Coronavirus Disease Outbreak COVID-19 #34

[Jamhead]

I had an email from school on Friday, they still are very much saying they dont intend to open on June 1st other than to keyworkers children and vulnerable children. They actually said that nobody should be making plans based on the assumption that their child would return to school on June 1st.

They have also said they will not be teaching the curriculum and missed curriculum will not be taught in September either as it would be 'impossible'. They will ensure the concepts they need to know are taught before moving on.

I have 2 children in years eligible to return and wont be sending them in June, not that it even sounds like our school will be opening then anyway. I intend to wait and see how the first wave goes in June/July, what that does to the R and then make another decision closer to September. Both of mine are young though and happy learning from home.

 

[emmer_moans]

Heartbroken to hear this new childhood inflammatory disease is now affecting some children. What a fecking nasty virus. I am in position that I work in HE and can work remotely for the rest of the summer, and have no kids (though would love to have a child one day). But I am still so scared, people at the shop looked so relaxed and then there's me with DIY cotton mask looking tense. I feel like a lot of people are starting to pretend it is not happening any more. I dont mean those who are working but those who are already going to get their daily morning coffees from shops etc when they are not having to work (fair play if grabbing it on way to work).... it's still risky exposure!

Edit: and then I see articles in the local rag that Primark is intending to open and have a massive sale. I can picture the rugby scrum now!

 

[LittleMy]

The inflammatory disease in children worries me. While my children were never symptomatic over the two week period I isolated with the virus, I have been checking them regularly for signs of a rash etc. Apparently it can just appear even a month later out of the blue. Very worrying, and I can understand why a lot of parents are afraid to send their children back to school.

 

[EmilyChambers]

I had an email from school on Friday, they still are very much saying they dont intend to open on June 1st other than to keyworkers children and vulnerable children. They actually said that nobody should be making plans based on the assumption that their child would return to school on June 1st.

They have also said they will not be teaching the curriculum and missed curriculum will not be taught in September either as it would be 'impossible'. They will ensure the concepts they need to know are taught before moving on.

I have 2 children in years eligible to return and wont be sending them in June, not that it even sounds like our school will be opening then anyway. I intend to wait and see how the first wave goes in June/July, what that does to the R and then make another decision closer to September. Both of mine are young though and happy learning from home.

From what I can gather, the R rate makes no difference now. It's hit 1 already in some parts and they are not moving back to lockdown.

Working on the basis that there will be no more lockdown and we've got to carry on life with this virus, children have to go back to school at some point and cannot be kept off indefinitely.

It's a hard truth to face up to that basically the Government never wanted the lockdown, even Corbyn said he wouldn't have locked down either, they did it under pressure. The only thing the lockdown achieved was reduce the strain on the NHS and to a point where it was reduced more than it needed, this is reflected in the fact they are mothballing a Nightingale hospital, reduced the sizes of some, Covid areas in hospitals are being reduced, orders for vents have been cancelled, and hospitals are beginning to open up for normal surgeries again.

Will there be another peak? Most likely, but I'd doubt another lockdown. Its cost too much money for what it achieved and that's their concern is money and economy. Already because of lockdown we are in a financial crash equal to 2008 and if things don't move it will get worse.

 

[fireflies]

I have so many worries and concerns but my children are not the school years due to return but 1 has EHCP so could have gone all way along with key workers..

I have 3 school age kids
Seniors is 2 busy public buses and school with 800 kids on building designed for 400 and they move around and teachers cab teach many classes so over 100 kids.
I just can't see how they make it work so god knows when the teenager returns.

The year 5 misses freinds and teacher but says she feels June is too soon.
She also has anxiety issues and the pictures and emails I see from schools preparing to reopen freak me out.

My middle 2 both have anxiety and can be tricky 1st week back after long break or change of routine.
I wonder if this new normal be more harmful to them than staying at home.

Important issue SEN my child in grand scheme of things has minor SEN and I can manage him at home.
But others who's kids are severely disabled have been forgotten.
As in wheelchairs/ fed/ no independent skills.
The specialist schools shut
The carers and respite stopped so parents are at breaking point.
They haven't during covid 19 lock down been supporting the most vunerable SEN as their schools totally shut.
Those with minor SEN in mainstream many have chosen like myself not to send their children in well that's the case at 1 school not sure about other mainstream primary.
The council SEN department have provided zero support during lockdown I'm fuming how crap they been but covid act allowed them to me more crap than usual.

It's my SEN child school that worries me the most with ta and staff in 50 to 60 age bracket some with underlying health conditions.
I appreciate not every school has such a high ratio of older age staff.
Our teachers are all mostly under 40 bracket as many retired in recent years.
He can get emotional and wants a cuddle.
I don't want to put his ta at greater risk by sending him back at this current time.
I havnet said that outright to her as saying I risk assessed you based on health and age and it's unfair on you as sounds awful.
I am incredibly fond of her as is she towards my child I just want keep her safe.
Rock and hard place.

