Are we feeling optimistic that schools WILL start returning from Monday? *MNHQ editing to note that this thread refers to schools in Scotland (WHICH IS FINE BY THE WAY AS THE SCOTS GET THIS ALL THE TIME IN THE OTHER DIRECTION signed a Scottish MNHQer)*

[DumplingsAndStew]

Does anyone know what time the address to MPs is due? I'm assuming it will be live streamed in Parliament before an official announcement later in the afternoon?

(UK)

@chipsandgin

& no, not a chance anyway - still more people in hospital than at the peak of the first wave so probably a good idea to free up a few ICU beds before filling them up again (preferably by sending people home having recovered than having to make unimaginably horrendous decisions about who gets a ventilator & losing more lives..).

Oh is there? I couldn't find figures for how many in ICU at the peak, so couldn't compare.

OP seems to have some sort of sub-agenda about English bias on MN going on here. Is your question genuinely about schools, or is it just a vehicle for you to try and make a point? Why on earth not just say in your OP "What do you think are the chances of Scottish schools returning on Monday?". Perfectly valid discussion topic
Infusing it with faux bafflement when people start mentioning English schools as part of the discussion....not so much.

@dementedpixie

Our school (scotland) has sent info about lateral flow testing for senior age pupils which they will get to carry out home testing twice a week

We had an email last week that mentioned testing would be offered, but no specific details. They said to expect further details early this week, so am guessing they are waiting for today's announcement.

They gave a run-down of how many the 5%-8% of pupils thing would mean, though, and how it would be organised, so I think our school (or council?) are - or at least were - feeling pretty optimistic.

Literally the first reply asked if you were talking about England or another nation, as did several other posts and you ignored all of them.

That tells me you were deliberately being vague so that you could manoeuvre the thread to a 'let's hate the selfish English'. If that isn't the case why didn't you reply that you were talking about Scotland after the first response?

Doubtful all schools in Scotland will even be going back in a week's time. Staggered return more likely.

As for Boris' impending announcement on the return to schools in England, I think it's likely to be the same. Maybe a staggered return from the 8th, and only for select year groups, but more optimistically, ALL schools will be back in some form or another after the Easter holidays.

It was quite clear that the OP is talking about Scotland. It's on the front page of BBC news that the FM is talking to parliament today. If anyone ever wondered why some Scots want devolution then they should read this thread, the level of anger directed at the OP for daring to assume people will know that Scotland is part of the UK and that Scottish children may be the first back at school in the UK. How many threads have there been on MN when people talk about Britain or the UK when they mean England? The double standard is ridiculous.

The headteacher at my DHs school has been briefed about when to expect a staggered return. I don’t think the 2 week warning is from when Boris makes his announcement- it has already happened.

@SnowyPetals

OP seems to have some sort of sub-agenda about English bias on MN going on here. Is your question genuinely about schools, or is it just a vehicle for you to try and make a point? Why on earth not just say in your OP "What do you think are the chances of Scottish schools returning on Monday?". Perfectly valid discussion topic Infusing it with faux bafflement when people start mentioning English schools as part of the discussion....not so much.

The only thing I'm baffled about is why barely anyone is answering the question. Where have I shown any bafflement about people mentioning England?

It is okay for people to have some sort of opinion of what they think might happen elsewhere. I didn't post in Scotsnet (or the Wales equivalent - sorry I don't know what that's called - but I believe they are hoping for the same return) for a couple of reasons.

Like you say, it's a perfectly valid discussion topic.

Oh ffs

@Fleurty

Literally the first reply asked if you were talking about England or another nation, as did several other posts and you ignored all of them.

That tells me you were deliberately being vague so that you could manoeuvre the thread to a 'let's hate the selfish English'. If that isn't the case why didn't you reply that you were talking about Scotland after the first response?

My first reply on the thread clarified that I was talking about schools that were due to start returning on the 22nd February. I'm not sure why that didn't make it clear that I was talking about schools that are hoping to return on the 22nd February!

If schools are open on Monday, then I'm pessimistic about the future of our covid response. There will be another wave, they'll have to lockdown again. There goes the summer.

