Is there any thought yet as to how students are going to get home for Christmas?

[TawnyPippit]

I haven’t seen anything, but I’m assuming some thought must be being given to this, whether by the universities or the govt?. DS is in catered accommodation and I can’t believe that that that would keep on going all over the Christmas period. I’m not a Christmas obsessive - DS is just coming to the end of his first lockdown period, and also can’t come home for reading week as originally planned as we are Tier 2. But I have told him (rashly?) that it will all be ok for Christmas.

I guess the way it would currently work would be to do another period of isolation - which hopefully will be just 7 days by then - and then come and re-join our household. He is in Tier 1, so coming home is not a problem for him, its us that cannot mix households ATM.

I suspect its all too far away to strategise about at the moment as we will likely have several different iterations of lockdown restrictions before then, just idle musings.

To answer the OP . I guess 'how they get home for Christmas' will be in the exact same manner that they have come home for reading week.

My DD3s mates are all home . From Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester .. next week her BF is coming from Nottingham. All tier 3 areas I think. (We are in Tier 1) all but one came in the train.. Nobody stopped them. Nobody appears to if even asked. .. it's bloody ridiculous. Here for a week /ten days and then all returning ..

How long before we are also in TIEr 2 ? I would put it at about 14 days..

Pathetic laws that no one appears to be enforcing. Stupid supposed adults who can't work out for themselves how selfish this is to their parents and grandparents. .. and the NHS.

Whilst teens are generally quite self absorbed.. I would of expected the Government to of been a bit more in the ball.

My DS had a security guard burst into his room a couple of weeks ago, having accessed the flat without permission, to break up a gathering. All of the lads in the room live in the flat, so no gathering, and no need. They complained to the management as he also had no mask on, and tried to shake their hands by way of apology! Pay peanuts, get monkeys...

@Bailey0703

To answer the OP . I guess 'how they get home for Christmas' will be in the exact same manner that they have come home for reading week.

My DD3s mates are all home . From Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester .. next week her BF is coming from Nottingham. All tier 3 areas I think. (We are in Tier 1) all but one came in the train.. Nobody stopped them. Nobody appears to if even asked. .. it's bloody ridiculous. Here for a week /ten days and then all returning ..

How long before we are also in TIEr 2 ? I would put it at about 14 days..

Pathetic laws that no one appears to be enforcing. Stupid supposed adults who can't work out for themselves how selfish this is to their parents and grandparents. .. and the NHS.

Whilst teens are generally quite self absorbed.. I would of expected the Government to of been a bit more in the ball.

How are they being selfish to their parents/grandparents/NHS? Do you expect teens to stay at uni all year and not see their family?

[quote Bingobango69]On that point: "Leaked Edinburgh University email warns security will guard doors to stop Halloween parties"

twitter.com/jim_dickinson/status/1322063195310272514?s=19[/quote]
Dd was saying that there is an email going round threatening all those associated with a pantry with sanctions, if any party is held there.

Bailey, I know of people from Tier 1 (Exeter) coming back on reading week to London Tier 2. Unless the university issues explicit instructions to the contrary, and I notice most uni websites seem to fudge this by talking about govt guidelines rather than directly forbidding anything...see Northumbria website forbFAQ to understand how woolly dodging the question they tend to be on travel between tiers.

To my mind it is travelling for education or work purposes and not to be regarded as a flouting of household or travel rules. It isn't travelling to socialise or for leisure, it is because you are in an educational setting that you need to travel back and forth from home. And students may well spread covid less back quietly at home than socialising at uni in bars chats etc

At DS’s Uni there are c23k students plus staff. They have around 150 cases, none of which are in DS’s Halls. He has driven home a couple of times and he and his friends have been out for dinner and drinks. They have followed the rules but there is nothing to say they can’t go where they want.

Parker, mingling households from tier 3 to one or two, IS against the rules.
Travel is advisory though, and you are allowed to do it for education or work.
I suggest mixing households for educational reasons should also be advisory, or essential visits (for economic or caring reasons ie v expensive to feed yourself all hols, job back home etc) could all reduce visits but make them fair and legal.

DS is in tier one, likely to be going into tier two and we’re in London so already tier two.

He has driven home a couple of times. That is against the current rules if his home is in Tier 2. I Don't actually Agree with the rules, I think they are ridiculous when adult 18-21 (or even older) children are involved. Or any person needing care and companionship for that matter with or without mental health or physical health issues. Normal adults need companionship from their friends and relatives outside "temporary" student or work related households.

He’s 21 and can make his own decisions. If he wants to visit home, that’s ok with me. Thankfully only a few weeks left until he’s home for the Christmas break.

Nettleskeins

To my mind it is travelling for education or work purposes and not to be regarded as a flouting of household or travel rules. It isn't travelling to socialise or for leisure, it is because you are in an educational setting that you need to travel back and forth from home

I can't agree with this unless you commute to Uni. and otherwise live in your home household. For those in 'halls ' or shared house you are in a different household.

Reading week' is meant to be for reading. If it is not meant for socialising then why on earth can't they read at Uni. ? You don't. NEED to be home in order to read. In which case it is non-essential travel.

