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Original poster

I cant see schools going back at Easter

321 replies

ssd · 22/01/2021 17:45

If the new variant is more deadly

I really dont think they'll open before summer

The government need to get a plan if action now

I dont think shops etc will open up either, we need much more people vaccinated twice to see if the vaccines help us

Shit.

OP posts:
Elephant4 · 22/01/2021 18:26

I really hope gov gets rid of its resistance to rotas and lets children in part time in small groups. It would make such a difference to be able
to tell them that they can see friends even just one day a fortnight (but hopefully more!). With smaller groups, it might be possible to teach more in a shorter time too

This message needs to get to our government. Why have they not thought of this? Why are they resistant to it, if they have?

Inastatus · 22/01/2021 18:26

@ChimaeraEgg - I agree, same bloody post about schools day in day out, same constant doom mongering. It’s very boring!

@WanderingMilly - I DO want the schools to re-open before Easter.

Inastatus · 22/01/2021 18:27

😅 @CountessFrog

ChimaeraEgg · 22/01/2021 18:28

The fact of the matter is that however unpalatable it is, we are currently in a position where there is no better option that school closures and lockdown. That is the fault of the government. They could have locked down in February as they were advised to do, closed the borders and stopped international travel and used the time to put a robust test and tracing system in place with proper support for those needing to isolate (and checks that they were doing so). Had they done that and kept up certain measures we'd not be in this position now.

The fact of the matter is there simply isn't an alternative. If everything opened up and the virus did its thing, mental health and the education would be shot to shit anyway. To get to a point it is possible to open again the virus needs to be harshly suppressed. Because we didn't put proper measures in place we reached a point where lockdown was the only choice.

EmmanuelleMakro · 22/01/2021 18:29

I’m still hoping for after Feb half-term - I am a secondary teacher and children’s mental health is suffering.

OverTheRubicon · 22/01/2021 18:29

@GirlCrush

anyway, schools aren't closed.....plenty are going in as it is, the rest are being home schooled

its better than nothing

A huge number aren't being home schooled, is the issue. I care a lot about education and am decently educated myself, but am definitely short changing my DCs, 3 children and work is not sustainable. Working parents are barely holding on, if key worker kids, including those of someone for example doing admin for a delivery company, continue on in full time school while many others aren't, there will be a huge swell of opinion against it, or sadder still the careers of many parents, mostly women and lower earners, will be thrown under the bus.

If this goes to September - which I doubt - then at minimum they'll have to work out something better for supposedly 'home schooled' kids than they have now.

tatutata · 22/01/2021 18:29

Huh? Since when is the new variant more deadly??

KeyboardWorriers · 22/01/2021 18:29

@tatutata

Huh? Since when is the new variant more deadly??
You might want to take a look at any major news website...b
Freddiefox · 22/01/2021 18:31

@tatutata

Huh? Since when is the new variant more deadly??
About 5pm this evening
OverTheRubicon · 22/01/2021 18:31

@ChimaeraEgg

The fact of the matter is that however unpalatable it is, we are currently in a position where there is no better option that school closures and lockdown. That is the fault of the government. They could have locked down in February as they were advised to do, closed the borders and stopped international travel and used the time to put a robust test and tracing system in place with proper support for those needing to isolate (and checks that they were doing so). Had they done that and kept up certain measures we'd not be in this position now.

The fact of the matter is there simply isn't an alternative. If everything opened up and the virus did its thing, mental health and the education would be shot to shit anyway. To get to a point it is possible to open again the virus needs to be harshly suppressed. Because we didn't put proper measures in place we reached a point where lockdown was the only choice.

Yes they should have done that stuff and didn't. However what is happening fast in the UK is vaccinations. Even if we did 'allow the virus to do its thing' (which I personally disagree with), with the 65+ and cev vaccinated, numbers in hospital will plummet and the NHS would be far more functional. There will be a way to reopen to some degree, with distancing and mitigation, before September.
tatutata · 22/01/2021 18:31

@KeyboardWorriers I do. Just not in the last hour!!

SpencerGregson · 22/01/2021 18:31

@Elephant4,
I probably didn't connect the two parts of my post terribly well there! I thought it was a very valid point from the poster up thread who mentioned lobbying MPs - I am going to do so and suggest exactly that.

