When will they decide about schools?

[FlatteredRhubardFool]

Ffs hurry up and let parents and teachers know what is happening. I was expecting some kind of announcement today but maybe they will see what the figures are like then tweet it later via some obscure number 10 person the resident mouse. I'm autistic and struggle so much with not knowing what's happening img. Tier 4 for us and rates have doubled in a week. I won't be sending primary ds back as I'm CEV and a lone parent but I wish they'd at least give us the choice and no threats of fines. I want him in school but he needs me to be alive more then he needs to be in school for the next month or so. He isn't due back until the end of the week anyway but ffs lots of schools are due back on Monday and still don't know what's happening 🤬

@Dawnlassie It's certainly true that a school is not a supermarket. But there are a number of high risk jobs and I am not sure teaching is at the top of the list. I have certainly never seen it at the top of lists about who gets covid most.

To be fair supermarkets and schools are both very risky places at the moment. I'm sure supermarkets are the most common location people report having been in the days leading up to testing postive, followed by secondary and then primary schools.

I agree with PastMyBestBeforeDate. They'll want them back for a few days before making any announcement. My bet is a Thursday announcement and all schools closed from the 11th (in Tier 4).

Of course if you live in Tier 4 and your kids go to school in Tier 3 then it won't be a problem.

@notevenat20

Supermarkets are plenty big enough to socially distance

That is definitely not true. The aisles are much less than two metres wide in mine.

And how long do you spend next to other people in these aisles? Everyone knows now that the severity of a covid infection depends on the viral load: passing encounters with an infected person= bad, prolonged exposure in enclosed space like a classroom= potentially fatal.

@Tianatiers

To be fair supermarkets and schools are both very risky places at the moment. I'm sure supermarkets are the most common location people report having been in the days leading up to testing postive, followed by secondary and then primary schools.

But most people have to go to a supermarket, covid or not. They don't all have to go to schools, so the two places aren't comparable.

Just got an email from the union advising me to not go into school this week

My DD works in a nursery and her Manager is challenging the DFE guidance of staying open, following conflicting information, she feels they should be closed so not sure if individual nurserys will make their own decision whether to open or not.

@Tianatiers

To be fair supermarkets and schools are both very risky places at the moment. I'm sure supermarkets are the most common location people report having been in the days leading up to testing postive, followed by secondary and then primary schools.

But how many of them actually caught it in the supermarket? It’s just frequently reported that they were there before a positive as people have to buy food. It’s far more likely that they actually caught it from close contact with family/friends. I don’t know about you but I generally don’t hug the checkout assistant.

OP there's a petition here you might want to sign to allow parental choice and not fine parents who keep their kids off. I think there might be another U turn pending with the announcement from the unions today, and if not I do think a lot of parents will be voting with their feet anyway and keeping kids off, so you're not alone.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/551740

It’s a good job all the supermarket staff didn’t strike and refuse to work! Schools are no more unsafe then supermarkets!

🙄

Teachers aren’t striking and supermarket staff, while in a risky situation, are a lot safer than teachers.

Schools are also bigger vectors for community transmission than supermarkets.

I think they will wait to see if/how many schools actually open on Monday.

OP the government won't decide. They want to blame teachers and schools. They hope that those who are not in a trade union or ignore their union mean schools can open to some degree.

Remember in March football matches were not cancelled by the government, but by the football leagues because a manager tested positive for the virus. Probably passed on to him from a director of a club visiting from abroad.

Supermarket staff have face coverings and most are behind screens. People are only in a supermarket for a short period of time, and not near one individual usually for more than seconds.

We are tier 4, and over 1000 cases per 100000 which is higher than some areas where schools are shut. I think hospital capacity is a factor when choosing which schools to close - and I think our nearest hospital is ok. I’m going to make my decision on Monday (Inset day) - but I will simply keep my child off til the 11th if I think it’s unsafe.

I wish they would get on with it as the 2 week goal might be realistic if they don't open Monday

And while I’m willing to listen to Matt Hancock and BJ - I’m absolutely not a fan of Gavin.

@FlatteredRhubardFool

Ffs hurry up and let parents and teachers know what is happening. I was expecting some kind of announcement today but maybe they will see what the figures are like then tweet it later via some obscure number 10 person the resident mouse. I'm autistic and struggle so much with not knowing what's happening img. Tier 4 for us and rates have doubled in a week. I won't be sending primary ds back as I'm CEV and a lone parent but I wish they'd at least give us the choice and no threats of fines. I want him in school but he needs me to be alive more then he needs to be in school for the next month or so. He isn't due back until the end of the week anyway but ffs lots of schools are due back on Monday and still don't know what's happening 🤬

Nothing is going to change.

The teaching unions are toothless.

What will you do @disconnecteddrifter?

I think a lot of what happens next will depend on how many staff take their unions advice and don’t go to work. It will only take a small number of staff to stay at home in most primaries to mean they have to close.

We (head and SLT) have a meeting planned for tomorrow on Zoom; we honestly know nothing about what is actually happening though. No more Government updates apart form to expect delivery of testing equipment and further instructions, but no details of when to expect it.

Our meeting is mainly based on the feedback from our key worker childcare replies and a final discussion about vulnerable students (some parents/carers haven't replied) so we may end up doing home visits in the next few days as well. I wish we could tell staff more but we literally do not know. All staff are expected in on Monday and to be ready for remote learning; not live teaching but setting work and being available as we might have to build some kind of testing centre? Plus we can't expect staff to use their 'frees' to man the childcare aspect so we need to create a timetable for that too. The main plan is that we are buddying up staff for the planning of work to reduce workload and free up bodies to supervise students actually in school (we are expecting quite a number just from the vulnerable students).

We are also running BTEC exams for 110 6th form students in the next fortnight, just to add some fun into the mix.

Never have I had a Christmas break where I haven't slept, haven't relaxed and drank so much (to try and help me sleep). I'm so glad I had time to spend with my immediate family but we are both teachers with whole school responsibilites so we haven't really been able to escape it.

Brighton & Hove City Council have just written to all schools telling them to move to online learning. Brighton & Hove not included in list of primary schools to remain closed (except keyworker children and vulnerable).

I see a pattern here.

I should say advising them rather than telling them*

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map This is a v informative map where you can type in your postcode. Although areas surrounding my daughter’s school are lower, my daughter’s school area is right at the top - 800+. This is my criteria for keeping her off.

If people are that stupid and don’t know the difference between a supermarket and school how do they function in life. I think they are just winding people up

@Theotherrudolph

They have made a decision and told everyone. You do know what’s happening. People might not like it, people might want it to change and at some point it probably will, but, as much as anything is ever known in these times, you do know what’s happening. Why would school staff, on a weekend, in the holidays, send an email to tell you what has already been announced?

This. 100%

@Peppafrig

Depends what country your talking about

Do you see how much other people care? 😂

Even MNHQ are completely bias in their reporting of 'UK schools', you can't expect this lot to be any less so.

@Char2015

Brighton & Hove City Council have just written to all schools telling them to move to online learning. Brighton & Hove not included in list of primary schools to remain closed (except keyworker children and vulnerable).

I see a pattern here.

Surely they'll have to close them all now? Or look like they have zero control/authority.