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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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

999 replies

choosingcrumble · 24/01/2021 08:59

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.

OP posts:
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BungleandGeorge · 24/01/2021 11:35

Some people clearly welcome lockdown for as long as possible, I don’t think it reflects society in general. Same comments by some on every thread, everyone’s circumstances are different but I think the vast majority of adults are nearing the end of their tether for lockdown for lots of different reasons.

CrackOpenTheGin · 24/01/2021 11:35

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@CrackOpenTheGin

As a former teacher we need to move the 6 week holiday and have it sometime from Feb half term to May half term.

As a current teacher, no thank you.[/quote]
Well that would be up to you. In an ideal world the government would offer more pay for those few weeks in school over the summer and teachers who felt they needed a break could refuse it. There are lots of supply teachers desperate for work who would jump at it.

redsquirrelfan · 24/01/2021 11:37

@MarinPrime

Emmie2021 Scandalous , our kids are meant to stay indoors for months

No they're not. If you believe this you've misunderstood the guidelines.
You can take them to playgrounds and parks, for long walks, bike rides etc.

Once a day.

It's nothing. Usually kids would be walking to and from school (ok the Chelsea Tractor owners have to show them off and drive them to the two minutes down the road, but a lot of kids do walk), walking around school, meeting friends, doing sport at school or as a hobby, or other recreation that involves some sort of movement.

Oh they can go out for a walk with their parents once a day. How exciting. And if they do go to a playground the covid stasi come out and bleat on social media about social distancing or the lack thereof.

Outdoor recreation needs to reopen.

OverTheRainbow88 · 24/01/2021 11:37

There are lots of supply teachers desperate for work who would jump at it.

And how would they be paid for?

And in the inner city school where I work supply teachers don’t last half a day!

ineedaholidaynow · 24/01/2021 11:37

@Doublefaced this is nothing to do with the unions. This is to do with schools being a vector for transmission

Doublefaced · 24/01/2021 11:37

‘As a current teacher, no thank you.’
Why not?

Kndg · 24/01/2021 11:38

I can't be the only one who's glad that children are off until the numbers come down a lot. DS has SN (ASD and ADHD) and he's coping really well with online learning plus he can chat to all his friends online on his xbox / PlayStation after school lessons are finished.
Obvs it's not the same as being there face to face but it's far less stressful than the battle we used to have to get him ready for school.
Teachers should be a priority for the vaccination imo and once the cases are on a sustained downward trajectory then schools should be reopened gradually.

redsquirrelfan · 24/01/2021 11:39

Year 11 and Y13 need to be a priority. If primary years can have 50% of kids back under KW status then Secondary Schools can have 50% back as well as clearly they don’t have as many KW children

I totally agree. But we had this in the summer too, some year groups back in primary but nobody back at secondary at all. It was madness - why did having primaries partly open preclude any sort of opening at secondaries at all?

Secondary schools could have Y11s in as a minimum and 6th form colleges could have Y13s in.

Deliaskis · 24/01/2021 11:39

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

our kids are meant to stay indoors for months

No they are not Hmm there’s no rule saying they can’t leave the house. They can go outside to exercise, play in gardens etc.

We have the worst death rate so should be doing all we can to stop that, remote education isn’t a big deal and most people want their children, family and friends to be safe and healthy.

Remote education is a huge deal for the many many children in schools that are failing to step up and provide it. I know other schools are doing well but many aren't. If this is to go on for many months, there needs to be proper quality standards and full accountability, and it needs to happen fast.

I have done everything I can in terms of feedback to school, and we still get basically a massive pile of worksheets and homework tasks. DD hasn't been taught anything since finishing school in December. I've complained to teacher, head and governors, but what am I supposed to do next?

catatecheese · 24/01/2021 11:39

This is actually destroying lives.
Why are teachers not being vaccinated as a top priority?
Use the lateral flow tests on children.
And get them all in.
We can continue with every other aspect of lockdown but we should not be sacrificing children in this way.

starrynight19 · 24/01/2021 11:40

@Doublefaced

I don’t know why this is a surprise. Teaching unions have no intentions of letting schools reopen until every last demand they have is met. And when a demand is met, they’ll come up with another one.
Absolute rubbish. This closure is nothing to do with teaching unions and they reopened last time with no discussion with teaching unions.
mrshoho · 24/01/2021 11:40

@Doublefaced

I don’t know why this is a surprise. Teaching unions have no intentions of letting schools reopen until every last demand they have is met. And when a demand is met, they’ll come up with another one.
lie! This is not the teaching union. This is the government firefighting a pandemic in a country where our health system is collapsing.
CrackOpenTheGin · 24/01/2021 11:40

@OverTheRainbow88

There are lots of supply teachers desperate for work who would jump at it.

