It's not the fact of the quarantine restrictions which may well be the right call.
It's the typically but shockingly shambolic way it's been handled.
One piece of advice for all British people: spend December gently stockpiling food and essentials....
AFZ
My stockpile is now complete. I’ve built it up over twelve months. I have shelving upstairs in the spare room and I have lined up ten of everything (bread flour, olive oil etc etc etc) - when I need one I take one from the front and replace it at the back. A rolling stockpile.
I’ve also had four raised beds built for growing winter greens and I’m turning my porch into a ‘greenhouse’ for spring veggies.
Plus two large water butts - the chemicals for water purification plants could run low.
Panic? Nothing of the sort. When Covid19 hit I didn’t need to go near the shops for four weeks.
It's not the fact of the quarantine restrictions which may well be the right call.
It's the typically but shockingly shambolic way it's been handled.
One piece of advice for all British people: spend December gently stockpiling food and essentials....
AFZ
My stockpile is now complete. I’ve built it up over twelve months. I have shelving upstairs in the spare room and I have lined up ten of everything (bread flour, olive oil etc etc etc) - when I need one I take one from the front and replace it at the back. A rolling stockpile.
I’ve also had four raised beds built for growing winter greens and I’m turning my porch into a ‘greenhouse’ for spring veggies.
Plus two large water butts - the chemicals for water purification plants could run low.
Panic? Nothing of the sort. When Covid19 hit I didn’t need to go near the shops for four weeks.
Yeah, we're not that well organised but used our 'Brexit Box' for Covid-19. The main challenge for us was maintaining our stock of nappies for the Zogglets.
Has anything been heard lately of The Invisible Man Our Great Leader?
With the *government* taking a lot of well-earned flak over the exam results mess, you'd think The Lord Protector would be in the front line, telling us what a World-Beating™ leadership Little England is happy to possess...
One rumour has it that He and one of His families are polluting a beauty spot somewhere in Scotland, but that surely cannot be true.
It's not the fact of the quarantine restrictions which may well be the right call.
It's the typically but shockingly shambolic way it's been handled.
One piece of advice for all British people: spend December gently stockpiling food and essentials....
AFZ
My stockpile is now complete. I’ve built it up over twelve months. I have shelving upstairs in the spare room and I have lined up ten of everything (bread flour, olive oil etc etc etc) - when I need one I take one from the front and replace it at the back. A rolling stockpile.
I’ve also had four raised beds built for growing winter greens and I’m turning my porch into a ‘greenhouse’ for spring veggies.
Plus two large water butts - the chemicals for water purification plants could run low.
Panic? Nothing of the sort. When Covid19 hit I didn’t need to go near the shops for four weeks.
Yeah, we're not that well organised but used our 'Brexit Box' for Covid-19. The main challenge for us was maintaining our stock of nappies for the Zogglets.
The only things I can think of that I might be needing to stockpile are (a) tins of Baked Beans with Pork Sausages, and (b) toilet rolls...
I don't blame Mr Alba for his perfectly understandable attitude, although the presence in your country of The Lord Protector could well enhance the possibility of eventual independence from Little England...
If Mr Alba should come across The Lord Protector, and perhaps hurl stones, or dung, or opprobrious epithets, at Him, I would be happy to stand bail...
No disrespect to Mr Alba, but he might possibly use even more...umm...colourful language than Our Blessed Lord (who, in any case, may well have had a nice line in Jewish invective, did we but know it...).
No disrespect to Mr Alba, but he might possibly use even more...umm...colourful language than Our Blessed Lord (who, in any case, may well have had a nice line in Jewish invective, did we but know it...).
"Brood of vipers"
"Whited sepulchres"
"Get behind me Satan"
Yes, but I'm sure that, had Our Blessed Lord spoken Yiddish, he'd have come up with some even more expressive stuff - though the first two examples you've quoted could well apply to a certain *government*...
We will be well stocked for Final Brexit and the descend of Mordor-dark. Mrs Eirenist is preparing large quantities of raspberry jam, apple chutney and home-grown tomato soup. Come the total breakdown of government, I shall propose her as Regional Commisssioner for Natural Resources.
