Primary schools back sooner than expected?

[deeplybaffled]

It’s hard to know what to believe, but PHE now seem to be suggesting that primary schools can safely return after half term - which seems to contradict all other recent reports and government comments
focussing around Easter!

@CrackOpenTheGin

Sorry to piss on everyone’s bonfire but has everyone forgotten that most teachers handed in their Section 44 letters after Xmas? NOTHING has been put in place to make schools safer so I’d imagine the union would just tell them to submit them again. And so they should as it’s a ridiculous idea to send schools back in Feb.

I didn't.

I really want to go back.

I actually felt quite safe in my school last half term.

The infection rates for secondary pupils in parts of London and Kent in the week before Christmas (you know, when Gavelar threatened Greenwich with legal action if they didn't reopen schools) were 2509 per 100,000.
Primary schools were not far behind, with around 2100, I think.
Since then, schools have been (largely) closed, so numbers are reducing.
Why do people want to return to those figures?

I have a child going into senior school yr7 who’s administering his own Covid test weekly ... that’s a lot of tests for a whole school - but surely in some way more regular testing has to be part of the solution - even if just in times of high transmission

I don’t think this contradicts anything at all.

Previous reports suggested that ALL schools wouldn’t reopen until after Easter. That implied that some schools would reopen before then, and it makes sense that primary schools would be the first.

No one handed in section 44 letters at my school, everyone was planning to go back as normal. We are in a low case area, had no cases at our school or burst bubbles.

I'm all for DD(6) being in school. She needs to be there from an emotional level (she's prone to panic attacks and bad anxiety, she turned a massive corner when she went back in September and is speedily taking massive steps backwards) but I know a teacher that was hospitalised and they absolutely caught it in school. DDs teacher has a vulnerable child, I can only imagine the stress he's under. The government need to put their safety first above a pressured opening of schools. Allow teachers to wear masks, allow staggered attendance if need be. Talk to the teachers and staff and give them what they bloody well need to work as safely as they can.

How old is your child and how is homeschooling going?

Mind your own business about my children’s ages but it’s going fine thanks. Not perfect but manageable given that we are in a global pandemic. Yes I work full time and yes one of my children has SEN.

People seem to think that the only people who could want schools to stay closed are the stay at home mums with a big room full of school supplies that they’ve just been itching to use.

It’s not true. Some of us are just ok with cracking on with what needs to be done and not making a drama out of it.

‘no masks or distancing are allowed in your factory’

How many times do I have to ask for evidence that teachers have been disciplined for wearing masks? In DCs school ( secondary) all pupils and staff were wearing masks. No issues. TA’s who are supervising key worker kids are STILL wearing masks. No issues. Where are these LAs who are suspending teachers for wearing masks?

We need to get them back by half term if not before for the sake of children and for the rights of women.

It would be a huge mistake. I’m a teacher and if I go back I will be wearing a mask and enforcing strict social distancing.

My husband has been in critical care with covid - 41 years old, healthy weight, no underlying conditions. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone else for the sake of a few more weeks home schooling.

Good for you purple that sounds like a good plan! I am glad your dh has recovered :)

@Doublefaced

‘no masks or distancing are allowed in your factory’

How many times do I have to ask for evidence that teachers have been disciplined for wearing masks? In DCs school ( secondary) all pupils and staff were wearing masks. No issues. TA’s who are supervising key worker kids are STILL wearing masks. No issues. Where are these LAs who are suspending teachers for wearing masks?

This. No teacher is going to be sacked for opening a window or wearing a mask. As we know teachers are heavily unionised, it simply would not happen/

Also the parents who say they're terrified of sending their kids in, but are scared about a fine of £60. Yeah right. If you were that terrified you'd pay the non-existent fine.

What I dont understand is with the current situation the staff are exposed to KW children and these are the ones whose parents work out of house, so they can bring it in from home.
The children at home in majority have parents staying in, so are not as exposed to covid.
Yes, we cant guarantee all families follow the rules and it is not that simple, but in theory purely from school staff safety pov, why bringing those children in is more risky for teachers than the key worker children now?
I know, 10 children vs 30, but those 10 are more likely to spread the virus than the other 20.
I also dont get the rota system, if you have 10 in on Mon, 10 on Tue, 10 on Wed, you are still exposed to all 30.
If teacher catches it from Mon child it will then spread to Tue child and so on.

My local council has just given notice to cancel the school buses don't think they are going back any time soon.

@LucyLockdown

How old is your child and how is homeschooling going?

Mind your own business about my children’s ages but it’s going fine thanks. Not perfect but manageable given that we are in a global pandemic. Yes I work full time and yes one of my children has SEN.

People seem to think that the only people who could want schools to stay closed are the stay at home mums with a big room full of school supplies that they’ve just been itching to use.

It’s not true. Some of us are just ok with cracking on with what needs to be done and not making a drama out of it.

You work full time and homeschool your primary school aged SEN child and you're all doing fine? I dont think so.

I assume all teachers, other staff will be wearing masks in classrooms when schools go back. I'm sure all pupils in Secondary schools will need to were them in class, and possibly KS2 children too.

@ineedaholidaynow

I assume all teachers, other staff will be wearing masks in classrooms when schools go back. I'm sure all pupils in Secondary schools will need to were them in class, and possibly KS2 children too.

Why do teachers persist with the assertion that they have been banned from or penalised/disciplined/suspended for wearing masks?

I really hope not, nothing has been done to improve safety and lots of clinically vulnerable people still won’t have been vaccinated by that point as the emphasis has been on the ecv. I certainly don’t want to risk sending my primary kids back to risk infecting their 50 year old diabetic dad. Their school has had lots of cases and that was before the new, more transmissible strain. Education needs to be prioritised and opened as soon as it is safe. But I really don’t think it is yet and I really don’t want to end back at square one with numbers spiralling out of control again.

Pipe dream.

IF they did go back we’d be facing Easter onwards in lockdown again.

@Xenia

We need to get them back by half term if not before for the sake of children and for the rights of women.

This.

I think that it is a little bit premature to raise people's hopes. There are lots of contradictory news stories on schools. We have gone from Matt H saying no chance of half term to talking about possibly after Easter. There are also doctors in paediatrics saying let schools bring back vulnerable kids etc etc. This is just speculation prompted by journalists questions. It isn't a government decision so I do think people need to be cautious and FGS do not tell your kids as you will be raising their hopes and possibly dashing them later. This government has a reputation for telling people that things are going to get better when they aren't.

[quote TheSunIsStillShining]@Motherdare
Did you know that up to 30% of ppl needing hospital care because of covid end up in hospital again?
or that about the same % end up with long covid? Including children!

I want kids back in school. With proper masks all the time, SD/half the kids in at any time and proper ttr. It's "simple" as that.
Just opening up again will lead to this exact situ in a few months.[/quote]
Have you a link with this information?

It’s a balancing act between many factors unfortunately and not as simplistic as you might think.

Children need to go back. Testing / social distancing/ half a week - whatever it takes to bring them back safely but as soon as possible.

I don’t think they mean they’ll open all years - maybe they’ll do early years and KS1?

You work full time and homeschool your primary school aged SEN child and you're all doing fine? I dont think so.

And my other children. Think what you like, I couldn’t care less if you believe me about my own life. If it suits your narrative to believe nobody is coping then crack on, but plenty are doing just fine, within the limitations of the pandemic we find ourselves in.