Are schools allowed to shut down classes / year groups if lots have Covid?

[Tuliprain]

My child’s year group are going down like flies at the moment. Just wondered if there is a point when the school is able to close for that class or year group? Or will they just have to keep going?

@MarshaBradyo

And since you are so keen to see it do you think I just bolded something out of thin air?

Why so invested.

yes indeed, why are you so invested?

In what?

You are the one hunting through threads for what I quoted or didn’t. Obsessive as usual.

If you want stop engaging with me and I’ll gladly opt out from doing so with you.

I cba with that kind of hounding.

@MarshaBradyo

For someone who isn't bothered who gets the booster you seem awfully bothered that school staff shouldn't.

Not hounding anyone.

It makes sense that especial care should be given to making sure that any eligible teachers get their jabs/ boosters in a very timely way (bang on 6 months, or 5 if we go to that), as they are working face to face with people who have the highest rates of infection (in secondary school) or who really can't socially distance very well (the little ones in primary).

Not sure why anyone would dispute that.

The teachers are in a really vulnerable position and it's been tough for them.

Why on earth would you want to have arguments about this?

No Sherry that’s not right. I don’t mind. As I said earlier there are no vaccine supply issues as before I have no issue. You can see it in the post

I just wondered why people wanted to go against general advice and which month you wanted it if early. Can someone answer that?

I’m not arguing I’m just asking simple questions out of interest. Who knows if you talk about it there’ll be others who want it early. Another poster said no way and then others said it wasn’t on here so I quoted it.

People were then being odd and going through posts to find insults etc it’s really irrelevant

I was interested in when and why, really not me saying you shouldn’t

I was trying to find context for some of your comments but I'm afraid I didn't succeed.

What seems odd to me is needless bad feeling and jibes towards the poor old teaching staff online, when they have been so beleaguered.

It would be great though if we are all agreed that teachers are in quite a vulnerable position, as they are so exposed to infection in the classroom, should be supported and hopefully should be able to get their boosters as soon as they fall due (This sometimes has been difficult to arrange in a timely way for other groups, and I think it would be great if schools & teachers are supported in this)

I asked because I wasn’t sure if people meant 5 months or something else

I have no issue with timely boosters for everyone at risk.

I’m very pro booster actually and hope take up is high.

@GreenLakes

The reason that schools are short-staffed is because of isolation rules. Luckily, come spring there will be no requirement for positive cases to self isolate.

Teachers and DC will therefore be in school as normal unless they are actually ill.

Most if our staff have now had covid. All but 2 or 3 had symptoms which made them feel ill, at least as poorly as having a heavy cold but different symptoms.

So without the need for isolation almost all would still have needed time off from school first at least a few days.

Several were Ill for over a week.
Some were ill for longer than the 10 days isolation.

I was off with covid for 7 weeks and tbh when I went back I still wasn't really right. My gp had already told me I could, and possibly should, stay off longer.

[quote GreenLakes]@Sherrystrull

There are currently no staff absent through covid at DH’s school.

The vast majority of staff are vaccinated and have already had covid.[/quote]
It's sheer luck really as we know they could catch it again, luckily less likely to as present.

We have maintained appropriate measures for our staff. We have some clinically vulnerable staff who were pretty ill with covid. Our headteacher is going their best to ensure her staff are kept safe, along with her pupils and their families. If this means not having year groups mix, allowing staff to wear a mask if they want (none actually wear them whilst teaching but several do when moving around busy areas if the school of when meeting parents and caters morning and night etc) and keeping things like parents evenings online then so be it.

We followed Lea guidelines his time last year so there were no masks in schools and teaching staff could cross bubbles. Unsurprisingly after teaching over 200 young children each week with no social distancing, no mask, and little ventilation I got covid and was ill enough to warrant hospital admission.

Our headteacher immediately added additional measures despite then going against the LEAs official guidance.