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

[AntiMaskersAreTwats]

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

[quote HariboMaroon]@Izzypuss

Oh have a day off I’ve spent the day in an early years class, I’m allowed an opinion! If you don’t like the way it is - leave. You’re not going to change the world.[/quote]
We all have tough days - that's no excuse for spouting your unconstructive, ill informed, negative opinions designed to make others unhappy. If you can't say anything positive, then please don't bother.

[quote HariboMaroon]@Izzypuss

Oh have a day off I’ve spent the day in an early years class, I’m allowed an opinion! If you don’t like the way it is - leave. You’re not going to change the world.[/quote]
We all have tough days - that's no excuse for spouting your unconstructive, ill informed, negative opinions designed to make others unhappy. If you can't say anything positive, then please don't bother.

FFS.

I stand corrected. I said waaaay upthread we wouldn't be shutting as it's been said that schools will be last to shut.

We have been told by the head of the local education authority that we are now blended learning and only key worker kids in face to face for the last 3 days next week.

I'm disappointed. And worried it might continue in January which I do NOT want to happen.

Owing to worry over cases or staffing levels, DrM?

Loads of schools near me have blended learning already bc of staff absence.

Both. Supply teachers were already non-existent when I had covid a month or two ago, before the rocketing cases and new variant concerns had taken hold.

We've got supply in but not enough to keep all year groups open at once.

@DrMadelineMaxwell

FFS. I stand corrected. I said waaaay upthread we wouldn't be shutting as it's been said that schools will be last to shut.

We have been told by the head of the local education authority that we are now blended learning and only key worker kids in face to face for the last 3 days next week.

I'm disappointed. And worried it might continue in January which I do NOT want to happen.

Well, they aren't shut, then.

We have never shut, and always been open for key worker provision during every lockdown to date, including through the half terms and easter holidays in 2020.

But that is not what it felt like to the majority of the parents who couldn't qualify to send their children in.

I’m in Wales and although there’s been nothing official many head teachers are expecting an extension of the Christmas holidays by a couple of weeks to slow transmission. Like a ‘firebreak’ I think it’s called

@DrMadelineMaxwell

We have never shut, and always been open for key worker provision during every lockdown to date, including through the half terms and easter holidays in 2020.

But that is not what it felt like to the majority of the parents who couldn't qualify to send their children in.

Yes, exactly.

How are they going to slow transmission now, though, now that we aren't supposed to recommend PCRs for asymptomatic household contacts of positive cases? I can't believe the updated guidance. We have families where there are multiple positives, it slowly goes through the family. Plenty are asymptomatic. Those kids will end up coming to school and infecting others because they are supposed to be doing daily LFTs (amidst a shortage of the kits!!), and we aren't supposed to ask parents for proof of these (would be too much of an administrative burden, anyway.)

As for our nursery classes and under 5s in Reception. They are just supposed to come to school even though they might have mum and dad and sibling all positive, and they aren't supposed to be getting even a LFT never mind a PCR unless they develop symptoms (and we all know that the symptoms in that age group aren't the now outdated traditional 3 that you're supposed to test for).

Absolutely nuts. They are deliberately going for herd immunity now, there's no other explanation for it.

And all this shit going on in schools, while the rest of the country is told to work from home if they can, and minimise social contacts.

Ridiculous.

In my LA, messages have certainly changed before schools closing today.
Senior LA officers giving out contact details for over the break, meetings planned first day back to discuss issues and projected staff shortages.
Emergency planning meetings.
A sharp message about the expected difficulties of staff shortage and therefore closure of schools.