Will there be a U turn over primary schools in the next few days?

[SoscaredforJan]

Just that really. If things carry on getting worse over the next few days are they really going to send primary schools back into the Covid hell?

At what point will we have to have a national lockdown to stop the hospitals from being overwhelmed?

"What is the government waiting for? Another 2 weeks and cases and deaths even higher! It’s not what anyone wants but why not keep ALL schools closed next 2 weeks reassess and reopen ones where infection rate is lower/hospitals aren’t overrun."
Because that would be sensible and proactive.
Rather we open schools on a wing and a prayer and react when its too late.

AaronPurr 3 - 13 year olds. Independent school. No idea why, I'm so cross and upset. It isn't confirmed, there is a big meeting today. So maybe we will open but it didn't sound like it. Either moving term dates or online learning more likely.

There will be a U turn. There’s no question about that. The numbers are continuing to rise. Boris explicitly said he didn’t rule out a complete lock down. The increase in case and hospital admissions speak for themselves. Get ready.

Hopefully more people will start taking responsibility for their own (and children’s) health and make sensible decisions. It’s irrelevant what the government do or don’t do.

It's probably too late. The time for national action was when the new variant was clearly out of control in London and the SE. The priority then should have been to prevent it spreading outwards.

Fully opening the schools anywhere in the country right now is insanity, IMO. At least until they can get some kind of control.

@CovidHalloween

There will be a U turn. There’s no question about that. The numbers are continuing to rise. Boris explicitly said he didn’t rule out a complete lock down. The increase in case and hospital admissions speak for themselves. Get ready.

I really hope so. But as another poster said its new year, weekend and then back to school. They need to be doing something now (they won't though)

Monday will be exactly 10 days from Christmas, BTW- still within the infectious window from the legal mixing allowed in some areas.

@Remmy123

In getting so bored of these repetitive threads. People have been going on about the same thing since September and yet schools haven't closed.

If you are worried or concerned then take your child out, say they are ill, but it's your choice ultimately - you do not have to do whst the government say if you do strongly disageee.

But let's stop with the same repetive posts!

They have been very repetitive, yes.

However the new strain of Covid is a problem. Without that strain and without Christmas/New Year mixing we would be in a much better place.

The numbers are not looking good. I say this as somebody desperate to keep her kids in school.

There will be a U turn. There’s no question about that. The numbers are continuing to rise. Boris explicitly said he didn’t rule out a complete lock down. The increase in case and hospital admissions speak for themselves. Get ready.

I hope you're right. But... a U-turn would be the sensible thing to do. So I really doubt this criminally inept government will do it.

We're in one of the London boroughs where primary schools are set to return. Home schooling was a nightmare last time which I'm not in a rush to repeat! However, I do think keeping them shut for a couple of weeks whilst the Christmas mixing cases isolate would be sensible.
I do think there'll be a u turn over the weekend. I really hope the numbers start falling soon.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

They will close due to staff absence - which means no KW cover, no V children cover and even more annoyed parents. There were better ways of doing this that offer certainty to parents, but no one asked.

Good post

Looks like DD's school may not have enough staff to open on Monday which I'm sure may be the case in a lot of areas.
I hope they reassess the vaccination schedule and get school staff bumped up the list.

@bluebeck

He reminds me of Frank Spencer...

Oh my god, yes he does! I knew he reminded me of someone and that’s who!

Doesn't look like there will be any u-turn before Monday does it? I've decided to keep mine at home for ten days. If we don't lock down after that I'll have to send them and just pray we don't catch it. I can't deregister, my disability isn't going away and the situation isn't getting any better any time soon. Hopefully they will see sense.

I damn well hope so. I work in one, I'm more nervous now than before even though we have excellent strict measures in place.

On a personal level I want schools open, on a safety level for staff I would like them closed in certain areas.

How have the government decided which primary schools to close, GW refused to detail this.

We’re in Hackney so school is open, our levels in children of primary age are higher than some areas with closure, our levels in secondary age groups are higher thab some areas with closure, our overall level is higher than some areas with primary school closure.

Most children won't get a good education for the next few weeks. Low staff, some children there, some not. Its going to be mayhem.

If I still had kids at primary I would think they would have a 'tummy bug' for week one at least.

Or I might be organising a boycott.

I don't understand why parents are just accepting this madness!

I don't understand why parents are just accepting this madness

Nor do I.

I’ve seen posters say schools are safe, they need the childcare, it’s just a cold for children etc. The strain in hospitals is so worrying, it’s not just covid people need care for. It’s all the other illnesses,accidents etc.

I don't understand why parents are just accepting this madness

Me either.

Parents aren't accepting it, they are being pushed into a corner. My youngest dd is due back to school on Monday. Her school have told me in no uncertain terms that I will be fined and have attendance officers on my case if she doesn't attend. My DH doesn't agree with me lying and saying shes unwell. What would you have me do?

Yes, I don't accept it but regardless of how crazy it is, the law is the law. I don't want to lie but I am having to because I'm disabled and covid could at put me in a hospital or worse. There are no other options unless I want to deregister and break my children's hearts. If they don't close in a week or two they will have to go back.

@SabrinaTheMiddleAgedBitch

Parents aren't accepting it, they are being pushed into a corner. My youngest dd is due back to school on Monday. Her school have told me in no uncertain terms that I will be fined and have attendance officers on my case if she doesn't attend. My DH doesn't agree with me lying and saying shes unwell. What would you have me do?

Personally I would say we’re SI

I did this in March and it was fine (in hindsight it wasn’t the right way to go though)

Yes but for how long. Saying we're isolating will only buy us ten days, maybe a few more if someone else gets "symptoms" further down the line. If the school is still open afterwards then what?

I'm happy DS is going back to school. They're not all overrun with cases. Not all parents are terrified.