primaries back on 4th, secondaries 18th so says TES

[Oilyvoir]

www.tes.com/news/exclusive-new-school-opening-delay-agreed-ministers

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

I'm in tears. I can't believe primary children and vulnerable parents of primary children are being thrown under the bus like this.

More so the teachers and TAs...

@ExeterMummaMia

I'm finding it hard to find rationale for why primary is being treated so differently all the time? If I understand correctly (happy to be corrected, as I'm no expert here!):

• No testing will occur in primary;
• Primary due back next week;
• Primary covid rates were not far behind secondary prior to xmas break;

I do appreciate primary has its own circumstances which might lead people to be more inclined to accept risk - eg. primary kids struggle with online learning, primary kids are too young to be left to work/entertain themselves and therefore its hard for parents to wfh.

However, what I'm asking is whether the science suggests primaries are somehow less risky?

Dec 18th:

Primary rates 2100 per 100k
Secondary rates 2800 per 100k

"Dec 18th:

Primary rates 2100 per 100k
Secondary rates 2800 per 100k"

Why isn't this publicised more in the mainstream press? I keep hearing people say that children don't spread it!

There will be a backlash when this is formally announced. I hate this government but they are damned if they do and damned if they don't in regard to schools.

I'm a 55 year old primary school teacher. I was not worried last term. My class self isolated for the last 2 weeks of term as a child tested positive and even then I wasn't worried. I am now very nervous and hope the unions step up.

@noblegiraffe - True. Despite most of us knowing that secondary schools had an issue with Covid it took the gov a ridiculously long time to accept it and own it. The media didn't help IMO (and many still aren't portraying an accurate representation), and even now there is barely a mention of primary schools in any of the papers today. From my experience, our local primary (DC attends. T4 but with relatively steady community rates ~200 in 100,000) saw a small number of cases every few months until recently when that slow trickle has become heavier, and larger clusters of cases identified (including several staff members).

In my mind, a few weeks of all schools shut (particularly in T4 areas - if cases are low in regions then opening schools there seems more reasonable) would drastically help reduce transmission levels in the community. The result being, T4 restrictions can be eased quicker - businesses can reopen, people's quality of life can be improved faster. The cost benefit of that (i.e. businesses reopening - less dependency on gov payouts) could be offset against parents that struggle to WFH/work with primary child at home being temporarily furloughed. Keyworker children could still go into school hubs as they did in the proper national lockdown in Spring.

I do not understand the logic of forcing parents to send in their primary DC if they don't feel safe doing so.

I'm a single working parent, I don't really have much choice - I need DS in school or I can't work to pay the bills. I'm sure there are a lot of parents who want to keep their DCs off. Especially in tier 4. Surely doing so will be safer for everyone! Safer for the vulnerable children and parents, safer for the teachers and safer for the children that do need to be in school. I really find it ridiculous that the government are still pushing with this.

I'll be interested to see how many parents keep their DCs off when primaries return on the 4th. Mine will go in, but I think I lot won't.

They should suspend fines until half term which will make it safer for everyone, those who can and want to keep them off, those who want and need to send them in can do so and with fewer people there they can socially distance more at least in ks2. Feel really sorry for primary teachers/ TAs in tier 4.

What happens for those students that have exams next week?

If this is the plan then surely it makes sense to have a proper lockdown until the 18th, as in tier 4 across the whole country. I don't relish the prospect but it might help buy some time for the Oxford vaccine.

I agree, short term pain for long term gain.

I think there should be at least a rota, and if you can volunteer for your child to be at home more to help those who need their child to be in school for whatever reason, this would help reduce the number of children in at a time.

DS is in Y11 so probably not an option, but if he had been in any other year we would have offered to have him at home more as he thrived with remote learning in the summer term.

@TW2013

They should suspend fines until half term which will make it safer for everyone, those who can and want to keep them off, those who want and need to send them in can do so and with fewer people there they can socially distance more at least in ks2. Feel really sorry for primary teachers/ TAs in tier 4.

