Email from DfE to Headteachers. Schools prepped to shut again?

[AntiMaskersAreTwats]

Do you think this means it likely schools will shut again?

What Omicron has shown is herd immunity was a lie, an excuse to invest nothing in ventilation and space.

Omicron doubles in 2.5-3 days. Presumably in many schools, the cases will be out of control in a fortnight after Christmas mixing.

We don't know what omicron will bring yet, but I hope more attempts are made to safeguard everyone in schools.

Only if parents demand it in considerable numbers! Worth getting grandparents living in Tory seats to write to Tory MPs.

Contingent arrangements, in case anyone wants to look.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-in-education-and-childcare-settings/contingency-framework-education-and-childcare-settings

(Herd immunity is not a lie, btw. It's just remarkably hard to achieve with a rapidly mutating virus (for example, we don't even attempt it with flu) but it was a thought that perhaps gave succour to those who don't want changes that mean we can live with this readily transmissible disease, and instead are hoping for a return to life pre-covid and so get frustrated when that ain't happening. So yes, changes to infrastructure, such as improving ventilation, really do matter as we're going to be needing them fir a heck of a long time)

I don't think the government will shut the schools again unless the situation becomes truly dire in a way they haven't foreseen, I don't think it's on the table at the moment. My hunch is that the email is referring to contingency plans if the school or certain classes are forced to shut temporarily due to too many staff members catching Covid all at once.

Herd immunity is not a lie, btw. It's just remarkably hard to achieve with a rapidly mutating virus (for example, we don't even attempt it with flu) it was a lie, a typical gamble, for covid as scientists warned it could mutate.

They have to be prepared to shut. It’s a possibility so of course they have to be ready for it if it’s decided. That doesn’t mean it’s imminent. It just means they’re being reminded to check they have everything in place incase it does happen.

We are definitely joining any freedom marches, this has to stop. We cannot keep doing this.

We are having a full senior leadership meeting next week to put everything in place for January. We are all shattered so it could be an interesting meeting !

If you read every contingency plan for every Government department and every large organisition or event and believed it was an actual prediction of events to come you would think armegeddon was imminent.
The Government were caught out first time by not having an adequate contingency framework in place.
The whole point of them is to imagine the unimaginable and plan what what you would do if it happened. And then hope that you never, ever have to use that framework.

They close I March- you cannot keep fucking over children when adults, mainly those in charge, ignore the rules.
Who’s more at risk of covid: a fat old gout ridden torie or a 5year old???!!!!

No. Our school has regressed some contingency measures already due to outbreaks in year groups, such as no school assemblies, no mixing of the affected year groups with others etc.

At least schools don’t have the threat of Ofsted coming in the next couple of weeks as visits have been halted so schools can get their contingency plans in place (or Inspectors don’t want COVID for Christmas!)

Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

This doesn’t mean schools are going to shut en masse. We’ve had year group closures due to lack of staff/high cases here. It’s likely that other individual schools will have to take similar measures if they have outbreaks.

@milly74

We are definitely joining any freedom marches, this has to stop. We cannot keep doing this.

Freedom marches to help further the spread? How irresponsible.

Contingency Planning means preparing for all scenarios. These will range from business as usual, to total closure. All well run organisations do this on a regular basis. During a global pandemic they will do it more often.

Threads like this cause a lot of unnecessary worries. Why do people post them?

Not everything is about covid. Sometimes some things are more important.

They have been shit. They don't give a fuck about my kids or yours.

Call

I work in school governance. All LEAs are telling heads to make sure that they know how their remote processes would work if called upon in a hurry. We are talking about it like it’s a distinct possibility.

Sorry I meant to post 'I don't disagree with that'

DD's headteacher (secondary school) already did mention a lot in the last 4 weekly newsletters about it.

They are renewing the survey about available electronic devices at home, checking that all children have their own textbooks and already started remote teaching for children and staff who are in isolation.

I think she expects the worst and hopes for the best. Early planning last year before they returned in September meant we managed a decent level of teaching when Alpha hit our area and then during lockdown.

This >> "Plan for the worst and hope for the best".

My DS's secondary school head mentioned a slight chance of a staggered return in January. Sticking our heads in the sand and not preparing is the best way to end up in a mess.
It all depends whether the NHS breaks or not.

They want schools open at all costs.
Great news!

At least one thing the government get right!

DD is a teacher and she says the only plan at her school is a 'testing day' on the first day of term after the Christmas holidays, where all staff and pupils have to come in to take a PCR and get a result before they can resume lessons.

what would you prefer, OP? That schools don't see the bigger picture, don't prepare for the worst and your child has no access to online learning if isolating and/or we are forced to close for either a short period of time or a more extended period of time?

Shutting all schools would mean bringing back furlough which the government will be loathe to do and the number of keyworker children this time will make it pointless.