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.

mol.im/a/9092177
Primary schools and years 11 and 13 are going back next week according to the mail.

I hope they make a decision on this soon rather then leaving it to the last minute.

I would rather the schools close then my child go to school and get sent home to isolate again. Like so many others I need to work, the 2 weeks I spent indoors while they was isolating was a nightmare. Least if they close schools I can make arrangements for either childcare or for my child to come to work with me.

I wonder if this is a pragmatic response to

a) rates have doubled across much of tier 4 in no more than a week
b) the new variant might well infect children more readily ('levelling up' the rates of illness, not producing more serious disease)
c) high rates in DC will spill out into the wider community, and hospitals are already worryingly full
d) schools will be basically closed for much of the next month arising from SI requirements
e) the proposed change to lateral flow testing instead of SI is seriously not safe, and the logistics haven't been solved and won't be in time for the start of term
f) it might be better to give families a clearer steer on when schools will be closed. So that, no matter how difficult it is for the family, there is at least a chance to make a plan rather than having it falling at random and possibly repeatedly.

I really hope not. I felt so alone in my circle of friends and neighbours, whilst they either had 2 day per week jobs, or were furloughed and enjoyed a relaxed pace of life, I ended up in tears at the end of most days after a few weeks of doing my full time job and parenting equally badly. Barely slept last night at the thought of returning to this. I honestly feel like I could not cope with it again. I have worked so hard over the years to get to the position I'm in, being careful to keep my childcare and work responsibilities separate as much as possible. I work in a mainly male environment and felt so angry at how they continued with their important jobs (and even then their wives struggled mentally too), whilst I had a child to try to home school and work at the same time. It didn't work. I failed her. I failed my job.

I think the world could be on fire and they will keep primary schools open. The only closures I can see happening are those where entire schools are over run with infections which will force them to close for the 2 week isolation period.

It's going to be carnage.

@RosePetalss I agree with you. If they just close I can at least try and sort something out. My 8yr old has had to isolate twice now. The most recent was before Xmas. I got the email on the Monday before Christmas and had to drop work right in it as the childcare we had put into place was his grandad. We just couldn't risk that still happening so I had to go home to allow my husband to go to work that day. ( he earns more than me ) Absolute nightmare

I think secondary schools will move to remote learning apart from potentially year 7 (childcare reasons) and definitely exam years.

sock that sounds really hard. I've said it before, but if mine were primary I couldn't have done it.

So many women (and kids) suffer as a result.

Schools are set to go remote and have been since October.

Are they??
That's news to me and I'm a teacher!

@happystone

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.

Pretty much.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

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.

Agree.

@MrsMomoa

Schools are set to go remote and have been since October.

Are they??
That's news to me and I'm a teacher!

Yes. I'm a teacher too. Gav set it out in law around 22nd October.

The possibility that there may be a delay has just been mentioned on radio 4 - no decision has been made but it is under discussion

@lovelemoncurd

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!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but all year newspapers have been reporting on supposed 'speculation' a few days ahead of each announcement. Each time they've got it spot on. The Mail seems to have information ahead of other newspapers. Information gets leaked so we have a fair idea that it may happen before it gets announced officially. This has been happening for months now

@KnowingMeKnowingYule

We did remote all through lockdown and through three sets of year group isolation. I don’t understand how some SLT still seems to be ignoring this requirement.

@MrsMomoa Hopefully your head is onto it. Did your school provide work at all over lockdown?

I understand why secondaries should close, there’s more mixing and they can do remote learning independently.
Primaries and nurseries need to remain open.
As an aside, I think whilst the ‘key worker’ phrase has been helpful in identifying those who’ve played an important role, people have lost sight of the fact they are certainly not the only people working hard through this.

@Sockbogies

I really hope not. I felt so alone in my circle of friends and neighbours, whilst they either had 2 day per week jobs, or were furloughed and enjoyed a relaxed pace of life, I ended up in tears at the end of most days after a few weeks of doing my full time job and parenting equally badly. Barely slept last night at the thought of returning to this. I honestly feel like I could not cope with it again. I have worked so hard over the years to get to the position I'm in, being careful to keep my childcare and work responsibilities separate as much as possible. I work in a mainly male environment and felt so angry at how they continued with their important jobs (and even then their wives struggled mentally too), whilst I had a child to try to home school and work at the same time. It didn't work. I failed her. I failed my job.

This exactly. Me too. Single parent here too. You are not alone x x

@MrsMomoa

Schools are set to go remote and have been since October.

Are they??
That's news to me and I'm a teacher!

Yes, it's the Temporary Continuity Direction stating that all schools had to have their offsite learning contingent plans in place by 22 October

Even if you missed it, your SMT has probably got it tucked away somewhere ready to activate. If they haven't, then January might be a little eventful!

schoolsweek.co.uk/coronavirus-schools-have-legal-duty-to-provide-remote-education/

And I agree that The Main seem to be spot on with their “predictions” which are obviously coming from a high level leak with I’m sure the full approval right from the top. The govt want this drop, drip leaking of stuff, it suits their agenda. Now which newspaper has a columnist married to a govt minister?

@RosePetalss - out of interest how do you take your child to work with you?

@MrsMomoa there has been a legal requirement since October for schools to have remote learning provision in place. We've had to do it throughout the autumn term anyway as we have had so many kids isolating. At one point 4 full year groups were at home.

@BelleSausage I know. We started remote recorded lessons after the Easter holidays and then live from May onwards. As we know though schools are chaotic places....

I wouldn't be surprised and I hope they do stay closed, because I think it will be the only way to stop this while the vaccinations are rolled out.
But I'd wait and see what is actually decided rather than read that excuse for a paper!

@worriedandannoyed thank you xx

I would not expect February half term but perhaps a fortnight.

Of course, a competent government would have ended last term in person teaching earlier. But Boris Johnson the serial killer by neglect and Gavin Williamson would not do something sensible like that.