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Original poster

Can we unlock the schools at start of Feb?

776 replies

MeandT · 21/01/2021 17:49

I'm totally supportive of the lockdown BUT by the end of next week, case numbers nationally will be the same as they were at end of November. Hospital admissions are falling again.

Rather than going back into tiers with the shops and food pubs open (where all the spreading happened in December), can we not issue all the teachers with N95 masks (and vaccines for the clinically vulnerable), make all the kids wear triple layer face masks all the time, and just get on with the important job of educating this country's kids in person? Starting again 1st of Feb.

AIBU to ask if we can send the kids back as soon as we hit the case rate we unlocked at on 2nd December?

IABU= no way, the cases will shoot up too quickly again, even if they all wear masks all day.

IANBU = yes, get them back before half term, the only reason it went nuts in December was because everyone was out Christmas shopping and seeing family.

OP posts:
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BustopherPonsonbyJones · 21/01/2021 22:16

@SleepingStandingUp
If it were up to me, I would expect the school to be given an exemption letter from a medical professional. If there is a valid, non-U4T reason, why a child was unable to wear a mask, they would be welcome in school unless there was a Covid outbreak (number of cases to be decided). At that point, for the child’s safety and the safety of the community I would ask they were educated at home, returning when cases dropped.

I don’t get to decide though. Just my opinion.

Turtleshelly · 21/01/2021 22:16

The November cases led us to where we are now and the deaths were had now. Opening schools at that case rate will see a repeat of Dec and these levels of deaths.

ImBoredAgain · 21/01/2021 22:16

Again, it’s all media.. I don’t know many who believe crying on tv is doing any favours to the public’s fear of it all. It’s our job and we just get on with it.

mrshoho · 21/01/2021 22:16

I recommend reporting posts from frontline nhs workers who claim the NHS crisis is nothing more than standard winter pressures. It is misinformation and untrue.

Original poster
MeandT · 21/01/2021 22:17

@loulou0987 I'm a data analyst - why?

@ImBoredAgain - whatever kind of frontline worker she is, she's the variety I'd really hope not to have looking after me! Visions of 'Misery' anyone!?!

@CountessFrog fair point, thanks for lightening the tone Wink Pearl clutching interspersed with delusional psychopathy I think!

PS 'the vulnerable' are by definition largely dependent on the rest of society for regular visits and help. A better suggestion would be for all of the 'get on with "normal" life' muppets to go hang out together in Essex for a month with no hospital support and only reintegrate once they are all done with having it!

OP posts:
OwlWearingGlasses · 21/01/2021 22:18

No. Way too early. Schools play a large part in spreading the virus.
Education will continue online. It's not perfect but it's still education. Lockdown won't last forever. Kids miss their friends but to be honest a lot of older kids socialised online beforehand. Younger kids will pick up where they left off and teachers have plenty of time to catch them up.
Also some kids are really enjoying not being in school and their mental health has improved during lockdown.
Needs must.

Anjo2011 · 21/01/2021 22:21

Yes they need to go back, yes I want my children in school but once they are back I want the schools to stay open. If this means we wait a bit longer to achieve this then we wait. Constant closures aren’t good for pupils, teachers or parents.

MinesAPintOfTea · 21/01/2021 22:24

Personally I hope that the DfE are preparing guidance and a revised curriculum on how to run primary schools outdoors through the summer term. Lots of sport, well-being, reading, writing, maths. Then somehow work out how to let the entire cohort redo this year.

I don’t think schools can reopen normally until all adults, and hopefully vulnerable children, have been vaccinated by September.

cabbageking · 21/01/2021 22:24

Schools can not cope now.
Unless the situation improves drastically they will remain open for limited children only or close completely.

Local schools are now sending out messages requesting children are kept at home where ever possible.

RememberSelfCompassion · 21/01/2021 22:26

Mines - it will be the opposite. Extra maths and english to catch up for sats...

MarshaBradyo · 21/01/2021 22:26

@cabbageking

Schools can not cope now. Unless the situation improves drastically they will remain open for limited children only or close completely.

Local schools are now sending out messages requesting children are kept at home where ever possible.

Do people take note of this?

