| School return farse 17:34 - Jan 1 with 4676 views | chrismakin |
Had my sons school email today.
So they are doing a mass test. 2 tests 3-5 days apart
Then that's it.
With the rise in families ignoring the rules it's great having tests before children return but with no further testing it won't be long before covid turns up. I thought they were going to be doing weekly testing? [Post edited 1 Jan 2021 17:36]
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| School return farse on 17:43 - Jan 1 with 2774 views | davblue |
The more I think about it the angrier I get about my 5 year old going back on Monday. It’s just plain wrong that he is in the firing line cases around here in Oxfordshire have spiked rapidly. I’m considering taking him out of school but the fines and learning he will miss is making me feel differently. Parents or anyone shouldn’t be put in this predicament it’s not fair. |  | | |
| School return farse on 17:45 - Jan 1 with 2759 views | chrismakin |
| School return farse on 17:43 - Jan 1 by davblue |
The more I think about it the angrier I get about my 5 year old going back on Monday. It’s just plain wrong that he is in the firing line cases around here in Oxfordshire have spiked rapidly. I’m considering taking him out of school but the fines and learning he will miss is making me feel differently. Parents or anyone shouldn’t be put in this predicament it’s not fair. |
Totally agree
When I spoke to my sons school before Xmas it was following a letter which basically said we would support you if you wanted to take your child out.. so I called and said I would like to. The response was fine but you'll get no online learning available. And you'll be hearing from social services
I mean wow. | |
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| School return farse on 17:46 - Jan 1 with 2751 views | vapour_trail |
| School return farse on 17:43 - Jan 1 by davblue |
The more I think about it the angrier I get about my 5 year old going back on Monday. It’s just plain wrong that he is in the firing line cases around here in Oxfordshire have spiked rapidly. I’m considering taking him out of school but the fines and learning he will miss is making me feel differently. Parents or anyone shouldn’t be put in this predicament it’s not fair. |
Do what you feel is best for your kid. I don’t believe they will fine people as the scale of disobedience will be too significant.
Personally, I’m delighted my boy is going back on Monday, we are tier 4, cases are high albeit falling, but I believe it’s better for him to be in school and socialising. |  |
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| School return farse on 17:49 - Jan 1 with 2724 views | davblue |
| School return farse on 17:46 - Jan 1 by vapour_trail |
Do what you feel is best for your kid. I don’t believe they will fine people as the scale of disobedience will be too significant.
Personally, I’m delighted my boy is going back on Monday, we are tier 4, cases are high albeit falling, but I believe it’s better for him to be in school and socialising. |
I agree on the school side social that’s making me think twice.
My area spiked by over 400 cases over night and rising fast. | | | |
| School return farse on 17:51 - Jan 1 with 2703 views | vapour_trail |
| School return farse on 17:49 - Jan 1 by davblue |
I agree on the school side social that’s making me think twice.
My area spiked by over 400 cases over night and rising fast. |
Like I said, do what you feel is best in your own situation. It seems the younguns might pick up this new variant in greater numbers, but I’ve seen nothing to suggest the risk to their health is increased - maybe I’ve missed something though.
It’s the teachers and staff I feel for, I don’t think they’re being suitably equipped to protect themselves. | |
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| School return farse on 17:52 - Jan 1 with 2702 views | BlueBadger |
| School return farse on 17:46 - Jan 1 by vapour_trail |
Do what you feel is best for your kid. I don’t believe they will fine people as the scale of disobedience will be too significant.
Personally, I’m delighted my boy is going back on Monday, we are tier 4, cases are high albeit falling, but I believe it’s better for him to be in school and socialising. |
Those cases won't keep dropping if the school's going to see anything like full attendance again so soon.... |  |
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| School return farse on 17:53 - Jan 1 with 2700 views | chrismakin |
| School return farse on 17:49 - Jan 1 by davblue |
I agree on the school side social that’s making me think twice.
My area spiked by over 400 cases over night and rising fast. |
We might be alone in thinking this. But me and my wife feel the time away from socialising will be benefit our son in the long run.
