Coronavirus and schools
Discussion
Also a teacher here, at an upper school. We're still open, although have had ~15 kids registered as self-isolating due to fever and/or cough. I expect this number to rise.
I'd be willing to keep going in or supply work from home. I mostly teach GCSE kids and to be fair they will be least affected for the majority of their subjects. They've finished content in science now and I'm just revisiting topics so they're fine. Year 10 though, they're going to potentially miss an abundance of work. It'll require us to think on our feet quite quickly about how to cause as little disruption to everyone's lives.
As someone else said, lots of kids rely on school for meals and a safe place to be. But chances are parents on 0 hour contracts will already be off work, a lot of businesses are affected. Soft plays, zoos, cafes and restaurants will potentially be struggling soon...
One thing for teachers is a group started on facebook regarding working from home. Lots of people already doing it and sharing their experiences, it's quite fascinating.
I'd be willing to keep going in or supply work from home. I mostly teach GCSE kids and to be fair they will be least affected for the majority of their subjects. They've finished content in science now and I'm just revisiting topics so they're fine. Year 10 though, they're going to potentially miss an abundance of work. It'll require us to think on our feet quite quickly about how to cause as little disruption to everyone's lives.
As someone else said, lots of kids rely on school for meals and a safe place to be. But chances are parents on 0 hour contracts will already be off work, a lot of businesses are affected. Soft plays, zoos, cafes and restaurants will potentially be struggling soon...
One thing for teachers is a group started on facebook regarding working from home. Lots of people already doing it and sharing their experiences, it's quite fascinating.
MethylatedSpirit said:
Children are least at risk, although their role in spreading the virus is (in my opinion) not studied or understood yet. There may be a very sudden U-turn on this.
Some teachers / schools are prepared for home / online / postal working. Some are most definitely not.
I’d say kids are most likely to spread the virus amongst each other. They can’t and won’t be as careful as someone older, and schools are so crammed, social distancing is impossible. Some teachers / schools are prepared for home / online / postal working. Some are most definitely not.
Whilst least impacted medically, the mental health side of this for kids who may end up infecting parents and grandparents who do succumb are potentially immense.
May attitude is if they can stay home, they should stay home. It’s going to come eventually so sooner they get used to it, maybe the better.? Schools can set work and kids do it and send it in.
So many companies doing wfh, sfh would make sense and be symbiotic in many cases.
My lad, along with many thousands of others, is due to sit his GCSE’s in May. There is talk that they may be delayed until September. He and all of his mates I’ve spoken up are desperate to get them out of the way on the normal timescale.
In a way, we are lucky. For a number of reasons, we pulled him out of school in January (please don’t judge, it’s complicated) and he receives private 1:1 tuition. We have made arrangements with his tutors to continue through the summer if need be.
In a way, we are lucky. For a number of reasons, we pulled him out of school in January (please don’t judge, it’s complicated) and he receives private 1:1 tuition. We have made arrangements with his tutors to continue through the summer if need be.
Both mine are at primary school. They will continue to attend unless the school closes or if they are ill.
Parents Consultation due this week has been cancelled so that’s good. But the youngest is supposed to be attending a PGL residential event next week for a few nights. I really hope he gets to attend but I suspect it may get cancelled.
Parents Consultation due this week has been cancelled so that’s good. But the youngest is supposed to be attending a PGL residential event next week for a few nights. I really hope he gets to attend but I suspect it may get cancelled.
I live in the US and we’re home schooling for the foreseeable future, it’s going to be interesting, some towns are closing the playgrounds and advising against play dates and general social interaction.
Those that teach do and those that don’t, now do.
Just to add they’re putting huge effort to ensure the kids who have meals provided still have that service.
Those that teach do and those that don’t, now do.
Just to add they’re putting huge effort to ensure the kids who have meals provided still have that service.
Edited by Boozy on Sunday 15th March 23:15
E36Ross said:
All closed here in Ireland until the 30th at a minimum. Although most are expecting mid April. (We get Easter holidays on April 3rd for 2 weeks anyway!)
Logic being kids are supposed carriers so could easily spread in a school and then taken home to grandparents etc...
Northern Ireland here, Wife works in a school and also a Dementia residential facility, Son is doing his GCSEs this year, younger son is first year so will be less affected except for possibly missing out on the school trip to Paris at the end of the year. Logic being kids are supposed carriers so could easily spread in a school and then taken home to grandparents etc...
Older son has finished practically all his curriculum so would have been going on study leave soon. I think he has his digital tech course work to finish for this Friday and that's him.
Wife is more concerned about the talk of closing for 16 weeks and getting paid.
She's also worried about cross contamination with the dementia residents.
Luckily we bought the kids new laptops at Christmas so if they have to do school stuff on line they won;t be fighting over the clunky old family laptop.
poo at Paul's said:
MethylatedSpirit said:
Children are least at risk, although their role in spreading the virus is (in my opinion) not studied or understood yet. There may be a very sudden U-turn on this.
Some teachers / schools are prepared for home / online / postal working. Some are most definitely not.
I’d say kids are most likely to spread the virus amongst each other. They can’t and won’t be as careful as someone older, and schools are so crammed, social distancing is impossible. Some teachers / schools are prepared for home / online / postal working. Some are most definitely not.
Whilst least impacted medically, the mental health side of this for kids who may end up infecting parents and grandparents who do succumb are potentially immense.
May attitude is if they can stay home, they should stay home. It’s going to come eventually so sooner they get used to it, maybe the better.? Schools can set work and kids do it and send it in.
So many companies doing wfh, sfh would make sense and be symbiotic in many cases.
Secondly, how do doctors, nurses, ventilator operators etc work from home? And who looks after their kids while they're trying to save lives?
Another thing.