It's not the fact of the quarantine restrictions which may well be the right call.
It's the typically but shockingly shambolic way it's been handled.
One piece of advice for all British people: spend December gently stockpiling food and essentials....
AFZ
My stockpile is now complete. I’ve built it up over twelve months. I have shelving upstairs in the spare room and I have lined up ten of everything (bread flour, olive oil etc etc etc) - when I need one I take one from the front and replace it at the back. A rolling stockpile.
I’ve also had four raised beds built for growing winter greens and I’m turning my porch into a ‘greenhouse’ for spring veggies.
Plus two large water butts - the chemicals for water purification plants could run low.
Panic? Nothing of the sort. When Covid19 hit I didn’t need to go near the shops for four weeks.
Yeah, we're not that well organised but used our 'Brexit Box' for Covid-19. The main challenge for us was maintaining our stock of nappies for the Zogglets.
The only things I can think of that I might be needing to stockpile are (a) tins of Baked Beans with Pork Sausages, and (b) toilet rolls...
Interesting. I have to keep a goodly stock of those tins. And Waitrose has the loo rolls I buy on offer at the moment, so my downstairs loo would be a good place to hide from radiation.
O for a decent and proper way (as TIACW) to get rid, once and for all, of this complete waste of space and oxygen. He isn't even a decent Worzel Gummidge lookalike...
He is on holiday. And he will not break cover if it means he lands in a row that he hopes will blow over by the time he plans to be back.
Do you remember when the PM would break off their holiday if there was a crisis in the country? When they'd dash back to appear on the steps of Downing Street telling the massed media "we're investigating what has happened, we have things under control" before appearing for photo shoots at appropriate locations showing compassion and commiserating with those adversely affected promising to do all they can to make it right.
I have some sympathy for Johnson. I mean, imagine being told all of your life that you are exceptional, talented, destined for leadership, and finally realising that you are, in fact, inadequate, incompetent, bordering on mediocre from the wrong side.
I think he is just about self-aware enough to realise - finally - that he is not up to it.
I am not surprised he has gone on holiday. I would too. Probably never come back until enough people have reasserted my self-belief.
He is on holiday. And he will not break cover if it means he lands in a row that he hopes will blow over by the time he plans to be back.
Do you remember when the PM would break off their holiday if there was a crisis in the country? When they'd dash back to appear on the steps of Downing Street telling the massed media "we're investigating what has happened, we have things under control" before appearing for photo shoots at appropriate locations showing compassion and commiserating with those adversely affected promising to do all they can to make it right.
I do remember that! My guess is that if there were the kind of crisis where Mr Johnston could swan around making general promises and a lot of noise, he would re-appear. But in this case he doesn’t want to be seen in case any of the mud comes his way and sticks. Let the education secretary take it all!
Williamson won't resign because he needs to be in place to take the blame for the disaster which will be attempting to get all children back in school in September. When it becomes clear that schools have not had the support they need to prepare, when schools struggle with insufficient teaching staff as there are still teachers (and others) self-isolating with covid symptoms especially as the virus becomes resurgent. Schools will need to cope with children returning after a long break from being in school, many of whom will need different degrees of catch-up, and many more will be needing ongoing support for learning at home. As the number of school kids diagnosed/testing positive for covid there will be questions about whether schools are safe for children, do they need more social distancing (and, how do you do that without new buildings?)? If a parent considers that schools aren't safe and keep their children home, what will be the response of schools?
If Williamson is still Secretary of State for Education he'll take the heat for all that. If Johnson puts someone else in post then he puts himself in the spotlight just before the shit hits the fan.
I wonder if de Pfeffel and co believe their own rhetoric? Do they really think all will be well when schools go back?
I know three young teachers in the shielding category who just don’t know what to do.
If they opened schools and had the children going in one week in class, one week online (and provided the laptops they promised) the teachers who were shielding could take charge of the online work. The classes could be smaller and it would begin to become manageable.
