Schools in England should go back at Easter

[GinAndTonicOnIt]

I'm terrified that full return will result in increased transmissions. This will increase the chance of more mutations. Which increases the chance of a mutant that is resistant to the current vaccines.

Or just back with full wards, and yet another lockdown.

I loathe lockdown. I would give anything to wake up tomorrow and life be back to normal. But it's for this reason I think we should wait that extra bit longer. Get those rates right down and vaccines out, then have a return to school that won't result in another lockdown.....!

AIBU for thinking this? Am I wrong?

@Wakeupin2022 Primary were prioritised in summer, I think it's time that secondary kids were too. I'm not dismissing the difficulties of homeschooling young children but what is being asked of secondary students in key years of their education is a mammoth task.

I think Primary at least should go back on 8th March.

Why Primary? Secondary pupils are learning much more difficult topics where parents can't help out. My year 12 is doing a one year AS course this year and he's missed out on so much teaching and assessment.

@Barbie222 because the school get the funding to provide the resources for her. Not me! And also I constantly email to get more work sent but nothing ever does.
I don't have the time to be printing the stuff out and doing my job also.
They said at the start of the first lockdown they'd support her as best they could. It's nearly a year into it now and all I get is shrugged shoulders. Thankfully the SENDCO has sorted it.

Why primary?

Because younger primary (in particular) really can’t be taught remotely. It is at least theoretically achievable for secondary level. It is absolutely shit for them though, I totally agree.

Secondary going in for practical classes is a good idea.

You conveniently missed the quote I was replying to. Which stated that people would then want all secondary children to be vaccinated, then all primary school. Then for everyone to have boosters. If you're going to quote what I'm saying then don't quote out of context

You made up something about people wanting secondary and primary pupils vaccinated. Sorry I didn’t feel the need to quite something you made up.

Op clearly says after Easter. No one has suggested waiting till we vaccinate kids.

@Redtulipses

I think Primary at least should go back on 8th March.

Why Primary? Secondary pupils are learning much more difficult topics where parents can't help out. My year 12 is doing a one year AS course this year and he's missed out on so much teaching and assessment.

Because the risk of transmission is supposed to be lower for primary school children? I'm not arguing btw, I think all children should be back at school and enough is enough.

This is so reminiscent of last year, with everyone saying 'wait until September'. Three of my 4 DC had to (one returned to preschool) and made the best of it.

This time round is so much harder for them and they need to be back in school. Those of you who are so keen for them to stay out, do your children have contact with other people through bubbles etc? Because mine don't and, with the exception of my 11YO who has managed a walk with a friend, haven't seen any of their peers since mid December. They have seen grandparents once in the last 14
months.

To delay beyond 8 March means they won't be back in school until mid April, another 8 weeks (we break up on 1 April). That would be infinitely more risky to them.

Maybe my view is coloured by the fact that there were no outbreaks in their primary last term. But this is time they won't get back.

All years off learning are key!

If you fail to instill the basics then a child's learning over the whole of their school years will be impacted.

I am not saying secondary should not go back - but there is definitely more risks with secondary going back. It's unfortunate, but it is what it is.

And fwiw, my Y1 child is doing as little as we can get away with. Not because we don't want to do his learning with him, but I am working more than full time from home at the moment and it just isn't possible to do both.

@Cherrypie32

I’m sick of the prioritising of 4-7 year olds. My year 8 son is just as important and another 6 weeks of lessons on Teams and not seeing another kid his own age is going to inflict more damage than a reception age child who’d be playing on the carpet and learning a bit of phonics. His social skills are waning as is his ability to engage in lessons just at the time he should be immersed in these things.

What social interactions do you think 4-7yo are getting at the moment? Ill tell you- absolutely none! At least your y8 dc can meet up with a friend, he can meet a different friend every single day if he wants too no child age 4-7 can do that. Also lessons on teams aren't exactly a barrell of laughs for 4-7yo either! Its shit for them all!

@WhenSheWasBad

You conveniently missed the quote I was replying to. Which stated that people would then want all secondary children to be vaccinated, then all primary school. Then for everyone to have boosters. If you're going to quote what I'm saying then don't quote out of context

You made up something about people wanting secondary and primary pupils vaccinated. Sorry I didn’t feel the need to quite something you made up.

Op clearly says after Easter. No one has suggested waiting till we vaccinate kids.