Why jump on the OP. It has been said that UK schools could start returning from Monday - with those in Scotland and maybe Wales starting the process. England has always had it's earlier date later but we're all part of the UK and it's of interest to us all of the process will start next week, surely?

It could also be a deliberate payback for all the threads that ignore anything not England but never specify England.

I hope you get to go back, OP. Or start to, at least. Can't wait for some news on 8th March here in England.

@MrsMariaReynolds

Doubtful all schools in Scotland will even be going back in a week's time. Staggered return more likely.

Yeah, that was the plan. Youngest primaries, and a portion of those in exam years.

OP, can you share a link to somewhere where the 5-8% is explained. I'm in England but seem to know more about the return in Scotland than my DB, who needs his DC back in (infant) school asap so he can work. I was sure I read 5-8% but he insists it is all of infant.

I realise all will become clear when it is actually announced, but I'm anxious for him!

Some of these responses are ridiculous. I’m in England, but it was fairly obvious from the OP that she wasn’t talking about Wales or Scotland, as they’re the ones who have been told that schools could return from the 22nd. We haven’t been told that in England, hence it being clear that the thread wasn’t about England schools.

Only a fraction of pupils will be in from Monday though; P1-P3 and up to 8% of senior pupils in the exam years that are doing practical work. Ds is S3 so God knows when he will be back in

How many other posters specify which country they are referencing when talking about schools?

I think when people are talking about devolved matters then yes of course they mention which nation they're talking about.

When an OP mentions parliament and MPs, people assume Westminster. Because MPs belong to Westminster. If you'd talked about MSPs and parliament, people would have understood.

Why would MPs be debating Scottish schools going back?

The OP is deliberately making a point about the fact that it annoys her that people often post about proposals that affect England, rather than the whole of the UK.
She is being intentionally inflammatory and inviting the "twatty" (in her own words) responses she is objecting to.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

If schools are open on Monday, then I'm pessimistic about the future of our covid response. There will be another wave, they'll have to lockdown again. There goes the summer.

Yeah they don't seem to have considered any additional measures to prevent the situation escalating again, so I'm pessimistic it would be a permanent return either way

In response to the question OP, I hope for your sake that some children will be able to go back to school on the 22nd. I think it seems fairly positive that at least the younger children will be back.

@MrBullinaChinaShop

Some of these responses are ridiculous. I’m in England, but it was fairly obvious from the OP that she wasn’t talking about Wales or Scotland, as they’re the ones who have been told that schools could return from the 22nd. We haven’t been told that in England, hence it being clear that the thread wasn’t about England schools.

But it wasn't - she mentioned MPs, not MSPs.

@CookEatRepeat

OP, can you share a link to somewhere where the 5-8% is explained. I'm in England but seem to know more about the return in Scotland than my DB, who needs his DC back in (infant) school asap so he can work. I was sure I read 5-8% but he insists it is all of infant.

I realise all will become clear when it is actually announced, but I'm anxious for him!

The 5-8% is for senior pupils (S4-S6) All of P1-P3 should be going back from Monday

@CookEatRepeat

OP, can you share a link to somewhere where the 5-8% is explained. I'm in England but seem to know more about the return in Scotland than my DB, who needs his DC back in (infant) school asap so he can work. I was sure I read 5-8% but he insists it is all of infant.

I realise all will become clear when it is actually announced, but I'm anxious for him!

I've only seen any detail in an email from our HT, who calculated how many pupils it would mean in school at any time. As far as I know, the 5-8% is in high schools only, and from the pool of senior pupils (in addition to those already in school at the moment)

At primary school, I think it's just P1-3 and those who are already in school. They don't seem to have announced - or leaked - any plans yet for other pupils P4-7 or S1-3

Op
You sound rather highly strung... fingers crossed for you that the Scottish schools do go back on Monday so you have a break!

Well it was obvious to me. Purely on the basis that there has been no discussion around English schools going back on the 22nd, but plenty around Scottish and Welsh schools potentially doing so. So my powers of deduction meant I realised she wasn’t talking about England.
It is also in the news today that Nicola Sturgeon will be making an announcement today, so from that I deduced that she is talking about Scotland.