Just how pathetic is Boris going to be allowed to be?

There must surely be someone in the government who can sit down with teachers are sort this out?

Surely.

Trouble is Boris has ousted all politicians with experience and replaced them with sycophants. I’m actually starting to feel sorry for Matt Hancock who is starting to look very twitchy as he is trotted out so often to sprout rubbish even he doesn’t believe.

Scrap that! Just remembered he is MP for Newmarket area. Coincidence that horse racing one of the first sports to recommence?

Oh and Dido Harding (in charge of our world-beating Test and Track programme) holds a board position at the Jockey Club (remember the Cheltenham Festival went ahead?)

???

Teachers and TAs in Reception and Y1 are already breaking social distancing rules, and all without any PPE.

FACT.

Very good point GGumteenth. Give that we're now thinking about students being taught in shift systems, that could translate to halved class sizes.

With some of the biggest class sizes in the developed world wouldn't this be a good time to do something about it?

Jabberwok Teachers and pupils are going to be forced to break current social distancing rules by the government itself, whether they like it or not.

PS. Apologies for appearing snappy, but this situation makes me more than a tad angry.

maddyone

Lucca
I agree with you. I think our lockdown was not rigid enough, I think it was too late, and I think that if the borders couldn’t be closed, we should at least have severely restricted entry to the country. I have said this on a number of threads.
Mind you, if Dominique Cummings and the frenzied press, and the rioters, not to mention the hordes who travelled to beaches, beauty spots, and second homes, had been capable of following the rules, we might have been in a better place now. None of them give a toss about our medics who are still putting their lives on the line every day. And yes, every single one of them who couldn’t comply make me angry, because my daughter and son in law are two of those medics.

I agree with you 100%. I sincerely hope your children keep well.

maddyone One alternative would be to make a real effort to bring the R rate in the community right down, which could be done with effective testing, tracking and clearer messaging.

The government just doesn't seem to accept that sending children back to school is placing them and the adults, whom they are likely to be in contact, in an unacceptably unsafe environment. For them political opinions take priority over safety. Quite honestly, I doubt very much if they care that much about the actual education of more disadvantaged children, given their track record on cuts.

Germany has just had to close schools in three areas and place almost 8,000 people in quarantine after just one week of schools' reopening. The areas acted quickly, so hopefully the flare ups will be contained. However, the UK just doesn't have such efficient systems in place, so a relatively low number of infections could trigger widespread increases in infection rates.

IMO the UK's number of cases and deaths is still unacceptably high to take risks.

The herd immunity idea is that a small percentage of people will die but "so what?"

Lucca
I agree with you. I think our lockdown was not rigid enough, I think it was too late, and I think that if the borders couldn’t be closed, we should at least have severely restricted entry to the country. I have said this on a number of threads.
Mind you, if Dominique Cummings and the frenzied press, and the rioters, not to mention the hordes who travelled to beaches, beauty spots, and second homes, had been capable of following the rules, we might have been in a better place now. None of them give a toss about our medics who are still putting their lives on the line every day. And yes, every single one of them who couldn’t comply make me angry, because my daughter and son in law are two of those medics.

growstuff
I didn’t say that it wasn’t herd immunity, I am simply and politely saying that there are two choices, to send children back without two metre distancing, or possibly without one metre distancing, or alternatively children can remain at home or attend part time. I am pointing out that those are the choices facing the country. I’m not going to come down on the side of either, simply because there are pros and cons for either choice, and I really have no idea which would be better. I’m glad I’m no longer teaching and therefore have no responsibility with regard to this conundrum.

I still think that we never had a real lockdown. There were no powers given to enforce it, so instead of a rigid effective lockdown we had a half heated thing which has dragged on to the extent that people are now doing what suits them, plus everyone is having to “get back to work”.

What would be good is if the government listened to the experts, and didn’t break their own rules.

Perhaps observing social distancing by certain sections of the population might be a good start and even helpful in beating this virus! Not much the government can do if people simply flout it as of course they will! Surely these sections must bear some responsibility?!

What I get so annoyed about is that all the sacrifice we have all made over the past months will be totally undone, if the government doesn’t get a grip.

What am I talking about?! The government hasn’t got a grip about anything ever!

Sir David King is saying that we are picking up approximately 25% of those who have the virus and we need it to be nearer to 85% with our TTT. What a mess.

Professor Susan Mitchie, a member of Sage, has just given an interview on Sky. She says that Sage's scientific evidence is not being acted on. She says they are being circumvented by Downing Street, who are now acting on the advice of the Joint Biosecurity Centre instead. That is the government's own organisation, therefore not impartial. She says Sage is concerned that there is no proper test, track and isolate system in place, and they say this needs to be in operation before any lockdown restrictions are lifted. The WHO has also contacted the government for the same reason, urging them not to ease the lockdown. Professor Mitchie says the government is lifting restrictions piecemeal and without scientific justification. She says the government should publish its scientific evidence so it can be scrutinised.
The government is clearly not following the science. It is manipulating and misrepresenting it. Professor Mitchie's interview offers a reason why scientific and medical representatives are nowadays so absent from the daily press briefings. It would also explain why the likes of the baroness and other people with business connections have replaced them.
Please everyone, please be very careful. The situation is not as safe as the government is trying to convince you it is.

I have observed many politicians over the course of my adult life, I have often disagreed with policies, or agreed with them, but I have never thought that they are as incompetent and unfit for office as they are now. I did not feel this way about Blair, Major or Cameron, or May or Thatcher. They had their faults, but they were competent, they were fit for office, whether or not one agreed with their policies and ideologies. This cabinet is stuffed full of failed, previously sacked ministers ( Grant Shapps, Gavin Williamson, Priti Patel) who are there only because they are sycophantic Brexit supporters, there is no discipline ( Jenrick anyone?), and I am astounded that anyone, irrespective of political leanings, could ever think that anything is going well.

Many experienced and competent Conservative MPs stood down not only from the Cabinet but as MPs at the last election because they didn't like the direction the party was moving in, narrowing the talent pool even further, and we lost experience and steady hands which we need right now.

The messy hair is a carefully cultivated part of his public persona, his image, designed to make him look "authentic" when he is anything but.

Can’t stop giggling at the “burst sofa “ comment.

Mine is a lockdown mess! Exacerbated with spending lots of time in the garden and lots of sun on it. I find myself envying the dog who has been for a shampoo and a thorough trim and looks ten years younger.......

GillT57

If he is not adult enough to comb his own hair Caliiestemon then he is not old enough to be PM. It is all an affectation, silly man. However, if you have a spare pair of hairdressing scissors, send them my way, I have been trimming DH's hair with dressmaking scissors !

I could brush mine 20 times a day, Gill and it still would look as bad as Boris's! But at least Carrie could cut his very short.
I'm not letting DH anywhere near mine.

It will be only one day a week to "touch base" apparently.
Although I know the schools in this area have been working hard to ensure their education continues.
It is also dependent on parents being able to help.

Callistemon. I am sorry if my post wasn't clear. I didn't say they would all go back full time, just that all year groups would be returning on 29th June.

It will be a long time till school returns to normal wherever you live.

If he is not adult enough to comb his own hair Caliiestemon then he is not old enough to be PM. It is all an affectation, silly man. However, if you have a spare pair of hairdressing scissors, send them my way, I have been trimming DH's hair with dressmaking scissors !

I wondered if I should send Carrie a pair of hairdressing scissors.
If I can manage to cut DH's hair (and my own) then I'm sure she could do a half decent job on Boris's.