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).

You're joking right? Have you not seen the probably thousands at this stage of posts on here alone blaming staff? Have you been living under a rock?

No, I haven't. Blaming staff for what exactly?

They don't get to decide to close schools the government will do that.

If everyone is so desperate to keep schools open then why don't you change profession/volunteer to help keep them open.
That's right because teaching is shit right now and we are in the firing line for covid.

It impacts more than just teachers, it impacts admin, receptionists, school nurses, estates teams, cleaners who are paid pittance.

It impacts those shoves families who may be CEV etc

Try looking past your own circumstances

@Blubells

It's too early to tell.

We need more information on omicron. If it does turn out to be relatively mild and hospitals don't get overwhelmed, then shops and schools can hopefully remain open.

It’s a numbers game - it may be milder - we don’t know - but with huge numbers affected the effect on the health service will be a disaster. This , is by far, the most serious and frightening part of the pandemic.

No, I haven't. Blaming staff for what exactly?

They don't get to decide to close schools confused the government will do that.

For almost everything. Honestly the list is never ending. It's ridiculous some of the shit I've seen people say about teaching and school staff over the past almost 2 years. If you've not seen any of it I'd genuinely be amazed.

@squiddybear

If everyone is so desperate to keep schools open then why don't you change profession/volunteer to help keep them open. That's right because teaching is shit right now and we are in the firing line for covid.

It impacts more than just teachers, it impacts admin, receptionists, school nurses, estates teams, cleaners who are paid pittance.

It impacts those shoves families who may be CEV etc

Try looking past your own circumstances

Ah yes because you change profession over night. And of course we can all volunteer and give up our paid income

@PinkWaferBiscuit

No, I haven't. Blaming staff for what exactly?

They don't get to decide to close schools confused the government will do that.

For almost everything. Honestly the list is never ending. It's ridiculous some of the shit I've seen people say about teaching and school staff over the past almost 2 years. If you've not seen any of it I'd genuinely be amazed.

I've seen some of it, I've not seen anyone blaming staff for closures. I've seen a lot of nasty comments re parents and children, too. Nobody has covered themselves in glory.

@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.

I've not seen anyone blaming staff for closures.

There's been at least one on the thread. //\

I hope there aren't wide spread school closures, but on a local level, if there are no staff, what are they supposed to do?

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/covid-hospital-admissions-children-highest-start-pandemic-102857039.html?guccounter=1&gucereferrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guceereferrersig=AQAAAF9-tO9e7rJbQoMXAqW7h-kypdX9H-QwZXJoGThOY63dEA7vs6R9vDcnSExUU6EUeU-yg90ZbRVaPky2re3uaQck8qHCHDWgCh3I9O9D-QLqreezO4YfEqKahABLUmDol48WEUyUHahVAyIzFCVQEJiA16f5r0MzlG4VXNrg11

@refraction

Of course there are going to be more admissions of DC with rather than due to covid.

If omicron is much more transmissible, there’s a far higher likelihood of a DC going in with a broken leg or asthma attack testing positive for covid on arrival simply due to there being more of it around.

It doesn’t mean DC are at risk from or being treated for covid itself.

@Getyourarseofffthequattro

You told @DotBall that she should retire in a really heartless post. I think it's rather rich you are now giving a sidewards eye to a poster suggesting people should come and work in schools.

[quote Sherrystrull]@Getyourarseofffthequattro

You told @DotBall that she should retire in a really heartless post. I think it's rather rich you are now giving a sidewards eye to a poster suggesting people should come and work in schools.[/quote]
No I didn't. I said retire if you feel that strongly when she said she was going to retire

And frankly that suggestion was stupid wasn't it? It wasn't any kind of workable solution at all.

I simply can't book a jab for my 12 year old. It says online to wait for gp to get in touch. Not holding my breath on that. Fortunately my 14 year old got his last month before everything went to shite with the booking system. I wish they'd stop urging us to 'step up' and get or even 'book' jabs or boosters. FFS what do you think we are all fecking trying to do?!

She said possibly retire or go part time.

That's clearly your opinion but as schools are desperate for staff, any suggestions are worth considering. There's no need to be so aggressive.

Because the reality of it is that lots of schools are on their knees and are running out of staff

This. If schools shut it won't be directly because of public health but because they simply don't have the resources to stay open.

I think (amongst an embarassment of riches) this is the worst fuck up the government have made. They've had two years to put things in place in schools, I could make a list as long as my arm of what could have been done.

If they'd spent a quater of the money wasted in fraudulent business loans and eat out to help out then schools would have been open for everything after the first lockdown. Even if they'd just done things which cost little money schools would be in a much better position.

@Sherrystrull

She said possibly retire or go part time.

That's clearly your opinion but as schools are desperate for staff, any suggestions are worth considering. There's no need to be so aggressive.

I'm not being aggressive at all?

Surely we all know there will be wide spread school closures because of the number of staff off sick. In my health trust numbers of staff off with confirmed covid has doubled daily this week. It had been around 30 for ages then Tuesday 60, weds over 100 and Thursday over 200. Obviously that is completely unsustainable and we will be doing pretty much nothing soon.

I've sent all my exam classes home with their books. If we're back on the 4th, they bring them back. If we're not, they can work from home. It's a sensible precaution.

Our son's closes today for Xmas, 2 days early. Apparently, the staff had their Xmas party last Friday night and one of the teachers went despite having symptoms. Now most of the staff have covid. Not the brightest thing to do, to continue with the staff party when it's so well known of the Omicron variant and rapid spread. Still, presumably they thought a party was more important than protecting themselves, their students etc.

And frankly that suggestion was stupid wasn't it? It wasn't any kind of workable solution at all

Why? There were thousands sign up to NHS volunteering at the beginning of the pandemic. Why can’t that be shifted across to schools?

The prime minister has told people parties, nativities , all sorts of gatherings can go ahead. Lots on MN plan to , 'no matter what Boris says'. Are teachers exempt from this?

Many of our pupils have been to parties , sleepovers etc. Presumably that's OK?

School have told you this?

Government have specifically told people to carry on with party plans.

Still, presumably they thought a party was more important than protecting themselves, their students etc

Yeah, teachers shouldn’t be allowed any down time whatsoever. They don’t need to relax and have fun at all. They particularly shouldn’t be having fun when their students are having sleep overs, attending parties themselves, going to pantomimes, living with parents who have themselves got covid or have been exposed to covid etc etc etc.

I will stop mixing when all parents and children I teach out also stop mixing. Deal?

@user1497207191

Our son's closes today for Xmas, 2 days early. Apparently, the staff had their Xmas party last Friday night and one of the teachers went despite having symptoms. Now most of the staff have covid. Not the brightest thing to do, to continue with the staff party when it's so well known of the Omicron variant and rapid spread. Still, presumably they thought a party was more important than protecting themselves, their students etc.

Absolute nonsense. How on earth do you know that the staff member is the reason that the rest of the staff have covid, answer you don't.

Honestly the staff having a party is absolutely fine they will have all been in contact with each other at school anyway so having a party is no more of a risk than being in school.

The chances are much more likely that a child or multiple children have given the staff members covid but of course it's much more fun to blame the staff.

user1497207191
How on earth could you know that a teacher with symptoms went to the party? That really sounds like nasty playground gossip. I would also like to add that staff do lateral flows every day in many cases and that mumsnet is full of people moaning about lack of nativities and other school events. Classic!