I cant see schools going back at Easter

[ssd]

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.

I do need to get children back in school, at least part time. If they can have some schools with 50% key workers in, then they can put blended learning in place for the rest. They can’t justify the negative effects on those not currently in school in the longer term.

Personally, I don’t think it will be before Easter. Worst case, it could be for the rest of the academic year. No longer than that though.

Which new variant is more deadly? Which variant are we talking about now and have they said it’s more deadly?

What I'd like is week on week off next term with half classes. Primary teacher.

Yes I could definitely get on board with that.

Which new variant is more deadly? Which variant are we talking about now and have they said it’s more deadly?

It is on every single news site.

In the summer term, those primaries with outdoor space should teach outside, where possible, that will lower transmission significantly.

@Staffy1

*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

so everyone trots out for a new vaccine once its developed*

@GirlCrush, i thought they still gave some protection, as in made what would have been a serious illness into a milder one, or is this opinion out of date now?

the kent variant is being described as more deadly

the brazil and south africa variant are being described as more resistant against vaccine

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55768627

@Itisasecret

That being the case, why is everyone frothing and giving their opinions on here?

The obvious answer is that all the MN Mystic Megs need to put their crystal balls aside, and accept that nobody knows.

I don't give a stuff that someone's preference would be a week on, a week off, or that Ms Doomsayer says it's going to be 2023.

What will be, will be even if it's really shit, and even if every child should be at school now

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

This is what I mean when I say people don't read things properly.

*the kent variant is being described as more deadly

the brazil and south africa variant are being described as more resistant against vaccine*

I know, but isn't the vaccine thought to still give some protection against them (even if not as much as the original strain) so still better than no vaccine.

@Whipituntilitpeaks

Which new variant is more deadly? Which variant are we talking about now and have they said it’s more deadly?

The first thing I did when I read the first sentence of the OP was to look on BBC News. It's not strong evidence apparently, but some data suggests that the Kent variant is more deadly.

Don't see the point of this thread. it has just been announced that schools will be given 2 weeks' notice of any change to current remote learning, which is more than we had before. Sounds like the government have listened to school staff finally.

Whitty and Valance are still here and haven't resigned under any pressure they may have had from government all this time to go directly against their wishes, so I'm assuming they're wanting to do what is morally right by the majority of the country when they advise from the scientists' point of view. I got the feeling tonight at the briefing that they are listening more to the scientists now, because having done the bare minimum of that up to now has got us nowhere fast.

Has anyone posted that phrase "Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best" because that really should be what the nation's motto is just now.

LickEmbysmiling

I like your outlook because it's accurate. Technology is wonderful for uniting us all. And I agree that practical solutions are the most fruitful ones to explore - windows which open in school and air purifiers.

I don't wish to be too negative about our leaders, but you'd think, if they wanted to government ministers and advisors could come up with some radical systems and scientific developments ( in addition to the vaccine which is already positively here). This is what we've always done in past history.

But, I'm concerned about this mutating virus which seems to keep getting it's hold back like some morphing, evil cartoon character, a Tom or Jerry which you knock down and it bounces up.
I'm no inventor, but I'd start with technicians designing masks which actually work hermetically or incredibly well. People are just choosing their own masks, and some probably don't work. We don't wear gloves much. You don't have to be dictators to get more staff on the buses urging passengers to keep the mask over nose and mouth.

Seriously??? Piss off. No one knows what will happen. Enough already of the 'end of the world is nigh'

Gloves are pointless. Better to keep washing hands and using sanitiser.

Agree that we should all be using medical grade masks though.

I'm support staff nearly FT in secondary school supporting KW & V pupils with their remote learning. (they're all in IT rooms by year group). So we get a fairly unique view of how they actually engage with the learning. I am also a parent of secondary pupils (home alone to manage themselves 4 days a week) so I have the parental view too.

Due to their age, many secondary age pupils, while being thought of as independent learners because of their age, able to know what is expected of them each day, just don't WANT to engage with it all. These are the ones in school who have us nagging them to stay on task every so often. If there is no-one home to do that and they are not self-motivated (ie. most teenage boys ) then there will be a massive learning gap if schools stay closed much beyond Feb half term.

