DFE tells schools prepare for the worst.

[3asAbird]

www.tes.com/news/covid-schools-told-plan-more-remote-learning

Feeling so cross why allow schools to stop masks on may 17th.
When Hancock knew the delta varient was present in April 2021.

School outbreaks my councils 46 this week and a fair few in neighbouring county with some schools fully shut.
Lots senior transition days and inter sports tournament cancelled.

We know from Kent alpha varient took a few months get really bad.
Some say 6 week break act as firebreak.
I am bot so sure as people will travel and mingle and in some cases School maybe mirror community transmission which is on the rise.

I wish having would go for starters.
They said they making education a priority back in march.
This term has been rubbish for many.
I have no faith that autumn term be any different.

No mitigation measures on ventilation
No masks or compulsory testing.
No smaller class sizes.
No vaccines for under 18s.

Slightly off subject, but while Tim Spector is being quoted, I have a concern about how impartial he is now. He announced on 1st June that he has received further funding from DHSC (the government). Since then all messages from Zoe appear to be far more positive than the situation really looks. Don't get me wrong, I'm part of the zoe project and support their work, but I worry he now has to tow the party line.

@Branleuse

Theres something really bloody fishy going on. Ive followed the bloody rules. I took my kids out even before they closed the schools originally. Im double vaccinated, but im starting to have some synpathy now for the conspiracies

No, there really isn't. Just because YOU have followed the rules doesn't mean the rest of the virus-transmitting population has. What has that got to do with conspiracies? It's the people who believe in the conspiracies who are ignoring the guidelines, not doing the LFT, mixing with all and sundry, refusing to wear masks etc etc, who are the ones doing the spreading.

What IS annoying me is the way we can't believe a fucking word the government is saying. There is a difference between incompetence and conspiracy. Anyone who works in a school, like me, just laughed at the government's assertion in Sept that "schools are COVID-safe". We all know they only said that to reassure the very worried parents who wanted to keep the kids at home forever. The rise at Christmas was absolutely no surprise whatsoever to any school worker. The rise in the Delta variant amongst young people now (and it IS happening) is also no surprise whatsoever, with mask-wearing gone in schools a few weeks back along with the loosening of restrictions in the general population. Why out of school activities like football, gymnastics etc were allowed to go ahead is mindboggling to me. Pupils from multiple schools allowed to mix socially and closely like that? Yeah, great idea.... The primary school where I work is great at keeping the bubbles separate - their after school activity club offering is strictly restricted to each class bubble, no mixing. Yet, out of the school environment, anything goes, it seems.

I just don't understand why they decided against the idea of giving one jab per person to nearly everyone and only THEN do a second round of jabs. Instead, they double-jabbed older people, resulting in the virus multiplying in the young (the ones who have no choice but to mix more). Many older people who got double jabbed first were already quietly, patiently and safely isolating at home, away from the virus. Most were retired and had the luxury to be able to do that (and that WAS a luxury for most healthy retired folk, even though they might have got fed up at not be able to do their hobbies and go for their regular lunch date with Barb on a Tuesday. The rest of us had to go out and earn a living and run the gauntlet of the COVID-deniers among us). It seems absolutely ludicrous to me that the people MOST unable to choose not to mix with others are the ones who still haven't had the opportunity to have the jab yet. It's idiotic.

I'm expecting schools to close a week or two early for summer. I'm going to be livid if we all are told to stay in our own areas for the school holidays, because of government incompetence.

Now should we be sending children home for what is essentially like a bad cold for them when vulnerable and older people have been vaccinated

So you are unconcerned about the doubling of hospitalisations this week and don’t think there is any point in waiting until the adult population are double vaccinated?

@noblegiraffe

Now should we be sending children home for what is essentially like a bad cold for them when vulnerable and older people have been vaccinated

So you are unconcerned about the doubling of hospitalisations this week and don’t think there is any point in waiting until the adult population are double vaccinated?