Why push for 6weeks then 6weeks holiday seems so pointless just wait to sept.
Denmark r has raised slightly.

The pics schools seen on fb very depressing bare desks and walls.

Government faces legal challenge over emergency SEND powers

A notice told councils they would only need to show 'reasonable endeavours' to fulfill their duty in pupils’ EHCPs

schoolsweek.co.uk

 

[LaurieLaurie]

My daughters school have said they are unlikely to have their own teacher, be separated from friends and split up amongst other age groups. She’s in Year 6.

 

[Renegadedancer]

The classroom pics are so stark they make the pic ‘shocking’ under any other circumstances we would be happy to have 15 children per classroom. We are so used to seeing classes with 30/40 and sometimes higher, crammed with children , there is no room. This should be the normal view in terms of class sizes, just sadly not in this situation.

From what I can gather, the R rate makes no difference now. It's hit 1 already in some parts and they are not moving back to lockdown.

Working on the basis that there will be no more lockdown and we've got to carry on life with this virus, children have to go back to school at some point and cannot be kept off indefinitely.

It's a hard truth to face up to that basically the Government never wanted the lockdown, even Corbyn said he wouldn't have locked down either, they did it under pressure. The only thing the lockdown achieved was reduce the strain on the NHS and to a point where it was reduced more than it needed, this is reflected in the fact they are mothballing a Nightingale hospital, reduced the sizes of some, Covid areas in hospitals are being reduced, orders for vents have been cancelled, and hospitals are beginning to open up for normal surgeries again.

Will there be another peak? Most likely, but I'd doubt another lockdown. Its cost too much money for what it achieved and that's their concern is money and economy. Already because of lockdown we are in a financial crash equal to 2008 and if things don't move it will get worse.

I agree. We will be living with the virus for the rest of the year at least, maybe longer. We have to adapt best we can, some people are better financially and emotionally to do this, others have situations where any type of normal is incomprehensible, they are all valid fears. I can only decide what is best for me and my family and I am ready to start taking those steps, whatever they may be.

 

[fireflies]

My daughters school have said they are unlikely to have their own teacher, be separated from friends and split up amongst other age groups. She’s in Year 6.

It's bad enough near end of year when they have list 3 freinds to go in their class and then they jumble year groups around with many kids in tears as they not in the class they want.
In a primary a mixed 15 of age 4 to 11 sounds not much fun for teachers or the kids at different stages.
My kids have done mixed classes 2 year groups but 7.
They only doing 1 or 2 days a week
They not following curriculum
They not learning anything new just consolidation.
It will vary on how big school buildings and grounds are some primaries here have 90 to 120 kids a year so 700 to 900 kids _15?

 

[EmilyChambers]

My niece a

I have so many worries and concerns but my children are not the school years due to return but 1 has EHCP so could have gone all way along with key workers..

I have 3 school age kids
Seniors is 2 busy public buses and school with 800 kids on building designed for 400 and they move around and teachers cab teach many classes so over 100 kids.
I just can't see how they make it work so god knows when the teenager returns.

The year 5 misses freinds and teacher but says she feels June is too soon.
She also has anxiety issues and the pictures and emails I see from schools preparing to reopen freak me out.

My middle 2 both have anxiety and can be tricky 1st week back after long break or change of routine.
I wonder if this new normal be more harmful to them than staying at home.

Important issue SEN my child in grand scheme of things has minor SEN and I can manage him at home.
But others who's kids are severely disabled have been forgotten.
As in wheelchairs/ fed/ no independent skills.
The specialist schools shut
The carers and respite stopped so parents are at breaking point.
They haven't during covid 19 lock down been supporting the most vunerable SEN as their schools totally shut.
Those with minor SEN in mainstream many have chosen like myself not to send their children in well that's the case at 1 school not sure about other mainstream primary.
The council SEN department have provided zero support during lockdown I'm fuming how crap they been but covid act allowed them to me more crap than usual.

It's my SEN child school that worries me the most with ta and staff in 50 to 60 age bracket some with underlying health conditions.
I appreciate not every school has such a high ratio of older age staff.
Our teachers are all mostly under 40 bracket as many retired in recent years.
He can get emotional and wants a cuddle.
I don't want to put his ta at greater risk by sending him back at this current time.
I havnet said that outright to her as saying I risk assessed you based on health and age and it's unfair on you as sounds awful.
I am incredibly fond of her as is she towards my child I just want keep her safe.
Rock and hard place.

Why push for 6weeks then 6weeks holiday seems so pointless just wait to sept.
Denmark r has raised slightly.

