Schools plan in January

[Ohbabybab]

amp.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/30/return-to-english-secondary-schools-and-universities-to-be-delayed?__twitter_impression=true

From this it seems the plan is to close schools in tier 4 areas but what about pupils and staff who live in other tiers and commute in?

shut

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Yes we have been told we will be fined. HT sympathetic but no choice.

In our parents WhatsApp group we are all doing the same to avoid fines.

Dc will have ‘covid symptoms’ from Monday. We either won’t be able to get a test/ younger dc won’t tolerate it/ test couldn’t be done properly/ the results got lost.

Then some ‘d&v’ to cover the last few days.

If the school was to ask (which it won’t) GP’s will not provide proof for any of the above.

That buys us all 14 days (fine free) to see what is happening re: case numbers, school closures and this new strain.

Is this list primary or not or secondary too? I'm confused.

@Houseplantmad

Is this list primary or not or secondary too? I'm confused.

Primary I believe, as secondary aren't going back next week anyway.. or at least I think that's it I don't get it, my borough is closed but our neighbouring borough, with higher rates is open?!? No sense whatsoever!

Meg yes if it comes to it, I might go down that route. I am hoping the LA will think twice about fining someone on shielding list for being cautious.

Does anyone know if its pre schools as well?

@tearsandtiaras

Does anyone know if its pre schools as well?

It says:

Early years settings (including nurseries and childminders) should continue to allow all
children/pupils to attend as normal. School-based nurseries in primary schools have
discretion to follow arrangements for the primary school.

What are non-exam years secondary school children doing until the 18th? Is it just extended holiday, or will they be remote learning (in whatever way the school can manage to pull something together in short notice)?

Our school has online learning from the 4th

I'm waiting to hear from my dc's schools about that RedskyAtnight.

They will have only found out on the telly like everyone else.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Meg yes if it comes to it, I might go down that route. I am hoping the LA will think twice about fining someone on shielding list for being cautious.

Unfortunately, despite being a lovely school usually, ours has not been supportive when parents have been honest.

Two of the ecv parents in our year have been made to feel absolutely awful for even asking to keep dc at home until they feel safer. Hence why many of us have decided to keep dc off (fine free through lies as it is necessary) for the first two weeks.

@RaffertyBear

Best line of attack is to keep schools open using mass testing which is now available. - Ed Sec.

You are allowed to travel from T4 to T3 for work.

Yes it's allowed ....doesn't mean it makes sense !!!

Has anything announced about what is happening in January for FE colleges?

@PropertyHelp was that from the guidance before Christmas, I think the idea behind extending the staggered start by a week is to give more time for doing the tests (as the Government probably realised that it wasn't practicable to get schools to organise it all in time for going back on the 4th) and they probably also realise that they can't get enough volunteers etc to help administer the tests so teachers may get roped in to help, but then they won't be able to do remote teaching as well.

I live in a small county
And the whole county isn't even in the same Tier !!!

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Meg yes if it comes to it, I might go down that route. I am hoping the LA will think twice about fining someone on shielding list for being cautious.

This blog is from the Public Interest Law Centre. It includes a reply from the Govt , that the DFE Covid guidance does not override the local discretion of HT's and LA's to allow a leave of absence should it be requested.

www.pilc.org.uk/blog/school-attendance-for-cev-households-in-covid-19/

@Chewbecca

Gav really needs a new speechwriter who can write a clear, concise speech.

Thank you very much I thought that I was the only one who was confused by his speech.

I'm in Greenwich and just got text from headteacher to say they will open from 5th January. I'm so confused. We are in such a difficult situation with the virus that 75% of England is under Tier 4 but schools in some random London boroughs can stay open. Really WT AF Are these decisions based on!!!

I'm secondary and expecting to be live-streaming from 5th Jan. We were always doing this to facilitate testing with a face to face opening for all on 7th Jan.

I then expect we'll be teaching 11s and13s in school and live-streaming to years 7-10.

Another question (sorry if I missed it). Gav said that those children who are taking BTEC assessments in January would be able to sit them. Does that also include children in schools that are now in contingency areas? So these schools would have to open for them (as well as vulnerable and critical worker children)?

@dingdang

I'm in Greenwich and just got text from headteacher to say they will open from 5th January. I'm so confused. We are in such a difficult situation with the virus that 75% of England is under Tier 4 but schools in some random London boroughs can stay open. Really WT AF Are these decisions based on!!!

I think it's been set out this way so that new boroughs can be quietly added to the list when they see fit without having to announce any more "closures". It's a bit of a ruse. Are we seriously expecting these areas to get out of the black in two weeks? Come on. More likely new areas will go on than old areas come off!

Thanks @aaeg22. I've seen they were challenging the government but hadn't seen the response. I might get in touch with them.

Lambeth challenging the Government as we speak. Arguing that they have higher rates than Southwark and Wandsworth. Also arguing why is London not being treated as a whole when Essex and Kent are.

I thought it was due to
Greenwich Council being slapped with legal action for daring to make the decision to close schools before Xmas based on some very scary numbers.