Boris to make imminent announcement on schools, any guesses?!

[Adviceneededalways]

Do we think an extension delaying opening or is he going to try and get children back in sooner...

I have to say I think the latter would be a fucking disaster but I wouldn’t be at all surprised...

Not opening after Feb half term he just said.

He said its not possible to return after half term.

@LST

I hope it is to open primaries. Even if it is just for the infants (reception to year 2)

That's my entire school.

So you want it open fully but no form of protection for those teaching them, the clinically vulnerable staff and children to take the risk, and no change to the risk of transmission to families at home?

Because that worked so well last term. 3/4 of staff caught covid, several parents and children too. Every class had at least one period of self isolation. Some staff needed more than 10 days off with covid, some not fully right now.

Gatherings of 30+ with no protective measures (masks for all, social distancing, etc) in place, bar the opening of a window, simply wouldn't be permitted in most of the country right now, so why schools?

Phew thank goodness. No rush after half term, 8th March to start.... Getting dc back.

Sounds sensible to me.

8th March is the earliest

They can’t have them back with numbers so high.
It’s still too prevalent to have any sort of mixing surely?

I’m confused with the exam situation now, if they’ve pretty much cancelled them this year surely (for secondary) years 10 and 12 are the ones that need to be in?

Oh yes, the old vaccinate the teachers argument. Has anyone noticed how teachers families are suddenly completely immune from any covid they may bring home after they're vaccinated? A bit like schools used to be seen as these magical covid free zones, now teachers relatives are suddenly magically safe too in order to fit the narrative.

If target acheived re vaccinations, by 8th March, we hope it will be safe to reopen schools. Free school meals will be extended.

That two week notice is a killer

8th March is now the earliest possible reopening date. Great

Praying common senses prevails and schools return
This
Not getting hopes up though...

Sending them back too soon with be putting lives needlessly at risk, this government needs to take a firm stand unless they want another 100k deaths on their conscience.

I hope they don't open schools yet. As much as I want that for my children, I think it'll just mean cases rise and we're back to closing schools again. Could go on like that for years! Just do it properly now.

The ECV and over 70s should be up to full protection by then

8th March at the very earliest he says.

And a return to the summer school line!

@MiaMarshmallows

Opening them after half term. All teachers and support staff to be vaccinated over the half term holiday. I hope.

Even if this was the case, it takes 3 weeks to build up immunity. I am absolutely terrified of going back to full class teaching after having contracted covid last year. I didn’t become a teacher to risk my life, that of my family or the community. This does NOT mean I don’t care about the welfare of my students.

I can't believe people are for sending the kids back right now.. yesterday we hit the 100,000 death mark and all this talk of new variants 😳 totally bizarre if today announcement is kids back you go.

@BeaSmithers

Get them back ASAP.

Boris wants to concentrate on doing something about the elderly shuffling round supermarkets. They shouldn't even be out!! And we wonder why it's spreading!

ODFOD, do you want everyone over 70 to starve? And know how hard it is to get a supermarket delivery, even if you’ve got and can use the tech?

I don't really agree with sending some years back in primary. I think when they did this last summer it was unfair on all the other years and delayed their return till September. They should either reopen to all years or stay closed to all years. Sending some years back runs the risk that community spread will increase enough to keep the other years off for longer.,

I wish Chris Whitty could come on Mumsnet and answer people’s questions and address their ‘great ideas’. There’s so many people who think they understand. They don’t understand any of it and that’s why they’re calling for schools to go back. He must just despair at people. He tries so hard to get the message across and people are still talking absolute shite.

But only the first vaccine will have been given then, and both are needed for protection?

I don’t think schools should ever return.

Why should teachers have to teach them? They are vectors.

So what if the outcome of being off school is terrible for them? It should ONLY be about the teachers. It’s all outrageous and unsafe.

Of course doctors and nurses, carers and supermarket workers have to be with lots of other people every day, but they’re not in nearly as great danger as the teachers.

I don't get it. Lockdown has been in place for 3 weeks and a day.
This government consistently wastes the gains of lockdowns.

I worry they will open schools then a week later open pubs. The real impetus for lifting lockdown restrictions will be coming from business (and party donors) and the government looked really bad last year opening pubs first and schools last so will want to avoid that.

They will make sure the teachers are vaccinated first, but what about the parents? I am priority list 6. I think they are only aiming to vaccinate the first 4 priority levels before half term? So everyone under priority level 4 gets put at risk?

To be clear my DS is desperate to go back to school and hates online learning, although his school is providing excellent full-timetable teaching.

I just don't want either of us to get ill, long Covid or worse.

Maybe vaccinate the parents too in priority levels 5 downwards first?

I sadly feel like we've been fed a line, that the 8th is just to calm everyone down/shut them up.

(I want the kids back ASAP btw)

Petition for getting staff in special schools vaccinated

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/566217

They really need to be vaccinated as they have to provide personal care to the children

Please sign and pass on