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Original poster

So are primaries open in January?

22 replies

Whatisthepoint10 · 28/12/2020 14:09

Just that really. England Tier 4.
I did google and I still don’t quite understand... is it a definite plan or are there any meetings/decisions ahead?

OP posts:
CoffeeCreamandSugar · 28/12/2020 14:10

No sure myself. From what the news are saying there’s no change:

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-government-sticking-to-plan-for-schools-to-return-from-next-week-michael-gove-tells-sky-news-12174034

PurpleDaisies · 28/12/2020 14:12

Primary schools are open (at the moment!) in all tiers.

This might change though.

ForeverBubblegum · 28/12/2020 14:26

At the minute they are due to reopen as normal, but there has been a lot of 'we hope' / 'if possible' type of language, so it seems the government are prepared for a u turn if necessary. I think no one will know until a few day before, then if they close it will be an I'll prepared rush.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 28/12/2020 14:28

At the moment, yes. There could be a last minute U-turn.

Fedup21 · 28/12/2020 14:28

Nothing new has been announced since 17th December, despite what some of the gutter press appear to be reporting this morning.

FourTeaFallOut · 28/12/2020 14:28

I think they are primed to pivot once we recover from the lag in figures over Christmas and they can make an informed decision.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 28/12/2020 14:28

Yep but secondary will be shafted till February I think

Shieldingending · 28/12/2020 14:36

This morning Gove has said they are open (that could change! But it’s the plan for now)

Waxonwaxoff0 · 28/12/2020 14:37

I think they will open but they will delay secondary going back, they're already doing the first week online and I've got a feeling they will extend it.

Mammyloveswine · 28/12/2020 14:38

They'll send a tweet on Saturday night saying primaries are closed no doubt... usually what the DfE do rather than actually liaise with schools!

Original poster
Whatisthepoint10 · 28/12/2020 14:50

It’s seems like they will possibly change their mind last minute leaving no time for parents or schools to prepare. I almost prefer schools closed now for a certain definite period of time rather than never ending isolations and constant unpredictable decision changes.

OP posts:
Misssugarplum12764 · 28/12/2020 14:52

The current plan is yes. There is a meeting today to decide if that needs to change. Nothing at all official has come out from that meeting yet, only media speculation. Given that in the (now scrapped!) contingency plans primary schools remained open even once secondary schools had gone down to exam years only, my guess would be that primaries will remain open unless science/public health is adamant they need to close. To be fair mind, knowing several people working in the NHS, this may well need to happen.

notevenat20 · 28/12/2020 14:54

Were the govt meant to make a decision today about schools? The head of DCs secondary said they would email on the 29th with more info.

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 28/12/2020 14:55

SAGE has already said all schools must close.

It's a question now of whether the government listen...

PurpleDaisies · 28/12/2020 14:56

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

SAGE has already said all schools must close.

It's a question now of whether the government listen...

Are you sure it’s official sage that’s said that? I thought it was independent sage who are different.

I’m happy to be corrected if I’m wrong.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 28/12/2020 14:57

I don't think they'll announce any change unless the Oxford vaccine is approved. If that's approved they can spin it as a chance to get on top of the vaccinations before resuming schools. If it isn't then they'll wait as long as possible to see what the figures do.

moomin11 · 28/12/2020 15:07

At the moment yes but there is a meeting today.

Lumene · 28/12/2020 15:35

It is official SAGE @PurpleDaisies

Original poster
Whatisthepoint10 · 28/12/2020 15:36

@moomin11
Thanks!
The new headline says “Gove 'confident' schools can reopen in England”
And still the main body of the article mentions nothing “definite”

OP posts:
badlydrawnbear · 28/12/2020 15:38

At the moment. But it all might change. I think it will be like September when I didn't really believe the school was reopening until I had dropped them off there on the first day! (hopefully it won't be too much like September because DC1 only went back for less than a week before she was home for 2 weeks after a positive case in her year).

moomin11 · 28/12/2020 15:43

Yeah he was basically saying that he hoped the plan that is already in place - i.e. primaries going back next week and staggered return for secondaries - will remain. Pretty meaningless really and the media annoyingly report what he said as news. As others have said this week will be key in terms of numbers of cases etc. I really hope they don't do it last minute as it is so difficult when both parents are working.

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