Tiery Weary & Crackers!

[Bikingbear]

As a carry on from the last thread

I can't see how the schools will open on the 18th if the reason for the closure is to stop the spread of this new variant? It will not have disappeared by then so how will the threat of it on the 18th be any less than it is today? This is worrying me as I don't see an end to the school closures if this is the reason for it. Unless the schools closing is more to do with isolation after potential mixing over Christmas?

Really disappointing that this has just been sprung on everyone at the last minute. Feeling sorry for those who have went all out to have family over to make a rubbish year special.

Thanks starry it might be worth a try although I doubt they will be able to give me an answer before the holidays. I guess all of this will have been a shock to schools too. A few of my friends are in the same position . We have only just out of tier 4 and we all worked through it. So imagine unless it all changes again construction and the like will all go ahead as normal during the new lockdown too.

And what about people who physically can't travel to and from family in a day? Are they to be disadvantaged again?

I dread to think the hours they spend in meetings coming up with the tiers, the categories going into each tier, etc. And they've completely ignored them. The numbers were great yesterday.

Yeah, HTs normally decide who's vulnerable and if you're both needing to work outwith the home, they should deem that you need a place in school. I would try speaking to them next week as that's when people will be contacted/ decisions made/lists of compressed classes made (I imagine!).

Just saw the pictures of 'the biggest evacuation from London since ww2' as the papers put it.. sigh!

For those hoping to escape over the border for a few days, Radio 4 7am news had the statement from the Police on your side of it that they won't be setting up roadblocks. I suspect that that piece will be pulled as soon as your FM's press officer gets up this morning. Along with (as soon as their No.10 counterpart has, ditto) the interview with the woman in Norfolk with the terminal illness, whom Boris informed yesterday afternoon that she has already spent her last Christmas with her sister and sons. (In her case, no doubt to be replaced with a quote from a couple whose nearest and dearest will probably be relieved not to have to make their duty visit after all, telling us that actually, they wouldn't have let them anyway, because they know how guilty their DC and DGC would have felt, if they knew that they had - inevitably - infected them over the Queen's Speech).

The cyber nats have gotten really quiet this year which I only hope is a good sign re: next year's election.
I'm fortunate that my DD is nearly 13 but I do worry about our kid's mental health.
She was really depressed in the first lockdown, not seeing her friends. At least its only a few weeks this time (unless nipoleon extends it)

I heard that contradiction too 'the travel ban will be enforced'. The police 'no roadblocks'.

What a world where the police are more liberal than the govt.

I hope we get some qualifications in coming days for people whose families have life limiting illnesses, people working Christmas Day, people with babies under 6 months old who'd been counting on a break at Christmas and all the other groups this will hit hard.

I heard the Samaritans appeal, reckon I'll give a donation to that, they'll be busy this year, shame it's too late for them to train more staff.

Incompetence from the start.
So weary of it now though.

I’m with many on this thread. Tier 4 I can just about cope with (although I fear for friends and family with ‘non-essential’ businesses), but closing the schools is a real blow. Especially when Tier 4 guidance has the schools open.

My child is P1 and I have a very stressful, very full FT job that I’m currently undertaking from home, so God only knows how I’ll manage. I’m Edinburgh so the schools close for half-term on the 8th Feb so my current fear is that they extend ‘online learning’ (for P1s?!) until after the Feb break.

What a complete and utter mess. Ive never had so many stressed and worried messages from friends and family. The Xmas ‘break’ which many of us were relying on to provide a rest after a horrendous year, has suddenly become entirely unrestful (especially for teachers/working parents/worried family/and so on and so on).

I hadn't thought of extending online learning to February break but I can see your logic.

I can see the election being postponed now because they are making such an arse of things too.

I'll be shocked if the election isn't postponed.

A week ago - we'll sue any council or school who close due to high levels of Covid and let's have the Royal Family attend a pantomime to show everyone London's open - it's all good.

Now- We have a rate of 600 per capita in some boroughs, Christmas is cancelled- don't even meet up on Christmas day.

Incompetence doesn't even hit it. So angry. At last two of my friends (teachers) made it up from London to the Highlands yesterday. They'll have a lovely break but I hope to god they don't have it.

@tinseltitsbumfannythelot

I hadn't thought of extending online learning to February break but I can see your logic.

I can see the election being postponed now because they are making such an arse of things too.

Given how long they were off earlier this year I think the schools will close at least until the February break and probably until after Easter.

Does the school closure/online learning extend to the islands that aren't going to be in tier 4? How ridiculous if so.

I'm utterly dreading home schooling again. Our school washed their hands of it all last time. One of my DC really really struggled emotionally and behaviorally and I feel sick at the thought of going through that again.

Work were relatively supportive last time, but it near broke me.

A cancelled Christmas I can handle. Schools closed, no.

What are the chances of Nipoleon (love that!) being honest about their intentions re schools? In March she said fro the outset they were unlikely to pen again that academic year once closed.

But with the new extra spready variant we'd be like South Wales in a few weeks if things weren't restricted, we'd lose all the reductions that we've worked so hard for.

Wales were doing better than everywhere else, as they had since March. Then they went for a "circuit breaker" just in case and look what happened. 2 weeks of International students flying out of London and last night's exodus on the trains. If you honestly think SAGE have a clue about either viruses or behavioural science I fear you are as deluded as Boris, Nicola, Mark and Arlene.

No it doesn't extend to the islands. If you feel your child's mental health was affected last time, speak to the school and they should be able to go back as normal.

@PointyDragonPokingThing I really hope you're wrong.

@Dinnafashyersel

But with the new extra spready variant we'd be like South Wales in a few weeks if things weren't restricted, we'd lose all the reductions that we've worked so hard for.

Wales were doing better than everywhere else, as they had since March. Then they went for a "circuit breaker" just in case and look what happened. 2 weeks of International students flying out of London and last night's exodus on the trains. If you honestly think SAGE have a clue about either viruses or behavioural science I fear you are as deluded as Boris, Nicola, Mark and Arlene.

This simply isn't true..

Thanks StarryEyed - it's worth a shot speaking to the school.

BTW Wales have had 6 weeks of significant excess deaths and yet are only just now picking up that they have a problem.

Oh God please don't say schools will be closed until Mid February or Easter. I can't cope with that.
I was contemplating taking the week off work to do school. I've got my mum on standby incase they shut the nurseries.

I cannot cope trying to work, homeschool and look after a preschooler at the same time. 3 into 1 doesn't go.

ARGH. Nurseries closing as well. Twitter just now:

“Nurseries and all other childcare providers across Scotland should only open to key worker and vulnerable children from Boxing Day until at least 18 Jan. We are meeting sector reps on Monday morning to discuss impacts and will publish guidance ASAP.”

Starryeyesurprise - now I understand your username.