Do you think schools will return as normal in January?

[LucozadeGirl]

Just that really.

Nice isn’t it?

Safe for teachers bit not ofstead inspectors?

Safe for school staff but not for regular school visitors?

Either it’s safe or it isn’t - you can’t mix and match

[quote DoubleShotEspresso]@Explosivefarts that's exactly my point though, how will parents be able to work if children are repeatedly isolating/year groups closing... ?
If we know that children are carrying this variant home, to CEV households, vulnerable/elderly relatives and key workers surely we are just perpetuating the problems we all saw in the run up to Christmas?[/quote]
But keeping off schools for two weeks wouldn’t eliminate the threat of having to isolate . They could be off for two weeks then catch it first day back so 4 weeks off school .

Apparently the inspection postponements have to be requested. No serving school leaders will be involved in the inspection teams as they will be needed in their schools, apparently.

@Explosivefarts I should imagine of the government stop schools they would stop all non essentials. So if your a key worker again the schools will fake them? Although it’s not going to happen the tories would rather see people dying than furlough again. However I hope none of you need the nhs until the numbers decrease 🤦🏼‍♀️

@ScottishTinydancer321 I would hope so but they didn’t close construction last lockdown . Even thought we weren’t classed as keyworkers so our kids couldn’t attend school . It was business as usual on construction sites .

@Explosivefarts that’s crazy the didn’t think about that!
Although mine should of been allowed in as they have ehcp but all children with ehcp were told they could go but Sen schools couldn’t deal with this as meant all children in (had CEV staff too that were shielding). So
They could only take key worker children.
Maybe the other idea would be to see if CEV and pregnant women could shield again maybe that would help?
Prob is I think things should of been in place already and I’m hoping the school bubbles will be back in place (to keep kids away from each other rather than to all isolate if one child catches it).
Also family isolation should be back. What I don’t get is them lowering isolation, like surely people will just go out after 7 days and not bother with testing also not all lft catches the positive anyway! It’s annoys me how the government change policy to work for
Them.

I'm a teacher and while I do support co2 monitors being in schools I'm not sure how much difference they're actually making in my classroom setting (unless there's been research I don't know if?)

My school is under 10 yrs old and has them fitted. They open the Windows automatically. However it hasn't made much difference since delta that I can see, comparing with rates I know of in other schools. The earlier variants I'd say it did feel we weren't as badly affected and a lot of cases were actually via taxis (SEND school) we also always have had issues with outbreaks of viruses near Xmas affecting staffing (because we are sen.)

I have always had a more sensitive threshold to mugginess than the monitors due to asthma and just keep windows open as much as possible.

In primary I'm concerned about this term coming after seeing how delta rips through. And I'm really not sure what the answer is. We'd stay open whatever. And I'm really not sure I want schools to close anyway. We can't wear masks for the kids. Most of us have made sure we are boosted.

I'm expecting tight knit bubbling again not sure about me as I'm ppa. An outbreak last term spread beyond the bubble as staff were shifted around to provide cover.

@DinoDora that’s it mine are at a Sen school and the staff had to mix, also it’s a big school and taxis mix.
Although my other child in a normally mainstream had staff shortages so had to mix. The pandemic has ruined this time for the kids not what we do about it to keep safe though. If I could I would stay at home in my own little bubble with the kids tbh. 😂

[quote BewareTheLibrarians]If the mask update is true, it seems a good time to share this - fold and tuck method to make surgical masks fit smaller faces. This works on me (small headed adult) and my 10 yr old. It’s also easier to breathe as there’s more air in front of your mouth, and fogs up glasses less.

[/quote] That’s really useful, Beware.

[quote Explosivefarts]@ScottishTinydancer321 I would hope so but they didn’t close construction last lockdown . Even thought we weren’t classed as keyworkers so our kids couldn’t attend school . It was business as usual on construction sites .[/quote]
I’m a teacher and my husband is a structural engineer. We didn’t qualify for a Key worker place either but I was expected in school to teach. He has never been furloughed and worked throughout, out of the house.

Well given today's announcement they are clearly not.

I think all Ofsted inspections should cease for the time being. Some of those involved could provide teaching cover.

[quote ScottishTinydancer321]@Explosivefarts I should imagine of the government stop schools they would stop all non essentials. So if your a key worker again the schools will fake them? Although it’s not going to happen the tories would rather see people dying than furlough again. However I hope none of you need the nhs until the numbers decrease 🤦🏼‍♀️[/quote]
I work in manufacturing, we have NEVER closed and as per government guidelines remained open during the entire pandemic. Not classed as key workers but can't work from home. It's a misconception that only key workers have had to work out of the home during lockdowns.

The DfE have updated their list of key workers - in case it helps anyone

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

[quote chocolateisavegetable]The DfE have updated their list of key workers - in case it helps anyone

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision[/quote]
Looks the same as before to me, has anything changed?

I don't know Wax

Nothings changed about the list apart from 'those responsible for EU transition' have been taken off and don't qualify. Sorry if that's any of you! They've also cut a couple of sections at the beginning which related to last Jan (tiers, and those areas which couldn't start at the same time as everywhere else, before it all got closed anyway.)

News in anyway that no further restrictions at this time, so all will go back to school as normal for now.

Sorry, Beware, I meant to say thanks for your info on the long covid clinics, but events overtook!

Like you I'm surprised to hear that they actually exist, I thought that was something Hancock was just throwing out with nothing to back it up because that would take money.

Hope it is useful.

@Waxonwaxoff0

News in anyway that no further restrictions at this time, so all will go back to school as normal for now.

Apart from masks.

And the suggestion from the govt that within a week your kid could be taught in the hall by the caretaker. Which is not very normal.

And possibly in combined classes. Also not very normal.

Does anybody know at this stage what/if parents face in terms of actions and fines for choosing to keep their primary aged child at home please?
I'll await the official update from the school but on present info I don't think we are going to be able to send DC back as planned

@DoubleShotEspresso the last update on this was in November iirc when Zahawi was going full out to get every kid into school all the time and telling schools to go hard on it.

Whether he'll wheel back on that in some subtle way in the current situation, ?

@noblegiraffe

And the suggestion from the govt that within a week your kid could be taught in the hall by the caretaker. Which is not very normal.

and not very covid secure, to have more than the usual number of children gathered together.

one to one learning at home with a graduate parent (which we are lucky enough to be able to do) would be better than an unqualified person in a hall

[quote JanglyBeads]@DoubleShotEspresso the last update on this was in November iirc when Zahawi was going full out to get every kid into school all the time and telling schools to go hard on it.

Whether he'll wheel back on that in some subtle way in the current situation, ?[/quote]
Thank-you yes that's the latest I could find too.
We are in a tough position due to some close family health matters so would be good to know if common sense would be permissible here!