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.

@Carryingon Exactly! We desperately need something other that open or closed!

I think it's a bit over dramatic to say that the next generation is fucked up, but then over dramatic and emotive language is the way of some on MN. The catastrophising has occurred throughout this pandemic over some very silly things.
Yes we are all different and all see things different ways and all have different levels of coping skills and positivity.
For our part we are lucky local since an extremely low rate of infection. One of the lowest in the country. Even so our secondary head has sent a letter out saying "We will continue to vet all ongoing applications and will be reviewing the validity of
those currently in school". He states that there are 10% in at school - around 70 students and says that nationally only 4% are in for secondaries on average! Now he has not been on MN or is not telling the whole truth. He wants less in. The thing is for those 70 they are spaced out, mask wearing and have only supervised not taught lessons. They sit at a laptop the same as children at home so apart from a physical presence to keep them on track no difference in work.

Not ideal but they are not 'fucked' as some would have it. They are all disadvantaged compared to 'previous normal years' but in society there have always been those with advantage and disadvantage - the difference is now some of the 'screamers and shouters' children are disadvantaged so it matters much much more to them. Some of the very vulnerable children are in - these children are usually the most disadvantaged in society all the time and most don't even think of these then - now some are even jealous that they are in school.

@Turtleshelly

And i do find it sad that there is such a focus on “lost” education. It’s not lost it’s interrupted. It’s a global pandemic! We were one of the few hard hit countries to send kids back full time. Who are they behind? Our curriculum is too heavy handed anyway especially at primary level, thanks to gove’s curriculum. We could have used this for a much needed reset.

Agree.

Even with very few students in it’s hard to change.

Eg we only have healthcare dc and teacher if solo. The list was cut right down after they were inundated for requests.

TAs are in and feel safer as they have bubbles of six. Teachers work online not from school.

If you were to start letting dc in there’s be so many to accommodate numbers would shoot up and the teacher would have to return.

Thus would lower online provision for those out.

As much as I would like days in for dc the above works well. Bubbles unlike to get disrupted and TA feels safer.

I’d love to go back with other mitigation but having some days in for all is tricky.

Unless someone can say how it would work

There’d

Very good post @FanciedanewnameAnne

Setting out so that some families live with disadvantage permanently needs to be said more often and more clearly.

Just saw the work and pensions secretary on Good Morning Britain...it left the distinct impression on me that the government don't understand the damage being done and also just don't care.

@ALondonMum2

I’m vile?!!! And you’re the one slinging insults around. You got personal just to prove your point. Along with @formerbabe who had her name-calling post deleted.

I’m not devoid of empathy actually, but what’s the alternative? You have no alternative. You have to crack on. You can make it about you as much as you want. Won’t help though.

Sorry to break it to you but the Govt. don’t give a shiny shit whether your kids miss school for another two terms or a bit more. They.Dont.Care. The sooner you square up to that the better. Teachers on the whole don’t vote Tory. Schools are the last ship to sink.

Stop name-calling BTW. It’s rude & infantile. And you’ll get your naughty posts deleted.

Have a good day sisters x

The alternative is that we vaccinate teachers and we reopen our schools pronto. Most families are not vulnerable or high risk, those that are may continue to learn from home.

It is time our children came first.

Schools aren’t currently shut to protect teachers. It’s because the children attending schools are taking Covid home and passing it on to family/friends. Have we not learnt yet that it doesn’t matter if you’re old or vulnerable? There are healthy young people in ICU. Also educate yourselves on long Covid. Long Covid in itself is going to be a massive disruption to healthcare and the economy.

Vaccinated the teachers doesn’t solve the problem. It would protect the teachers but not stop them others around them getting the virus.

Until the vaccination programme is fully rolled out and the transmission rate and deaths drop, schools can’t fully reopen. When schools reopen it still wouldn’t be normal. I would expect everyone in masks, a rota to keep classes small and hopefully keep cases low so the NHS can manage.

@Indecisive12

Schools aren’t currently shut to protect teachers. It’s because the children attending schools are taking Covid home and passing it on to family/friends. Have we not learnt yet that it doesn’t matter if you’re old or vulnerable? There are healthy young people in ICU. Also educate yourselves on long Covid. Long Covid in itself is going to be a massive disruption to healthcare and the economy.

