Schools potentially back by 8th of March and exit strategy by 22 Feb

[Fembot123]

How hopeful are we 😁

From 8th March, not by 8th March.

It may also be a staggered re-opening.

Not that hopeful

If vaccine targets are met schools 'might' go back

I'll believe it when I see it!

@noblegiraffe

From 8th March, not by 8th March.

It may also be a staggered re-opening.

Sorry, from..

@Crunchymum

I'll believe it when I see it!

Me too 😄

Vaccinations are going pretty well though. About the only thing the government has got right in the entire situation, but it’s something.

I feel we are being softened up for a blow- too many caveats “if/when” so they can get out of things. That’s just my thought.

From the Guardian:

"Boris Johnson has announced that he hopes to begin reopening England’s schools from Monday 8 March, with the date to be confirmed next month.

The prime minister said a firm decision would be taken in the week of 22 February, after the spring half-term – the date by which he had originally hoped schools would reopen.

He said by then the government would have a clearer picture of how the vaccines are helping to contain transmission of the virus, and cut hospital admissions."

Key phrase, "hopes to begin re-opening schools"
A lot will depend on the vaccine, hospital admissions, etc.

I take it as this is the earliest date that they might start to re-open schools if all goes well.

And I really hope it's a phased return, with extra measures in place for staff and students.

Otherwise we'll be in a perpetual cycle of lockdowns.

Are any measures being taken to make them safer?!

Fingers crossed.

@LacyEdge

Vaccinations are going pretty well though. About the only thing the government has got right in the entire situation, but it’s something.

I agree with this. If you follow the numbers, they are on track to vaccinate those top 4 groups by mid Feb. Add 3 weeks on to that for immunity to kick in within the last groups vaccinated and I think the date for starting to re-open is probably about correct.

Those top 4 groups account for, something like close to 90% of the death toll. They’re the group most likely to be hospitalised. Once they have some protection, I can’t see why they wouldn’t look at re-opening schools.

That’s my opinion anyway!

There will still be restrictions, tiers, lockdown by another name

I feel we are being softened up for a blow- too many caveats “if/when” so they can get out of things. That’s just my thought.

^^
Or, perhaps it is because they have no idea of what's ahead in the next few weeks, with the vaccine rollout, people staying at home, new variants...so they can't see definitely, because they just don't know, and predict our behaviour/variants/etc?

A lot of people cling to a date as a definite, when actually it's often a review. Like the February half term. They never said schools would reopen then, they closed them until then, with the option of extending it further.

He said by then the government would have a clearer picture of how the vaccines are helping to contain transmission of the virus, and cut hospital admissions

Ugh this man is a moron. The vaccines aren’t helping to contain transmission of the virus, the lockdown is currently doing that. He can’t look at case numbers reducing and attribute that to vaccination when there are other factors in play as well. You can only make one change at a time to know what has truly made the difference.

All that will happen if schools go back with no changes to social distancing, smaller class sizes, masks in classrooms, is that the numbers will rise again.

Make schools SAFER, it doesn’t have to be a binary option of open or shut.

The plan was always to start reopening once the top groups are vaccinated and that date fits with that so yes I’m hopeful and also let’s be realistic we really can’t afford to wait any longer. Pressure on the NHS will have eased by then also so I think it’s a positive step.

Sorry, bold fail. Too angry to check for errors!!

It’s fucked.

They have only now decided to close the borders and properly QT people arriving.

He and his business cronies are arseholes.

Remember Jenny Harries, DepCMO, said last week reopening could be in the basis of tiers, so schools wouldn't start to reopen everywhere necessarily.

I think everyone needed to know a date to work towards. If the cases are dropping and the vaccines being done at the same rate as they are now it seems a feasible date to start getting children back in school even if its staggered or part time . Let's hope Gavs noticeable absence of late means hes behind closed doors actually working out how we can get the schools open and more importantly keep them open in a safer way than before....I won't hold my breath but we can live in hope

My y11 has mocks the week after that.

Which will be nice.

That's harsh @CountessFrog, I'm glad we had our mocks early December to get them out of the way. Don't envy you that.

@Atalune

It’s fucked.

They have only now decided to close the borders and properly QT people arriving.

He and his business cronies are arseholes.

I agree it's fucked, but disagree about closing the borders. He hasn't. They are quarantining people from certain countries only. Which isn't enough. It's another half hearted attempt which will end in further predictable disaster.

@testingtesting321

Sorry, bold fail. Too angry to check for errors!!

I was too busy agreeing with you to notice

@CountessFrog

My y11 has mocks the week after that.

Which will be nice.

Seriously 😱