The pics schools seen on fb very depressing bare desks and walls.

Government faces legal challenge over emergency SEND powers

A notice told councils they would only need to show 'reasonable endeavours' to fulfill their duty in pupils’ EHCPs

schoolsweek.co.uk

My niece and nephews specialist school remained open, though not all children are in and they are accepting full return from 1dt June.

They include severely brain damaged children, paraplegic children, tube fed children etc right up to those with mild brain damage and severe autism.

My nephew has had to shield as he's on a dnr but my sister refused to because she won't be told what to do by a tory. Huge Corbyn supporter and risking my nephews life because Corbyn thinks lockdown was wrong. She's been seeing my mom, taking my nephew out, letting niece see friends etc.

My daughters school have said they are unlikely to have their own teacher, be separated from friends and split up amongst other age groups. She’s in Year 6.

I know it's not quite the same but that's how our secondary school works. The tutor groups are made up from children from year 7 to year 11 and each lesson is made up of their own year group.

However, there are some classes, mainly the coding ones, where all the years have their lessons together because the children are exceptional at that subject

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that mixing age groups doesn't necessarily mean it's a negative because it gives older children responsibility and younger children confidence

 

[Jamhead]

From what I can gather, the R rate makes no difference now. It's hit 1 already in some parts and they are not moving back to lockdown.

Working on the basis that there will be no more lockdown and we've got to carry on life with this virus, children have to go back to school at some point and cannot be kept off indefinitely.

It's a hard truth to face up to that basically the Government never wanted the lockdown, even Corbyn said he wouldn't have locked down either, they did it under pressure. The only thing the lockdown achieved was reduce the strain on the NHS and to a point where it was reduced more than it needed, this is reflected in the fact they are mothballing a Nightingale hospital, reduced the sizes of some, Covid areas in hospitals are being reduced, orders for vents have been cancelled, and hospitals are beginning to open up for normal surgeries again.

Will there be another peak? Most likely, but I'd doubt another lockdown. Its cost too much money for what it achieved and that's their concern is money and economy. Already because of lockdown we are in a financial crash equal to 2008 and if things don't move it will get worse.

Children can be kept off indefinitely, hundreds of thousands of children were home educated before this and they will be after this.
I will still personally be watching the R, it might not matter to the government but it does to me. Locally if cases begin to rise when the schools have been back for 2/3 weeks then that will help me make an informed decision as to what next steps i take with my own childrens education.
Everyone is in a different position though, what works for one, won't work for another.

 

[SarahGard83]

Are they no longer telling us the R rate at the daily briefings? Don't recall seeing it on the slides yesterday

 

[Squarehole]

I keep seeing people asking how come I can see stranger in the supermarket but not my own mum etc

Do people really not understand the reasons behind this ? I said this the other day if you take the emotions out of it it makes sense. To keep the R rate down people need to limit who they are in contact with (this was shown in the bouncing ball videos at the start of lockdown)

The people you would choose to see are obviously friends and family but then you would need to not see anyone else to keep your potential transmission rate down. So no going to the supermarket, no going to work, no having a trademan in to fix your broken heating, no going to the dentist.

For the world to keep turning we need to do the second group of things on the list therefore to keep our contacts and the R rate down we need to continue not seeing the first group.

This sucks and Nicola Sturgeon has acknowledged that for people's mental health that is not going to be sustainable but I am not sure how they are going to find a solution to it and still maintain the R number under 1.

 

[Kermy5]

Apologies if this has already been shared.
Sat here trying to decide if I can go back to cleaning people's homes and then watching that I don't know what to do for the best I'm utterly torn. What would you do? Stay away a bit longer?? I've got the government grant so I'm ok for a bit it's more the worry of clients getting pissed off that I'm not back to work yet.

 

[fireflies]

My niece a
My niece and nephews specialist school remained open, though not all children are in and they are accepting full return from 1dt June.

They include severely brain damaged children, paraplegic children, tube fed children etc right up to those with mild brain damage and severe autism.

My nephew has had to shield as he's on a dnr but my sister refused to because she won't be told what to do by a tory. Huge Corbyn supporter and risking my nephews life because Corbyn thinks lockdown was wrong. She's been seeing my mom, taking my nephew out, letting niece see friends etc.


I know it's not quite the same but that's how our secondary school works. The tutor groups are made up from children from year 7 to year 11 and each lesson is made up of their own year group.

However, there are some classes, mainly the coding ones, where all the years have their lessons together because the children are exceptional at that subject

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that mixing age groups doesn't necessarily mean it's a negative because it gives older children responsibility and younger children confidence

I appreciate that I have 1 secondary age child and they have vertical tutoring group so years 7 to 11 mixed but they don't really do academic work during tutor time.
The core subjects are ability set and the softer subjects pe drama cookery music are set by house so that's a lot of mixing.
The biggest barrier to seniors my child goes to is people travel miles from other countries as do staff and lots use busy public transport or schooo buses to do so as city centre.