The teachers can only do so much. The parents supervising at home can only do so much. The kids themselves can only do so much (they are young - most are NOT self-motivated). The support staff in schools can only do so much. What works best is kids in school. Everyone knows that, so there is no-one who wants them away from school longer than they have to be. We do need to listen ONLY to the scientists here.

Omg why is there a new post like this every bloody day!! People’s predictions about schools 😩 who cares

@napody Thank you 💐

@ChimaeraEgg

I don’t live in the U.K. anymore but family do, I hadn’t heard anything about this today, no uk tv.

Speaking to colleagues and friends with secondary aged DC, I honestly think I have it easier working with a 4.5yo from home than they do with 12, 13, 14 year olds. OK so my DS might need more 1:1 attention and I have to interrupt meetings to get him a breadstick or wipe his bum etc. But there is generally loads of sympathy for me because he is little and people know little kids are hard work. Also DS is really keen to learn and do activities but there is no actual pressure on him from school. And a simple walk round the block is as exciting to him as anything else - they're easily pleased at that age.

My friends with teens get way less slack from their employers because of the assumption that teens can just be left to get on with it and don't require any support or input. Then you've got the fact that the teens mental health itself is often shot to shit, they miss their friends, they're moody and argumentative with their parents, they don't want to do any school work but if they don't parents get it in the neck, they don't want to go for a walk etc (don't blame them!!!).

My dad is 92 - got Jab 1 today but only after a lot of intervention from me. When I took him, there were so many people who looked even older than him! Certainly in the SE, the programme isn't going quite to plan.

@CertieCumboyle

Of course no one can make predictions with much certainty but if you don't want to speculate why on earth come on a MN thread about it? Obviously nothing said here will have any impact but people are interested and want to discuss it. If you don't want to, fine but don't join the thread!

I also think there needs to be a massive drive to encourage employers to be flexible - and I mean actually being flexible rather than just saying the right things. Obviously in many roles there are limits but for many standard office jobs plenty is possible. I work in the charity sector and our whole team is currently home schooling. The first thing we did in January was all sit down together, say what hours we could feasibly manage, look at our planned work and decide what could be done in those hours we could feasibly manage (as no one wanted extra work going to colleagues). Everything else was dropped or postponed and our CEO notified our board and funders that this would be the case, we would still be paid in full (while saving on many other costs due to covid so this would balance out in the end) and if they didn't like it they would have to make the staff team redundant including her. No one even raised an eyebrow.

I'm not saying every employer has the means to be able to do that, but most could do considerably more.

Can't the government make us or get us medical grade masks? What's happened to life? Inventors; manufacturers, that's what I think of GB being synonymous with. We just can't seem to innovate anymore.

I think the furlough scheme was an original initiative. The vaccine development has been good. It's hard not to wonder if changing the rules and pushing back the second dose is a response to not being able to manage supply- rather than a brilliant , short cut solution.

We've got systems, but they don't get modified, streamlined, synthesized. We should have something powerfully efficient in place by now. It doesn't feel like a regimented response. Regimented doesn't have to be as bad as dictatorship. It feels like watching an ineffective shopkeeper running a bad budget, sending staff home and shutting up shut for a day because you can't afford it. Then opening up again and buying loads of cheap tat to sell at a profit. Then getting rid of the tat too cheap. It's all knee jerk stuff Del Boy stuff with little sense of technical mastery of the risks and possibilities. This £500 scheme smells of desperation to keep the virus from spreading.

We've got systems, but they don't get modified, streamlined, synthesized. We should have something powerfully efficient in place by now

It is painful to watch, isn't it.

@Heyahun lol!!! It's a bit ridiculous I agree

I think they will go back.

Government know it’s just not sustainable for much longer, they are trying to scare people into compliance with their new adverts and so on. I’m not a tin foil hat wearer by any means but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this just can’t continue much longer. Cases are falling, deaths slowly falling too, people’s goodwill was lost long ago, they know there will be mayhem if this goes on past Easter.