[Kate!]

Should they close our schools?

Why or why not?

Poll incoming.....

[arista]

Yes as Kids spread it Fast

[caprimint]

Nope, nothing should close

What happens when the kids have no-one at home to look after them because their parents are working? Either the parents have to take time off of work or their grandparents look after them... so even more people will die.

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by arista

Yes as Kids spread it Fast

I think no. They are going to want to go out and about. Also for those with parents who work it'll be down to the elderly grandparents to have them and thats a risk too far. X

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by arista

Yes as Kids spread it Fast

Literally no evidence to support this - there's a hypothesis that kids are potential symptomless carriers and a hypothesis that they aren't making any difference to transmission rates at all - and everything inbetween.

I personally would say as usual there are options missing from this poll. They should be testing more and closing schools in areas when positive tests are starting to notably increase - e.g. it might be time to consider it in the South currently. There's no particular sense in a sweeping "one size fits all" closure.

[Toy Soldier]

The very real risk of course, is that the healthcare sector - nursing especially - is a sector full of parents of young children many of whom will have no choice but to stop work if they don't have available childcare.

[Cherie]

Yes, its coming but it should be area by area basis, no point closing schools in low infected areas

[bitontheslide]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The very real risk of course, is that the healthcare sector - nursing especially - is a sector full of parents of young children many of whom will have no choice but to stop work if they don't have available childcare.

but they can be replaced by all the retired NHS pensioners they are going to bring back .... oh wait

[Niamh.]

Yes they should, glad they have here

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

but they can be replaced by all the retired NHS pensioners they are going to bring back .... oh wait

And of course the plans to temporarily register final year nursing students who have not completed their final placement where they get signed off as ready for work.

i.e. half of them will have no idea what they're doing.

My wife is an NQN (mental health) and knows for a fact that a decent chunk of adult medical nursing students end up not passing their final placement and have to repeat - it's the only one that's fully assessing competence to do the job! But there are plans to skip it and register students as fully trained medical staff. .

[LukeB]

if they're not doing a lockdown and only closing schools i don't think it will make a difference. Kids will still go outside and come in contact with others.

[LeatherTrumpet]

no

children must suffer like the rest of us

[Kate!]

Vote in the poll please people. X

[AnnieK]

One of our local schools have sent Year 7s home indefinitely but have said that if anyone works in the Healthcare or Emergency Services they will accommodate them at school.

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Kate!

Vote in the poll please people. X

You don't have a "some, as necessary" option but I've voted anyway based on which side I'm more strongly leaning towards

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Kate!

Vote in the poll please people. X

Honestly can say Yes or No Kate - personally I would rather my son be in school but that is purely selfish reasons as my Dad usually has him whilst I am working but he is over 70 and so I feel I need to keep them apart for now.

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Honestly can say Yes or No Kate - personally I would rather my son be in school but that is purely selfish reasons as my Dad usually has him whilst I am working but he is over 70 and so I feel I need to keep them apart for now.

Ok fair enough Annie. Nothing wrong with your reasons chick. X

[smudgie]

I voted yes.
Purely selfish reasons, my daughter is teacher and has a very low immune system.
She has just received another two weeks sicknote by email today.

[lewis111]

No, it seems like no one is thinking about children who have parents that are still at work, particularly those who have parents as nurses etc. who will still be working in a lockdown. Children in low income families who have parents that can't afford to not work or pay for childcare? Where all all these children go? Most of them can't go to their grandparents now.

Shutting down schools won't help prevent the spread much at all but it will cause a massive burden of stress and finically issues for many parents, particularly poorer ones

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by lewis111

No, it seems like no one is thinking about children who have parents that are still at work, particularly those who have parents as nurses etc. who will still be working in a lockdown. Children in low income families who have parents that can't afford to not work or pay for childcare? Where all all these children go? Most of them can't go to their grandparents now.

Shutting down schools won't help prevent the spread much at all but it will cause a massive burden of stress and finically issues for many parents, particularly poorer ones

A good post Lewis.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

no

children must suffer like the rest of us

Why’s that?

[GoldHeart]

In keeping with the health & safety rules & to try and control the virus yes schools should.

I guess some parents who need to go to work will have problems with child care though .