At primary I'm not sure age 4 to 11 in same class work.
My daughter attends junior so year 3 to 6 ks2 only might work better than trying mix efys reception ks1 and ks2 together.
The greater level of differentiated teaching harder it just be for teachers
Even in 1 year group there's variances summer borm/ Autumn born/vunerable kids and SEN all in same class of 30.

 

[monga]

Pinch of salt ...Summer schools are planned under a leaked government dossier..

 

[fireflies]

Pinch of salt ...Summer schools are planned under a leaked government dossier..

But so far they only missed 1 summer term split into 2 and went into lockdown 2 weeks before Easter add into account Easter/ may half term they lost less than 50 days.

 

[Hayles1990]

I keep seeing people asking how come I can see stranger in the supermarket but not my own mum etc

Do people really not understand the reasons behind this ? I said this the other day if you take the emotions out of it it makes sense. To keep the R rate down people need to limit who they are in contact with (this was shown in the bouncing ball videos at the start of lockdown)

The people you would choose to see are obviously friends and family but then you would need to not see anyone else to keep your potential transmission rate down. So no going to the supermarket, no going to work, no having a trademan in to fix your broken heating, no going to the dentist.

For the world to keep turning we need to do the second group of things on the list therefore to keep our contacts and the R rate down we need to continue not seeing the first group.

This sucks and Nicola Sturgeon has acknowledged that for people's mental health that is not going to be sustainable but I am not sure how they are going to find a solution to it and still maintain the R number under 1.

Right and it’s easy to say that and easy for that to be the plan but very very very hard to swallow when you are already struggling with the isolation. It’s not as easy to just not see people, 9 weeks without my lifeline which is my mum and Nan. I am starting to think duck it. I need them for my mental health. The doctor seems to be uninterested when I tell him I feel suicidal, so wtf am I supposed to do?

 

[Web30]

My sister in law's school is going back, already had letters saying so. It's an academy, not council run.

 

[fireflies]

Right and it’s easy to say that and easy for that to be the plan but very very very hard to swallow when you are already struggling with the isolation. It’s not as easy to just not see people, 9 weeks without my lifeline which is my mum and Nan. I am starting to think duck it. I need them for my mental health. The doctor seems to be uninterested when I tell him I feel suicidal, so wtf am I supposed to do?

I'm sorry you feeling crap and hope you having ok weekend.
I'm not especially close to my parents and we live big distance apart so never had to depend on them with help with the kids.
Grandparents sadly passed.
So think it's been slightly easier for me as it's just me and husband juggling 4 kids.
We have close freinds locally who ad hoc babysit but at the moment they can't.
1 thing that helps is if either of us had enough we go to our room.
Listen to music read a trashy mag watch crap tv and just escape the kids.
Now he's back in work next week I can't easily do that.
My part time job in supermarket gives a me a break but can also be stressful
I do feel overwhelmed some days enormity if trying to make right decision. Trying to be a good teacher and mother it's like I'm wearing too many hats.
It's the not knowing what's happening can't plan or look forward to anything.
As it's a big birthday this year in dreading I decided lockdown has stopped time and I can stay the same age a year longer not that I was planning a huge party anyway we not introverts we have freinds just we don't see them huge deal pre lockdown we had busy lives.

 

[Hayles1990]

I'm sorry you feeling crap and hope you having ok weekend.
I'm not especially close to my parents and we live big distance apart so never had to depend on them with help with the kids.
Grandparents sadly passed.
So think it's been slightly easier for me as it's just me and husband juggling 4 kids.
We have close freinds locally who ad hoc babysit but at the moment they can't.
1 thing that helps is if either of us had enough we go to our room.
Listen to music read a trashy mag watch crap tv and just escape the kids.
Now he's back in work next week I can't easily do that.
My part time job in supermarket gives a me a break but can also be stressful
I do feel overwhelmed some days enormity if trying to make right decision. Trying to be a good teacher and mother it's like I'm wearing too many hats.
It's the not knowing what's happening can't plan or look forward to anything.
As it's a big birthday this year in dreading I decided lockdown has stopped time and I can stay the same age a year longer not that I was planning a huge party anyway we not introverts we have freinds just we don't see them huge deal pre lockdown we had busy lives.

Thank you, I think I spoke to you yesterday. You have four children too?

Our issue is my partner has been working since the start and it’s very hard to get away from a toddler or 6 year old when you are feeling like you need a ten minute break, that’s not possible. I am really really trying to take each day as it comes but it’s getting increasingly harder and unfortunately some people do not understand and think that mental just disappears during this time.....it doesn’t it’s very raw for some and it’s very very real.