They are going to close the schools again aren’t they.

[Amithetoxicone]

😱

I hope so

People who are eligible for a place will just have to insist this time I think. At the start of the school closure only 2% of children were in school so I don’t think having half the class in was common. Surely having half in is preferable to all of them though, if parents are keyworkers or children are vulnerable it’s necessary. Having half in will still reduce transmission compared to all in

Surely having half in is preferable to all of them though

Not necessarily. It means that you either have to plan ‘holding work’ for the kids who are in to not disadvantage the ones who are out, or try to fudge something together for both those in and out that isn’t as good as if they were all out or all in.

"Kent. All pretty much shut here"

Not the case for any tier 4 primaries in the midlands and north - apparently we can just carry on as normal despite having been locked down for the duration as it is

I really really hope not.

I deSperately want my children to in be in but I absolutely understand why the shouldn't be.

It hasn't even been 14 days since the Christmas mixing day so potentially loads of children and teachers could be unwittingly carrying the virus without knowing. It just seems like madness and I despair.

Really hope not! There is a vast difference in rates between some tier 4 areas and other tier 4 areas.
But happy with the prospect of having my DD with ASD home while I try to work.

"So any children with EHCPs or a social worker can go in."

That didn't happen last time. Some schools had too many needing keyworker places so didn't offer places to those with EHCPs. LAs decided that all children in special schools were CV so shut all special schools without considering other needs. Some children who also had a social worker got places but most didn't.

Those of you talking about vulnerable places my DD has an EHCP and I had to fight the school and get my MP to take her and this was for 3 days a week last time. Just because a child has an EHCP doesn't mean they'll be given a place.

The order of precedent for places should be the same as admissions criteria:

1. Looked after children.
2. Children with EHCPs
3. Any pupils of child in need plans.
4. Keyworker kids.

Those are the kids that need to be in school.

And if the keyworker kids can be looked after at home then the spaces shouldn’t be taken.

I see some people are not so keen to prioritise vulnerable kids now. Very telling.

I'm in tier 3 and I hope so. I can't see us staying in tier 3 for long once schools open and infections inevitably go up.

It seems crazy to send secondary school kids into school in Tier 4, even from 18th January, when the 11-19 year olds have been catching and spreading the virus, clearly by going into school or on the school bus.

I hope they open soon. I thought as long as my child loved reading and was in school every single day then it wouldn't matter what my income was, that he would have just as much chance as a child with two middle class parents. I am lucky that he can attend as a keyworker child but I'm still worried sick about his education.

I think they have to. But will likely dither for a week or two with lethal consequences. I’m not sending DS back.

I wish they would make a decision before Monday. My kids have been home two weeks so are "clean" I could use grandparents next week to work. If they even go back for one day I won't let them near my parents because of the risk. They need to announce something today.

I really hope they don't shut eyfs. It was so hard the first lockdown to work from home with a toddler, with no garden and I am still suffering the effects of this. I am still exhausted from having to work from 5am until about 11.30 to fit my hours around my toddler. We would go out for a walk every day, and it was just awful, not allowed to sit in the park, not allowed to have food etc....... when people don't have gardens how do others expect us to cope?

We are now moving home (to have a garden), and also I am getting made redundant and I need the time to look and apply for new jobs. That will be made so much harder with a toddler around. And having to keep her quiet if I did get an online interview makes me so anxious.

At our childcare there has been 1 case since March. Was contained and no spread at all.

What do teachers want? To be allowed to wear masks, some money to pay for cleaning and cover when isolating. Oh, and a teeny tiny bit of notice of these announcements before they are published in the media would be fab.

An enormous amount of teachers are working parents too, so please don’t assume we want schools closed. It’s a rock and a hard place situation at the moment, for everyone.

I think this is something that works in theory , however where I live, families are safer with kids in school snd nursery in that very controlled environment . In reality what will happen is that the streets will be full of secondary pupils roaming around in large groups in and out of shops, and parents of primary aged children will be participating in playdates, visiting extended family, mixing with neighbours and dragging them round retail parks and McDonald's to stave off boredom.
Is it right No
Will it still happen Yes

I don’t agree with your list BelleSausage I think they way the gov has set things out is far better.

Key workers able to look after children at home is highly debatable and will vary hugely in circumstances.

Also those with a mental health need are quite rightly classed as vulnerable this time.

@Graciebobcat

It seems crazy to send secondary school kids into school in Tier 4, even from 18th January, when the 11-19 year olds have been catching and spreading the virus, clearly by going into school or on the school bus.

As we know, a lot can change between now and then. I will revisit this on the 17th.

Of course they should close them. The government has refused funds to make schools safer for staff and children and don't give a toss for the health of adults in schools.

Close them all and spend money on better ventilation, screens and distancing measures. The virus will be with us for years.

As we know, a lot can change between now and then. I will revisit this on the 17th.

I can't what positive changes will occur in two weeks' time. They will have managed to vaccinate about 500 more people with half the required dose. Deaths coming down to "only" 500 a day, perhaps. New cases to "only" 30,000 a day. Hospitals at absolute peak admissions. In two weeks' time we will be very much at peak pandemic. Better to make a decision now to have online lessons for secondary schools until Easter and cancel exams. I'm not holding my breath though, this government can only decide things five days' ahead of time.

They should do and they need to, I would say a proper closure for all schools until the end of the month. But no, they won't.

They'll allow children to mix and the staff to be doing all the prerequisite testing (we have to do staff even though most of our children are young) and then wonder why the infection rates continue to go up and up, despite the Tier 3/4 restrictions. And then they'll suddenly realise that yes, all children are spreaders of the virus and too late, the schools will have to close because the country's hospital system is collapsing.

Bloody shambles, as always. For once, take a forward thinking decision, Boris......

Schools are closed in Scotland until 18th Jan anyway so I’m sure England will follow, I don’t see the point in all of these ‘partial’ lockdowns. They don’t work- either fully lockdown or don’t else all that will happen is the rate won’t go down fast enough and they will end up announcing a full one anyway. 🙄🙄

I can’t bear it. I hope so much that they don’t.