School closures coming in thick and fast!....

[november90]

It's all over fb that our local primary schools are closing tomorrow. My son is in nursery so I'm assuming that will follow suit. He will be so upset as he's been so excited about going back :(
We're in Lancashire. This happening anywhere else?

DS’s school is open and we have had a email saying anyone off will be treated as unauthorised absence. His years bubble closed (burst?!) 2 weeks before Xmas holidays as there were a number of cases in the class. We have not been made aware of any changes or improvements in procedures to help stop the spread and risks in class. Both I and my son are asthmatic (well controlled) I have recently been diagnosed as Vitamin D deficient and am on a high dose of supplements. I am going to have to take a gamble on our health.

I’m in Surrey, Toryville.

Yep - Morecambe.

Shut

..in Yorkshire, I should add.

Anyone heard anything about primary schools is South Wales. Rates through the roof here and a traditional union supporting culture but heard nothing.

The governors with the head teacher.

Not unless the governors have delegated powers within the MAT and even then this is likely not to be delegated to either a HT or an LGB.

South Yorkshire tier 3

Just had email school is closed from tomorrow as no staff there is no timescale for the length of closure. Both me and DH at work tomorrow now what do we do no option of work from home.

@Noellodee

Good for them. Well done NEU. What a fucking disgrace that it had to be unions and teachers doing this.

Completely agree. We are all entitled to a safe working environment and a classroom full on kids without masks is unsafe. My sd is a primary teacher and has really struggled with this dilemma over section 44. She had to inform the school by 3pm today of her plans. All teachers submitted their section 44 to the relief of the HT. HT couldn't influence or comment until all teachers had submitted. These teachers are still teaching either online or in school for key worker children. The UK government is a total disgrace. Thankfully I live in Scotland and our primary schools are closed until at least 18th Jan and probably longer.

Our Council has left it for individual schools to decide.

North West here (Fylde) and just had an email saying school will be open. Although they did say they "expect" to be open - assume that they mean unless they don't have enough staff to do so.

I have emailed them back letting them know that unfortuanlty, DS will not be attending.

South Yorkshire here and all closed temporarily tomorrow, expected to open Tuesday. Will see!

@MrsWhites

Borough bordering Merseyside here, our school opening, they sent a rather patronising email suggesting that school will stay open if we don’t stop to talk at the gates!

I’ve emailed to say my DS will not be attending!

To be honest some of the parents at our primary seem to have no idea what social distancing is. Masks off the second they've left the grounds, chatting in groups - I don't think this is unusual either as my friends have mentioned the same

Really useful link here to check case rates in your immediate area, rather than just the areas designated by Tier: coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map

It’s an absolute nightmare, what if you aren’t a key worker but need to go to work tomorrow? My dd’s in Wolverhampton both had inset days tomorrow so I had childcare arranged but then who knows from Tuesday, I think my work are totally and utterly fed up of me tbh!

Surrey & ours plus several others I know have announced closures for tomorrow

For those worried about childcare can you form a childcare bubble? I'll be honest I don't know the full guidance around how they work except it's for under 13's.

They'll only be mixing with 1 household as opposed to 30+ so it's got to be a better option than schools opening fully in current climate?

I'm in West Lancashire and thankfully my son's primary school is fully open. A colleague in Merseyside has been told that hers is partially closed though.

@toothfairy73

Am in one of the London boroughs that was on the original list of primary closures. I think it's ridiculous to consider opening schools anywhere when the virus is rampant with a new strain. I think all teaching should move online. I say this as someone who was tearing her hair out trying to work and homeschool. Opening schools in September resulted in covid rates spiking, and they are already at unprecedented levels.

Yes school is incredibly important and for some children it is their lifeline. If that is the case and the schools/social services are aware of this why can't they provide extra support for those children. School is only a sticking plaster for children in abusive families. More needs to be done to support those children 24 hours a day.

Agree schools need to close for a bit to get a handle on the virus. No argument there.

Seriously though please don't tell me you think schools know every vulnerable child. Plus as like you say in an ideal world 24 care outside of school. We don't live in an ideal world though. So as a society we have no choice but to throw some kids under the bus. At least be honest what is happening.

NE and loads from surrounding areas closing not my door school yet.

Emergency inset day here but not expecting school to open Tuesday or for the foreseeable future. Gloucestershire

Yep all the ones in Brighton & Hove are shut

@SinisterBumFacedCat

DS’s school is open and we have had a email saying anyone off will be treated as unauthorised absence. His years bubble closed (burst?!) 2 weeks before Xmas holidays as there were a number of cases in the class. We have not been made aware of any changes or improvements in procedures to help stop the spread and risks in class. Both I and my son are asthmatic (well controlled) I have recently been diagnosed as Vitamin D deficient and am on a high dose of supplements. I am going to have to take a gamble on our health.

The way things are looking with luck your school will be closed by the end of the week.

They can't keep deny the need for a short lockdown including schools much longer. The hospitals numbers will push them into it.

@doublemix

South Yorkshire tier 3

Just had email school is closed from tomorrow as no staff there is no timescale for the length of closure. Both me and DH at work tomorrow now what do we do no option of work from home.

SY here too. School is open here.

Trafford here. Our school is planning to open but I’ve also heard not all teachers will be in due to the unions so I suppose it depends how many staff don’t turn in. Can’t blame them for taking a stand. They’ve worked tirelessly. Our school have been amazing.

Ours is open unfortunately.