Is a law really required? Where is the common sense ? Surely anyone can work out that moving from a place with HIGH infection to a place with LOW infection has a much higher chance of spreading the virus. ? Where is the social responsibility that is incumbent on all of us - in a decision to go home because you want to. ?

It is really pointless to debate this. At least 80 percent of new students (we are talking about 18 19 year olds)who live in the UK, will make the decision to rejoin their original parental household for Christmas, shortbreak. On such a scale who or what is going to stop them? Fines, bribes, shaming, barricades?

Who is going to feed them if they stay in halls ? DD has budgeted enough for the 13 weeks. She won't have any money left for another 4. And if in catered halls are the staff going to give up their Xmas days to cook and feed the students ?
All a bit ridiculous. But them most things going on at the moment are. Led by donkeys.

My niece will be coming to us for the Christmas holidays. Her housemates are both from the same county as the uni, and will definitely be going home. I'm not leaving her alone for Christmas. If it did look like there would be tighter restrictions, I would pick her up earlier.

She would be coming from Tier 3 to Tier 1, but given that DH and I are both teachers and our DC are at school and nursery, I think she's the least likely to spread it!

@Nettleskeins

It is really pointless to debate this. At least 80 percent of new students (we are talking about 18 19 year olds)who live in the UK, will make the decision to rejoin their original parental household for Christmas, shortbreak. On such a scale who or what is going to stop them? Fines, bribes, shaming, barricades?

So now you have changed your tune to suit the situation.

First it was essential educational travel.

Now it has been pointed out they it is neither essential not educational.. to travel you have resorted to ' well everyone else is doing it' ..

Still spreads the vital. Still doesn't make it right.

Vital - Virus

@WyfOfBathe

My niece will be coming to us for the Christmas holidays. Her housemates are both from the same county as the uni, and will definitely be going home. I'm not leaving her alone for Christmas. If it did look like there would be tighter restrictions, I would pick her up earlier.

She would be coming from Tier 3 to Tier 1, but given that DH and I are both teachers and our DC are at school and nursery, I think she's the least likely to spread it!

And this is why we are in the situation we are in.

Because 'your' situation is different . So YOU can break the rules and disregard common sense.

I bet you will be one of the first shouting that a total lockdown is 'unfair'

And this is why we are in the situation we are in.

Because 'your' situation is different . So YOU can break the rules and disregard common sense.

I bet you will be one of the first shouting that a total lockdown is 'unfair'

No, my situation isn't different. I wouldn't criticise anyone else for doing the same thing.

It's not a total lockdown if schools stay open, it's a pointless one. Schools will carry on transmitting the virus throughout communities. It doesn't matter how much some parents stomp their feet, this is a fact.
DD might come home if everything is cancelled. She has been in isolation for 2 weeks so totally safe. And I'm a teacher so my risk is greater than most. Yes, I will decide what is best for my family as I no longer trust this government with my safety. Scummings said it was ok to do what's best for your kids, so it must be.

I've name changed a bit but have been on the A level, CAGs, university threads for this year's Freshers.
The unsavoury, interpersonal attacks on this thread, for me, sum up the political and social mess we're in. The absence of decent government encourages people to blame each other. The reason people are looking out for their individual family members, and bickering over the relative value of their set of circumstances, is because we have a vacuum of government and leadership. We cannot trust "the system" to behave decently and to keep us, and ours, safe.
There are no winners here; lives and livelihoods are being taken unnecessarily. This will shape the economic, political and social landscape for decades. All we can do is try to keep ourselves safe but the nature of the primary threat (physical health, mental health, financial survival) varies from individual to individual.
There is no simple solution. We are being forced to gauge and manage our own individual risk by the adsence of appropriate leadership.
I wish you all the very best in that.

Well said @Tickledtrout.

Absolutely right tickled.

@Tickledtrout my thoughts too. I am the most law abiding boringly normal person. I never break rules. But, and it's a huge but, these rules are stupid and dangerous and could result in my child becoming unwell. And I'm not risking that.
Schools will be open, I will be working with 2,000 people daily so someone explain to me how my own 2 children are such a risk. They have both been isolated for 2 weeks (one not through choice). They will be home by Weds if they want to be.

@mumsneedwine

It's not a total lockdown if schools stay open, it's a pointless one. Schools will carry on transmitting the virus throughout communities. It doesn't matter how much some parents stomp their feet, this is a fact. DD might come home if everything is cancelled. She has been in isolation for 2 weeks so totally safe. And I'm a teacher so my risk is greater than most. Yes, I will decide what is best for my family as I no longer trust this government with my safety. Scummings said it was ok to do what's best for your kids, so it must be.

Agree completely with this.

My university age dc will be coming home when they want to. As long as it’s safe for me to be in school educating other people’s children, it’s safe for me to be around my own.

If lockdown is strict enough that schools are closed, at least one of them would have to come home anyway otherwise they wouldn’t be able to eat.

Stupid supposed adults who can't work out for themselves how selfish this is to their parents and grandparents. .. and the NHS

Not everyone lives with grandparents. In fact I suspect the large majority do not.

And many will have younger siblings who are mixing freely in schools and colleges. And I don't suppose they all come from privileged backgrounds with parents working at home either.

How is going home "selfish"?