I suggest you read through again. I replied to a poster who said groups 1-9 should be vaccinated before the schools reopen. I said I would bet my life that these people would then say all adults needs to be vaccinated first. Then another poster replied to me saying then they would say all secondary children, then all primary school children, then for boosters. I then replied agreeing. Sorry if it's been hard for you to follow

Mummyh2016 to be clear I am not saying I agree with this , I am saying what people have been saying to me and trying to think this through. I said I don’t know so am coming from this position, I have a year 12 DS I want back in ASAP.

I can see the argument for after Easter with :

1. Group 1-9 ( ie, phase 1 of vaccine ) plus 21 days to have acquired some immunity . This covers teachers and parents who are clinically vulnerable and over 50. Additionally there is a level of natural immunity for a few months amongst people who have had it recently.

2. By then the cases should be at a daily level that a properly functioning test and trace (hollow laugh) should be able to keep numbers low so it shouldn’t matter so much that the other groups of adults haven’t been done at that point as .

3. The order of vaccination phase 2 needs to be worked out to help mitigate the return of schools and capitalise on the immunity amongst those already vaccinated and with naturally acquired immunity.

Can’t stress enough that this is not what I want. I want him back ASAP and 8 March would be great but if someone said to me after Easter is safer and minimises the chance for x reason then I will get it if explained clearly. What I have written above is my understanding of it and not necessarily correct. It is a very emotive subject after everything that has happened.

Op clearly says after Easter.

As constantly shifting goal posts has been a defining feature of this debate, no one has any confidence that people mean it when they say it or will stick to the date.

There’ll always be something.

@WhenSheWasBad
Compulsory masks at all times when inside.
Year zones in school and year groups stayed in their zones
Staggered starts and finishes
Staggered lunch breaks
Clubs limited to year groups only
Dedicated school only transport with masks mandatory
Separate entrances and exits for every year group

Secondary school with a total of 7 cases, 6 students and 1 teacher. Only one bubble burst once.

To delay beyond 8 March means they won't be back in school until mid April, another 8 weeks

Yes another two months before school would start. Three weeks before Easter is needed by many.

giveme

In May? Nonsense. The disease its seasonal and will be on the wane we do. Add vaccinations into the mix and May will be a very different picture to now whatever we do

Erm the first peak was April / May last year.

I actually think and hope you are right. This disease should transmit less in warmer weather. Which is why I think holding off till after Easter is sensible.

I agree, it feels too soon and I'd fully expect numbers to shoot back up again. I'd rather this 'closure' lasts longer than have schools 'open' too soon and in a month or so we're back to closing again. Just feels like we could go on like that for years.

100% behind this, we need to phase in schools opening and that means younger children too. Not fully open until after the Easter holidays/May time.
How can "having the same number of people in ICU as last April" equate to an opening up of everything, I don't know.
Yes, children need education and they need to see their friends, but they are also high transmitters of viruses even if they don't get COVID badly themselves, but no-one seems to take much notice of this.
I am leaving my job in education for this very reason, I don't feel safe and don't want to be there any more....

@MarshaBradyo it would be four weeks for mine. It would make the world of difference to them.

To delay beyond 8 March means they won't be back in school until mid April, another 8 weeks

My kids would massively benefit from the 3 weeks before Easter!

Spencer here too. A huge amount of difference. Then break for Easter.

Another two months before going into school is crazy.

@Redtulipses @MarshaBradyo

Frankly a week would make a difference at this stage!!

mummy

^Then another poster replied to me saying then they would say all secondary children, then all primary school children, then for boosters. I then replied agreeing.
Sorry if it's been hard for you to follow^

So once again. Has any poster actually seriously suggested that schools should be closed to most pupils until after all pupils have been vaccinated?
If I missed this genuine suggestion I apologise.

Most posters who don’t want schools to reopen as normal on 8th just want a little more time or extra precautions. Just seems a little disingenuous to suggest anyone is saying “no pupils back till they are all vaccinated”

It is just a little grating.

Well if we wait till easter that's more than just another couple of weeks.

@Fembot123
Yep, key worker/vulnerable on a rota which has been made a lot easier by my kind younger colleagues. We are lucky because our parents have only taken places if there is a real, genuine need. Schools are still not safe though. The significant reason case numbers have dropped are because they closed. If they open fully, staff will be at more risk.

I promise I’m genuine. I promise I don’t want schools to stay closed forever. I just want to do my job in conditions which are regulated the same as other occupations or be vaccinated if this isn’t possible!

@VashtaNerada
This sounds right to me! I’d also add young teachers / TAs who live with elderly parents or other vulnerable relatives
But they have been vaccinated! It’s just going to be excuse after excuse until September...