Educated guesses when schools will reopen

[frasersmummy]

Just that really

What do you think might be a realistic re-opening date.
Am I being optimistic thinking after the February break
I know no one has a crystal ball just looking for people's thoughts

Oh and I think they will do weekly testing for teachers and possibly older pupils (not sure about pupils) to asses how much Covid is spread. I guess they will base their decisions on that?

They all need to be back! But it's a trickier proposition with the older ones.

Personally I think as soon as 3 weeks are out from the top 4 priority group getting their first vaccine and therefore some protection, that all schools should be fully open. Ie 8th March. Case numbers are falling, so hospital numbers will continue to fall.

I don't believe everything was done to keep schools open, far from it, but we're in the situation we're in and the government haven't demonstrated that they've got the wit or will to create more spaces, hire more staff etc etc

That seems fair @Waverless

Published today (have done the briefest skim and stopped at point 41)

www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2021/01/coronavirus-covid19-advisory-sub-group-on-education-and-childrens-issues---advice-on-phased-return-to-in-person-learning-in-schools-and-early-learning-and-childcare-elc-settings/documents/coronavirus-covid19-advisory-sub-group-on-education-and-childrens-issues---advice-on-phased-return-to-in-person-learning-in-schools-and-early-learning-and-childcare-elc-settings/coronavirus-covid19-advisory-sub-group-on-education-and-childrens-issues---advice-on-phased-return-to-in-person-learning-in-schools-and-early-learning-and-childcare-elc-settings/govscot%3Adocument/Advisory%2Bsub-group%2B%2B-%2Badvice%2Bon%2Bphased%2Breturn%2Bfor%2Bschools%2B%2BELC%2B-%2Bfinal%2Bfor%2Bpublication%2B-%2B3%2BFebruary%2B2021%2B%2528002%2529%2B%2528003%2529.pdf

41. Decisions on the nature and timing of each new phase of return to in -person learning will depend on the balance of harms, ongoing assessment of the risks associated with the new variant, and consideration of the benefits and risks to, and needs of, different groups of children and young people to return. However, the cycle of COVID-19 infection and hospitalisation necessitates a period of 3 weeks between each phase of return to in - person learning, in order to assess the impact fully.

So 15th March would be earliest for next phase

Thanks for that link. 2m distancing in secondary I note, not in primary

The care inspectorate released under a FOI request how many children and staff had tested positive. Nurseries need to inform the CI of outbreaks. But it showed it was very low.

We don't have to social distance from the children in nursery but we do staff. We wear masks at lunch due to the close proximity of serving lunches.

@Groovee

The care inspectorate released under a FOI request how many children and staff had tested positive. Nurseries need to inform the CI of outbreaks. But it showed it was very low.

We don't have to social distance from the children in nursery but we do staff. We wear masks at lunch due to the close proximity of serving lunches.

I think it was about 1700 cases conformed since March, in a population which is usually about 270k+. I recall it was around 0.6% who had caught it.

When did testing with symptoms begin though? Wasn't in March, you couldn't get a test when I had my "mystery illness" unless had been in contact with someone from Italy/China, or were blue lighted to hospital.

No it wasn't March, I think it was in place when childcare reopened in July

It all seems so long ago now, I can barely remember!

My Dd started being tested in the care home in June.

How are people feeling about the likelihood or not of the 22nd for the partial reopening of schools?
I'll be absolutely gutted if they're not, not that I have an early year child, but that it really will be unlikely that older kids are back before Easter holidays. SEVEN long weeks! Then NINE before start of the summer term.

Wales planning for partial reopening on the 22nd and leaks of English schools going back on the 8th give some hope?

I know there's probably been discussion on other general threads but I think the issue of schools being a priority can be quite upsetting for those who's livelihoods are down the pan and /or have no kids or don't get to see a soul day to day.

I'm on the side of the fence where I think it's abhorrent that pubs were open before schools last time (I know, summer! But still).

I'm at the "I'll believe it when I see it" stage. They're certainly giving signs it might not happen

We're getting tested twice a week in school (if we want it). Got all the bumf through yesterday.

From a purely selfish point of view (as a parent of a P2) I'm hoping that recent hint-dropping was to prepare us for extra measures in secondaries and that the younger ones will still go back as planned . I don't think any of us could cope with being out of school any longer - we're seeing some real behavioural and emotional issues starting to surface.

I think they'll very gradually increase numbers in primary and exam years during March.
Aim for everyone back after Easter.
But it may be blended learning in secondary if they're going to enforce social distancing (which I think they will)

Is there an announcement due today?

I think the announcement is tomorrow. We have had testing kits delivered to school but no information on what to do with them.

I really hope P1-3 go back next week as I'm noticing a real flagging of interest in the online classroom work, although that could have something to do with the snow last week! I can see the rest of primary classes going back no later than March 8th, same as England as I can't see NS wanting to upset parents by keeping them off any longer with an election looming.

I don't think the scottish government are thinking about the exam years at all. I get they are allowing practical work in some form maybe from the 22nd

But what about grades for uni, for apprenticeships, jobs in general

It's so frustrating.. They are not even mentioning it.. Result my teenager is so demotivated

I genuinely don't know. I want all our wee ones back and to be doing my job as normally as I can't but will we ever get there?

Thanks, Rara, will check the news tomorrow!

I'm feeling hopeful about tomorrow, but I've only looked at the daily numbers and ignored all that's come from various politicians and the EIS.

My P2 is completely bored of online school. Luckily it's half term until tomorrow. Then we have to go back to the dreaded videos and worksheets.

DD’s whole (primary) school is going back on Monday. Jaw nearly hit the floor when I got the email today.

If the school is small enough they are to re-open fully as teaching P1-P3 and doing online learning (which DD’s school wasn’t doing anyway, we were collecting work and dropping it back to be marked) is too difficult with a small school.

DD is delighted. I’m not so sure!

Just thought I’d resurrect this thread after today’s news and go AAAAARRRRGHHHH!!!!!

I’ve got an S2 and I haven’t told her yet that she won’t be going back till after Easter. Not looking forward to that. My S5 is completely ground down by his online ‘learning’. They’ve got a practical Higher subject but haven’t heard about going in on the part-time basis to do those elements yet.

Are the Higher students going to be going back and straight into ‘exams/non-exams’ ?? I was hoping they’d get a bit more face-to-face teaching time and a chance to catch up on stuff that they may have struggled to grasp in a remote setting.

My eldest has been brilliant but he’s showing signs of overload now and it looks like he’s getting a bit behind. This uncertainty isn’t helping.