Why couldn’t he do that yesterday?

lemongrove

Mollygo ...Have to disagree with you there that ‘we on GN could run the country better’ ?although some no doubt think that they could.

We could probably run things better in our individual areas of expertise, but no way could we run the country better in the bigger picture! So much has to be taken into account, and one decision in one area has a huge knock on effect in others.

Raves not races

No country of comparable population is ‘through to the other side’ susieq and I fear we have a way to go yet.

My comment was in reply to Maw

We can all sit back and blame the government for having to make unprecedented decisions, when in fact it is not the government spreading it, it is the stupid people who think it is all a joke and no matter what will carry on doing what they always do , the people who organise and take part in rallies objecting to their human rights being taken away, the organisers and participants in illegal races , the people who think it's a conspiracy and won't take it seriously , the plane stupid etc., etc., etc.. I never hear criticism.of these people, only the government. Yes other countries like China, have revovered far quicker because they have martial law and people respected that. There is no respect for anything in this country any more, so how can the government stand a chance. Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't , let's not forget he has first hand knowledge of what this illness can do,

Yes, well said. My daughter and son-in-law, both deputies, are near breaking point having worked during the “holidays” and juggling time for their two primary school daughters. I would certainly not like their jobs at the best of times, but at this particular time it’s horrendous.

If we had a real leader we would be through to the other side by now!! I despair but I am determined to keep safe and healthy as at 70 I am a bit concerned !
As a retired teacher, I know that staff are shattered and concerned for their students whatever their ages! Schools had no idea as did none of us! We could only guess and predict !!

I often defend the government on here and feel that in most areas they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
Half the population say that nothing is more important than education and schools must remain open, the other half argue for safety first and to keep schools closed.
Personally I just don’t know which course of action is best but I do agree that this decision was turned on it’s head at the very last minute causing unnecessary chaos.
The decision should have been made on Friday at the latest and stuck to.
A shambolic inexcusable mess.

antheacarol I can well believe you.

He's such a ditherer isn't he.

This was in the early hours of New Year’s Day I forgot to mention that .
They had been in the streets from New Years Eve

I work in the boook trade and I'm furious at the way these (and other) small businesses have been treated by this government. The run up to Xmas is absolutely essential to them, but Bozza made them all close 'to avoid a full lockdown' whilst allowing the big guys to carry on as normal. And now - big surprise - we have the lockdown anyway. I really despair.

Well said Luckygirl and vegansrock. As the MIL of an assistant head of a high school I know how much work is being put in by the teachers . New Years Eve and Day was spent in zoom meetings trying to get things organised for mass testing and some online teaching! During the first lockdown the school delivered meals, schoolwork and laptops to children who didn’t have them, the staff are exhausted and now it begins again, and because of this government’s in aptitude they’re playing catch up already!

Mollygo ...Have to disagree with you there that ‘we on GN could run the country better’ ?although some no doubt think that they could.

One teacher on TV a few weeks back asked why he couldn’t see his grandchildren when he knew their family had followed all the rules .
Yet he could teach a class of 28 when he didn’t know if their families had been following the rules .
I live in Sheffield and feel desperately sorry for teachers that have been going to school to teach the children from Page Hall.
That area never bothered with the first lockdown and never followed any of the rules .
The police have rented a house on the estate to try to keep them under some sort of control.
The house got vandalised yesterday .
A 3yr old was hospitalised on New Years Day because the parents where out on the streets with the child throwing stones and fighting each other with weapons.
Google it if you can’t believe these people it’s on Sheffield on Line Facebook page ,Sheffield Star , a few other local pages

I really cant see why teachers havent been vaccinated by now, a friend who has 2 relatives in the nhs, a consultant and a dentist, they have not been vaccinated yet. What are they playing at. The vaccine has been available for a month now

It is ridiculous. He should have announced it earlier.
Some GC are upset they can’t go to school, my children are distraught that their business will be closed again or are back to no income again with rent and bills to pay.
We on GN could run the country better. We’d know how to keep businesses going and with schools closed so it’s not just people on pensions, or benefits because they aren’t working, or those lucky ones who can work from home, haven’t had their income changed.
Oh and Ashcombe and Luckygirl you seem to know a lot about the difficulties faced by teachers. Keep posting!
I spent yesterday am dealing with technical problems with Prowise which had decided to make things difficult for staff preparing online delivery.

For once Johnson actually sounded serious. Is this cause for further concern?

Usually I support the government in their attempts to keep up with this disgusting illness but, on this occasion, I do think the one day return and all it entailed for school staff and parents was daft.

I would make the point though that no government could possibly predict the new variant's appearance. You can say that all viruses mutate, of course they do, but how can government and the scientists know in advance how a variation would shape-shift as well as when it would change.

We now have the South African shape to deal with. Does anyone on this page already know how we should deal with that because, if you do, then now's your chance to advise those hard-working scientists.

Personally, I feel everyone, and I mean everyone, is just doing their best against unpredictable circumstances. The only people not doing their best are the deniers.

This Government leave many things to the last minute. I fully appreciate that education is vital but at a time like this the only sensible thing to do is a proper lockdown with clear rules of Stay Home, Stay Safe, Protect the NHS, that even the rule dodgers should understand. We have to make the effort to master this virus once and for all. I posted a thread on here mentioning that the 20-65ish age group should be vaccinated before some older groups. I really feel that those who can keep the schools, businesses and shops open should come higher up the list.

MayBee70.
Then she should NOT have sent him to school in the first place. Your DD put sending her child to school over that childs safety, she didn't HAVE to send the child, she chose to send the child to school regardless. So she shouldn't be complaining as every one else KNEW that the full National lock-down was inevitable so why did she send him at all.

vegansrock

Can’t believe some on here blame schools and teachers - it was this shambolic government lurching from one set of rules to another, despite all the red flags and warning bells that schools wouldn’t cope with rising levels of sickness plus being expected to do mass testing with no support. If this government really values schools, then teachers should be high on the list for the vaccine alongside other key workers.

I agree the Govenment has been shambolic, but that doesnt mean schools couldn't have had basic contingency plans in place.

Why aren't Nurseries shut my grandson and my friends grandson both go to Nurseries where there has been an outbreak of covid?

Urmstongran

We bubble for childcare. Their school will decide tomorrow who needs to be on the list of children of key workers (our daughter as she will be in work teaching other key workers children). Their school had an inset day today. Surely be mid afternoon when the schools knew this was happening the list ought to have been ready? Nothing on their website tonight. I feel sorry for the parents with no back up who have to tell their employers.

Another fine mess Stanley.

As you said, it was a training day so don't you think they were doing that? Most were preparing for the coming term, others had particular curriculum training with possibly outside trainers in. In the afternoon it was pure speculation what the PM was going to say about schools, for example, do both parents have to be key workers? Schools had absolutely no idea how many children would be turning up this morning so please stop with the teacher bashing. The government could have at least given them last weekend to start making plans.

Maggiemaybe

I don’t usually carp about last minute decisions - we’re in a rapidly changing situation and the powers that be have to react accordingly. But letting so many children go back for one day was ridiculous. Apart from upsetting the children and causing all sorts of problems for staff, we’ll now have grandparents looking after DGS who may have been exposed to the virus today. Brilliant.

I agree Maggie
The situation was known, and although understandable to leave decision making until late, it could and should have been announced either last Friday or Saturday.