January (schools)

[fizzypop100]

If we are faced with remote learning, will school be open for vulnerable children?

@WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly yep I’m in north wales and we just got notified of this an hour ago via the school app.

Reinfection is common with this new variant. Just because they already had covid, they will prob get reinfected.

WTF - if they do that each time there is a new variant then the threat to their education will never, ever end

Exactly. Ridiculous to even consider closing schools again!

But I thought the Government had ruled out closing schools again. Where does the idea about potential school closures in January actually come from?

Close until when? I mean this virus is t going anywhere is it

Doubt it will be larger scale closures more class closed due to staff shortages of anything (like noro does). Most kids and teachers have had it now

If things get bad but school remains open it should really have proper measures in place like masks, ventilation, mandatory, if pupils don't want too they should have parents called and sent home. Pupils and staff should be allowed to wear anything they want to keep warm.

When they said announcements on any changes to this year's public exams wouid be made in February, it seemed a terrible idea because (from an education POV) it seemed far too late.

Now it seems rather more reasonable, because by then we'll have a good idea of a the scale of disruption

My dd school have said they will do rota learning, with priorty to exam years.
Some days in some out on line learning.

I don't think schools will close because furlough is not available anymore and not everyone can WFH.

Our kids need their schools not only for their education but mental health.

@Blubells

WTF - if they do that each time there is a new variant then the threat to their education will never, ever end

Exactly. Ridiculous to even consider closing schools again!

But I thought the Government had ruled out closing schools again. Where does the idea about potential school closures in January actually come from?

Nadhim Zahawi refused to rule it out when questioned about it on the media round this morning.

@Flyingsunflower

I don't think schools will close because furlough is not available anymore and not everyone can WFH.

Our kids need their schools not only for their education but mental health.

If too many teachers are on sick leave in a short time, it'll be happening to some schools regardless

I hope that they stay open. Teaching online was soul destroying, talking to oneself for hours on end and no one listening or responding.

The MN Mystic Megs are out again.

Yippee.

[quote Biscuitandacuppa]@WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly yep I’m in north wales and we just got notified of this an hour ago via the school app.[/quote]
Am in south Wales and really do not want this as a teacher.

Also, if Omicron is confirmed as very weak, perhaps children and teachers stay well enough to stay in school and teach/learn? I mean if it's just a runny nose and scratchy throat? It might even be helpful for the virus spread so as to replace the delta variant and to build up immunity?

We need more facts about Omicron imo.

generalh I’m not keen as a parent. But I think it’s inevitable and that we won’t be open in January

@FutureHope

It would be lunacy if they close.

I hope to God the education minister stands up to the unions this time. Mental health effects of the closures were so damaging last time, not to mention the educational hit.

‘The unions’ did not close schools. I know full well you are trying to be goady but please stop with the misinformation.

I'm a teacher... schools definitely won't close again..

@lobsteroll

I think it would be an utter disgrace if the schools were closed again.

I'm happy to follow every other rule and observe all other restrictions but enough is enough. Children need an education.

I agree

They were at minimum complicit and at worst actively pressing for schools closure. A weak education minister (G Williamson) who did not gave them down.

Even censored (along with thr govt) by thr Children’s Commissioner.

Not today, factual.

Close nightclubs ahead of schools.

I wonder how good the education the kids are getting at the moment is with so many staff off anyway. At my child’s school there’s 2 departments with almost all the staff off with covid plus various other teachers and staff. Music teachers are ‘teaching’ Maths. They’re struggling to get supply staff. The standard of some lessons is very poor. The teachers that are in are doing their best but it does mean that kids aren’t learning much in many lessons. There’s lots of children off too, due to covid or waiting for test results and when they return, if teachers are in, they’re spending a lot of time recapping lessons. My daughter couldn’t finish her work in the really cold weather we had as her hands were so cold, due to windows being open. She said lots of kids are struggling with that.

I don't think schools will close en masse again however it's probably likely to be localised, short term closures /disruption individually if there's not enough staff to safely keep the school open. In this case the school would be closed to everyone but for only a short period.

Yes, I think they'll close in january! The problem is though that every man and his dog was claiming to be a key worker last time to get their kids in to school, so it was a closure in name only. In most of Europe school closures meant just that, no ifs no buts, not like he half arsed efforts here.

Schools won’t close to vulnerable children/key worker children, they never did in the first place! For children that can stay home and do home learning, that could make a difference, though it then adds extra pressure on teachers to deliver lessons in two different ways. The admin side of children home educating is also a nightmare, so for anyone thinking school staff want schools to close…they actually don’t!! But we have to do what’s best at the end of the day.