Page 2 | Schools closing early

Trichford · 2020-11-29T16:55:22+00:00

What are your thoughts on what was spoken about albeit briefly on Friday about possibly closing schools on the 18th and returning on the 11th? They said it's going to be discussed further this week. I wonder if they go ahead it will be complete closure or blended learning for the extra days 🤔

Possums4evr · 30/11/2020 06:55

It would be 7 additional days for you, jellycat - mon-wed before Christmas and tues-fri the week after new year.

WeAllHaveWings · 30/11/2020 06:55

Ours is closing early on the 18th to give back the holidays from starting back early in August. They go back on Tuesday 5th which would mean extending the Christmas break would be an extra 4 days.

Ds is doing his Higher prelims in Jan and they are already behind in classes so it is worrying, but the consequences of the relaxing/ignoring the restrictions over Christmas is too.

Jellycatspyjamas · 30/11/2020 08:24

It would be 7 additional days for you, jellycat - mon-wed before Christmas and tues-fri the week after new year.

I work part time, it’s two full working weeks for me that I would need to find childcare or holidays for.

Possums4evr · 30/11/2020 08:26

Still 7 days of missed school, I work part time too - other posters might think the proposal is for an extra two weeks off and it is not the case.

Jellycatspyjamas · 30/11/2020 08:30

Yes, you’re right it’s not two calendar weeks. I’ve no idea what I’d do for childcare - I pretty much exhausted all flexibility with my work the first time round. My kids have additional support needs so the changes to school are very hard for them to adjust to and it’s not really feasible to work with them at home. I’d rather not be mixing at Christmas than have more disruption to school.

Possums4evr · 30/11/2020 08:43

I'm not disagreeing with you about the difficulties finding childcare, it must be a nightmare. I feel when they close schools they (the government) needs to follow it up with some kind of directive to employers to be flexible or even money for missed hours at work.

papaelf · 30/11/2020 08:46

It's awful. Our children have already lost enough. This is just a caveat they forgot to mention when they gave everyone the time off they have been shouting for over Christmas. So yeah, fully your boots for a few days but we will be taking another week from your children's education. There are so many reasons why this is wrong but I have exhausted them all on another thread about this

Rae36 · 30/11/2020 08:53

I think stopping on the 18th is a really sensible idea. We're planning to take our kids out then anyway. The 11th is too early, too much disruption.

My oldest has prelims in January supposedly so a later return would not be good for us.

We're all different though, different situations, we'll never suit everyone. Maybe high schools could close early but primaries stay open?

Thistlegirl4 · 30/11/2020 09:09

It would only be 2 and a half extra days at the local schools where I am. Another point is if high school teachers have to isolate pupils lose a subject specialist for 2 weeks and as a few of you have mentioned exams surely better to be off if needed in the holidays than afterwards when most needed. As they would be left with supply teachers and generally they are not specialists in particular subjects and the ones we have are useless!!! So much better to have the subject teacher there than not believe you and me.

WouldBeGood · 30/11/2020 09:31

I think if they’re going to do this they need to announce it now.

It’s causing a lot of worry and at least then people would know what is actually happening.

Thistlegirl4 · 30/11/2020 09:43

I know I wish they wouldn't say stuff in a maybe it will, maybe it won't happen. If it is just say it. Then we all know whats happening!!!

Callisto1 · 30/11/2020 12:11

Is there any definite time we're supposed to find out about these extra days? Or is it just sometime this week? I've heard from a friend that their school said likely to be back 11th Jan, but surely that can't be official as it's in the same council area and we heard nothing 🤷🏻‍♀️

FluffySocks75 · 01/12/2020 00:02

Damned if do and don't really. I wouldn't want to make the call.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 01/12/2020 00:05

We've known since they went back after summer that ours were closing on the 18th. I thought all Scottish schools would be doing the same. They are supposed to return on the 6th I think, but talking about extending to the 11th.

dhisreadingmypostsagain · 01/12/2020 00:19

My DS 6th form college is breaking up on the 11th to circuit break and switching to online learning for that week, there have been some some cases in the 2000+ students.