It's an experience in itself. Not an enjoyable one of course but if anything like this happened again hes been through it and if alone at that time hes hopefully more head strong to deal with it. | |
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| School return farse on 17:54 - Jan 1 with 2693 views | StokieBlue |
So this is primary not secondary but the schools here are open next week even though the area has higher rates than areas that have schools closed. The council have asked the government why and asked for the methodology and have been given nothing.
So instead the school sent out an email saying that if a child didn't have a negative test result then they couldn't be sent into school. So the schools are taking it upon themselves to try and sort things out because the government has been truly awful.
I don't think there is even enough testing in place to do the above if a few more primary schools make it a rule as well.
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| School return farse on 17:57 - Jan 1 with 2666 views | StokieBlue |
| School return farse on 17:51 - Jan 1 by vapour_trail |
Like I said, do what you feel is best in your own situation. It seems the younguns might pick up this new variant in greater numbers, but I’ve seen nothing to suggest the risk to their health is increased - maybe I’ve missed something though.
It’s the teachers and staff I feel for, I don’t think they’re being suitably equipped to protect themselves. |
The risk to the child might not be more, the issue is they are more likely to bring it home and infect all the adults they live with or see (which can be older people if there is a childcare bubble).
This in turn leads to the NHS being overwhelmed and people dying.
It's all a really hard call because there are of course very valid reasons for trying as hard as possible to keep schools open. The real problem is the new variant - it's just so transmissible that it's basically hard to have any group settings.
SB | |
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| School return farse on 17:59 - Jan 1 with 2643 views | chrismakin |
| School return farse on 17:54 - Jan 1 by StokieBlue |
So this is primary not secondary but the schools here are open next week even though the area has higher rates than areas that have schools closed. The council have asked the government why and asked for the methodology and have been given nothing.
So instead the school sent out an email saying that if a child didn't have a negative test result then they couldn't be sent into school. So the schools are taking it upon themselves to try and sort things out because the government has been truly awful.
I don't think there is even enough testing in place to do the above if a few more primary schools make it a rule as well.
SB |
That's the thing
With no further testing done after the first ones. All it takes is 1 child to get it in 2 weeks time and we are back to square one. | |
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| School return farse on 18:01 - Jan 1 with 2633 views | vapour_trail |
| School return farse on 17:57 - Jan 1 by StokieBlue |
The risk to the child might not be more, the issue is they are more likely to bring it home and infect all the adults they live with or see (which can be older people if there is a childcare bubble).
This in turn leads to the NHS being overwhelmed and people dying.
It's all a really hard call because there are of course very valid reasons for trying as hard as possible to keep schools open. The real problem is the new variant - it's just so transmissible that it's basically hard to have any group settings.
SB |
I accept this, and your post further up blue badger, and I feel for the impact on you too.
I’m not equipped to make the judgment , I’m talking purely from a selfish perspective.
My boy will mix with people in his school, and then the rest of us at home. That’s it. I know that’s not the case for all.
I guess the equation to balance is speed of rollout of vaccine to vulnerable and keyworkers, vs impact on nhs and vulnerable, vs the impact on kids wellbeing and education.
That’s way above my pay grade. | |
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| School return farse on 18:07 - Jan 1 with 2580 views | WD19 |
Are you sure?
My kids are doing the same, but if they come into contact with someone who has the virus it is a condition of attending school that they have to take a further test every morning for 7 days. Otherwise no dice. |  | | |
| School return farse on 18:10 - Jan 1 with 2562 views | Ftnfwest |
| School return farse on 18:07 - Jan 1 by WD19 |
Are you sure?
My kids are doing the same, but if they come into contact with someone who has the virus it is a condition of attending school that they have to take a further test every morning for 7 days. Otherwise no dice. |
Mine also, she’s 6th form |  | | |
| School return farse on 18:10 - Jan 1 with 2565 views | chrismakin |
| School return farse on 18:07 - Jan 1 by WD19 |
Are you sure?
