Chances of a March return for primaries?

[NoGoodOptions]

What do we think the chances are for a March return for primaries? The case numbers and R-rate as well as vaccination figures all look hopeful. It's such a hard slog wfh ft with two young children (5 and 7), and I think as a result I'm susceptible to any shred of optimism. On the one hand many on these fora seem to think after Easter, on the other hand I know a few local families that are planning to go on like this until September 😱! Government say it's their top priority to get the schools back, but equally they've led us on so many times before. What do we think is the likelihood??? Thanks!

I'm expecting after Easter tbh. I've got a Y3 DD who argues constantly about doing the schoolwork with me at home so I'd send her back ASAP if I could. But being realistic, I can't see it being March as they've said.

After Easter holidays.....won’t be before

8th March, at the least for the younger years.

I think after Easter. Earlier would be a bonus!

I'm thinking Yr 6 and possibly Yr 2 back 8th March. The rest back after Easter.

Scotland and Wales are going back at the end of February. I’m not really sure why England and NI are waiting tbh.

P1 to P3 (equivalent to R to Year 2 I think) are going back in Scotland in a couple of weeks. Depending on the approach taken in England, a March restart for the younger ones doesn’t seem unlikely.

@Kitkat151

After Easter holidays.....won’t be before

What makes you think this?

I think younger primary back 8th March and then a gradual return for the rest. Possibly secondary after Easter.

So glad to be in Wales right now and DS going back on the 22nd. Foundation phase should go back on 8th March in England imo.

It will be 8th March

I think it will be 8th March

Hopefully they'll have the same approach as Wales and Scotland and send infants back as soon as they say. Glad to be in Wales, so one of mine will go back.

I work in an infant school and can see us all (reception, y1 and y2) being back in full time from March 8th as suggested by the first phase return by the government.

I doubt they'll put any measures in such as phased return for the lower years, or rota etc.

It will be back to full classes, no social distancing, etc in all likelihood.

They may well send exam years back in secondary but possibly on a part time basis, and maybe year 7.

Possibly year 6 in primary or juniors too.

All hangs on the SA varient.

Oh, glad to see some replies coming through! I do wish they'd vaccinate the teachers if only just to assuage their fears about returning to the classroom. But then they'd have to face all the other workforce's that are public-facing day after day, like the police and supermarket staff.

It’s not teachers being scared that closed schools. It’s that they made the community spread explode and that’s why we were in that mess. England is different to S and W. We have EYFS still in AND many more KWV children in. It all depends if the cases are low enough to stop another explosion of community spread which could jeopardise the vaccine. No one on mumsnet will know that.

After Easter. Cases are coming down but the new variant is much more infectious.

All those headlines yesterday about unlocking too soon could cause 1000’s if more deaths were just depressing.

Yep, it’s not the teachers, it’s the spreading across the community by children that’s the problem.

I think we will get two weeks notice on 8th March so it will be 22nd March. Well this is what I've heard for our constituency anyway (Brighton & Hove).

I think local authorities will be given the power to decide and it will depend on cases in the area.

I reckon 8th March for Primary school and Y11 and Y13 at secondary. All other years back after Easter.

“AxMan76
All hangs on the SA varient.”

No it doesn’t, we are not going to keep schools off indefinitely each time there is a “new variant” they are now searching for new variants whereas last year they weren’t so guess what they are going to find them! The mental health of the country especially children is in pieces. Schools need to be back on the 8th in some capacity and I believe they will. The Oxford vaccine still prevents serious illness and hospitalization from the SA variant this is all we need it to do. We are in lockdown to ease NHS pressures not to do the impossible task of eliminating COVID.

@NoGoodOptions

Oh, glad to see some replies coming through! I do wish they'd vaccinate the teachers if only just to assuage their fears about returning to the classroom. But then they'd have to face all the other workforce's that are public-facing day after day, like the police and supermarket staff.

Is that why you think schools closed? Because teachers are scared? Clue: it's not why they closed. It's not why they have closed throughout the pandemic in most countries across the world either.

I'm now really hoping this thread hasn't just be started as another way to criticise teachers and school staff for not being willing to do their job

The government has stated that schools and parents will be given two clear weeks (not including school holidays) to prepare for opening schools to more children.

So based in them saying 8 March would be the earliest date to return, we should be told something by 22 February.

@Katie517

“AxMan76 All hangs on the SA varient.”

No it doesn’t, we are not going to keep schools off indefinitely each time there is a “new variant” they are now searching for new variants whereas last year they weren’t so guess what they are going to find them! The mental health of the country especially children is in pieces. Schools need to be back on the 8th in some capacity and I believe they will. The Oxford vaccine still prevents serious illness and hospitalization from the SA variant this is all we need it to do. We are in lockdown to ease NHS pressures not to do the impossible task of eliminating COVID.

I get what you are saying. It will though