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

[AntiMaskersAreTwats]

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

It's an "in case" plan, like schools have fire plans. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, but there in case it is needed.

@Mybalconyiscracking

I will March this time, enough is enough! What is the bloody end game here?

Keeping people safe, I expect.

There is no other "end game", there can't be, it's a virus and behaves like a virus, and we respond to that. That's all there is to it.

I don't think so, not on a wholesale basis, but there could foreseeably be local closures due to high numbers and/or staff absence and it's sensible that plans are revisited.

@starfishmummy

It's an "in case" plan, like schools have fire plans. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, but there in case it is needed.

Yes.

Most schools have a plan in case of a terrorist incident - extremely unlikely to happen but parents don't kick up a fuss about it.

They have to cover eventualities.

@Mybalconyiscracking

I will March this time, enough is enough! What is the bloody end game here?

You won't be allowed though. The government has just banned protesting. (Happened while we were all getting cross about their party)

Its strange ofsted no longer feel its safe for them to be in schools and work from home whilst preaching schools should remain open and attendance be a focus.

Mistakes made

We need smaller classes
Hepa filters
We should have made teaching staff a priority for vaccinations .
We should have offered teens 2 vaccines in June/ July
Delivered c02 monitors every school
Increased education funding .
Had mask wearing in classrooms

When you consider the billions wasted on their mates companies buying defective PPE , using rubbish private companies for pcr testing IMMENSA telling 43k people they were negative really screwed over south west schools.

In reality look how much they spent testing, PPE compared to what the DFE have spent and done for schools.
They not a priority if they shut it will be down to government incompetentance not the schools they doing their best.
Some are being less transparent about cases so parents have no idea i made a complain to head that 1 teacher trying to cover 2 classrooms is not the best example of safeguarding.
We may have them in school but the quality of teaching with so much supply, kids in and out all the time means they maybe covering 1 topics more than once? Lack social occasions and extra curricular has made school less fun place.
Inter sports competition cancelled.
Year 6 residential cancelled.
School trips cancelled our primary used to do panto.
Sports day and school fair cancelled.
I totally get why they were but the government letting the virus rip and infections get out of control is damaging to schools.

We don't know how omicron will effect uk or how many reinfections will take place i schools.
Feel we least need hybrid learning if things got bad .

This is 3rd academic year disrupted for my kids I'm fed up
But I don't want them ill with covid.
I don't want their teachers off because DFE failed to protect them.

I hope schools won't close again. If they do my son will have had 3 high school years missing essential in school teaching. Pubs,cinemas etc shoyld close first and make education a priority. Never again should we purge adults drinking time before school, it should be an essential service like hospitals.

how about instead of joining pointless 'freedom marches', you invest that energy in protesting to the government about the contempt shown to schools and demand action on air filters etc so that schools can stay open?

So the Tories party on, and schoolchildren just… drift? Again?

High time that ventilation systems were retrofitted to all schools to protect staff and students. LIKE WHAT WAS SUGGESTED IN THE FIRST PLACE!

@starfishmummy

It's an "in case" plan, like schools have fire plans. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, but there in case it is needed.

I don’t think it should happen but agree it’s just preparation.

The school Dc attends is officially open, although a few year groups weren't allowed in and had to do home learning for a week due to staffing issues caused by illness. I wonder if the Government will go down the schools are open because we haven't told them to close, but individual schools may have no option other than return to online learning because of staffing. They have also mentioned a staggered return after Christmas.

An outbreak plan is for a localised outbreak at the school or local area.
I think things would have to get really dire for any more school lockdowns and thankfully we don't seem to be heading that way.

It's an "in case" plan, like schools have fire plans. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, but there in case it is needed.

We also have a knife / gun wielding intruder plan (despite being in the UK). Contingency planning is good because it means that when bad things happen the people in charge don't panic or spend time thinking about how to handle it. In fact, a big part of the problem we have had with covid can be traced back to the fact that our "pandemic preparedness" contingency plan was shit (and known to be shit) but nobody in government bothered to fix it.

@Mybalconyiscracking

I will March this time, enough is enough! What is the bloody end game here?

For me the endgame is enough doctors and nurses still working so if I go into hospital with a heart attack or my kids are in a car accident, that they aren’t overwhelmed with dealing with covid patients. That my cancer diagnosis won’t be delayed as doctors are redeployed to treat those dying from covid quicker than me. Or that there’s enough of them, 120k off with long covid.

Closing schools (to non key worker children) will be a waste of time imo. Many classes were practically full last lockdown. I certainly won’t be keeping my children at home again. I work from home but do have key worker status I can use.

@changingstages

how about instead of joining pointless 'freedom marches', you invest that energy in protesting to the government about the contempt shown to schools and demand action on air filters etc so that schools can stay open?

Yes, excellent point.

Some of the replies on here make you think that the UK is the only country in the world struggling with a pandemic and that the whole thing is a conspiracy to keep them locked in.

@LumosSolem equally astounding is you reading every thread to know which ones I comment on 🤐 😘

@VaccineSticker

Some of the replies on here make you think that the UK is the only country in the world struggling with a pandemic and that the whole thing is a conspiracy to keep them locked in.

Exactly, typical British shortsighted blinkered thinking. The fact Covid rates in other countries are through the roof, lockdowns and school closures are happening elsewhere and it’s a global issue seems to completely float over the heads of some of our fellow MNetters.

Then again Bev and Ste off Facebook raging about our rights are probably bastions of logic and pragmatism to them so what can you do.

😏

Then again Bev and Ste off Facebook raging about our rights are probably bastions of logic and pragmatism to them so what can you do.

This type of stuff is so pointless and silly. I know it’s meant to be superior..

@Spikeyball

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.

Exactly.

Plan C under discussion involves masks in classrooms though, and schools do have to ensure that all their contingency measures in place.

No I don't think it's a warning about schools closing.

Considering the time of year (snow, ice) and unforeseen circumstances I think that it's wise for schools to be ready to switch to online learning if necessary. Even after the pandemic is over, I suspect that schools will be asked to always be ready and prepared.

@LumosSolem not at all, putting my thoughts into a post doesn’t really take much time for me, especially when it’s an issue which affects everyone and is something I feel strongly about.

You should read (if you can) all my bullshit posts, you may learn a thing or two 😉