UK schools could, and should, begin to reopen as soon as practicable after the initial wave of cases has passed through

[Otherrooms]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52180783

What do you make of this?

Schools could go back even whilst social distancing rules are still in place?

Have these people ever been in a school? School corridors/classrooms anyone?!

September is a very long way off. I think it will be earlier than that

@Makeitgoaway

Go for it

Employee Assistance Programme,

Nope

Insurance,

As in standard insurance that all employers are required to have by law?

meals,

Nope

plus any TLR

Is entirely separate to MPS and UPS.

Oh, and also, presumably care workers and emergency services aside, people are told they should NOT be working if their employers can't assure social distancing. I believe that has now been legally enforced in Wales.

I shouldn't imagine TfL and Sadiq Khan want a load of London teachers and students further clogging up the underground in London, given the recent hooha about the overcrowded trains and the political point scoring

South Korea are opening schools in a phased way, I understand. Kindergartens are back.

They’ve been locked down far longer than us and with rigorous tracing. They were all fitted for masks a couple of weeks ago I think (had to go and queue up, it was mandatory), and the kids will all be wearing masks in school.

This is what I have gleaned from following BBC Dad on twitter.

South Korea’s figures and trajectory are very different to ours.

The reason my school had to close was staff sickness. It came at a time that the government decided all schools were to close but we didn't have a choice. I work in complex SEN and the kids are particularly vulnerable. I really can't imagine us being back any time soon or parents wanting their children back in that environment. We have a high staff/pupil ratio for safety and can't go below the required levels. If staff are still having to isolate for two weeks at a time if one member of their house has any symptoms, it will be impossible to maintain.

And that's without getting in to how we maintain social distancing when they're all bussed to school. We're rural so even at the local secondary most pupils come on council transport, crammed in to coaches. How will that work?

I'm keen to get back to work, for my own kids to go back to school and routine, but I can't be enthusiastic until I know it's safe to do so.

We have 50%+ of staff in this category, or caring for highly vulnerable dependents

Given that only 1.5m people in the UK are highly vulnerable, and a large percentage of these are unlikely to be working due to age or significant health needs, 50%+ is a hugely high percentage.

Workers considered highly vulnerable (flu shot but no letter) are still working in public in the NHS, delivery services and supermarkets - again, I don't think this is fair for many, and all should have access to PPE as soon as possible, but they're doing it now because without their support we'd not keep functioning. The needs of disadvantaged children and families - and those who will swiftly join that category if the schools are closed fully until the end of the year - need to be considered too.

Until the scientists making this claim can come up with a plausible explanation for children not being a major contributor to spread of infection, given that scientists are simultaneously claiming that adults displaying hardly any symptoms may be a major contributor, I will take this study with the pinch of salt it currently deserves. Either you can’t pass it on unless you get noticeably ill or you can. Which is it? Are the super spreaders actually people who get significant illness, but only after infecting others for a week or two, or what? Why would a small child with a runny nose and no sense of manners when they cough or sneeze be incapable of spreading a virus they are carrying?

Yesterday on the news there was an 'expert' in DV suggesting that teachers were the ones to help women out with that issue, too and that women could report their abusive partners to a teacher when (?) they received phone calls from the school.. We are not the single answer to all societal ills.

Wow this was actually said? Since when were teachers social workers?

It’s just not safe to reopen until the summer I know it’s hard but the health of the nation has to come first.

It was said. I shouted at the telly.

BBC now reporting this : she is trying to fairly and fully represent the report but is not necessarily doing a good job.

Yesterday on the news there was an 'expert' in DV suggesting that teachers were the ones to help women out with that issue, too and that women could report their abusive partners to a teacher when (?) they received phone calls from the school.. We are not the single answer to all societal ills
I'm no expert in DV and would never think that teachers should be the first point of call. However I have worked with a lot of vulnerable children, and strongly believe that schools have a huge role to play in supporting these children, I've seen so many teachers who've been able to completely change life outcomes for their students. For them to lose this opportunity is tragic for me, and for more families who were previously doing just about ok to now slip through the cracks is so sad.
This is the fault of the virus, not the lockdown and not the school closures, but we all need to play a part in trying to get help to all the vulnerable among us, not shelter behind comfortable, stil-paid, closed doors for 12-18 months or more while we wait for a vaccine and a minimum risk exit.