My older boy is going backwards academically at an alarming rate (he did last time too - just hates working at home) and is really struggling without his friends (I think 8 year olds are often pack animals!). His school has a great RL offer but it just doesn't work for him. If he knew he would be seeing his teacher in person once a week, it would make such a difference and I could probably get him completing the work. And if they were in bubbles of 15, hopefully it would be much easier to manage and support them too and, ideally, less for the teachers to catch up when they all return.

3littlewords · 22/01/2021 18:33

I DO want the schools to re-open before Easter

Absolutely no one wants schools to stay closed longer than necessary. I WANT school to open on Monday if I'm honest but just because I WANT it doesnt mean it will happen, because I know it simply isn't safe enough despite how much I want it to happen.
I WANT a million pounds in my bank account and perfect size 10 figure doesn't mean I'm going to get it

Inastatus · 22/01/2021 18:33

@tatutata - there is ‘some’ evidence that it ‘might be’ slightly more deadly but more research is needed to confirm.

likeamillpond · 22/01/2021 18:36

@Beebityboo

What I find tedious is posters coming on a thread and taking the time to whinge about it. Don't click on it, it's so easy! There is enough negativity and nastiness getting slung about on this board right now without the constant low level bitchiness. People are allowed to discuss, it's a discussion forum.
Well said. I actually find unrelenting positivity tedious at times To me, it's a form of sticking your head in the sand your fingers in your ears and going la la until it's all over. Realists would rather hear it straight warts an all. A case of I can deal with it. It's easier when uou know ehat youre dealing with? But I appreciate there are different ways people have of coping with bad news. We should respect that.
ChimaeraEgg · 22/01/2021 18:37

with the 65+ and cev vaccinated, numbers in hospital will plummet and the NHS would be far more functional. There will be a way to reopen to some degree, with distancing and mitigation, before September.

Yes sorry, I do agree with that. I don't personally think schools will be shut til September. However I know no more than anyone else. Hence why I don't like speculating.

tatutata · 22/01/2021 18:37

@Inastatus yep OK just looked at the headlines, with the small print sounded a lot less frightening, as usual. Thanks anyway. I'll avoid mumsnet for the next week or so while all the panicking people talk about how we're all going to diiiieee.

LickEmbysmiling · 22/01/2021 18:38

I think the d of e needs to start concentrating on what we can do now and how we can address problem areas like dc feeling alone...

We are so lucky that we have amazing technology to unite us all in our homes and whilst trying to do several things at once is very stressful... It means most dc are actually learning which I am thankful for.

We need 🔝 focus on how to make this better and I reckon, how to make classroom safer for next winter?

Air purifying systems?
Screens, masks... Heaters... Windows that open... Get them going now...

I think pushing for school to open is wasting time and resources and energy.
It ain't gonna happen any time soon.

ChimaeraEgg · 22/01/2021 18:38

Well said.
I actually find unrelenting positivity tedious at times
To me, it's a form of sticking your head in the sand your fingers in your ears and going la la until it's all over.
Realists would rather hear it straight warts an all. A case of I can deal with it.

Have you actually read any of my posts? Confused

I am not even slightly relentlessly positive. I am a realist.

Inastatus · 22/01/2021 18:40

@3littlewords - my reply was to wandermillys post. You might want to read it so that you can put my response into context!!

IcedPurple · 22/01/2021 18:40

but now we are hearing the vaccine may not work on the variant we are now experiencing.....will need to be 'tweaked' as apparently this variant is more deadly

Where have you heard this? Vallance was clear this evening that vaccines work on the Kent 'variant'.

ChimaeraEgg · 22/01/2021 18:41

It was the Brazilian variant which MAY have some resistance to vaccines.

If it does, the vaccines can be tweaked.

ineedaholidaynow · 22/01/2021 18:41

Our local schools aren't anticipating opening before Easter, planning to work out how they can cover the Easter holidays. Maybe they are being pessimistic or maybe they are being realistic.

tatutata · 22/01/2021 18:41

@ChimaeraEgg nipe, still think lockdown is wrong. It concentrates bad strains in very sick people, those strains gain the upper hand in absence of milder strains circulating in healthy people, and as a result of cross infection in hospital. Well that's my totally theoretical take on it anyway, I don't know more than I read on Wikipedia, unlike the keyboard warriors on here that come up with bullshit and pretend to be experts.

ineedaholidaynow · 22/01/2021 18:42

What happens to the people who have been vaccinated if the vaccine has to be tweaked?

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