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

[Coldwinterahead1]

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

mummyoftinyterrors glad to hear school are willing to help. It is so, so hard. threelittlewords for you too.

The indoors and a lack of exercise really affects mine too. He’s just plain moody and shouty right now. I’ve actually bought waterproofs and thermals just so we can leave the house.

@3littlewords

Thank you 😘

How truly terrifying for you with your 10 year old. I can imagine you feel so helpless. It's heartbreaking what is happening to these kids 😢😢😢

@mumoftinyterrors
Could you form a childcare bubble with a family with children of a similar age? The number of contacts would be far fewer and it would allow some socialisation for your son. Despite some facetious responses on here, schools reopening too soon really will cause illness and death as the web of contacts is so wide.

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

We can't. We are already in a bubble with my husband's father, who is in the vulnerable category. It's my husband's only family and my FIL has no one else.

I wouldn't put him at risk mixing with anyone else.

[quote mumoftinyterrors]@3littlewords

Thank you 😘

How truly terrifying for you with your 10 year old. I can imagine you feel so helpless. It's heartbreaking what is happening to these kids 😢😢😢[/quote]
Thank you im more prepared this time, looking back there was so many signs that I missed or dismissed as bad behaviour (major mum guilt) but honestly was not expecting it at all. I think it was more random act of hopelessness and cry for attention than an actual will to hurt himself but I know things don't always end well in those situations. Needless to say anything sharp is locked up in the shed with only dh a key. Im constantly checking on him, reassuring him, asking about his feelings and thoughts im probably doing his head in to be fair but actions like that make you feel so helpless and heartbroken.

mumoftinyterrors
I promise you I am not point scoring (as your little boy sounds very sad) but surely you would not be able to send him to school after half term if they opened? He would be mixing with many, many more people at school than if he socialised in a bubble and would be a much bigger threat to your father-in-law.

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum I have an slightly older little one (8) and I do beat myself up when he is sad, I feel I'm failing him a lot in this lockdown as I am always working so perhaps that is reflected in what I posted. I've also watched UFT posts asking people to get their dc to write letters to Nicola Sturgeon telling her how sad they are. There are some parents who stress what is missing too much. In that little boy's case I wonder would his school view him as vulnerable and allow him a space in school? Worth asking.

Are you in London?

As a primary teacher with my own kids (same school) at home with me, I hope its easter at the earliest.

I work in a school and we don't think we will a i until after the Easter holidays.

I agree with you @3littlewords.

We can all see it.

Regarding the horribly derogatory and unkind posts. Leaves a bad after taste reading them.

@alwaysraining123

For those desperate for schools to reopen ASAP once it’s reasonably ‘safe’ to do do please consider making some noise about it. Write to your MP, local councillors, write in to newspapers, tweet etc (can’t think of anything else). I only hear the shrill voices of those that want schools to stay closed (I think probably forever !)

Absolutely, thank you for the nudge. I will write a letter to my MP this weekend, when I'm done with catching up on my ft job and supervising the dc's online learning tasks probably Sunday pm.

My kids' schools are absolutely brilliant and the staff we speak to amazingly supportive, professional and..... kind! I have the utmost respect for them and they get a lot of support from local families.

The teachers union advocates on MN misrepresent this in a spectacular fashion. It's a real shame.

But yeah, make noise parents, the generation of children will suffer severe long-term consequences. The younger years in primary schools must open after half-term in some areas at least even if it's on a pt basis. Let's fight for this.

@3littlewords That’s so hard for all of you. My DS is able to go for occasional socially distanced walks with his friend up the street this lockdown. It makes a big difference to how socially connected he feels and the school are encouraging them to get out with step challenges. Is that something your DS could do?

The inaccuracy of the Lateral Flow tests and the fact the MHRA has refused to approve them for use in schools to replace self-isolations, will mean schools will need effective alternative mitigations in place before reopening.

