Will Schools Close after Christmas?

Since September my secondary school grandchildren have actually been out of school quarantined as much as they have been in. This has been due to covid infections of pupils or teachers in their 'bubbles' and in one case the whole school had to shut down because of so many teachers/other staff either ill or in quarantine. I'm not sure if this uncertainty is any better for the pupils than closing the schools completely. The local primary schools have fared better but I know from teacher friends in primaries in bigger towns or cities that this is not always the case.

I'm not a fan of this government but looking around the world, infection rates are rising everywhere despite the different approaches to dealing with the virus. I've read a lot about major epidemics and pandemics throughout history and they all seem to follow a similar pattern to this one, including mutations, for better or for worse. Maybe our medical and technological advances, notably the vaccines, may help make this one last for a shorter time but who knows about long term effects? We only know what we are allowed to be told.

GrannyRose15

Closing schools does enormous damage to children's wellbeing. Especially that of children from deprived backgrounds. Even as a teacher myself I found it challenging teaching a six year old during lockdown. Many parents find it virtually impossible. If we value the next generation we should keep the schools open.

As I remember it. during the previous school closures, children from deprived backgrounds and those from key workers were still going into school. So the main problem of not letting all kids into school is the damage it does to the parents' ability to carry out their own jobs while also supervising remote learning. But with the frequent needs to self-isolate and class-group contact closures I doubt learning is going as well as normal anyway.

That's not true ready meals, children of keyworkers (in many schools it needed to be both parents as keyworkers) were in school, those who had a social worker or where there were significant concerns, this did not include all children from deprived backgrounds.

I do think it is interesting how this has been spun as the closing of schools being the thing which will most disrupt the lives of the poorest and most disadvantaged. Children at risk were in schools anyway, but now they are in and out as infection spreads. And let's not forget for those children school isn't just about education, it's also the place where they are fed properly. Schools in the poorest areas often provide a breakfast through volunteer and charity work which along with a school lunch gives an acceptable level of nutrition, but if children are home and in quarantine who will feed them then? They suffer the double whammy of missing school work and of being malnourished. At least if the school was closed some sort of system could be developed to get them fed properly.

I find it interesting too trisher and I agree with you. If there were a proper, detailed plan, those children could be supported and I've suggested a way that could be done.

I wonder how many of the people claiming that the most important issue is the the lives of the poorest and most disadvantaged, actually cared about the reductions in funding to organisations such as SureStart or that the new schools funding formula worked against schools in poorer areas.

If the majority of pupils were working at home, it would be possible to use the almost empty school buildings for those who would benefit from being there. It would also be possible to give financial support to parents who might need to cut hours and to offer school places to the children of those for whom home schooling would be impossible.

At one stage, the government promised mentors and "catch up" tutors. The recruitment of these people has been outsourced to agencies. I've applied to be one, but have heard nothing. Typically, agencies take a 50% cut of the money clients pay and schools have been told they have to fund some of the fees themselves. Not surprisingly, they don't have the money in their budgets.

Most secondary schools and a substantial number of primary schools have now been "academised", so aren't the responsibility of local authorities. If local authorities had been given the money directly and had been allowed to recruit directly on a non-profit basis, they could have had teams of people working at local level to support families struggling to provide education at home. They could also have a team of people sourcing laptops and servicing them.

Education isn't the only area where the pandemic has shown up and been made worse by gaping holes in support services.

I care about all those things growstuff but I think it is very complex, I currently work into schools with very vulnerable children, and I am quite torn about it. I was very critical of the whole open the schools mantra on here back in spring, most of it being an opportunity for some people to teacher bash. And I agree with Trisher the most vulnerable children are currently experiencing disruption to their education, more so than their middle class counterparts, in my area it seems to be bus travel which is impacting the most, as I think we have all said before, easy to avoid if you are a 2 car family with a wfh job. But I think in the event of school closure lots of those children would get minimal support and identifying them a logistical nightmare. I am also aware that I am influenced by my own fears for myself and my familys health. I have splinters from sitting on the fence though.

Galaxy

I care about all those things growstuff but I think it is very complex, I currently work into schools with very vulnerable children, and I am quite torn about it. I was very critical of the whole open the schools mantra on here back in spring, most of it being an opportunity for some people to teacher bash. And I agree with Trisher the most vulnerable children are currently experiencing disruption to their education, more so than their middle class counterparts, in my area it seems to be bus travel which is impacting the most, as I think we have all said before, easy to avoid if you are a 2 car family with a wfh job. But I think in the event of school closure lots of those children would get minimal support and identifying them a logistical nightmare. I am also aware that I am influenced by my own fears for myself and my familys health. I have splinters from sitting on the fence though.

I agree with you that it's complex and could do with somebody with a brain and a conscience in charge. Sadly, education has Gavin Williamson ...

I disagree that keeping schools open for all is a solution. I hope that I had outlined how the most vulnerable pupils and families could be supported. I agree that they probably won't because there isn't really a will to support them. The government is happy to have the gutter press gaslight on its behalf.

grabba

I feel teachers should be offered vaccination as front line workers.

There is a petition to parliament to this effect if you want to sign it,

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/554316

GS2 who is 8 was watching Boris telling us that Children would be going back to their Covid secure primary schools next week. His comment was "Has he ever been in a primary school?"

Deedaa

GS2 who is 8 was watching Boris telling us that Children would be going back to their Covid secure primary schools next week. His comment was "Has he ever been in a primary school?"

Deedaa -"out of the mouths of babes" (oft times comes gems)

On one of boris' many days out visiting the workers, was (when schools opened up in the summer) to a primary school and i can still see in my minds eye, boris proudly sitting on the floor cross legged with the other 5 year olds, a pencil in his hand and his child like picture of an idealised house, you know the double fronted sort which children draw. That to me said it all.

I bet it was specially picked or all the naughty children had been moved. I was once shut in the library with the naughtiest children when a VIP visited a school.

That made me laugh Trisher.

Why has Williamson closed some primaries in tier 4 and not others?

I do think that the danger from covid is just as bad as in the wider community. There is a 6 year old in my DDs village who is in the ICU suffering from covid.

Who knows WWM2? In London schools on one side of the park are closed while those on the other side will be open. Different boroughs.

Ellianne believe all London primary schools will be closed on Monday now. I don’t know how to insert info, Sky news now.

So logic must tell Williamson that all tier 4 primary schools should not open surely.

Is this new jaxjacky? Hackney schools are due to go back on Monday?

Richard Murphy

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16m
Doctors are rebelling. Scientists are livid. Teachers are in revolt. And all quite reasonably so. For how long can the government survive the combined fury of experts?

www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/education/no-delay-for-reopening-hackney-schools-6877112

Ellianne

Sorry rubbish picture, note to self, learn how to do links.

? thank you

Yes it was always ridiculous closing some London boroughs schools and not others. Teachers who live in one borough having to travel to teach in another, when their own children’s schools were closed. Trouble is Williamson is actually quite dim and has been promoted beyond his capabilities as a nodding dog.

The re
Ortiz from medics in London noon hospitals are frightening. Children and 30year olds with no underlying health problems I.C.U
The new variant not only spreads more quickly, it is affects children