And how would they be paid for?

And in the inner city school where I work supply teachers don’t last half a day!

The government should pay. It shouldn’t come out of school money. They should pay for all teachers for those extra 4 weeks over summer. Obviously if you look for problems instead of solutions then it’s the children who will miss out. Maybe other teachers in your school would be happy to do this. And if supply only last half a day in your school then your school has much bigger problems.
brunetteonthebus · 24/01/2021 11:41

It's a very unfair situation at the moment. For example. You have me, a SAHM (fortunately) with a DH who works from home. I have a reception aged child and a toddler but am managing well, though it's bloody hard work, because I do not have my own job to do whilst homeschooling.

Then you have my family member. She is just as capable and willing to homeschool as me. She is a good, engaged parent. She also has a reception age child and a toddler. Difference is, and has a full time job to do at home and a DH who is a emergency services key worker on shifts. No KW place for them as only one KW and school says two only. Toddler usually goes to a private childminder who has closed due to a vulnerable family member so no toddler childcare either. GPs are vulnerable so toddler can't go there.

Pre lockdown our reception age children were both doing well with their basics. Now however my child is still learning at a decent rate and hers is starting to fall behind. How is that fair?

I know it's a pandemic, and I don't know what the answer is. But some children are being failed, and it's not the fault of the parents. You simply cannot WFH full time adequately and homeschool adequately too. It's an impossible task especially with very young children who need constant supervision.

And that's before you even start thinking about the children who actually have parents who don't give a monkeys about their education, or who can't afford access to tech etc etc.

I'm prepared for it to be Easter but I'm not delighted about it!

Doublefaced · 24/01/2021 11:41

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@Doublefaced this is nothing to do with the unions. This is to do with schools being a vector for transmission[/quote]
You keep on banging that drum. It doesn’t make it true. Unions have totally and utterly exploited this horrific situation and thrown a generation of children under the bus.

catgirl1976 · 24/01/2021 11:42

People seem to think the teaching unions have a lot more power than they actually do.

justaweeone · 24/01/2021 11:42

Loving how some think we should move the 6 week break!
How would non education staff like it to be dictated when they should have their holidays!!??

Remmy123 · 24/01/2021 11:43

Absolute joke.

BungleandGeorge · 24/01/2021 11:43

I don’t know if they can alter term dates for teachers would depend on contract wording. NHS staff have all leave cancelled and are being required to work different shift patterns and weekends even if that’s not usually a part of their job. Will depend on the contract and a fair amount of goodwill.

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 24/01/2021 11:43

You keep on banging that drum. It doesn’t make it true. *the government Unions have totally and utterly exploited this horrific situation and thrown a generation of children under the bus.

There, fixed that for you

LickEmbysmiling · 24/01/2021 11:43

It's not too much to ask for safer working conditions when zero was done to make school safer.

Not even a bare minimum of masks in class?

MarshaBradyo · 24/01/2021 11:43

@catgirl1976

People seem to think the teaching unions have a lot more power than they actually do.
They shouldn’t even get this airtime

Everyone is reacting to the statement this morning not attributing it

Themanofmydreams · 24/01/2021 11:43

@Sparkles715 I agree with you

Doublefaced · 24/01/2021 11:43

‘Absolute rubbish. This closure is nothing to do with teaching unions and they reopened last time with no discussion with teaching unions.’

Remind me what teachers were threatening to do just before schools were closed this time in terms of walk outs?

ancientgran · 24/01/2021 11:43

Don't you think children would benefit from having the summer holidays to be out playing and socialising? They can learn at home but they can't socialise and play and surely that is what they need.

As a former teacher we need to move the 6 week holiday and have it sometime from Feb half term to May half term. This will take the pressure off working parents trying to homeschool. But maybe encourage parents to keep learning ticking over in English and maths with an hour a day. All summer holidays abroad this year should not be allowed anyway and learning is more important. Children can work over the summer for maybe 4 weeks in school and have 2 weeks holiday. That’s plenty of time for a break away in the uk although that should be discouraged this year. Teachers should get time and a half for those 4 weeks.

Don't you think kids would be on their knees with only a 2 week break between May and Christmas? Particularly the little ones, I think loads of them struggle from September to Christmas. Booking holidays in the 6 week summer break is hard (and expensive) enough. Imagine it being 2 weeks.