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

[Coldwinterahead1]

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

I think they should consider giving Teachers the Vaccine asap

I think Easter, then they’ll trial it again and see what happens. Perhaps primary back after Feb half term to rest the water. But secondary off until Easter

What difference will the vaccine make?
I mean besides te obvious of some people not getting it as bad as they might?
How will there be fewer cases if it doesn't stop the spread?

A rota system will not solve the issue unfortunately, still too much mixing. I can't see schools going back before Easter, and then it will most likely be staggered.

This was my thoughts as soon as Bozo finally announced shutting schools. It’s amazing the tories take so long for the penny to drop. I feel as though I can only cope with thinking this will be til Easter.

Why would anyone think September?!
Schools only shut as a last resort when hospitals are overwhelmed, same as a full lockdown.
By March things should be looking much better, even better in April with vaccines and warm weather.
Last year we had a semi normal summer and that was without vaccines!

Food Pubs are being told at least another 5 months until they can think about opening.

@ichundich

As numbers have already started to come down, I would like to see a rota system after half-term, so that all children will be taught in school to some degree. And then everybody back in full-time after Easter. But I suspect the unions will do everything in their power to prevent this from happening.

Banging on about the unions again?

You know that's not true, but still you persist, despite wrongly blaming unions multiple times. What is your problem with unions? And why the desperate lies about them.

It's weird.

I think people are enjoying the doom and gloom. It’s bizarre.

@Thewheelsonthebus23

I think people are enjoying the doom and gloom. It’s bizarre.

I know.

@GerardWay123

Food Pubs are being told at least another 5 months until they can think about opening.

Currently furlough ends 30th April so pubs technically be open 1st May, schools will surely be back before then . For me the end of the furlough system is a good indicator for when we can expect semi normality for. They cant keep schools shut longer than the furlough is available for.

I think we have to wait and see what happens with infection rate. I agree it's so hard home schooling. My husband (WFH) is stuck with that job overseeing our 4 children. I desperately want my children primary and secondary back at school with their friends. BUT my small primary school I work in has had 3 year groups pop in the first week. Multiple staff and students positive- it's a mess. We had no cases before Christmas.

@ichundich

As numbers have already started to come down, I would like to see a rota system after half-term, so that all children will be taught in school to some degree. And then everybody back in full-time after Easter. But I suspect the unions will do everything in their power to prevent this from happening.

@ichundich teachers unions were keen on rotas its the Government who seem hell-bent on all or nothing! The Government also previously selected year groups for full time return & gave other years groups nada!

@GerardWay123 do you have a source for that?

Personally I think it will be September.

(Last time I suggested this I got accused of scaremongering so I will repeat that it's a personal opinion, not based on any fact or article I have seen stating this but based on the fact vaccines won't have happened for many teachers until the Summer)

Based on our local infection rate which is basically doubling and redoubling itself I cant see how secondary schools will open fully til after Easter. Maybe exam years will go in but honestly I'm hoping mine (Y8 and 10) dont have to. It's shit for them but they are actually getting a better standard of education this way then when they were constantly having to self isolate before Christmas. Maybe if they can get lateral flow testing to work they could go back, but unless everyone is tested regularly it might actually make things worse and they were pretty bad before.

I would say after Easter, but with a slow, phased return....much slower than last time. And everything opening up very carefully, in small steps, while all the time getting through the vaccinations at real speed (along with the 2nd jab as well). Then we might actually get on top of it....

There is no way they can be ready for half term. They can't claim the school environment is Covid safe, it was a blatant lie. There will have to be changes this time.

@GerardWay123

Food Pubs are being told at least another 5 months until they can think about opening.

Forget Covid I'm not sure we'll survive my cooking for another 5 months!

Oh fuck right off Gav
This is getting ridiculous now. Just vaccinate the bloody teachers and get kids back in. This is causing havoc to my neuro typical and SEN kid, it gets to the stage they need to restart them where they were last March because I cannot see how teachers can catch them up the longer this bollocks continues.
It's just stupid. I dont think they should be back now, no way, but for my sanity and the sanity of my household they need to go back.

I’d been assuming it would most likely be after Easter.
Three things would allow schools to go back:

• sufficient number of people vaccinated, especially most vulnerable (won’t be done by Feb half term, but Easter is more realistic)
• high levels of herd immunity from people actually having the disease (must be increasing with this huge number of cases, silver lining and all that)
• good weather making transmission less likely and outdoor lessons/good ventilation easier.

After Easter sounds feasible if all continues as planned with the vaccinations. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I think it will be something stupidly random, like two Wednesdays before Easter and they will tip us all back in all at the same time, provided NHS has capacity to deal with the fall out, with the same shitty lack of consideration they had in September.

I agree re. unions they seem hell-bent on teachers not teaching. If the government says next half-term they'll say after Easter, if they government says after Easter they'll say not until summer etc. The government needs to start making some plans now or these poor kids will never get back in to school.

@WanderingMilly

I would say after Easter, but with a slow, phased return....much slower than last time. And everything opening up very carefully, in small steps, while all the time getting through the vaccinations at real speed (along with the 2nd jab as well). Then we might actually get on top of it....

I think this was the big mistake after the November lockdown - rates were dropping (even with schools open) but there was the big rush to reopen everything for Christmas. The Government also promised 3 households mixing inside for 5days for Christmas while we were in lockdown in England in November- lunacy!

I anticipate after Easter and think it is an absolute disgrace. Another year written off. Home Learning is NOT the same.
I utilised my key worker spot and not one bit sorry about it.