Michael Gove has said schools will stay open in Jan, as planned.

[Imsosorryalan75]

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/education-55466147

I can't believe he's so confident. Are the government hell bent on keeping schools open, even with hospitals in the state they're currently in!

I want to hear they're confident that the new strains won't put my children at additional risk or they won't be going to school. Whether schools open or not.

He spoke before the DfE meeting today, we don't know the outcome yet.

They will almost certainly close then.

Whatever this government says they are going to do, you can pretty much bet on the opposite...

Generally speaking, this government insisting that something is going ahead as planned is a sure sign that it isn’t.

I will be surprised if schools go back in January. It might be nice if the government gave a thought to allowing both schools and parents time to plan.

well if the government say something it must be true

mobile.twitter.com/je_police/status/1343486654967902208

Already a thread on this
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4118009-Schools-to-open-as-planned-in-Jan-says-Michael-Gove

There have been multiple threads today saying schools will definitely close, will definitely be open as planned and all sorts in between.

The actual truth is that no one has said anything definitive. We just have to wait.

There has been something quite sinister about the way the government have insisted that schools remain open with no extra funds or safety mitigations. The treatment of teachers and school leaders has been shameful. It’s felt ‘off’ for a while now. For the record I am a teacher and a parent. I don’t want schools closed completely but do think there should be better safety measures and more funding.

Didn’t he say they hope they will open with the staggered start?

There has been something quite sinister about the way the government have insisted that schools remain open with no extra funds or safety mitigations

They are staggering the starts and bringing in mass testing. Whether you think that will help or not is another matter.

@MrsMiaWallis I must have missed the memo about that being for all schools instead of just secondaries. And an announcement for secondaries the last day of term is treating secondary school leaders with contempt. There is no real staggered start. They have children in from the first day and are expected to have sorted out testing during their Christmas break. The initial wave of mass testing all pupils may help but replacing self-isolation of closes with inaccurate tests is NOT making schools safer in any way!

@MrsMiaWallis primaries and specials will be in from the start of term with no real safety precautions other than hand washing really and no additional funding.

I notice that it is apparently not safe for Parliament to open in Jan, as planned

[quote Glitterynails]@MrsMiaWallis I must have missed the memo about that being for all schools instead of just secondaries. And an announcement for secondaries the last day of term is treating secondary school leaders with contempt. There is no real staggered start. They have children in from the first day and are expected to have sorted out testing during their Christmas break. The initial wave of mass testing all pupils may help but replacing self-isolation of closes with inaccurate tests is NOT making schools safer in any way![/quote]
There is also no money or staff for the mass testing, nor a supply of tests. In fact, I don't think the detailed guidance is out yet, despite the first wave of students returning to school in less than a week and a national testing programme for over 3 million children being needed, starting in less than 7 days and complete within the next 14, each needing 2 tests 3 days apart.

In other words - it's not going to happen. Every head that I know, and every school that I know of, has said 'we'll start thinking about that after the start of the new term, once we get some proper information'.

@JellyBabiesSaveLives yes, we noticed that it isn’t safe to return to parliament but classrooms will be fine.

I guess on staggered starts, whether one thinks, or day or two days etc will make a dent in cases today totaling 41 thousand? Will it make an impact? What is it for?

For me, my basic common sense says a minimum of two weeks learning from home to let Xmas infections run through and indeed any other infections.....
Then a staggered start with calm and smaller numbers to get tested... For each year groups, starting with exam years... If it goes smoothly... Roll out more years... Then perhaps in end Jan beginning Feb... Years are back.
I cannot fathom what a few days here and there will do.

The government are not bringing in mass testing. They’re offering secondary schools the opportunity to organise mass testing for themselves with no time, no space and no staff.

It took 1100 military personnel to do 10,000 tests at Dover. It’s 4.3 million kids in secondary school, is t it?

3.4 million, jelly. A much more realistic prospect.

I also noted the French insisted that the tests be administered by someone trained, rather than self-administered.

@JellyBabiesSaveLives

The government are not bringing in mass testing. They’re offering secondary schools the opportunity to organise mass testing for themselves with no time, no space and no staff.

It took 1100 military personnel to do 10,000 tests at Dover. It’s 4.3 million kids in secondary school, is t it?

It's not mass testing of all secondary kids, it's testing of close contacts of those who've tested positive, to avoid them having to stay at home. And it's optional, so some will choose to stay at home instead.

it’s not mass testing of all secondary kids, it's testing of close contacts of those who've tested positive

It’s both. Close contacts was announced Tuesday, mass testing Thursday, of the last week of term.

I'm hoping that they do stay open. Tbh.
I work in a nursery that will be open for key workers so I will have to take my children to school either way.

Seriously, if you're interested in this topic, google the govt guidance document which is available to the public online.

Michael Gove falling over never gets old.

I very much hope schools do remain open. Children are much safer with them open, as well as benefiting from an education. However, I think we will hear within the next week that all schools will close.

Recent covid stats don’t include all the information from Scotland and NI so once we allow for the bank holiday lag and catching up, we will have a huge jump in numbers which will combine with the leap in numbers caused by so many mixing over Christmas and Boxing Day sales. As has happened on many other occasions, Boris will now to last minute pressure and the schools will close. Yet another uturn by the government.