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!

I would think after Easter there would be more chances for outdoor lessons or improved ventilation with windows open.

I'd like week on/week off for Term 4 to reduce household mixing, then back after Easter when more people in the community are protected by vaccines. That seems more sensible considering hospital admissions and still high levels of community transmission.

It's not 'sooner than expected', it's what was originally planned when they were closed in January.

Why the hell aren't you campaigning for SAFER schools?

EXACTLY.

And it’s this, coupled with the lack of interest in the woeful state of education in the U.K. pre-pandemic that makes me very sceptical about this really being about the children.

What about the grandparents who live with families that have school age children?

Aren’t more people aged 40+ in hospital now? That age group covers quite a few Primary School parents

@Abraxan

Why the hell aren't you campaigning for SAFER schools?

This.
Why aren't parents fighting and making themselves heard about this.

Rather than just saying open schools, why not be shouting 'how can we make schools safer for all?' And trying to push the government to look at the huge amounts of recommendations, or advice and suggestions out there.

Why, instead of just wanting schools open 'as normal' (because that didn't work well last time for many many schools) aren't you pushing for things like rotas to allow social distancing, increased use of masks, etc?

Surely all children being in school 2 days a week could benefit families more than some children not being in at all. Yes it would be a huge crack down in critical care provision,, but it's probably workable.

Maybe because the idea of children being forced to stay 2m apart all day rather than being allowed to play and socialise would mean such a miserable experience they won't learn much at all? They can stick the teachers behind plexiglass if they like if children don't need personal care/aren't very young, but making children distance from each other is just cruel.

Dreadful if true, bowing to lobbying rather then being sensible and keeping them out until the weather improves, more people are vaccinated and most importantly they can work outside or do lots of PE like our school did last summer and September.

I am just dreading going through this entire process again with cases building up and then the worry of school closures once again. Surely people would rather short term pain for long term gain?

I think for the younger children 2 days in 3 days off might work better in terms of the more regular contact and a chance each week to see friends, play and socialise, and do some core English, maths and phonics. It also frees staff up 1 day a week for PPA, prep, sorting remote learning tasks, and all the other admin, plus the cleaning between groups. Remote learning 3 days a week for the other foundation subjects, daily reading and some maths/English.phonics tasked based on the work they did in school.

So maybe 50% in Monday/Tuesday
Wednesday - PPA day for staff; cleaning day
Thursday/Friday other 50% in

@BigGreen

It's so tiring all this briefing and counter briefing to the press. It's so fucking stressful. I wish everyone would shut up until they had something concrete to report and then publish the decision in full with evidence and giving a week's notice.

That would require competence....which is sadly lacking.

but making children distance from each other is just cruel.

^ firstly if you have been in a school its nigh on impossible to keep small dc away from each other which is the battle really, they naturally get close to each other and its impossible to police which is why at the very least they need to be in masks, secondly the virus is cruel, we are in the grip of a cruel pandemic.

Sometimes I get the impression some posters feel this is all off the cuff made up rules to be difficult?

After half term is way, way too soon to reopen, do we really want cases to rise and have to suffer lockdown No. 4?

Every time cases start to fall, there are calls for schools to reopen. It's too early. Of course cases are falling....it's BECAUSE schools are shut that they are falling so fast. Open up too soon and we'll be in the same shit and all that suffering will be for nothing.

Instead we need to get on top of the virus properly and do a very slow, careful and staged reopening after Easter. It's not about "some teacher catching COVID", it's about children - as largely asymptomatic sufferers - taking the virus back into their own family groups and thus spreading the virus around the community that way.

We need cases much lower, the hospitals cleared to manageable levels, and far more people vaccinated first. After Easter we can do a really gradual reopening, going slowly enough to monitor the spread over time.

They would still be able to play and socialise and see their friends.
Reception are not socially distanced at my school now, but there are less in so there is more space for everyone. There is more outdoor time for key stage 1 too, so they are mixing much more outside together. In classes key stage 1 are actually quite enjoying having more space, enjoying having their own desk and own pencil cases, etc.

