And the stupid thing is, if schools need to close then it's a million times better to just extend the holiday. As things stand what looks like it will happen is that primaries will go back for somewhere between a day and 2 weeks, mix with each other widespread covid around. Then they will close and cases associated with schools will continue to rise until they've worked their way through households, people who've shared public transport with kids etc. etc.OffTheRock wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 3:39 pmUnison are backing the section 44 walk out for non-teaching staff. The NEU are pointing out that you don't have to be a member and can use their letter with a few adjustments. NASUWT have advised their members not to walk out because they might get sacked if they do. The onus is on heads to prove the schools are safe and the NAHT seems to be telling members not to because they aren't going to be able to prove it. Birmingham have told schools that they will have their backing if they do shut and Brighton and Hove have told their schools not to open. Add that to parents deciding to keep their children at home and the whole thing is a complete mess.
Difficult to see how they are going to get out of this without a u-turn. Either a really last minute one or one after all the schools are shut anyway.
It also puts some working bit not critical worker parents in a tough spot. I know of more than one family who would happily use grandparent childcare right now if schools didn't reopen, because they know their families have had no contacts. But if schools go back and then close, they can't use grandparent childcare as the risks to the grandparents are too great.