But, of course, isn’t about education. It’s about having enough childminders so that people can get back into their workplaces and offices. I think they are panicking about the lack of people in London and other cities spending their money during lunch breaks and after work. Some big businesses are putting the pressure on.
The schools are back in Scotland, and so England should have a heads-up of the problems which will inevitably arise here.
My niece and nephew each had a day in school last week (Wed for niece, Thurs for nephew) in which they practised social distancing and hand-washing , went over the new rules and timetables etc. The whole school started properly on Monday. The first two days have gone well, they tell me.
Williamson won't resign because he needs to be in place to take the blame for the disaster which will be attempting to get all children back in school in September. When it becomes clear that schools have not had the support they need to prepare, when schools struggle with insufficient teaching staff as there are still teachers (and others) self-isolating with covid symptoms especially as the virus becomes resurgent.
I'll be pleasantly surprised if the scenario of blame you outline actually comes to pass. Unless children actually start dying in school corridors the impact of this will be in terms of its second and third order effects - which will be easy to blame on teachers and teachers unions - especially given an opposition that has been fairly keen to go along with government policy on opening schools for the most part (going as far as outlining this in the Mail).
You have to put it into context -- so far any blame for the handling of Covid has been directed at PHE, and Ofqual are being associated with the exams fiasco. Both of these are policy failures of course, but it doesn't seem like this is reflected in either anyone in government carrying the can or public support.
Williamson is claiming that the government changed its mind about letting teachers' predictions stand because Ofqual released the algorithm over the weekend and the Government on seeing how it actually worked realised it wasn't fit for purpose.
Even if we buy this story, he's saying that the government didn't bother to find out what the algorithm was before the results were released which is a shocking irresponsibility.
It's a bit like Dominic Cummings' eye test by driving a car. They don't expect anyone to believe their lies so it doesn't matter that the lie is as irresponsible as the thing they're originally accused of.
....<snipped> Schools will need to cope with children returning after a long break from being in school, many of whom will need different degrees of catch-up, and many more will be needing ongoing support for learning at home. As the number of school kids diagnosed/testing positive for covid there will be questions about whether schools are safe for children, do they need more social distancing (and, how do you do that without new buildings?)? If a parent considers that schools aren't safe and keep their children home, what will be the response of schools? ....
This made me think many parents will decide to home school for the foreseeable future, partly to protect their kids or other family members, plus likely loss of a job or reduced hours of one parent.
Never mind. England is safe in the capable hands of the far-seeing Mr Cummings, who is clearly able to find his way about the country without his glasses...
I know three young teachers in the shielding category who just don’t know what to do.
They should do what every other worker in the same category should do.
As far as I’m concerned they did. Brexit won them the election not policy not history. A lot of the voters will revert back to their normal party. It is an empty win. That is the end of what I have to say on the matter
'...you can go to work as long as the workplace is Covid-secure, but should carry on working from home wherever possible.'
A large number of companies are erring on the side of caution and going the extra mile, not just because their liability insurance picture gets better this way, but because people constantly being sick for rolling periods of two weeks isn't great from a planning perspective. At the main site I'm based, making things Covid safe along with enforced extended screening means that there are about 1/6th of the normal number of people in work at any one time -- with most of the meeting rooms reduced to single occupancy.
It's quite easy if fit and healthy teachers just went back to work.
But, the question was about those who are not fit and healthy. The question is about those who are shielding (by definition with a serious medical condition) or living with someone who is shielding. Bringing up fit & healthy teachers is just moving the goal posts.
Shielding is meant to be for those classified as vulnerable.
Schools are no different to other places of work.
So, you agree then that those who are currently shielding should work from home unless their place of work is covid-secure. And, for teachers that will be working from home as schools will never be covid secure, especially if the expectation is for all children to be present full time. Which, of course, creates the problem for schools - how do you bring all children back full time when you can't bring back all your staff?
Comments
My stockpile is now complete. I’ve built it up over twelve months. I have shelving upstairs in the spare room and I have lined up ten of everything (bread flour, olive oil etc etc etc) - when I need one I take one from the front and replace it at the back. A rolling stockpile.