My kids are doing the same, but if they come into contact with someone who has the virus it is a condition of attending school that they have to take a further test every morning for 7 days. Otherwise no dice. |
Yeah sorry if they are in contact yes
But what I meant was I thought all children were going to get weekly tests done whilst in tier 3/4 areas otherwise the beginning tests are pointless as a child can catch it from a parent after these initial tests then give it to someone at school without knowing etc
So I dont see why bother with initial testing when there's no further tests there after. It pretty much is a pointless exercise [Post edited 1 Jan 2021 18:11]
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| School return farse on 18:14 - Jan 1 with 2540 views | StokieBlue |
| School return farse on 18:01 - Jan 1 by vapour_trail |
I accept this, and your post further up blue badger, and I feel for the impact on you too.
I’m not equipped to make the judgment , I’m talking purely from a selfish perspective.
My boy will mix with people in his school, and then the rest of us at home. That’s it. I know that’s not the case for all.
I guess the equation to balance is speed of rollout of vaccine to vulnerable and keyworkers, vs impact on nhs and vulnerable, vs the impact on kids wellbeing and education.
That’s way above my pay grade. |
To complete the farce, the government have just done their U-turn and all primarys here are closing.
As you say, there are a lot of factors to consider and it's a really tough decision to make.
SB | |
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| School return farse on 18:15 - Jan 1 with 2523 views | vapour_trail |
| School return farse on 18:14 - Jan 1 by StokieBlue |
To complete the farce, the government have just done their U-turn and all primarys here are closing.
As you say, there are a lot of factors to consider and it's a really tough decision to make.
SB |
Nationally or in SN? | |
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| School return farse on 18:16 - Jan 1 with 2517 views | footers |
English classes slacking the most. |  |
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| School return farse on 18:17 - Jan 1 with 2507 views | StokieBlue |
| School return farse on 18:15 - Jan 1 by vapour_trail |
Nationally or in SN? |
All the London boroughs.
SB | |
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| School return farse on 18:18 - Jan 1 with 2498 views | footers |
| School return farse on 18:15 - Jan 1 by vapour_trail |
Nationally or in SN? |
Think it's up to the district/borough. Then it's down to each individual head to make up their covid policies. It's nuts. | |
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| School return farse on 18:22 - Jan 1 with 2498 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
The NEU's position:
We are astonished at today’s announcement by Gavin Williamson.
With warnings from eminent scientists of an ‘imminent catastrophe’ unless the whole of the UK is locked down, more cases in hospitals than ever before and our NHS facing an enormous crisis, the Secretary of State is sending the majority of primary pupils and staff back on Monday to working environments that aren’t Covid-secure.
Despite being repeatedly asked, the Government has not published scientific guidance on the risks involved in school and college reopening. This information is desperately needed, particularly as the new variants of the virus are 50 per cent more transmissible.
The Government in Scotland will not reopen schools till 18 January at the earliest. The Government in Westminster should have done that at least.
A longer period of online working for all primary, secondary and college students could buy crucial time for the roll out of the vaccine and to put in place measures that can keep schools safer.
Uniquely, school and college staff are being required to work in overcrowded buildings, with no effective social distancing, no PPE and inadequate ventilation.
We would like Gavin Williamson to explain, if schools are not centres of transmission, why are school-age pupils now the most infected age groups?
Why is it that primary-age children are the second-highest infected of all age groups and levels of infection amongst secondary pupils have multiplied by 75 times since the start of September?
Serious questions have to be asked about the Government’s plans for lateral flow testing in secondary schools, in particular about the effectiveness of these tests in identifying Covid-19 infection in young people who are highly likely to be asymptomatic, with tests being supervised by non-medically-trained volunteers.
We do not think it likely that these tests alone can make our schools Covid-secure nor protect the communities they serve.
We believe the Government steps will fail, that cases will continue to rise and the question of school opening will have to be revisited but in a worse situation than now. We again call on the Government to engage with us and listen to the suggestions we have made.
As they are currently organised, we do not believe that schools are safe enough places for education staff to work.
We demand:
A review of all risk assessments in the light of the higher transmission of the new Covid-19 variant.
Social distancing of 1 metre between pupils in all schools and colleges to replace the current practice of cohort distancing, which allows whole year groups to mix.