DumplingsAndStew · 01/12/2020 07:59

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

We've known since they went back after summer that ours were closing on the 18th. I thought all Scottish schools would be doing the same. They are supposed to return on the 6th I think, but talking about extending to the 11th.

The only change we have on the holiday calendar is switching to a 12noon finish on the 23rd (and the last day before summer)

WouldBeGood · 01/12/2020 08:05

Due to finish on 22nd here

Lidlfix · 01/12/2020 08:08

Thing about Scottish terms is that they vary from authority to authority . Where I teach and where DD attends (same LA different schools) we are due to finish on the 23rd and return on the 7th. We also lost a full week from summer which was paid back in October with a 2 week break then.

Trying to plan for the next few weeks is a nightmare. Many Parents are (to be honest if I had young DC and no childcare issues, I would too) keeping their DC home after the 11th to reduce chances of having to isolate- I am in level 4. My S6 DD has decided she's not going in after the 18th. Will they expect meaningful work to be posted remotely?

Our prelims start (at the moment) on the 11th. We have started prelims on the first day back before. Wasn't ideal for the candidates as their body clocks were still on holiday times during they looked half asleep. The parent survey findings demonstrated that the majority wanted Highers and AH cancelled and no announcements on that front either. So will continue to push stressed out pupils to be ready for prelims which may move for exams which may not take place.

papaelf · 01/12/2020 08:12

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

We've known since they went back after summer that ours were closing on the 18th. I thought all Scottish schools would be doing the same. They are supposed to return on the 6th I think, but talking about extending to the 11th.

It's done at local authority level, not usually a National decision. Ours were due to break up in the 23rd and return on the 5th Jan.

WeAllHaveWings · 01/12/2020 11:43

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

We've known since they went back after summer that ours were closing on the 18th. I thought all Scottish schools would be doing the same. They are supposed to return on the 6th I think, but talking about extending to the 11th.

Same here in East Ayrshire, the East Ayrshire holiday calendar was changed soon after returning early from summer holidays to include an extra 2 days onto the September weekend and finish 3 days earlier on the 18th at Christmas, with date changes due to covid highlighted, those 5 days were to make up for the 5 days holiday lost coming back early.

midnightstar66 · 01/12/2020 12:00

It's awful. Our children have already lost enough. This is just a caveat they forgot to mention when they gave everyone the time off they have been shouting for over Christmas. So yeah, fully your boots for a few days but we will be taking another week from your children's education. There are so many reasons why this is wrong but I have exhausted them all on another thread about this

They don't need to have anything taken though. Some are due to break up on those dates anyway. Many of us who aren't, lost a week to 10 days of holiday from going back early in august. It would be better tapped on to Xmas in the peak if the pandemic and winter bug season surely than in June when things are likely to be far more under control. We don't need an 8+ week summer holiday!

Possums4evr · 01/12/2020 12:05

Midnight the extra week some authorities have added to the summer might give your area an 8 week holiday, but it doesn't in other areas! This is why local authorities could choose where to place the week, some went for october, some christmas - mine went for the summer, and I would not want it changed again
We can just go online for safety's sake at Christmas for a few days. I would imagine key worker childcare would still be provided as it was in lockdown.

papaelf · 01/12/2020 13:12

They don't need to have anything taken though. Some are due to break up on those dates anyway. Many of us who aren't, lost a week to 10 days of holiday from going back early in august.

They would be taking it from mine. We didn't lose a week and we are due to break up on the 23rd. So yes, the would need to be taking it.

Dinnafashyersel · 01/12/2020 14:44

Ours went back late in August, so for us it would be more time lost. However Christmas activities are normal for the last week even at secondary. They are practically outlawed atm. Therefore from an education pov I think closing early is fine. I am very fortunate not to have childcare issues. I would rather they close longer and start afresh rather than limping on with murmurs about "killing Grannie" etc.

LizzieMacQueen · 01/12/2020 14:54

I think it was another thread I saw this on; it's in an SNP led SG's interest to standardise holidays throughout the country. One more step along the way to control us.