Covid in Schools

As soon as pupils are outside the school gates there seems to be little or no social distancing between them. This tends to be snior schools as children are collected at primary schools.
Different schools seem to have different rules about the number of infections present before self isolating becomes necessary. So just because 2 schools are closed or down on pupil numbers doesn't mean they both have high cases numbers.

SillyNanny123 in our school everyone now has to wear masks since last Monday. This is because of rising contacts and cases. Stable and horse as usual.

Having worked in a school I have been extremely concerned about their dealing with COVID. Virtually all pupils had a disruption to their education last year. My thoughts are that all pupils should repeat last year but going in part time, catching up with last years work and so not all pupils are in at same time and could be better spaced out.
There would then not be school leavers looking for non existent jobs. Universities would miss out on fees but the government could have chipped in there instead of unemployment benefit for school leavers, eat out scheme and probably other things too.
As for new intake of 4/5 year olds that could be staggered over next few years.
Any thoughts anyone?

I'm in a 1form entry primary. A supply came for a morning, had a call from track and trace and left at dinner. From that TA and son, 12 pupils, 6adults from families and 4 sibling's tested positive, so 5 classes had to isolate. 4 pupils had no symptoms but parents got them tested anyway and came back positive! We are back on Mon for three days but already some parents are not going to send their chdn back as want a safe Christmas.

The reason numbers have risen so dramatically in London boroughs such as Bromley and Croydon is the cases in schools. Whole year groups are being sent home and some schools are half empty. It isn't being publicised enough. The problem with opening schools was that the buildings simply aren't big enough to accommodate the rising population. Corridors are narrow and classrooms too small. A great breeding ground for anything, from minor colds to Covid. This has not really been dealt with by successive governments and we are now seeing the worst case scenario.

All children ARE supposed to wear masks in schools/colleges- BUT there's so many 'get out clauses' not to wear them its ridiculous! asthma for one- yet my son (17) severe asthma sufferer says he considers it MORE of a reason to wear one if you have asthma- he actually wears 2 at once, just to be safe,(and gloves) yet still managed to pick up a bug of some kind in college in september, which made him extremely ill, so if 'other' bugs can be passed, so can covid! (Definitely caught it college, he's not your typical teen, he does not socialise, he stays in house as he's got a few health problems) One of my other sons is a bus driver, and he agrees with him, if you have all these other health reasons then its all the more reason to actually wear a mask, not do without it.He won't let folk on his bus without a mask on!

The only way to stop the spread of covid in school is to close them . Until there is a nation wide vaccination as soon as the school opens they will be in the same situation again . When we people realize covid is not going away .

Ah - I see our illustrious government is now threatening to sue schools who offer online learning, and close classrooms.

Such a joy to know that Johnson's crew have this under control.

A recent report in Austria and published in 'Der Spiegel' counteracts the UK Government's long held belief about transmission in schools. This makes for an interesting read:

Der Spiegel: Children May Be Driving the Pandemic

Secondary schools attendended by my GCs are taking on-line teaching seriously, with register taken at beginning of each class. Long-promised extra tablets of lap tops for those who have inadequate tech at home have still not been delivered.?
I think the govt wants to be able to say that schools stayed open, did not anticipate this and Sec of State is incapable of responding.
Why aren't teachers added to the vaccine priority list?

Susieflo- i think yours is a good idea- But for some older pupils then thats a problem in regard to their money-for food, clothing etc, and prescriptions, dental etc, as they get young peoples tax credits when still in full time education it must stop at 20 yrs- (or when they leave full time education) so who is going to pay for their 'keep' or living costs then, if it overlaps? (My other son was still at college till very nearly 21- due to his birthdate, so oldest in class) but got nothing from gov't from 20 yrs birthday- so i had to subsidise him out of my disability money- but some people cannot manage this- he couldnt get UC as still in full time education, and when he left college he got UC but they wouldn't accept his severe disabilities (which he did have on tax credits) and pay him accordingly- he felt forced into uni to get enough to live on, but couldnt keep up with his peers- now hes taking a 'gap year ' as he doesnt feel safe while covid is rife in his uni, and hes got health problems.Same problem for my youngest, (17) -hes younger in his year, but has been forced to return to college because if they boot him out completely hes got no full time education, so NO money to live on (tax credits) and NO free prescriptions, which he has a lot of due to his many health problems.So how would 'extending' the older kids education work, unless gov't rules changed towards their money to live on???

There will be another week of online learning for my DGD at a Welsh school - which could be more intensive than would normally be the case in the last week of the Christmas term as there will be none of the usual Christmas activities.

My daughter came home from uni yesterday. She went straight round to a friend’s house to meet up with about 5 of her friends who she hasn’t seen in months. They all go to different unis and are home for the holidays. She has my blessing. As far as we’re concerned (and this goes for a lot of my friends), we’ve had enough and will make our own decisions with regards to mixing at home.

