Sunday Times just reported that all schools in England will be back on 8 March

[LimitIsUp]

This quote from the article:
"All schoolchildren will return to the classroom on March 8 under plans to start lifting the lockdown, Boris Johnson will announce in a national address next week.

Under the government’s blueprint to reopen society, adults will initially have only small new freedoms so as to prioritise the return of schools — a move ministers know will raise the coronavirus R number for infections.

Adults will be allowed to sit down outdoors for a coffee or on a park bench with one friend, or with members of their own family — a slight relaxation of the current rule, which permits outdoor meetings only while standing up.

The decision to reopen both primary and secondary schools goes against the advice of some government scientists. But the prime minister was swayed by faster than expected reductions in hospital admissions and infections."

I can link to the article but for those of you without a subscription, there is a pay wall

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/back-to-school-on-march-8-as-johnson-starts-lifting-lockdown-0v5zbz5bt

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• Title edited by MNHQ (it said October, we've changed it to March as reported) *

I was never furloughed and can't wfh and we have had waves of outbreaks at my site: anyone who wants to accuse me of demanding school staff take a risk I'm not willing to can fuck the fuck off.

@sherrystrull

Some very smug people here criticising school staff saying they are over inflating their sense of risk.

It's very easy to say the risk is low when you're not in that situation.

I have said many times that people criticising others and saying they have overinflated their sense of risk is arrogant.

It is also really tasteless to pick apart people's posts who have stated they might get legal support should they die and how they can't possibly know they've caught covid in a school.

Would you say that to a nurse? Or someone working in Sainsbury's? Or a police man?

Umm, yes because its not 'tasteless' and I was merely pointing out that the burden of proof required might be considerable. I wasn't being mean, just objective / dispassionate

Well if all school children go back bubbles will burst repeatedly. My work bubble in a school has just popped for a fourth time. It is ridiculous to think this is not going to keep happening when we have even more children coming in.
I do not want my son to go back to high school where they cannot social distance. Nothing really has been done to rectify this. I don't understand why this is acceptable.

The legal side is interesting

Even if you do get it in school has it been stated you definitely wouldn’t?

Also JVT and other scientists have outlined the rational of schools being ok to open.

In court I can’t see how you’d have a case. If it set precedent the country would collapse under claims from workers who said they had only been to work and no where else.

The bottom line on being safe is that the government has a duty of care to students and all staff, anyone on school premises..... They have to do their best within reason to stop death...

Not asking secondary students to wear masks in class for instance... So very easy.... But they refuse and other countries manage.
They have schools who have been allowed to turn heating off because Windows are open, some schools don't have opening windows...

Have they pulled out every stop to make them and us safe? I don't think so...

Well if all school children go back bubbles will burst repeatedly.

Now that the vulnerable in society are protected and hospitals are no longer overwhelmed, we won't need to prevent transmission of the virus. We won't need bubbles. This virus is here to stay. We will need to learn to live with it.

@Rosesaresweet

Well if all school children go back bubbles will burst repeatedly.

Now that the vulnerable in society are protected and hospitals are no longer overwhelmed, we won't need to prevent transmission of the virus. We won't need bubbles. This virus is here to stay. We will need to learn to live with it.

Are you serious. So we let it rip through schools because we have to learn to live with it. I think scientists are saying we aren't going to be able to live normal lives for a while.

Exactly @Rosesaresweet

@FlowersAreBeautiful

Why risk going back to the dark, dark days of January. Just wait until after Easter. It's a short term so only another 3 weeks left after 8th March. Seems bizarre to risk it all only to be back in yet another lockdown and back to square one. If they wait we have an extra 2 weeks of the Easter hols then all back in mid April with a MUCH lower death rate. Also almost all from group 9 will be vaccinated too

Ah you see that's applying FAR too much common sense. You'd think they'd have learnt after last years October firebreak debacle. But no let's do the same thing again & again & expect a different outcome 🙇🏻‍♀️

@MarshaBradyo

The legal side is interesting

Even if you do get it in school has it been stated you definitely wouldn’t?

Also JVT and other scientists have outlined the rational of schools being ok to open.

In court I can’t see how you’d have a case. If it set precedent the country would collapse under claims from workers who said they had only been to work and no where else.

Are you a lawyer?

@Rosesaresweet

Well if all school children go back bubbles will burst repeatedly.

Now that the vulnerable in society are protected and hospitals are no longer overwhelmed, we won't need to prevent transmission of the virus. We won't need bubbles. This virus is here to stay. We will need to learn to live with it.

At some point this will happen hard to envisage. Even if not on March 8 but when more vaccinated

@TryingNotToPanicOverCovid

Omnivaccine is predicting group 6 between 27th feb and 28th march when I look. So lots may not be jabbed before 8th March. Its a huge group.

As soon as the cv are vaccinated Id be up for opening schools. Bit nervous that there isn't real preventative measures like other countries but I think having the cv vaccinated will be fantastic

Vaccinated plus 3 weeks as not much protection until 22 days.

@mumsneedwine the odds are hugely that yiu won’t die, and far longer that this will be a reported case

Viscously no I didn’t realise I had to be to post opinion on a forum

I am musing on an interesting topic as we do.

Would love to hear from someone with legal insight though.

I didn't say you had to be I asked if you were seems a reasonable question given your musings and assertions.

I also don't see how anyone can assert that schools are safe as they are clearly closed as they were unsafe.

@MarshaBradyo I think the fact that lawyers apparently wouldn’t take it on without badgering from high up judges, or whatever, speaks for itself. I personally cannot see the merit in such a case. It certainly could not be drafted in advance as the particular causation could not be known.

Sorry but if somebody says the are at a ‘serious risk’ of dying from COVID then yes I will pick up on that and challenge it because it’s simply untrue and fear mongering. Even an 80 year old has far more chance of being ok than dying. Perspective has been lost.

They can say ‘I feel my job puts me at more risk’ that’s a personal assessment but nobody has a ‘high chance of dying’ from this disease. Even the CEV. It’s scientific fact not something you just make up.

@WouldBeGood 3 of my colleagues also had very low risk of dying. In fact of even getting seriously ill. But the virus didn't care and killed them anyway. So excuse my concerns.

And of course most people want schools open for the physical and mental health of our children.
No it’s not because I’m ‘bored’ of homeschooling.
My children have been fine with homeschooling.

@Viciouslybashed I’ve just seen good news on that! University of Warwick study showing schools are not drivers of infection. Should be reassuring.

I also don't see how anyone can assert that schools are safe as they are clearly closed as they were unsafe.

No, schools were closed to help prevent the nhs from becoming overwhelmed. Young people have been making huge sacrifices so these the vulnerable in society don't get ill or hospitalised.

The burden of proof in H and S cases and death in service lies with an employer to prove they did al they could to keep employees safe : there are specific clauses for during outbreaks of contagious illnesses. the burden of proof doesn't lie with the employee. Headteachers know about this and were very jittery in earlier lockdowns : some MATs even employed very very expensive lawyers. That is what led to the whole Sect 44 thing.

Several families of NHS staff have started proceedings owing to inadequate PPE being provided last year in particular.

@WouldBeGood badgering was a loose term here. I believe queuing up to get involved is more accurate. Lawyers seem to like a good fight and legal argument.
I'm off to work now as KW kids need some help. Keep safe.

I don't really understand that as I could write the opposite as my bubble at school has had repeatedly to close. Like I am usually a glass hal full person and want to look on the bright side but this situation warrants a slow and steady approach.