Schools - why are they doing this?

[Scrooge89]

Why are the media preparing us for school closures? They simply can’t do this to us…

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-59673271

Not to my children. My youngest struggled so much at home and was one of the 25% who couldn’t go to school (although I saw how much some people fudged the key worker card I may have to do it).

I love how people start these threads or comment on them saying “they can’t do this to us!” And “we shouldn’t stand for this!” Like their outrage will make schools safer. To all who say these things: lobby your MP (especially if they’re Tory) to put better (any) safety measures in place in schools so that they can stay open.

The govt actually asking schools to prepare for a New Year lockdown/staggered start is about the only proactive thing they've done about schools.

Remember last year, when primaries went back for one day then were closed?

No-one wants schools to close. Everyone knows online learning is shit for most children.

But schools can't open without enough teachers who are fit and well and it's delusional to pretend that schools being open in the circumstances that Silverchamber describes are offering any sort of education.

More a giant petri dish.

I just hope that the majority of teachers in the rest of the UK are vaccinated because here in the SW - many teachers and head teachers are against the vaccination and therefore schools are already closing.

It’s a bit of a mess.

@OYeMuppets

Schools which are forced to close are no less passionate about education. Schools which are open are probably just riding their luck. It's different if they are forced due to staff shortages and very sad for teachers and students alike (I have teacher friends who want to be in the classroom and are not in the slights worried) Many schools have cancelled these fun events as a precaution, not due to staff illness.

Very wise to take precautions with the situation being as it is. Being ‘passionate’ about education does not include running Christmas Fairs and parties. If anything, that is parental responsibility for social development (‘fun’ events) but as usual, the buck has been passed to schools. You can be passionate about taking risks if you want but I’d like to be well enough to be with my own family. Your friends are very strange if they put other people’s children before their own.

Independent sage have called for schools to shut immediately until further notice to prevent long covid cases in DC.

@Bollocknays

I just hope that the majority of teachers in the rest of the UK are vaccinated because here in the SW - many teachers and head teachers are against the vaccination and therefore schools are already closing.

It’s a bit of a mess.

How on earth can you possibly know many teachers and heads are against the vaccine or that this is the reason schools near you are closing?

@Bollocknays

I just hope that the majority of teachers in the rest of the UK are vaccinated because here in the SW - many teachers and head teachers are against the vaccination and therefore schools are already closing.

It’s a bit of a mess.

Being vaccinated doesn't stop you catching covid.

Being prepared with a remote offer isn't the same as saying they expect schools to close.

Lots of children will be at home for reasons of their own or staff illness but I don't think anyone's expecting wholesale closures

I think you’ll find the virus is doing this. Last time I checked schools were not Covid safe and teachers who are exposed day in day out with no protection are getting sick. Who knew?

The only lockdowns that have actually been effective have been where school closed so, yes, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they do.

It’s a shame that the government talk about how vital schools are but don’t do anything to keep them open that doesn’t line one of their mate’s pockets at the same time.

Dyson for air filters
Tutoring companies for catch up

If Omicron is doubling every two days then it should have swept through the entire country by late December and be on the way down in January.

It's going to be a horrible few weeks, but unless lockdown is brought back in within days it should be over fairly quickly.

@PinkWaferBiscuit because they’ve been quite loud about it on social media and taking part in protests in the City. It’s just all 3 schools near me and their teaching crew.

@Whinge true! You’re right, sorry!

Its also not just that schools have been dumped on once again it's the sheer volume of messages that come out.
It's so confusing, no one knows what to do!
The difference in missives that get sent out can sometimes be minimal and people can't keep up.
Zoe app man just said 51% of people don't get any of the listed covid symptoms??

Shame they didn't keep masks in classrooms... makes all the difference. 4 cases in my daughters class in the last few weeks, despite co2 monitors & windows open in all classes. It spread of course to teachers & children alike, my daughter wears a mask in class.. did not catch it despite sitting next to 2 of the kids who got it.

Ventilation helps I'm sure but can't see it makes much difference when you spend the whole day in the same room..

because they’ve been quite loud about it on social media and taking part in protests in the City. It’s just all 3 schools near me and their teaching crew.

Really? I find it hard to believe the school is posting this on their social media or that all the staff feel that way, teachers in the same school are not some hive mind that all share the same views.

@BigButtons

Of course they can do it if they have to do it. I teach. We want schools to stay open to all but if it isn’t safe then it isn’t safe. Do you have any idea how scary it is to be in a work place where covid is taking out large numbers of staff and pupils alike yet you you still have to chance your arm and go in?

If you are fully vaxxed and not elderly what the hell are you worried about?? You're not going to die from covid are you?

Because even with schools open high case loads mean pupils need to be prepared to switch to online lessons if they have COVID themselves. Staff absence may close certain classes etc. being prepared doesn’t mean full school closures at all.

Not safe....hmm. I can't help being puzzled by the disparity between the SA data, the almost total lack of deaths after nearly 4 weeks and this idea that we're all in great peril. Can't help thinking it is convenient for a beleaguered govt.

We had a text from DS' school at 7.30 this morning, saying they were short on catering staff and could we send children with a packed lunch. I had my coat on and was about to walk out the door, cue rushed cheese spread sandwich cucked in a lunch box. They have their Christmas meal tomorrow so goodness knows how that will go. We've already been told that the school will hold a 4 day week for each year group if necessary, if staff shortages really bite. It's not going to get easier for a while.

But what is the long term plan? Last year the January closures bought time to get vaccinations done. This year we could close schools for 2 months and Omicron will still be waiting and just as infectious when we reopen them again!

@Rahra

To be fair it’s only ‘taking out’ large numbers of pupils and staff because of the isolation rules not because they’re all actually ill.

If it wasn’t covid and just a normal cold/flu whatever most people who are isolating would have been perfectly fine to come in.

And yes I have worked in a work place where lots of people were dropping with covid and I still had to come in.

Exactly - stop this isolating people and let them work if they are not sick

I think we can hope schools avoid closing and perhaps they will. But very unrealistic/naive for schools not to be ready for home learning again. Having passwords, access to worksheets or what else we need is sensible.

If you want schools to stay open, which they should then you have to limit omicron spreading elsewhere and limit hospitality and people meeting up. But then people will say “my kids are seeing their friends in school so I’m seeing their parents this evening”.
OP no one wants schools to close but you know hospitals are now cancelling routine appointments and surgery and asking. GPs to do the same? So when you child falls at school and breaks their arm it’s going to be horrific for them getting seen.

Just spoken with our HT at the gate this morning (she approached me about something else) she said they’ve bubbled off one year group (6) and the LA have said they’re welcome to purchase £400 air filtration machines per classroom but they’ve been given no funding for that.

It's certainly not what the schools want, but we won't be caught out again like last time. It's better to be prepared rather than leave many families anxious and floundering. We don't trust that it won't happen again.