The time wasted on the training, setting up and organisation for running these tests has been utterly pointless.

@Letsgetthroughthis But yeah, make noise parents, the generation of children will suffer severe long-term consequences. The younger years in primary schools must open after half-term in some areas at least even if it's on a pt basis. Let's fight for this.

The vast majority of teachers I have heard from on here would also argue for opening with part time/rota systems in place (plus masks etc). I haven't heard anyone suggesting that they don't want schools to open - they just don't want them opening without these additional measures in place. The unions too - NEU for example have a 10 point plan to make schools safer, which the government have refused to engage with. It really isn't the teachers or the unions you need to be fighting here, but the useless government (and Gavin Williamson in particular) who have refused to allow rotas, masks, smaller class sizes etc.

for opening with part time/rota systems in place

Many primaries are at 50% already. Do you take out KW to fit non KW in? How do you make it work and what are they doing when not in? Online learning still as it is now

Ditto smaller classes. That’s what we have with around half of the students home. Everyone calls for this and says it’s refused but can’t you see the numbers?

@Letseatgrandma

The inaccuracy of the Lateral Flow tests and the fact the MHRA has refused to approve them for use in schools to replace self-isolations, will mean schools will need effective alternative mitigations in place before reopening.

The time wasted on the training, setting up and organisation for running these tests has been utterly pointless.

Yes, a whole morning of an INSET day wasted on training staff to administer these pointless tests.

Letsgetthroughthis teachers want schools to open asap as well. You might find it enlightening to actually read what measures the NEU and NAHT have proposed the government take to ensure that they can open safely, instead of making silly crossed out comments about unions.

You do know that you're actually arguing for the same thing as teachers want, don't you?

[quote pinkpip100]@Letsgetthroughthis But yeah, make noise parents, the generation of children will suffer severe long-term consequences. The younger years in primary schools must open after half-term in some areas at least even if it's on a pt basis. Let's fight for this.

The vast majority of teachers I have heard from on here would also argue for opening with part time/rota systems in place (plus masks etc). I haven't heard anyone suggesting that they don't want schools to open - they just don't want them opening without these additional measures in place. The unions too - NEU for example have a 10 point plan to make schools safer, which the government have refused to engage with. It really isn't the teachers or the unions you need to be fighting here, but the useless government (and Gavin Williamson in particular) who have refused to allow rotas, masks, smaller class sizes etc. [/quote]
HOW do you do this when you already have too many vulnerable and key worker children???!!!

As i say its the impossible question no one wants to address and people want to have magic thinking.

If you want to fight for something and you want a solution COME WITH SOMETHING WORKABLE AND VIABLE.

@QuantumQuality him and his big brother have been for a couple of bike rides and a kick about in the park most days so he is getting out for some fresh air and exercise

"But yeah, make noise parents, the generation of children will suffer severe long-term consequences. The younger years in primary schools must open after half-term in some areas at least even if it's on a pt basis. Let's fight for this."

This is a selfish comment by someone who doesn't know what they are talking about.

@RedToothBrush @MarshaBradyo
Sorry, I'm not a teacher (I work in Early Years) - but I have read lots of threads on here from teachers suggesting rotas etc to make schools safer. I hadn't really considered the issue of the sheer numbers of KWV children in schools now.
Is there a solution? I am so worried that pressure to open schools ASAP will lead to them opening them completely unsafely.

@3littlewords It’s the going out with a friend, rather than family, that’s the biggest difference to lockdown one IMO. Can he do that?

I have read lots of threads on here from teachers suggesting rotas etc to make schools safer.

These were generally threads about secondary where there were, up till the last weeks before Christmas when it went mad, far more covid problems than primary.

Rotas would work at secondary, we don’t have huge numbers of keyworker kids.

Primary could start looking at expanding their spaces and utilising currently furloughed sports groups/forest schools/other people trained to look after children to increase their offer. But that would cost money.