1.5 m people are not highly vulnerable stuck. That is the number who are 'extremely vulnerable'. There is a difference. I did post a link for you.

I do know this : my DH is highly vulnerable but not shielded.

but we all need to play a part in trying to get help to all the vulnerable among us, not shelter behind comfortable, stil-paid, closed doors for 12-18 months or more while we wait for a vaccine and a minimum risk exit.

Are you a teacher @stuck

You were doing so well until you got to this bit where you true colours came out :

behind comfortable, stil-paid, closed doors

Workers considered highly vulnerable (flu shot but no letter) are still working in public in the NHS, delivery services and supermarkets

Government guidance says they absolutely should not be if they are highly vulnerable.

You are spouting rubbish at times.

but we all need to play a part in trying to get help to all the vulnerable among us

Schools are open for vulnerable kids, Stuck. Plus schools have been rallying around massively organising FSM deliveries while the DfE has dragged its heels and even said it wouldn’t pay for them over Easter (till pressure from schools changed their minds).

Fuck off with your implication that teachers don’t give a shit about the effect on the kids of all of this.

If an employee is still being asked to go out to work and they believe they're at risk because they're in one of the vulnerable groups, it's important they talk to their employer.
If they cannot follow guidance on social distancing at work or during travel to work, they should tell their employer they need to follow government advice and stay at home

Note 'one of'

Schools should be one of the last places to go back. They are very high risk...I was asking for schools to shut long before they did. Children (except vulnerable ones) may be low risk themselves but they transmit bugs and viruses extremely easily, to everyone working at the school...teachers, admin staff, domestic, cleaners, kitchen staff and so on, and these people are then taking illness into their own areas/locality or families.

I work in a school but I'm on furlough. In fact, if we go back earlier than June I'm just not going, I shall hand in my notice and say forget it. It's just too dangerous.....

We are not the single answer to all societal ills

I agree with this statement.
If I were being generous towards the 'expert' who said teachers should be a port of call for victims of DV I would say the following:

Pastoral staff DO regularly call known at risk students and speak to parents.
A mother could disclose information regarding escalating DV at home which would trigger a referral to social services and other organisations to protect the welfare of the child.
It would be logical that the child welfare services would then support the woman suffering DV by referring her to the relevant services.

Going through your child's school is long winded approach to say the least and at any point, the chain can be broken.

Unknown at risk children/ families are not getting phone calls home regularly so unless a child phones the school, nobody will be any the wiser.

Given that only 1.5m people in the UK are highly vulnerable, and a large percentage of these are unlikely to be working due to age or significant health needs, 50%+ is a hugely high percentage.

Really? I'm shielded, I'm 50 and prior to this, working.

noblegiraffe not what I said. Teachers do huge amounts, and many are continuing to do so.

However on here, there seems to be view shared by many that looking at options to go back before September is impossible, and I think that is hugely risky for children and families. Ask any social worker how many of their most vulnerable kids are showing up at school right now, even with the right to do so. And so many more families are becoming vulnerable with income loss, it's horrifying.

Piggywaspushed yes, people who are classified as highly vulnerable but not 'extremely vulnerable' absolutely are working on front lines. The bar for getting a letter is very high, unfortunately this means there are plenty of asthmatics, diabetics, people with high blood pressure and more going to work as normal in the service I work in.

Many shielded people normally work. It's just nonsense being spouted.

Workers considered highly vulnerable (flu shot but no letter) are still working in public in the NHS, delivery services and supermarkets

They are not in the supermarket chain that I work for. Anyone in the vulnerable "flu jab" group were able to choose to stay home on full pay for twelve weeks. These weren't "shielded" group.

And to clarify the above - Should say that most (not 'many') are continuing to do so, and the view shared by 'many' about not going back is many on here, in my experience so far, the views here are often fairly extreme

I think, given the current issues with teacher retention, killing them off isn't the answer.

I wondered if schools would go back in May for some year groups only like year 10 due to impending gcse next year . The reality is I don't think anyone knows yet even those in charge they may have ideas but this all depends on what happens over the next few weeks / month or so