Covid in Schools

I think that the probable reason there appear to be fewer flu cases at the moment is that the precautions recommended to us all prevent infection from COVID-19 also apply to ‘Flu. All though they are not adhered to by all, they would certainly make a difference, if you add to that those who have been sheltering you can see where the deficit might arise.

My DD just called, GS in isolation for 10 days, school have 2 cases, but t&t has notified so many staff to isolate, even with no contact. DD has to stay off too, she works there, no t&t to her, but he’s 7.

These two press reports sum up the problem. This is what schools are having to deal with
www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/12/down-two-maths-teachers-head-maths-almost-tears-diary-headteachers-week?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

And this is what the government is doing about it
www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/12/minister-threatens-school-heads-over-pre-christmas-online-lessons?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
?

I think it would be better if all children were at home and every child given a laptop or tablet to have online teaching. Parents were moaning about their children not being at school. Now everyone is moaning about the children bringing covid home.

My husband who is a teacher has been sent home due to a student in his class tested positive for COVID. My daughter is a teacher in the same school & lives with us but has not been sent home. There doesn’t seem to be any logic to this. It is how each school interprets the rules.

School my GC go to have 10 cases of Covid.

My gd as been isolating twice since September once teacher had covi d second time a child who was in her bubble .Dd works for several schools says it's chaos .

My two gs coming to me tomorrow aged 13 and 23. My eldest daughter works at a school, her 2 children go to different schools, I'll be seeing them Xmas day. So that's 4 different schools - will definitely keep my mask on!

No, Gavin Williamson hasn’t been asleep. This is a populist government and need people (parents) to still go to work. It’s cheaper to send kids back to school than pay furlough to their parents for taking time off work to look after their kids. So kids are the sacrificial lambs if you like - most don’t suffer symptoms. It’s the people they spread it to who do. The government are using the reason that ‘disadvantaged kids’ need to be at school. So instead of identifying the disadvantaged kids and making special provision for them, they use it as a blanket excuse. I am speaking as an ex home educator whose daughter spent most of her time learning online. And did extremely well!

Yep, asymptomatic students spreading the virus. All schools should switch to online learning, otherwise these lockdowns make no sense at all. They keep banging on about disadvantaged children need to be in school. Identify them and make provision for them, instead of doing something as ridiculous as ‘renting laptops’ and then taking them away from the kids at the end of term. If these people are struggling to pay rent why make them pay for a computer only to hand it back? Usual Tory tricks. They’re not interested in any families struggling to cope. Someone elderly I know had a COVID positive test. Went into hospital 2 days later. Had their poo tested. Told didn’t have CoVid. Told poo test more reliable than nose and throat test. Who knows what’s going on. But where has ‘normal flu’ gone. My daughter is a nursing sister and she said there is no sign of the usual flu admissions. Not a dickey bird. Weird.

Sorry for the typos I am trying to eat a sandwich!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!?

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.

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!...

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.