah the good old Daily Fail. That trusted bastion of accurate reporting! 🤣 I will wait for some news from a much less flaky source thank you!

The article quotes one second-hand anonymous source as saying that schools in Tier 4 will close til February half term, the NEU as saying they want all schools closed for two weeks, and the Tory candidate for London mayor as saying he also thinks there should be a two week delay in returning for all schools (I assume this is all in England but it doesn't say). If anyone is worried about closures lasting longer than a few weeks then I wouldn't panic just yet.

If it's going to happen it seems it would make more sense for them to announce two weeks first, followed by re-assessment and possible extension if necessary, rather than announcing a six week closure now But then again, making sense doesn't seem to be an essential criterion for government policy at the moment.

Schools will close. They can’t do codv tests at school for children.impossible . They know this from the start. I just laughed when they said that teachers etc to do tests. Did anyone believe this?

I made plans for schools being closed till feb. Hope schools do open, hope for the best plan for the worst

If it needs to happen then it will. Children and staff safety and ensuring the NHS cope should take priority. I just hope Boris doesn’t pander to public pressure like he did about Xmas. He needs to show some actual strong leadership and follow the science. I wouldn’t really trust the daily mail though. We’ll find out soon enough.

Yes I think the shit is really going to hit the fan in the new year. Hospitals are becoming overwhelmed now, they need huge numbers of staff to roll out the vaccination programme and schools will have to close until things are vaguely under control. Then factor in further increases from Christmas mixing, it doesn't bear thinking about really.

Other news outlets reporting it now - talks happening Monday.

Something has to be done. The ambulance service can't cope, hospitals can't cope. And that means it's not just covid related illness that is being affected - there's going to be poorer outcomes for a range of illness/injury. People saying "well it doesn't affect children as badly" are not getting the point of trying not to collapse the nhs in general.

Oh god. I understand why but it's an absolute nightmare scenario for me.

I feel annoyed because we are on lockdown and all schools are closed until lockdown is lifted but someone I DK now went to the shop and noticed there were sofa shops, curry's, next all open like normal?!

I know* not DK

We know the DM speaks rubbish most of the time.... so let’s hope it is just that... rubbish!!

@Oh12lookanothernamechange1234 Sadly during this pandemic they have been right on several occasions as I think the Government leak stories to them

Good, I hope they are right. The NHS and people’s health needs to be the first priority. Schools are set to go remote and have been since October. Given the new strain is more contagious and children can get it then it makes sense to close the biggest social gathering points whilst they role the vaccine out.

There's a meeting today and they've sent Gove out this morning to say that primaries will still be open. They've made him look like a prat that way before. Hopefully we will know today.

In my opinion there’s 2 possibilities - only schools in tier 4 to close OR just secondaries close and leave primaries open. However who will be in tier 4 by that point is anyone’s guess.

I hope not As a teacher I just want to be in school! OTOH at least we’d know where we are and could plan for it. I hate the not knowing and the stop-start nature at the moment. It’s so unsettling for teachers, parents and (more importantly) children.

This cannot be a surprise, though.

We all need to be prepared for this, and I say this as somebody with children in key exam years who have missed 40 days and 20 days in school respectively last term.

Just seen the news. Looks like I’ll have one DC at school and one not which is going to get complicated!

I think it will be just secondaries in Tier 4 closed.