Schools

There is a pandemic in progress which is why Government is having to take all the measures it can, difficult and unpopular though they may be in the short term, to protect people's health, and ultimately their lives.

I've just heard that teachers at local schools will be expected to turn up, unless they're self-isolating. They will be expected to supervise the pupils who will still be attending school (including their own) and providing video conferencing and other activities, delivered online. They also need to write curriculum plans and do assessments.

The schools have been shut to help slow down the rate of infection. NOT to give the teachers an extra paid break!!
Can’t believe some of the comments being written on this thread.

Maybe your nephew should have trained to be a teacher, rather than relying on rental income Ellianne.

My son, who is at uni, is not expecting a fees rebate on his tuition, but has signed a contract on his accommodation, which he will have to pay for, although he won't use it.

What happened to the Blitz spirit? Millions of people are going to be affected, one way or the other.

What infuriates me is the cavalier way in which these extraordinary and ill thought-through measures have been thrown at the nation, with scant reference to those most concerned - the pupils themselves.

The announcement makes it clear that children only matter if their parents are 'key workers', who are not defined.

Refusing to give any reassuring hint of when things might end must be unsettling not to say frightening for younger children - really turns their world upside down.

And then to announce the cancellation of A level and GCSE exams without explaining the alternative arrangements are rubbishes young people who've working their socks off for 2 years and have the carpet whipped away from under their feet at the last minute. Wholly demoralising for them.

Throughout Feb we were constantly assured that the Govt was well-prepared for the crisis and plans were well advanced for all eventualities. If this is their idea of being well prepared I wouldn't like to see them taken. by surprise..

I got the feeling that the idea that providing free childcare is the reason for partial closure, which I can sympathise with, as my situation will be similar (but without the pay)

I'm not griping. I chose to work zero hours contract because of my childcare difficulties, but I also feel i'll be expected to put my own needs on the backburner.

The other day there was a huge petition from parents wanting schools to be closed now everyone is moaning because they are. It's not the government's fault it's the virus that is causing this problem. People always want someone to blame!!!

Here (Denmark) the general rule is that children under school age can still go to kindergarten etc. if their parents are doctors, nurses or police.

All other parents have to make arrangements to look after their children themselves, or get a friend or relative to do so in the home.

Secondary schools are sending digital lessons via Facebook to be done at home and sent in.

Parents of younger children have been asked to set their children lessons in the children's school books, all of which have been sent home with the children.

The duration is until the 13th April, but the number of cases of corona will determine whether it is extended.

All cinemas, theatres, concert halls etc have been closed and meetings of more than 10 people at a time are illegal until further notice.

Dear whywhywhy
Your SIL has obviously not heard the PM’s instructions in full. He said quite clearly that grandparents were NOT to be used for child care.
If you get it your chances of getting through it are minimal - then they’ll be without childcare forever!
I’m hoping that this situation will actually make the younger generation value their free child care grandparents a bit more. I didn’t have my parents looking after my kids when I was their age. They are all very lucky.I know they say it’s necessary to earn a living, but the luxury lifestyle a lot of them live are not really necessary. (Not all I know).

That was below the belt, growstuff and not becoming of a teacher. What did I say that you have put me in the corner with 100 lines?
I have said nothing about your bleating over your lack of income in 4 posts now. My nephew inherited the money recently, it was a lifesaver because his wife is very sick and cannot work or look after the children. Please don't comment on peoples' lifestyle choices or career choices.

Whatever can be done to halt this dreadful virus, must be done. I do wish people would stop whingeing about decisions that are being made - this is an unprecedented situation and EVERYBODY needs to do their part, whether we like it or not.

I thought not looking after your grandchildren only applied to the over 70s or those with underlying health problems? We are in our late 60s and planning to help with our two as Denis a single mum

Sorry meant to write dd not Dennis!

I text my ex SIL last night in reply to his text to say that we cannot have my two granddaughters. His text back said OK. We're both late 60's and I've had one chest infection after another. We just cannot do it, yet I feel so guilty and sad.

10/10 Aepgirl

Dear oh dear....some of the posts on this thread!!
School closures are not the fault of, or for the benefit of teachers, but for the whole nation.
If it has come to that time to close them, hard as it is for parents, then it has..other countries have done the same.
Teachers do a great job ( does anyone imagine it’s an easy job?) It isn’t. They will now be doing their best for the children still going to school, and preparing work for those
who have to stay at home.

There is a lot of work to be done to help school leavers move on, they will all have predicted exam grades as a guide also there may well be some kind of online assessment as well, instead of a formal exam.

They will be able to move on in September but it would have been useful for the Govt to say this a week ago.

On a lighter note, my 10 year old GD just asked her mum if she would have to wear school uniform when she was being home tutored!

My previous post was certainly not 'blaming' the govt for the virus. It was criticising their poor comms and I stand by that.

I run a small FE for vulnerable adults and the situation changed three times in 24 hours for us! First of all in the morning we were advised by county that all classroom and groups over 10 activities were banned, so outdoor activities (which we do a lot of as we teach land/woodland/countryside and environment etc) were allowed, then it was no all closed and only virtual lessons then with the PM’s announcement it was open for those with EHCP and social workers (we wouldn’t have the childcare issue ones generally) but do have a lot of those with a diagnosis of some sort. The difficulty for us is that out of my teaching staff of seven, I have three with immunodeficiency- one has been having chemo all year for breast cancer, another has breathing issues and asthma and another had major organ failure a few years ago including two cardiac arrests - so can’t have any of those in contact with any of the students and need to ensure we keep distances in place for the sessions! Two of the others have young children themselves.... Makes planning difficult but we will do it and we will make sure we support all our students through this difficult time. So many have anxiety and depression and it is going to be exceptionally hard for them. Keep safe and well all and keep your distances!

Like any crisis situation, there will be those who gain benefit and those who lose out, No one planned it that way. Similarly, there are those who can only see their own situation and feel they know better than anyone and there are those who listen, evaluate and act sensibly and modify when the evolving situation dictates. Much is going to change, perhaps for all time. Kindness will get us much further than bitter acrimony.

The point is Ellianne that millions of people are affected in different ways. You don't know my own health or financial circumstances. I'm just fed up with people complaining about public service workers, when everybody had a choice at some stage to become one. Your nephew was lucky to have an inheritance. Many people with sick spouses have to rely on benefits - and are then demonised by smug people. My son will have to carry on paying his student rent for accommodation he won't use because he signed a contract. Why didn't your nephew's tenants do the same?

No, they don't Davidhs. International Baccalaureate doesn't require predicted grades, so those students are still in the dark about what's happening. Predicted grades have always been very unreliable anyway. Some pupils see them as a motivation to do better; others (particularly private school pupils) have overestimated predicted grades. I can see a number of sixth formers having an enforced gap year.

Life has changed, we must accept that,

Life will change more and more,, that is what happens,,
and no I have not read all the posts here, it is too depressing

I am "feeling sorry for myself" then I thought of the school kids,, I still feel sorry for myself but trying to think what this will do to them..

so much lack of knowledge.. I read a post , online newspaper, some one said there are no people here, in England (UK?) who experienced the war years!

what do they teach them at school nowadays.. our lives did not miraculously return to normal in 1945.. it went on for years,, was it 1954? ish some rationing still on?

o.k. we have to be kinder, nicer, more tolerant to each other, I am devasted as I can`t go and get my own groceries... but what the heck! I hear the shops shelves are empty anyway.....

Teachers have been among the main victims in this epidemic. They are far more likely to have symptoms, slight or serious, than the children they teach. The children are 'spreaders'. Don't blame the teachers for school closures.