Masks to be worn by pupils and staff in secondary school classrooms and colleges
School staff to be made a top priority for vaccination — along with health care staff — starting with the most vulnerable.
Until vaccinated, clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) staff and other high-risk groups to work from home, supporting children who are also at home.
We will be issuing new guidance to members and asking reps to liaise with head teachers and college managers to introduce practices which incorporate these new safety precautions.
Even with these steps, we are concerned that cases will continue to rise, making the spread of the virus in our communities more dangerous. We repeat our call on the Government to release its scientific advice and modelling.
The emphasis is mine. |  |
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| School return farse on 18:22 - Jan 1 with 2481 views | vapour_trail |
| School return farse on 18:17 - Jan 1 by StokieBlue |
All the London boroughs.
SB |
The absolute fcking state of the DfE.
It’s no surprise we are in the state we are when loyalty to Johnson trumps competence as the primary requirement to do a job. | |
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| School return farse on 18:28 - Jan 1 with 2431 views | m14_blue |
Having threatened them with legal action when they wanted to close slightly early before Christmas to stop the spread.
This government has blood on their hands, all of them. |  | | |
| School return farse on 18:31 - Jan 1 with 2429 views | CBBlue |
| School return farse on 18:22 - Jan 1 by Nthsuffolkblue |
The NEU's position:
We are astonished at today’s announcement by Gavin Williamson.
With warnings from eminent scientists of an ‘imminent catastrophe’ unless the whole of the UK is locked down, more cases in hospitals than ever before and our NHS facing an enormous crisis, the Secretary of State is sending the majority of primary pupils and staff back on Monday to working environments that aren’t Covid-secure.
Despite being repeatedly asked, the Government has not published scientific guidance on the risks involved in school and college reopening. This information is desperately needed, particularly as the new variants of the virus are 50 per cent more transmissible.
The Government in Scotland will not reopen schools till 18 January at the earliest. The Government in Westminster should have done that at least.
A longer period of online working for all primary, secondary and college students could buy crucial time for the roll out of the vaccine and to put in place measures that can keep schools safer.
Uniquely, school and college staff are being required to work in overcrowded buildings, with no effective social distancing, no PPE and inadequate ventilation.
We would like Gavin Williamson to explain, if schools are not centres of transmission, why are school-age pupils now the most infected age groups?
Why is it that primary-age children are the second-highest infected of all age groups and levels of infection amongst secondary pupils have multiplied by 75 times since the start of September?
Serious questions have to be asked about the Government’s plans for lateral flow testing in secondary schools, in particular about the effectiveness of these tests in identifying Covid-19 infection in young people who are highly likely to be asymptomatic, with tests being supervised by non-medically-trained volunteers.
We do not think it likely that these tests alone can make our schools Covid-secure nor protect the communities they serve.
We believe the Government steps will fail, that cases will continue to rise and the question of school opening will have to be revisited but in a worse situation than now. We again call on the Government to engage with us and listen to the suggestions we have made.
As they are currently organised, we do not believe that schools are safe enough places for education staff to work.
We demand:
A review of all risk assessments in the light of the higher transmission of the new Covid-19 variant.
Social distancing of 1 metre between pupils in all schools and colleges to replace the current practice of cohort distancing, which allows whole year groups to mix.
Masks to be worn by pupils and staff in secondary school classrooms and colleges
School staff to be made a top priority for vaccination — along with health care staff — starting with the most vulnerable.
Until vaccinated, clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) staff and other high-risk groups to work from home, supporting children who are also at home.
We will be issuing new guidance to members and asking reps to liaise with head teachers and college managers to introduce practices which incorporate these new safety precautions.
Even with these steps, we are concerned that cases will continue to rise, making the spread of the virus in our communities more dangerous. We repeat our call on the Government to release its scientific advice and modelling.
The emphasis is mine. |
"Uniquely, school and college staff are being required to work in overcrowded buildings, with no effective social distancing, no PPE and inadequate ventilation."
When this is all over I can't help thinking someone should be made accountable for the staff deaths that have happened due to this. | |
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