We’re not visiting my elderly mum though and will stay away from the vulnerable. I know I’ll get flamed but after nearly a year of this utter shite and no real end in sight, this is how we’ll behave.

Ah, railman, now its clear why the college 'forced' my disabled son back into college last week, and why they are 'insisting' that his course cannot be done fully online (interesting really as its a bloody IT course!!!) And yet they managed to do so in first lockdown back in march!? The vice principal did keep mentioning 'funding' in our phone conversation.... so they must be sueing colleges also, or threatening to cut their funding in a big way, for doing online teaching/learning.? So putting money before health/safety of pupils, which is what i pointed out to him.Yet he pretended he didnt understand when i told him how 'booting out' my disabled son from college would impact on his money for living on also!...

I’m a teacher . It’s chaos. Years in and out like yo-yos. Now I’m expected to do blended lessons. Teaching in a class and online at the same time, Kids not logging on , not dressed. not got their stuff, playing on their phones. Most parents have gone to work so there is no one making sure they are doing and work.
Many of us are close to burn out. Teaching is not easy at the best of times now it’s impossible.

MaggieTulliver - Yes you will get flamed, and i only hope you and your family do NOT ever catch covid- but aside from that, words bloody fail me!?

We are all fed up with it - it’s been and continues to be awful but if it’s a choice between life or death then surely however you feel it’s better to try and stick to the rules - we are so nearly there with the vaccine.

Thomas67, i think you and all the teachers/tutors are doing a very good job, under the circumstances, and your job is hard enough without being used as 'babysitters' -wether in school or online, and i think you should get more recognition for it, also i feel teachers/tutors AND under 21 yr olds in education of any kind, from nurseries up to universities, should be getting the vaccine before the january term starts, or term should be delayed till you're all given the vaccine! You should all be done before some of others on list so that kids aren't spreading it around unnecessarily!

Nanaplenty- the vaccine is a Godsend, but won't be failsafe, also there is some had bad reactions to it, but also it won't work enough if its not made compulsory!

And MaggieT- how do you know who is 'vulnerable'?- my 2 disabled sons 'look' fine to all intents& purposes, so do my GC, but they have differing health/medical conditions/disabilities that make them very vulnerable indeed- SO PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU 'MINGLE' - and please don't make your own assumptions on wether someone's vulnerable or not.Not every disability is visible as the saying goes- but not every one wants to admit they have one either, especially kids or teenagers/young people.

MaggieTulliver But you don't know who is vulnerable. People who look perfectly fit and well find that they aren't when they catch COVID and end up in hospital. It is awful for the young in particular, I agree. But acting like this would be as stupid as people during WW2 deciding to go outside during an air raid rather than into a shelter. And worse, dragging others outside with them! A game of Russian roulette. The vaccine is coming to all, just wait a while longer. And pity the poor NHS staff who have to deal with it all .

So who should be vaccinated? School children are spreading the virus, so vaccinate school children and staff and NHS staff, not the older population who can stay safely at home.

My 6 year old grandson is halfway through his second period of isolation from school because his class has been closed.

My 7 year old grandson in Surrey has just returned to school after his first two week period of isolation.

The disruption to school/work/family life can't be overstated.

I'm not at all convinced that the Government's strategy is effective or efficient.

Let's hope we get through this awful global pandemic without anymore deaths/damage to life. We a have to play our part.

Govt promised laptops in April for kids to home learn. Start of October half-term they cut the number due into schools by 80%.
In spring/summer, they said children didn't seem to be getting COVID. Teachers asked why those past puberty would be different from adults
Teachers and teaching unions begged for support for home learning etc. Were called lazy etc. by right-wing press and many on social media. Govt sent kids back to school, college, uni on September.
Govt waited until end of Oct to change its advice about allowing teachers to wear masks in classrooms. Some heads had ignored previous advice, and were doing this already, but inspectors were visiting schools....
Central govt has not been helping schools financially with extra teachers (to make smaller classes or cover for sick or shielding teachers), extra cleaners or cleaning materials.

The government have been slow to react, they seem to set a course and stick to it no matter what. The Der Speigel article is interesting, it seems to back up what is being reported on various posts here. Mass testing in schools is coming, but so late. It would probably have been more effective to close schools a week early, reinforce the message to students and parents alike that children need to stay apart. I do think there's a communication gap. The idea of students retaking the year is a good one.

This is another major error by the government. I said ad nauseum it was too early for kids to return to school in September and in my view it is the source of the second wave. When the second lockdown was announced but kids were keep in education I was shocked. I believe the reason it not being shouted about is because Boris wants to keep kids in school so that parent can work. It’s an economic decision. Hospitality are being thrown under the bus for this. It’s nothing short of a scandal.