So Gav says schools could stay shut beyond half term.....

[Coldwinterahead1]

I'm guessing after Easter. What does everyone else think?

Easter if we're lucky but I don't think we will last until summer holidays if they do go back at Easter. The vaccine rollout is too slow.

@Waxonwaxoff0

I'd hope that all children get to go back for a few weeks before the summer holidays.

I hope ALL get to return this academic year too. I had one DC back in school full-time from May & one DC not allowed back March-Sept but who could go to the pub with me! That won't sit well if they cherry pick years again and don't devise a fairer system for onsite teaching.

The business secretary said ( in Hansard debate about school staff being prioritised for vaccination) that schools were the last thing the Government closed and will be first to reopen... we'll see!

How is this a surprise?
Look at the infection rates since September.
But no, obviously no-one at school spreads covid

It’s easy to shut them to many but so much harder to re open to all.

Can only keep pressure on MPs to sort it as soon as possible.

It's a disgrace. The schools are still not getting any additional funds to actually make the buildings safer so I can't see it getting any better any time soon. I think we will lose nursery as well. It's just so depressing.

I can’t see them going back after February half term. I’m hoping for after Easter.

Easter, it’s not just the ‘figures’ it’s the hospital capacity. We are in real trouble. There are hospitals in the SW declaring states of emergency now. This will not be sorted in 4 weeks. I have my fingers crossed for Easter.

That depends on the teachers and their unions

Teachers and unions will get fuck-all say.

A lot depends on the data coming out about this new variant and whether infection rates drop quickly enough with lockdown and vaccination.

It also depends on whether the government actually shift their arse on putting measures in place that will stop rampant covid spread in schools like there was before Christmas.

Binning the idea of not isolating close contacts will be a big one, and acknowledging the issues with the mass testing plans due to lack of test reliability.

Schools can open sooner if it is acknowledged they can’t open the way they were in September.

It's shocking. It's gone from 'keep pupils off for a few extra weeks at Christmas" to "hope my kids get a few weeks this year!" The government should have to explain EVERY SINGLE WEEK THE KIDS ARE OFF SCHOOL. We are told its a fast moving situation when things close - well that works both ways!!! If cases fall and things improve then schools should reopen fast. They shouldn't just be kept shut because it's too difficult to open them. I honestly believe we missed a huge opportunity last year and they should all have been open from May to all pupils in the lovely summer months. We can't let the same thing happen twice.

In some areas I think he said. I dont think it was necessarily be an England wide approach (as in some ways it wasnt at the start to close them).

I think Easter as well. Schools are the priority if its September then we are in full lockdown until them which just isnt feasible

Easter is bad enough. Putting it against September as a good option doesn't help much.

It wouldn't surprise me if it's all term which is very sad for children and parents who are combining work and home schooling badly (like me). Even schools on rotation (e.g. 2 days on/off and 1 day for cleaning) would be better than nothing.

I thought it would be after Eater, too.

It won’t be after half term. That’s only 5 weeks away. And just after the anticipated peak. Open up again so soon and we will have another huge peak in March.

I'm hoping he doesn't stick to terms or half terms! If cases drop enough by a random day in March for example they should go back, not wait for the start of the next term.

I think Easter and it’ll be phased even then

I thought Easter as soon as they shut the schools. Lots vaccinated and better weather etc. Think it makes sense.

I reckon Easter for most and it will probably be back to tiers then so will be according to that

I think they’ll try to get exam groups back in before Easter. Everyone else back after Easter. Teachers moved up the vaccine priority list to placate unions.

Staggered at Easter is my guess

I think they will go back in some form after half term, even if it's only in some areas or some year groups. Numbers already seem to be falling in the SE and London and half term is 5 weeks away. I think it might be like last June when we had exam years back in first etc

@Mousehole10 Do you think people get paid if they’re on strike?! If teachers actually have to go on strike and don’t get paid, there’ll be no keyworker provision and nothing provided for homeschooling.

It won't be September, not with all the vaccine roll outs etc. Easter at the latest I'd say.

Staggered AFTER Easter is my guess.

I think some will go back after half term (like last year). Reception, year 1 and year 6. No secondaries. Bubbles of 15 so children on rotas. Everyone back after Easter.

I don’t think they will only open by areas/tier after the chaos after Christmas. You end up with schools in say a tier 4 area but low rates being shut and a town with high numbers being open.