First ministers briefing

[Trichford]

Is there one on today? If so what time will it be? Thanks

And a pub too (only for collections).

to be clear - that response was from my MSP, not Swinney. He's a useless numpty too, mind you.

DH is raging and is going to send a (considerably less polite) letter this evening.

This is a fucking joke, and it will turn popular sympathy against the FM. Yes, the tanker analogy is spot on. They've grabbed on to 'people will DIE' and they can't let go now.

If the numbers keep on this trajectory, Covid will barely be with us at all come August. Each week brings fresh drops in infections, admissions and deaths.

They want the tourism sector to open in mid July but they won't educate our children?? I'm not one for political activism but this is going to get messy and ugly if they stick to this insanity.

Obviously, if the virus grows again then that's another story. But it's not happened anywhere else has it?

Just fired off a furious letter to my MSP. I’ll report back. He’s SNP so he’ll toe the party line.

I've just been to the big Next at the retail park. Both it and Matalan are open now. Houseware only, clothing opening on Monday apparently.
Staff wearing plastic visors.

Lockdown - with the exception of cinemas, pubs and restaurants- is effectively over. Please will someone concede that our DCs education has to be at least as important as a rapidly dwindling virus that mainly effects the elderly or immune compromised. Or if they won't concede that point then let's stop the over 70s from visiting garden centres and walking round the M&S clothing department as these aren't essential or even needed trips. Our DCs education must count for something.

Edinburgh. 4 days out of 15.
So so pissed off.

Isn’t the situation going to be virtually the same in England, though? I don’t like it, but I don’t see it is a specifically Scottish problem...or is it? What am I missing?

I’m not interested in what is going on in England - education is a fully devolved matter. My child is receiving, from August, 4 days out of 15 days at school, even though he has a legal right to a full time education within school. If Swinney can’t sort this out he should resign and let someone else take over.

Edinburgh. 4 days out of 15.
So so pissed off.

Jesus! That’s awful!

Thanks @Mascotte for that link, just joined.

For secondary education?? They cant honestly think that's realistic?

I'm in Edinburgh if that post about England was in reference to the retail park.

I feel like I want to do everything I can! Even if it's pointless.

Four days out of fifteen is a scandal.

It's hardly worth it. I'm thinking of just not bothering with actual school til they're full time and maybe travelling a bit with DS.

I'm going to have a stiff drink and regroup.

No details for my region yet.

I received a text from the school at 4:00pm on a Friday afternoon with a link to the info. They must have know it would be as popular as diarrhoea in a hot tub.

I am in fife and this is what we got late this afternoon. It does state it will be kept under review.

Sorry that's really blurry, will try again. Pic is clear in my albums, apologies if it's still blurry!

I see John Swinney’s still talking about how employers will need to be understanding. Wish someone would pin him down on what that looks like in practice.

My early primary DC will get 2 days of school per week. Are my employers expected to pay me for not working the other 3? Or allow me to change my hours to 5pm-midnight? Or allow me to drop to only working 2 days/week myself, which my family can’t really afford? Seriously what is it you think our employers and us can DO here to make this work?

Still blurry 🙈 basically primary school will be 50% full at a time. Group 1 in Monday and Tuesday, cleaning etc Wednesday and group 2 in Thursday and Friday.

He is delusional.

Page and a half of waffle from East Dunbartonshire which in summary says "part time learning, will give you details later". Such shit.

The r number is now between 0.6 and 0.8. What if it is considerably lower by mid August? Are we really going to see pupils in school for 4 days out of 15? What, 10 days in a term?! What about the schools that are smaller and can accommodate their pupils in for more of the time...how is that fair on the ones in 4 days out of 15?! I work in a school and I really hope they have more than one plan in the pipeline but I suspect not

It seems like the worst of both worlds with the schools plan. They won't throw huge amounts of money at it to get schools to buy up extra land and more staff and so on, because it's not going to be in place any longer than necessary. But also it seems part-time learning has to stay in place indefinitely? FFS.

It’s on just the impact on education. My mother is 85 and shielding, living alone. She’s a bit unsteady on her feet and has a bladder problem which needs surgery to regain even a degree of continence. Her surgery has been cancelled while hospitals stand empty and she has been told it will be October at the earliest. She hasn’t been beyond her garden gate for 12 weeks, and has more ahead of her. She used to be active, alert and out and about with her rollator and walking sticks.
Today she said, I just want to die now. i can’t go on like this. Sitting alone in her own urine a lot of the time, not seeing anyone, rest of the family live out of Scotland so can’t come and visit or help me with her care.
She has lost her confidence and her independence and sadly, her will to live it seems.

Scottish school teacher friends have said that they want attendance decided now because although the start of term is 8 weeks away they will be on holiday. I was absolutely gobsmacked. Despite the fact that so much will change in that timescale there is little flexibility about having decisions made now.