You made a statement then stuck a question mark at the end.

You then missed my other bit that went with the above: "Yes - I'm 'one of those' that think sending home pupils who then test negative over and over and have to stay home is pointless." My DS was one of 35 sent home. He tested negative on a PCR and daily negative on LFT but he still cannot go back. He is still off, still negative as the other pupils are and still missing lessons. No work set and again let down. He doesn't matter though only Covid matters in the world now.

Alice we have the same, over 100 children stuck at home. Ds negative PCR still isolating. Due to one case

@lonelyplanet

Slightly off subject, but while Tim Spector is being quoted, I have a concern about how impartial he is now. He announced on 1st June that he has received further funding from DHSC (the government). Since then all messages from Zoe appear to be far more positive than the situation really looks. Don't get me wrong, I'm part of the zoe project and support their work, but I worry he now has to tow the party line.

Is it possible that things are more positive now though anyway and not just positive messages due to funding?

I don't know but things feel more positive now generally. Yes cases are up and testing in some areas is constant so finding the positive cases quickly. Some believe that the Delta is less dangerous at least in children and young people. I would be concerned if the message was constant negativity given the numbers vaccinated now.

If they vax the kids it could be at most
40% of 30 with covid = 12
30 with covid

Also we all know some areas are more vax hesitant than others.

The average primary kid is
Going unmasked into
School
Buses
Cinema
Food shops
Swimming lessons
Brownies/scouts/gymnastics etc etc efc

Hopefully gov will realise they will cost a lot not giving a vax choice as im sure im not the only one whose kids are still not swimming/music lessons/soft play/cinema etc. Nor going out to eat. Ive saved a lot of money...
Imo the short 2w SI is worst as different kids will have different gaps.
But also for eg our school in yr r are still doing the first set of digraphs so we are seriously behind where eldest was. As kids at home had no scheme books.

So i wasnt too worried kids would end up behind but am becoming more so as there will be no herd immunity (as we know natural infection you can catch it again too).

@MarshaBradyo

Alice we have the same, over 100 children stuck at home. Ds negative PCR still isolating. Due to one case

It's very frustrating isn't it. One case here too. It didn't spread to the other pupils or the teachers but they are all home.

It makes the situation appear worse than it is eg x number of pupils self isolating, x number of classes shut etc. However, when those pupils are negative but stuck at home!

This is interesting for people that have just had the one dose.
"Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic cases with the Delta variant is estimated to be 88% after both doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and 67% after both doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
Two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are estimated to be 96% effective against hospitalisation with the Delta variant (94% after one dose) compared with 95% with the Alpha variant.
Two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine are estimated to be 92% effective against hospitalisation with the Delta variant (71% after one dose) compared to 86% with the Alpha variant."

Where does this information come from
@AliceLivesHere?

Public health England figures

Also published in pharmacy and various other places now. I just cut and paste

It’s very frustrating isn't it. One case here too. It didn't spread to the other pupils or the teachers but they are all home

There’s nothing more frustrating than those who, after 15-16 months of this crap have not grasped that a) you can spread the disease before you become symptomatic; b) it can take up to 10 days (and there are cases where it has taken longer) for symptoms to show; and c)not everyone who has it has symptoms but there is some evidence that asympomatic cases are still able to spread the disease.

Now, can you tell me why my CV child. With a life expectancy the same as every other child, with the same expectation of education as everybody else, who has struggled and who continues to struggle with his mental health in the current climate, who wants to be in school and educated alongside his friends, should run the gauntlet every single day in school with people who should be isolating but don’t because they had a negative test once?

@Getawaywithit

It’s very frustrating isn't it. One case here too. It didn't spread to the other pupils or the teachers but they are all home

There’s nothing more frustrating than those who, after 15-16 months of this crap have not grasped that a) you can spread the disease before you become symptomatic; b) it can take up to 10 days (and there are cases where it has taken longer) for symptoms to show; and c)not everyone who has it has symptoms but there is some evidence that asympomatic cases are still able to spread the disease.