Surely we have to make some protective measures.
As I sad, opening up like we did in September didn't work for many schools. So something ought to be considered,

@BubblyBarbara

I honestly think this is causing real damage to children that will last for years.

If you go to Russia or much of Eastern Europe you notice how people don’t smile much and are rather cold to strangers until they get to know you? It’s because they were treated so harshly for decades under communism. The younger generations will be like this here too in future

Oh bloody hell, give your head a wobble.

I think for the younger children 2 days in 3 days off

I would like time in for non KW child but our school had limited to healthcare worker dc and solo teacher so those three days off for them would be tough.

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.

@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 don't think "most" did? Do you have a source for the numbers?

God I hope my 7 year old can go back. I'd keep my 9 year old off. He is struggling too but not like my 7 year old.

@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.

Maybe they are about to ballot re a strike this time then?

Lateral Flow Tests if they are still going to be used but not instead of isolation only pick up potentially already positive cases.

Nope I don’t have a source. I’m sure the NEU have some data on their website somewhere. But anecdotally I have 18 teacher friends. 13 submitted them, 4 didn’t but were then asked to by their headteacher. So that’s a hell of a lot although a very small sample size admittedly. Schools would not be able to function is just one or two from each school submitted them... which they would.

There are rumours that the NEU are going to ballot their members for strike action or advise nursery staff to hand in section 44s. There is a big announcement today at 5pm tonight.

@BubblyBarbara

I honestly think this is causing real damage to children that will last for years.

If you go to Russia or much of Eastern Europe you notice how people don’t smile much and are rather cold to strangers until they get to know you? It’s because they were treated so harshly for decades under communism. The younger generations will be like this here too in future

being from EE. This is utter bullshit!

Ppl are miserable because they don't have prospects, they don't have enough money and it is a constant struggle to stay afloat for so many. The middle class is actually a very low earning class.

Don’t think it was the Unions that actually closed the schools though, it was the case numbers at that time, which are slightly better now?

@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 imagine the statistics released yesterday that showed that teachers weren't at any higher risk might help there. It was factory workers, chefs, taxi drivers and obviously healthcare workers etc that were the most risky jobs.

However, I am totally for anything that will help reduce risk further. Some of the ideas that are being used in France and Germany could be used here.

This is from Twitter yesterday:

@takingthebiscuits

Don’t think it was the Unions that actually closed the schools though, it was the case numbers at that time, which are slightly better now?

It was the unions that closed the schools. The biggest unions told their members to submit section 44 letters which is that they are refusing to work in an unsafe environment. This forced the government to close the schools, although they blamed it on the new variant despite knowing about it for months to save face

The one thing that Cerberus me about the "open all schools regardless of transmission and risk due to mental health" posters is they are ignoring a huge point.

It will not do any child's mental health any good if they bring it home and a parent ends up hospitalised, with long term health issues or god forbid dies. Or parents lose jobs because high numbers keep longer lockdowns. Increased poverty etc.

That guilt will last a lifetime.

I'm absolutely not denying it's affecting children MH. I also won't deny it'll affect their education.

This is why we need a huge cash injection when this is over to support pupils. They'll get through the short term difficulties with support.

@CrackOpenTheGin

Nope I don’t have a source. I’m sure the NEU have some data on their website somewhere. But anecdotally I have 18 teacher friends. 13 submitted them, 4 didn’t but were then asked to by their headteacher. So that’s a hell of a lot although a very small sample size admittedly. Schools would not be able to function is just one or two from each school submitted them... which they would.

There are rumours that the NEU are going to ballot their members for strike action or advise nursery staff to hand in section 44s. There is a big announcement today at 5pm tonight.

It’s hard to get a steer on this

Some posters declaring it didn’t happen (well one that repeats it) and oth

Many primaries did close on Jan 4th I assume to S44 repercussions

But again just from a long thread with many closures reported