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Original poster

Notified at 5pm tonight that primary school not opening tomorrow

145 replies

Rinoachicken · 03/01/2021 17:37

Just received notification from school. INSET tomorrow and then home learning Tues and Wednesday. Keyworker and vulnerable children only. No hint of what happens Thursday onwards.

The late notice aside...it does make me wonder if they know something about what the govt is planning to say on Wednesday...

For context, I live in Surrey, Tier 4, but my kids primary had no cases from September.

OP posts:
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trevthecat · 03/01/2021 17:55

5pm here too. Email to say closed tomorrow then online from Tuesday for at least 2 weeks. We are tier 4 Lancashire

PurpleDaisies · 03/01/2021 17:55

The government is flailing at the moment.

It’s such a tough time to be a head.

LittleMissLockdown · 03/01/2021 17:58

I don’t recall saying I was surprised, or unprepared? For the record. I was not at all surprised and I am prepared.

So why mention the late notice? Surely that's because they were waiting to see what was happening with regards to the staff handing in section 44's.

Also I'm curious that any parent still thinks their school knows more than they have already told parents. Surley its clear by now that they find out information at the same time as the parents?

Lovemusic33 · 03/01/2021 18:00

Would you rather your kids went in for one day and then be told schools are closing? Because there’s a high chance tomorrow they will decide schools in tier 4 will close (or all schools).

I have a dc due back Tuesday, she has Autism and I have no idea if I should prepare her to return or not, schools don’t seem to know what’s going on as the government could change their minds at any time. I feel for the staff as well as the kids.

saraclara · 03/01/2021 18:04

I can assure you that the schools know nothing. Since March, most headteachers have found out what's going on at the same time as everyone else. From the media, not from the govt.

I can't begin to imagine how fraught today must have been for headteachers. They'll have had to get in touch with every single member of staff to find out what they're planning to do, section 44 wise. And it's not like they're going to get an instant response from them all, because staff are having to think long and hard about what to do.

If tomorrow was planned to be a kids in day, I think heads making it a training day is absolutely the right thing to do. They need a day to work out what the hell they're going to do - about staying open or not, and about how they're going to manage the teaching and learning and the care of KW children.

I'd ask all parents on here to just put themselves in the heads' shoes right now. And although I understand that it's really hard to plan your own work and childcare, the time frame has been ridiculously short for them, and with the best will in the world, they can't give you any answers right now.

I am SO glad I'm retired from education now.

MorvaanReed · 03/01/2021 18:04

HT contacted the support staff, including me, early afternoon to see who was coming in. I assume that the Teachers had already been spoken to.

I haven't heard anything further so it seems we are open.

A lot of schools in the surrounding area are closed with staff shortages. Goodness knows how this going to develop.

I feel sorry for our poor HT. Horrible emails in their inbox, staff getting shouted at in the playground, budget shot to shit and getting by on donated cleaning supplies.

I said I'd go in straight away but Im honest enough to say I wish I didn't feel I had to.

Unsure33 · 03/01/2021 18:04

The government have said they want schools to be open .

But their actions will be forced now .

Not by the public health figures which they will review but by councils and unions .

Original poster
Rinoachicken · 03/01/2021 18:07

Both my kids have additional needs, one has ASD and will take this change badly, the other has quite severe SEN. Both me and DH are keyworkers so from that point of view they will be in Tues and Wednesday anyway.

My kid’s school has had no cases, so I would have preferred school to be open, but I know that is not the same in other local schools and with cases in the area high I don’t want staff to be at unnecessary risk so support whatever they decide.

I posted to see if it was happening everywhere, but it seems not as other posters in the same county have not heard anything. So it’s just my schools trust it seems.

OP posts:
TheFormidableMrsC · 03/01/2021 18:08

I've just had a nice email to say school closed for this week. I'm in North Herts. I'm ECV so am quite glad the decision has been made for me. I imagine there will be further closures to come.

jimmyhill · 03/01/2021 18:09

Why is everyone going on about Wednesday, what is happening on Wednesday

Ferrari458 · 03/01/2021 18:11

They didn't know. But headteachers and governors all over the place are in virtual meetings today to make the decision to keep the schools closed due mostly to lack of staff. When the risk assessment doesn't work the school can't open. Although of course they will still need people in to look after key workers' children and the vulnerable.

HermannlovesPauline · 03/01/2021 18:12

Tier 3 and just had an email saying they are ringing round the teachers to find out who will be coming in tomorrow - apparently “affected parents will be contacted”

No timescales though - fucking rubbish, how am I supposed to organise work this week?

We had much higher infection rates in October and the teaching unions didn’t give a fuck then about the teachers

ktp100 · 03/01/2021 18:13

I would assume it's due to them having numerous staff members in the union that has advised teachers against going into work.

BouncyMonk · 03/01/2021 18:13

Hi OP, I had the same. I’m in the Midlands.

I know this is an unpopular opinion on MN but I’m really pissed off with it. The impact on my DC’s mental health is reaching breaking point.

Ewanispurple · 03/01/2021 18:15

Where in Surrey Op? (If it's not too outing!)

I too am in a Surrey Confused

Pumpertrumper · 03/01/2021 18:16

I imagine they’ll have received section 44’s and not have any other choice.

At the end of the day if there are no teachers in then pupils can’t come in.

Remmy123 · 03/01/2021 18:16

I think that is awful!!! To leave it this late.

sosotired1 · 03/01/2021 18:16

www.pilc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20121214-Notice-to-Parents-School-and-Local-Authorities-.pdf

This was linked to on another thread which was interesting because an educational welfare officer posted:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4122484-keeping-primary-kids-home-best-way-to-avoid-a-fine

Tenyearsgone · 03/01/2021 18:18

It's pretty bad that working parents are notified at 5 o clock on a Sunday night.

userxx · 03/01/2021 18:18

@quarentini

Same at a local primary in my area. Greater Manchester Tier 4. Should of opened tomorrow and will now make a decision on Wednesday.

How were you informed ?

CoveHid · 03/01/2021 18:18

But what can they do if they don’t have staff coming in @Remmy123 ? It’s such a ever-changing situation and I don’t think they’re leaving it until now just for jokes

LittleMissLockdown · 03/01/2021 18:19

@Remmy123

I think that is awful!!! To leave it this late.
They clearly didn't leave it this late on purpose. They will have informed the parents as soon as physically possible. They weren't sitting there laughing at making the parents wait as late as possible.
Squiffany · 03/01/2021 18:20

my kids primary had no cases from September

@Rinoachicken, do you believe that to be true?

CoolKitkat · 03/01/2021 18:20

I wonder how many schools will be closing like this across the country?

AvoidingRealHumans · 03/01/2021 18:20

We've had the same message. Head has now come back with a list of children who can attend.. keyworkers, vulnerable, those with no access to Internet/devices and those who's parents are due in work and it's too short notice to arrange childcare. This is only for 2 days and then on Tues we will know if they stay shut going forward or reopen.
What a shitshow all of this is