Now, can you tell me why my CV child. With a life expectancy the same as every other child, with the same expectation of education as everybody else, who has struggled and who continues to struggle with his mental health in the current climate, who wants to be in school and educated alongside his friends, should run the gauntlet every single day in school with people who should be isolating but don’t because they had a negative test once?

PCR release from quarantine after travel why are children not using same?

How old is your child?

Vaccination might help in secondary but how long do people want primary to isolate for ten days for every case?

Unmitigated covid' - strange choice of words.

Why? The full quote was unmitigated Covid spread.

There are few effective mitigation measures in schools. Particularly, as has been pointed out many times

• little social distancing
• poor ventilation
• no requirement for face coverings

@Getawaywithit

It’s very frustrating isn't it. One case here too. It didn't spread to the other pupils or the teachers but they are all home

There’s nothing more frustrating than those who, after 15-16 months of this crap have not grasped that a) you can spread the disease before you become symptomatic; b) it can take up to 10 days (and there are cases where it has taken longer) for symptoms to show; and c)not everyone who has it has symptoms but there is some evidence that asympomatic cases are still able to spread the disease.

Now, can you tell me why my CV child. With a life expectancy the same as every other child, with the same expectation of education as everybody else, who has struggled and who continues to struggle with his mental health in the current climate, who wants to be in school and educated alongside his friends, should run the gauntlet every single day in school with people who should be isolating but don’t because they had a negative test once?

Well why don't you just run along with your assumptions. Who said my DS is not isolating. I think he shouldn't though but he is because that is the current guideline. I think and hope it will change though. He had a negative PCR as did others and also negative LFT and continuing to do those daily. The school have asked for others to do every other day. Some do and some don't.

My DS is isolating and the rest of the 35 pupils and teacher who incidentally have had no only PCR negative and LFT negatives but still continue to isolate. Not everyone who is a close contact will get covid you know! Why do people assume that they will develop it, many don't.

The over dramatic running the gauntlet every single day - calm it down a bit. A CV child still has a miniscule risk of complications with covid. With that type of language then no wonder he is struggling.

@MarshaBradyo

Vaccination might help in secondary but how long do people want primary to isolate for ten days for every case?

Exactly.

There are a growing number of people that don't want this.

@MarshaBradyo

Indeed "PCR release from quarantine after travel why are children not using same?"

Totally agree. Children have negative PCR yet still have to isolate - different rules for children than travellers. My point exactly. Why is this ok.

You made a statement then stuck a question mark at the end.

Yes, which is usually seen as an invitation to agree or disagree with the statement.

Children who are close contacts are not released after a negative PCR when those in quarantine are, because those in quarantine after travel are not a close contact so the rules are different. Close contacts can develop covid any time up to 10 days and there are many examples of people testing negative then positive a few days later.

It really is a stronghold and disproportionate. Poor children.

One case 100 off and people ok with it.

'Unmitigated covid' - strange choice of words

Unmitigated covid spread. If you don't want kids to isolate when they are close contacts, then what exactly will be stopping the spread in schools?

Marsha I get that you are pissed off that your kid is isolating, but have you not read the comments from other posters who have said that there have been numerous cases in their schools? Is isolation of close contacts disproportionate in their case?

My son has to isolate before half term, then over half term he actually tested positive and was quite poorly. My husband lost a weeks wages as obviously we all had to isolate then. None of us left the house for two weeks in the end, it was grim. I wish they'd make it optional to do remote learning to be honest because we cannot afford to go through this again, and cases are rife around here.

Giraffe I’m glad you get ‘my kid is isolating’ 😂

Not just me. Anyone facing this. People want it to stay I don’t get it. We have massive events and cases rising but schools must overreact. Sooner it charges the better.