I’m glad our school just said no

MinesAPintOfTea · 21/01/2021 22:27

@RememberSelfCompassion

Mines - it will be the opposite. Extra maths and english to catch up for sats...
Maths and English can be taught outdoors. It’s not ideal... but it’sa lot safer.
PurpleDaisies · 21/01/2021 22:28

@cabbageking

Schools can not cope now. Unless the situation improves drastically they will remain open for limited children only or close completely.

Local schools are now sending out messages requesting children are kept at home where ever possible.

Exactly. A local school has had to shut completely (even to key workers and vulnerable children) because nine staff members have tested positive for covid this week.
Whyisitsodifficult · 21/01/2021 22:30

Schools aren’t just about education though are they! Many younger children are missing out massively by not being allowed to interact with each other. Most adults get the choice to meet up with a friend for a walk which is good for their mental health. Younger kids are massively missing out on social skills and resilience that you learn by being in school it’s way more than education. It’s down right cruel.

mrshoho · 21/01/2021 22:31

31000 nursery staff have tested positive since the 1st December. 63% of nurseries say they are likely to have to close in the coming weeks due to staff shortages. There is no possibility that schools can reopen in the near future.

FightingFiles · 21/01/2021 22:32

1,800 people died yesterday, so maybe we should just hold the fuck off.

PurpleDaisies · 21/01/2021 22:33

It’s down right cruel.

Yes, it’s the least worst option at the moment though. We can’t open the schools safely now.

Early years provision is still open though.

LickEmbysmiling · 21/01/2021 22:35

Turtle.

Concerning article, shady organisation with opaque funding is over riding actual scientific advice to close schools???!!

LickEmbysmiling · 21/01/2021 22:36

Play parks are still open, kids running around after a ball... Seeing other dc...

Fredshred · 21/01/2021 22:37

@Donotdelete

The papers claim that”The UK is leading the world” in their vaccine rollout at the same time thatwe are basically the only country still in lockdown. How nobody has noticed that all the other countries are operating normally while we struggle I don’t know. Our death rate isn’t much lower than that of the US which never properly locked down. Leading the world. Hahaha.
Seriously? I’m in Belgium and apart from shops and schools everything has been shut since October. Absolutely nothing to do open since then. We have had a 10pm curfew since then which has recently been extended til March. We are not allowed to see anyone inside (unless you are a single person household) since mid October (and if you need to be home by 10 but work all day (from home, it’s obligatory) a single person gets a couple of hours of company before curfew kicks in). And absolutely no leniency in that was made for Christmas. Yes, I was home alone by 10 on Christmas Day. My uk based mother (who I haven’t seen in over a year) was moaning about your lockdown dragging to me just yesterday, hard to have too much sympathy after months of no life with no openings on the near horizon. So don’t imagine there is no lock down anywhere else. I believe France now has a 6pm curfew. You guys are lucky (in terms of measures and vaccination roll out - obviously no one anywhere is lucky in this pandemic and it affects absolutely everyone, particularly those who have died, are extremely ill and the front line health workers).
Notnownotneverever · 21/01/2021 22:38

YABU

Wheresmykimchi · 21/01/2021 22:38

@BrumBoo

Masks and teaching do not mix for many reasons. Kids cannot be trusted to wear one, keep it on all day and social distance between classes/getting to or from school. The virus was spreading through schools like wildfire before Christmas as well. Oh plenty will come on to say that they only ever had two cases in their school, it was all contained, but generally that wasn't the case. Schools, especially secondaries, were like ground zero.

I would love for mine to go back as well, they need the routine and home learning is bloody exhausting for us all. It's not feasible yet though. If lockdown and the vaccine work, I'm personally hoping that by Easter it can be a realistic possibility.

Not the case IME. Cases were transmitted in the community and we contained it. BUt I agree with you about the masks etc.

Easter is looking likely at this point, but I was optimistic about mid Feb....

Backtoblack1 · 21/01/2021 22:41

Yes if you’re happy to spend a day in a secondary school to see how they comply with wearing three masks. Go for it.

LickEmbysmiling · 21/01/2021 22:41

mines

Absolutely! This is what I would rather be hearing focus on.
And working out how to facilitate out door learning where space is an issue.

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