Schools closing early

[Trichford]

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 🤔

I just can't risk it. My parents are older and they're having elderly relatives who've all shielded all year. I can't possibly teach in a Tier 4 area and then move back in for a weekend.

Pop in for a tier 4 drink here 🍷

Ah, no, of course.

It's all just shit isn't it.

I'm sorry @Dolly it's rubbish

Had already decided not to spend Xmas day with my DPS unless I was out the classroom for 14 days. But my household is 7 so I am far from alone. So sorry for those who have been prevented from spending time with their families. Classes will be empty so I'll be playing Xmas songs and quizzes with those who turn up.

My DPs are both 75+ so hopefully will be vaccinated relatively soon. Not worth the risk they are too precious and my Dsis and Dbil are WFH so they can be with them with much less risk .

I will not have any family over at Christmas. We spend it alone with DC and have done for years. Will chat on phone as usual to relatives.

It is one year. Keep thinking of the vaccine, as it will be a game changer here from next week when the programme rolls out. We are now seeing hope of some normality seeping back into our lives 🤞

Just had an email from the school asking if we have internet access laptops and would be able to home school.. makes me panic something else is going on.

Lidl same here, my folks have health issues so I won't risk visiting them anyway even if we did normally meet up at Christmas. Care about them too much. There will be other opportunities, and I know they will both likely take vaccine if offered in near future.

@pennygirl26

Just had an email from the school asking if we have internet access laptops and would be able to home school.. makes me panic something else is going on.

Our school has been doing that so we can get extra devices incase the need to isolate. I still haven't received my iPad that I will as due from work which is a pain in the rear.

Blowininahoolie it is not just christmas though, posters on this thread may decide not to increase their risk but do you think that will apply to the general population? And then with no time to isolate or show symptoms, back they all are in a room with 30 others. I can't stand it.

@DollyMixtureLulus - I hear you. I'm completely fucked off and have typed out a resignation letter tonight. 30 years of teaching, and I'm a good teacher, dammit. I've had it. Damned if we do, damned if we don't, and apparently teachers make ALL the decisions re blended learning/extending holidays/facemasks in school etc cue hysterical exhausted laughter I used to love my job, be proud to be a teacher, but now I'm to blame for every damn thing that ails society. Enough.

Mistressiggi I appreciate what you are saying, it can't be easy for staff in schools. The other side of the holidays is a concern. Hopefully folk will be sensible and not go daft over Christmas.

All of this won't disappear overnight. The vaccine getting rolled out next week is a start though.

[quote peoniesandfreesias]**@DollyMixtureLulus* - I hear you. I'm completely fucked off and have typed out a resignation letter tonight. 30 years of teaching, and I'm a good teacher, dammit. I've had it. Damned if we do, damned if we don't, and apparently teachers make ALL the decisions re blended learning/extending holidays/facemasks in school etc cue hysterical exhausted laughter* I used to love my job, be proud to be a teacher, but now I'm to blame for every damn thing that ails society. Enough. [/quote]
Sorry you feel this way - if I wasn't a couple of years off retirement I would be following you out the door. We are working under awful conditions for staff AND pupils but hey, we're the nation's babysitters so it doesn't matter as long as parents can go to work. What doesn't help either is our union's FB page being visible to all and sundry and members of a certain group looking at and gloating over teachers' posts about the non extension of the Xmas holidays. No doubt they will claim this as another victory for them. The anti teacher vitriol is appalling

I think it's a good idea
Personally, I've been hoping the snow they're threatening does hit so schools can finally have an excuse to close (and I know working parents won't like that). Having windows open in this weather in a time we are in is not great, especially since our local PHE said children won't necessarily get a dry cough and must isolate/test with a cold, headache or D&V. Most weeks at least 1 if not two year groups have been distance learning and so many have been off. The area has run out of supply staff to go round who aren't also isolating.
Both my DCs are isolating because they came into contact with a teacher (DD) and two friends in two separate classes (DS) last week, although DD had a precautionary test as my partner has emphysema and her best friend has type 1 diabetes so we managed to get permission for a test which was thankfully negative.
Schools have been through so much, kids are knackered and cold all day, stuck outdoors in all weathers with limited cover at break and lunch and I know our teachers are worried about the 5 days of socialising Boris has deemed OK.
This gives time for kids to isolate before that, and after.

We got a text from school last week asking about home wifi.

Then today my S2 got a report home and one of his teachers said in her note that he should make sure he refreshes his memory about how to use onedrive from 15th December. I guess maybe she could be planning to work from home herself, or she knows something we don't?

[quote peoniesandfreesias]**@DollyMixtureLulus* - I hear you. I'm completely fucked off and have typed out a resignation letter tonight. 30 years of teaching, and I'm a good teacher, dammit. I've had it. Damned if we do, damned if we don't, and apparently teachers make ALL the decisions re blended learning/extending holidays/facemasks in school etc cue hysterical exhausted laughter* I used to love my job, be proud to be a teacher, but now I'm to blame for every damn thing that ails society. Enough. [/quote]
Don't do that. If you feel unwell get a doctors line or take a week off self certified. Starting tomorrow if you want. As an ex teacher my advice is sit back and dont rush into anything. At least take the weekend to think about it. Look after yourself first

@peoniesandfreesias that's excellent advice from @doodleZ1 just self cert for 7 days, perhaps go to dr and see if they'll sign you off rest of the term with stress. Things may look much better next year and cooling off always a good idea on big decisions.

If I had been a teacher this year I'd be at the end of my rope too for all the reasons stated. Teachers are the face to parents of so much beyond their control.

Remember the schools can be open but have children working remotely so an announcement of no early closures doesn't preclude remote learning.

It certainly can be done in schools were there are active covid cases.

They've dropped the extra holidays idea possibly because of the legal implications that children get x many days education per year.

I don't trust SG. However I will be very surprised if the kids are not doing blended or homeschooling at some point around Christmas.
I've heard a rumour they were looking at it from the 11th, which is the same day as teir 4 is meant to be reviewed.
The argument for the 11th of December is so kids don't need to self isolate over Christmas. But then SG don't want people to have any form of Christmas anyway.

@Bikingbear we were told in school that there was a vague possibility of blended learning but only on the 21st and 22nd. This was before the talk of extending the holidays and nothing has been said since.

A wee bit of notice would be nice both for the parents who might need childcare, and the teachers who would like to plan any online learning rather than doing it the weekend before.

At the moment, the schools always have pupils who are working remotely. GCC education leader didn't want all to move to blended learning for the last few days before Christmas so the other council areas must have followed suit ( those finishing later, of course the earlier finishers are not affected).

And yes, teachers are seen as the nations babysitters at the moment. I nearly cried when I saw the latest e- mail every politician to waste their time during a global pandemic sorry I mean call to action, is to demand that retired teachers come back to do face to face teaching for S4-S6. The level of selfishness puts America's non maskers because... 'freedom' to shame. Just unbelievable. We must remember that 99.99 per cent of parents are NOT like this and it is politically driven hence the lack of basic human empathy.

That worries me even more if GCC have said no to blended learning for a few days. I don't trust SG not to use bully boy tactics and do something with the tiers.

Explain please?