Why are people so desperate to close schools anyway? Schools are the perfect vehicle from which to spread the virus without killing people.
Children seem mostly immune from it. And parents are mostly younger anyway if they have school-age children.
Special consideration needed for children who are cared for by either elderly or at-risk relatives.
Otherwise, surely the best solution is to keep the kids away from the at risk and the grandparents.
Why are people so desperate to close schools anyway? Schools are the perfect vehicle from which to spread the virus without killing people.
Children seem mostly immune from it. And parents are mostly younger anyway if they have school-age children.
Special consideration needed for children who are cared for by either elderly or at-risk relatives.
Otherwise, surely the best solution is to keep the kids away from the at risk and the grandparents.
oyster said:
Another thing.
Why are people so desperate to close schools anyway? Schools are the perfect vehicle from which to spread the virus without killing people.
Children seem mostly immune from it. And parents are mostly younger anyway if they have school-age children.
Special consideration needed for children who are cared for by either elderly or at-risk relatives.
Otherwise, surely the best solution is to keep the kids away from the at risk and the grandparents.
Some people thought that far, and just think this is nasty boris being mean and trying to kill everyone. No thought to the fact there are teams of medical people behind the scenes working with the government to decide the right decisions for the country at this present time. Why are people so desperate to close schools anyway? Schools are the perfect vehicle from which to spread the virus without killing people.
Children seem mostly immune from it. And parents are mostly younger anyway if they have school-age children.
Special consideration needed for children who are cared for by either elderly or at-risk relatives.
Otherwise, surely the best solution is to keep the kids away from the at risk and the grandparents.
Some people are just idiots.
oyster said:
Another thing.
Why are people so desperate to close schools anyway? Schools are the perfect vehicle from which to spread the virus without killing people.
Children seem mostly immune from it. And parents are mostly younger anyway if they have school-age children.
Average age of a new mother in UK is 31, so plenty of parents with kids at secondary school and parents in late 40s early 50s. Why are people so desperate to close schools anyway? Schools are the perfect vehicle from which to spread the virus without killing people.
Children seem mostly immune from it. And parents are mostly younger anyway if they have school-age children.
poo at Paul's said:
oyster said:
Another thing.
Why are people so desperate to close schools anyway? Schools are the perfect vehicle from which to spread the virus without killing people.
Children seem mostly immune from it. And parents are mostly younger anyway if they have school-age children.
Average age of a new mother in UK is 31, so plenty of parents with kids at secondary school and parents in late 40s early 50s. Why are people so desperate to close schools anyway? Schools are the perfect vehicle from which to spread the virus without killing people.
Children seem mostly immune from it. And parents are mostly younger anyway if they have school-age children.
But we're not in the high-risk group.
The focus should be on the high-risk groups surely?
ABZ RS6 said:
Situation normal at present but several hints that my boys school in Aberdeen will close as of Friday this week.
Well set up for remote study as all pupils in both junior and secondary are equipped with their own laptop. Even before this event they were set work to be completed remotely if off school with sniffles / s
ts etc and regularly submit homework electronically.
Given this is a private school and maybe not all state schools are this prepared but can’t see shutting the schools as an issue outside of who cares for them if you can’t work from home.
Think it's about to change very soon. Bridge of Don school is supposed to have a confirmed case. Glashieburn if you know it.Well set up for remote study as all pupils in both junior and secondary are equipped with their own laptop. Even before this event they were set work to be completed remotely if off school with sniffles / s
ts etc and regularly submit homework electronically.Given this is a private school and maybe not all state schools are this prepared but can’t see shutting the schools as an issue outside of who cares for them if you can’t work from home.
Hazelhead Academy will be closed tomorrow as well after reports of a pupil but that has not been confirmed.
Many medical practices in the city are now only doing phone appointments.
Daughter is at NESCOL college in the city and they are meeting to decide if it will close.
My 5 year old has had a cough on and off for 3 weeks, he's seen a doctor and it's just a phlegmy chest (which he has suffered with before). Luckily after a good cough in the morning he's been absolutely fine so school hasn't been an issue, in fact he's almost cleared it.
Today he happened to cough at school, so we have to keep him off for 7 days. Sounds like they are sending many, many children home.
Today he happened to cough at school, so we have to keep him off for 7 days. Sounds like they are sending many, many children home.
Edited by ukaskew on Monday 16th March 11:16
Cold said:
Many NHS staff are parents too. Not sure this would be the best time for them to be taking time off work to look after their kids.
I work in the NHS and this is the concern our department has (radiology). We have to provide 24/7/365 cover which will be difficult enough as it is with anyone with a cough/fever taking two weeks off, let alone if anyone with kids has to have time off too.Brainpox said:
Cold said:
Many NHS staff are parents too. Not sure this would be the best time for them to be taking time off work to look after their kids.
I work in the NHS and this is the concern our department has (radiology). We have to provide 24/7/365 cover which will be difficult enough as it is with anyone with a cough/fever taking two weeks off, let alone if anyone with kids has to have time off too.The financial implications for lower salary /single parent/zero hours etc families of not being able to go to work to look after the kids must surely be a major consideration in the decision about whether to close schools or not. With any family living month to month this is going to be very tough if they miss out on 2weeks+ pay.
From a nursery point of view, what are the parents meant to do if they are forced to close as well?
Aside from having to find alternative childcare arrangements, you have to pay at least a month in advance rather than on a pay as you go basis. I cant see many parents (well I wouldn't anyway) continuing to pay if the doors are closed. Many nurseries are struggling as it is without this interruption to cash flow on top.
Aside from having to find alternative childcare arrangements, you have to pay at least a month in advance rather than on a pay as you go basis. I cant see many parents (well I wouldn't anyway) continuing to pay if the doors are closed. Many nurseries are struggling as it is without this interruption to cash flow on top.
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