The EARLIEST schools will open is 8th March!!!

[dingledongle]

I cannot believe this!

Stunned!

My kids have lost one year of school and are going to be paying for this for decades to come

I’m not surprised but I am gutted. The online teaching has been excellent at DS’s school, but his isolation is a huge concern. He’s one of the incredibly lucky ones though that he goes to a top Grammar school, has access to any tech, books and resources he could ever need and if we don’t have them, they’re just an Amazon click away. He’s well fed, warm and looked after in a safe home. Not all children are that lucky and I fear more for them than us.

Does anybody expect schools to be open with the rates as high as they are. There was so much shouting to shut them down a few weeks ago now to open them before anything much has changed

I must have imagined teaching in school from September to Christmas then ?
Good point.

Definitely can not see the children going back before Easter.

Really upsetting for all children missing out on a education and also their friends. Honestly don’t know how we can last to April. Not being at school is having a huge affect on my son, it’s very worrying.

This is literally two weeks after you thought it would be and you're all acting like it's the end of the world. What do you expect? Open them back up regardless of the hundreds of daily deaths? Christ.

@Emmie2021

Absolutely shit

What about team sports , being active ffs

Locked up for another 5 weeks minimum

Be active alone, or with your household. Like everyone else

I just feel for my yr11 DS, they are getting work set but have only had 1 online lesson since January. This work will go to what's being assessed for their GCSEs but are effectively being left too it

ladycatstark my children are in a similar position but many children and families are not and I worry for them

Should say since they went back in January

Please Boris, don’t bow to pressure : keep the children away from school for as long as it’s needed - it will be a DISASTER to open up too soon!!

Why is everyone up in arms. Id much rather they go back when its safe for them so they do not risk the health of their families, teacher or peers.

Children are resilient and will catch up but if someone dies from catching covid at school, it will be devastating for the family, teacher and peers.

@Justthebeerlighttoguide

Good q on press conference, how can school be safe and simultaneously a vector of transmission.

What did you think of JVT’s answer?

I thought it clear and well answered

@Calmandmeasured1

I must have imagined teaching in school from September to Christmas then ? Good point.

We shouldn’t have reopened. Other places in the world where I have links did not reopen in the autumn, and continued with remote learning straight through from last March onwards. They are going better with the pandemic now compared to us.

@MoreMorelos

I just feel for my yr11 DS, they are getting work set but have only had 1 online lesson since January. This work will go to what's being assessed for their GCSEs but are effectively being left too it

Gosh that’s tough. Such disparity between schools

If your children had to isolate so much before Christmas I am surprised you would want them to return whilst infections are so high. Especially if you are getting good online support.
Schools / bubbles are closing now with just kw / v children in.
If schools reopen too soon they won’t have online teaching just constant bouts of isolating again.
My y11 dd had to isolate four times I am dreading that happening again. Her mental health was shocking last term.

Well, I think after Easter is wiser but I guess there will be a slow phased return on 8th March....and there's only 2 weeks from then until the Easter hols at our school anyway. I'm pleased we are not rushing children back too soon, otherwise all our sacrifices during lockdown will be wasted if rates just shoot up again.

I’m surprised it is that early. I had thought after Easter and I do worry that March is too early given the much higher number we are starting from with this lockdown. If they waited until Easter the majority of the top 6/7 groups would be vaccinated and would stand a much better chance of staying open.

I'd have been far more surprised if he said they were going back after half term personally. The writing has been on the wall that it will be at least Easter for a long time.

I personally think they won’t be fully open until at least after Easter.

I'm amazed he's saying that early tbh & will be shocked if they manage it.

Super shit. I will have gone insane trying to home school and work by then.

@WanderingMilly

Well, I think after Easter is wiser but I guess there will be a slow phased return on 8th March....and there's only 2 weeks from then until the Easter hols at our school anyway. I'm pleased we are not rushing children back too soon, otherwise all our sacrifices during lockdown will be wasted if rates just shoot up again.

Boris Johnson also tells a Downing Street briefing that 8 March is the earliest date schools could reopen

Earliest they could open. It's not an opening date, just an effort to provide certainty.

@CrispsnDips

Please Boris, don’t bow to pressure : keep the children away from school for as long as it’s needed - it will be a DISASTER to open up too soon!!

Yes ^^

Lots of parent don’t want them to go back until it’s safe to do so.

But you are completely ignoring the equal number who hate school and thrive at home with remote learning. School damages the mental health of many children. School playgrounds and school buses are dangerous places were physical and mental abuse can happen. Etc etc. The list of those affected includes and goes way beyond those affected negatively
Then it’s absolutely your right to take your kids out of school and home educate them, on your own terms. Unfortunately, for the parents who want their children in school, that choice has been pulled from under us.

@Rosehip10

So what do you want then? Schools back and community transmission to rocket again?

Well primary schools and the equivalent of Y13 are open in Germany. Not sure if it's on a rota basis, but I think we'd all settle for that at this point.