ICU numbers yes but long Covid figures won’t be part of decisions, and aren’t yet afaic see

I'm wondering how many of the posters on this thread who are now advocating vaccinating teachers, blended learning, masks, ventilation, rotas and lower numbers in schools are the same posters who have sneered at and ridiculed all the teachers who have been suggesting most of these things for months, as they were warning of this current shit-show.

@feelingquitehopeful

The alternative is that we vaccinate teachers and we reopen our schools pronto. Most families are not vulnerable or high risk, those that are may continue to learn from home.

It is time our children came first.

Are you a member of Us4Them?

Vaccinating teachers won’t get schools open any quicker. Children and staff transmit covid and take it home into the community-that’s why schools are closed.

Er, no that is not right parker the virus is not harmful to most of the population.

We don't need everyone vaccinated to help the NHS, which is why we are having the lockdown - we can't stop transmission, and were never trying to. Once those most at risk are vaccinated, then we will start to see the hospital and death rate reduce, there is no reason to keep the schools closed. Most people will get covid, and be completely fine. Of the fifteen friends and family I know that have it/have had it, ranging from very vulnerable to not at all, all have been completely fine, as will the overwhelming majority will be.

We need to remember the lockdown is to help the NHS, not to stop transmission.

We can not carry on like this, so as soon as things are manageable on a hospital level we need to reopen schools as a bare minimum.

It is surprising how many people think we are doing this to 'stop' covid, and shows how little they know about the virus. The virus will be with us forever. We can't keep schools closed forever, and need to quickly find a way like France and other countries to keep schools open.

No, I have joined us for them just yet, but def considering doing so. I am however in daily contact with my MP and she is very aware of the problems facing children.

*haven't

feeling - we’ve a long way to go. Two friends of a colleague, both in their 30’s with no health problems are currently in hospital in critical care. It is seriously affecting all age groups now. DH, a GP admitted a patient to hospital this weekend. A mum of three, 35 years old.

Don’t they have to wear masks in French schools? Isn’t that something Us4Them are vehemently against. In fact aren’t they against any measures in schools, we can see how well that worked. Aren’t many of them believers in the microchip in the vaccine theory

@Parker231

feeling - we’ve a long way to go. Two friends of a colleague, both in their 30’s with no health problems are currently in hospital in critical care. It is seriously affecting all age groups now. DH, a GP admitted a patient to hospital this weekend. A mum of three, 35 years old.

That is so frightening

@Parker231 I know Long Covid isn’t taken into account but it should be. It’s affecting a lot of people and affecting the workforce. It’s a risk that people aren’t considering as it isn’t death but if someone can’t work again, can’t parent and needs ongoing care as a result of Covid it should be taken into account.

[quote Indecisive12]@Parker231 I know Long Covid isn’t taken into account but it should be. It’s affecting a lot of people and affecting the workforce. It’s a risk that people aren’t considering as it isn’t death but if someone can’t work again, can’t parent and needs ongoing care as a result of Covid it should be taken into account.[/quote]
The cost of reducing it would far outweigh the benefit

You can get long term effects from ANY illness, injury or virus not just covid. We can't keep schools close because of 'long covid' we simply need to open more clinics and have better services to help those that are unlucky. Most people will be fine.

I am not fearful of covid at all, as a 40 something healthy female, and most people should really start looking at the stats. Your chances of being run over by a bus or having a car accident are far far higher.

Open the schools, vaccinate the teachers job done. Most countries have schools that are open and functioning throughout the lockdown for all children, only a small fraction are closed.

I wasn’t fearful either. Now I’m practically bed bound at 35 with lung problems, cardiac problems, neurological problems, arthritis and a load of other stuff. I’ve no vulnerabilities and a BMI if 22!

@feelingquitehopeful most countries certainly haven't taken the cavalier unsafe approach to opening schools as was done in the uk. You are poorly informed. I have a good friend who is an epidemiologist in the US, responsible for school return in her district (which has gone very well), she despairs at the way schools have returned here from September to December. Yes I am aware that the USA has its problems but schools have been reopened (or not) on a district by district basis and her district has been successful due to extra safety measures including masks/rotas/more staff and more space that we don't have here.