Yup

What happened to the tier system in schools that the Government produced some guidance on a few months ago, and then seem to have forgotten about.

@ineedaholidaynow

What happened to the tier system in schools that the Government produced some guidance on a few months ago, and then seem to have forgotten about.

It got scrapped. It was replaced with 'The DfE is now in charge of all decisions relating to schools being open/closed/partly open and nothing should be done without their say so'.

Shortly before Gav sued Greenwich.

I wish they would just make a decision so that we all knew what to expect! I know it's difficult with an ever-changing situation, but it seems to me almost inevitable that the schools will have to close, so I don't understand why they don't just bite the bullet and announce it!

@ineedaholidaynow

What happened to the tier system in schools that the Government produced some guidance on a few months ago, and then seem to have forgotten about.

You mean this one, it never made it past the paper it was written on.

Tier 1 – fully open to all pupils full time, with face coverings required in corridors and communal areas for pupils in Year 7 and above.

If all other measures have been exhausted, Tier 2 would advise secondary schools and colleges in a restricted area to use rotas to help break chains of transmission of coronavirus, while primary schools remain open to all pupils.

Tiers 3 and 4 introduce remote learning full time for wider groups of pupils, with vulnerable children and children of critical workers continuing to attend.

www.gov.uk/government/news/all-possible-measures-to-be-taken-before-schools-and-colleges-close

I've made my mind up today that I'm not sending DD (year 4) back on 4th. I don't know if I will be honest, or say she has a nasty cold. I just want to buy myself a week or two to see if the Govt see sense (assuming they don't announce something tomorrow) and see how the figures really pan out after Christmas mixing.

I lost my job due to Covid, I now work PT self employed from home. We managed home schooling very well. I'm also a carer for my Mum who is clinically extremely vulnerable, and want to keep her safe.
Yep. Fuck this. I've thought all along we should all be able to do what is right for our individual circumstances without fear of fines. Tbh is anyone really going to be taken to court for not paying a school fine in these current circs?

I don't agree that they should be off. They should be in even if part time. Not everyone can juggle everything from home it's a nonsense

@cheninblanc and if they have to keep self isolating, isn't that more disruptive than having a plan. I know some areas haven't currently been hit too hard, but you see posters on MN with DC that have had multiple periods of self isolation last term, so were at home more than they were in school, but in theory school was open.

I won't be sending my primary school child in, nor will I be investing in the proper uniform that they've told us to buy for January. School had allowed black leggings and a school colour top to allow for daily washing but now they want us all to fork out for the proper kit when the situation can change at the drop of a hat and it could be a total waste of money.

I will wait for at least 2 weeks to see how the situation unfolds before going back, bugger the attendance stats and I will fight any fines that are thrown at me. It's a travesty that clinically vulnerable parents are being punished for trying not to fucking die.

The least worst option imo

I'm in tears. I can't believe primary children and vulnerable parents of primary children are being thrown under the bus like this.

I can't believe vulnerable primary teachers are being thrown under the bus. I'm in tears too.

Regardless if we are told that schools and nurseries are back next week then I will not be sending my nursery child. I am yet to decide what to do about my primary school children.
It doesn't make sense to send them, the scientists even say so, they are OUR children so I believe we should decide if we want to take the risk. At the very least they should say schools are open but you do not have to send them, ie no fines.

ineedaholidaynow I live in a badly hit area in Kent and have had my dd out for just 2 days isolating in October. Youngest daughter age 15 in every day, no issues with her or peers. Some use buses, some walk, some come by car.

@Bookworm65

I'm in tears. I can't believe primary children and vulnerable parents of primary children are being thrown under the bus like this.

I can't believe vulnerable primary teachers are being thrown under the bus. I'm in tears too.

Agree with both of these statements and the same for high school pupils / teachers / parents. The high school plan is pretty useless and won't make things safer.