So it looks like we're being prepared for children not to go back until after Easter

[choosingcrumble]

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/children-face-months-at-home-as-schools-stay-shut-until-easter-wp5ltpm82?fbclid=IwAR1l0gRSzuJLIv508reRmBEojbYfoGOsWwe3_pBFmKpA4EbI1IgC5dKC2uE

I suspected it wouldn't be until then, let's just hope that it doesn't stretch into the summer.

They should just bring the 6 week holidays forward to Spring and have the kids study in Summer & be able to see their friends when cases are low.
I agree with a PP, it shouldn't be all or nothing. Sometimes you have to think outside the box instead of rigidly adhering to timetables when it's at odds to the seasonal nature of this virus.

Plus we get to not home school for 6 weeks in lockdown. Win win.

I've said since December it will be September. I just can not see it being any sooner.

VACCINATE THE TEACHERS.

let children return to school. Enforce lockdown in most other social aspects. Have curfews in place.

Children are really really suffering.

I hate this government.

It’s utterly disappointing.

I am deeply concerned about the well-being of all children.

We are storing up so many problems for the future, not only in terms of mental health, but also of course in terms of their academic progress.

This is madness and will be catastrophic for millions of children. They’ve taken leave of their senses.

I wouldn't be surprised if they check in on the last week or so in July with a view to them starting back in September.

This is appalling

They need to vaccinate the teachers NOW

Why aren't they doing this?

I was hoping for after Easter. Beginning of April. Now May is being suggested?

Formerbabe
Because vaccinating the teachers will not stop the community spread which is why the schools are closed.

I may get flamed for this but I think kids should be deferred a year. In many European countries they don't start till 6/7 so it would bring us in line with that for new starters, so not a massive deal. The amount of school kids are missing this year it's so unfair on them. My kids are both behind, one is dyslexic and struggles with comprehension. How can they say kids have completed the year when they have barely been there.

I just want to die now.

Atalune

But will they vaccinate the adults living with the children as well? I'm worried about my children missing socialisation. I'm not as concerned about their education. I'm actually very, very worried if this gets worse, there won't be hospital care if one of us get very ill. They need to get those hospital admissions down. Maybe schools should be offering a day or two in a week with social distancing and masks. Really have as few in as possible at any one time to reduce spread.

Even if teachers get vaccinated though then children can still pass to other adults at home etc. I guess thats why, though its a total let down.

I would really like to see all children brought into school on a rota just to socialise. Maybe for outdoor PE twice a week in bubbles or something.

I'm a teacher working in school every day. Even though every effort is being made to ensure the children in school and at home get the same education offering, it is very obvious the children in school have a better deal socially. I sat out with my class playing in the sunshine on Friday afternoon and my heart broke a bit for the children at home.

Cee mine is suspected dyslexic and gets 1:1 reading session with ta and an additional one as well due to her sen.

About 20 mins each.

I've focused on the basics during lock down and helping her get these foundations seems better than focusing on the actual work.

I feel relieved, it's not safe... It's bad enough as it is.

I’m mentally prepared for it to last until Easter. Hopefully they will start letting some back even if it’s staggered. Last time they let the younger children back in first so I wonder if they might do the same again.

It’s disgrace- i thought every school day mattered?

Why aren’t they going back when the most vulnerable are vaccinated (mid February)?

If this is the case, which I hope it isn't, I will be sending my kids back in and utilising my key worker place which I haven't up to now.

Reef they could relax rules on dc meeting up, outdoors for those not in... But would that increase transmission rates?

Vaccines for school staff would be a start but it takes weeks to give protection so won’t help before Easter. Plus it won’t stop community spread when the children take it home.

Many also mix more when children are at school and play dates and sleepovers were still being done by many which we certainly don’t need at the moment whilst trying to surprise cases and limit the spread of the new variation.

Wasn’t there some propaganda recently about blended learning being a great success? If they can push the dogma that our children are still in education and thriving at home it puts that subject to bed for a while.

Sod the fact that many parents are dying on their arse to make home schooling happen. Forget about the children who can’t work independently or don’t have the personality to cop outside of a schooling environment. If they can prove that learning is available to children and those children can access it, they can keep the schools shut as long as they please.

Vaccinating teachers won’t stop community transmission.

Whilst schools have so many keyworker children in how can they do rotas for other children ?

@justanotherneighinparadise

Wasn’t there some propaganda recently about blended learning being a great success? If they can push the dogma that our children are still in education and thriving at home it puts that subject to bed for a while.

Sod the fact that many parents are dying on their arse to make home schooling happen. Forget about the children who can’t work independently or don’t have the personality to cop outside of a schooling environment. If they can prove that learning is available to children and those children can access it, they can keep the schools shut as long as they please.

I agree :(

I think they should stop all bubbles apart from those that are taking the place of professional caring services and allow
Children to mingle to some degree instead.

Adults can recover from this, I’m not sure our children can.