I’ve also had four raised beds built for growing winter greens and I’m turning my porch into a ‘greenhouse’ for spring veggies.
Plus two large water butts - the chemicals for water purification plants could run low.
Panic? Nothing of the sort. When Covid19 hit I didn’t need to go near the shops for four weeks.
Yeah, we're not that well organised but used our 'Brexit Box' for Covid-19. The main challenge for us was maintaining our stock of nappies for the Zogglets.
With the *government* taking a lot of well-earned flak over the exam results mess, you'd think The Lord Protector would be in the front line, telling us what a World-Beating™ leadership Little England is happy to possess...
One rumour has it that He and one of His families are polluting a beauty spot somewhere in Scotland, but that surely cannot be true.
The only things I can think of that I might be needing to stockpile are (a) tins of Baked Beans with Pork Sausages, and (b) toilet rolls...
As , should we happen upon our great leader and his family on their jollies , I cannot Totally trust Mr Alba to react in a Christlike manner 😅
I don't blame Mr Alba for his perfectly understandable attitude, although the presence in your country of The Lord Protector could well enhance the possibility of eventual independence from Little England...
If Mr Alba should come across The Lord Protector, and perhaps hurl stones, or dung, or opprobrious epithets, at Him, I would be happy to stand bail...
Sure about that?
No disrespect to Mr Alba, but he might possibly use even more...umm...colourful language than Our Blessed Lord (who, in any case, may well have had a nice line in Jewish invective, did we but know it...).
"Brood of vipers"
"Whited sepulchres"
"Get behind me Satan"
BTW - a Horrid Thought...is St Andrews the LP's Mar-A-Lago?
Interesting. I have to keep a goodly stock of those tins. And Waitrose has the loo rolls I buy on offer at the moment, so my downstairs loo would be a good place to hide from radiation.
Is he dead? Or asleep? Or on a journey?
O for a decent and proper way (as TIACW) to get rid, once and for all, of this complete waste of space and oxygen. He isn't even a decent Worzel Gummidge lookalike...
What have we DONE to deserve such a Monster as our *Leader*??
I for one am repenting in sackcloth and ashes
I think he is just about self-aware enough to realise - finally - that he is not up to it.
I am not surprised he has gone on holiday. I would too. Probably never come back until enough people have reasserted my self-belief.
If he came back that would admit the crisis, for the same reason Williamson can't resign and won't be sacked.
If Williamson is still Secretary of State for Education he'll take the heat for all that. If Johnson puts someone else in post then he puts himself in the spotlight just before the shit hits the fan.
I wonder if de Pfeffel and co believe their own rhetoric? Do they really think all will be well when schools go back?
I know three young teachers in the shielding category who just don’t know what to do.
If they opened schools and had the children going in one week in class, one week online (and provided the laptops they promised) the teachers who were shielding could take charge of the online work. The classes could be smaller and it would begin to become manageable.
But, of course, isn’t about education. It’s about having enough childminders so that people can get back into their workplaces and offices. I think they are panicking about the lack of people in London and other cities spending their money during lunch breaks and after work. Some big businesses are putting the pressure on.
My niece and nephew each had a day in school last week (Wed for niece, Thurs for nephew) in which they practised social distancing and hand-washing , went over the new rules and timetables etc. The whole school started properly on Monday. The first two days have gone well, they tell me.
I'll be pleasantly surprised if the scenario of blame you outline actually comes to pass. Unless children actually start dying in school corridors the impact of this will be in terms of its second and third order effects - which will be easy to blame on teachers and teachers unions - especially given an opposition that has been fairly keen to go along with government policy on opening schools for the most part (going as far as outlining this in the Mail).
You have to put it into context -- so far any blame for the handling of Covid has been directed at PHE, and Ofqual are being associated with the exams fiasco. Both of these are policy failures of course, but it doesn't seem like this is reflected in either anyone in government carrying the can or public support.
Even if we buy this story, he's saying that the government didn't bother to find out what the algorithm was before the results were released which is a shocking irresponsibility.
It's a bit like Dominic Cummings' eye test by driving a car. They don't expect anyone to believe their lies so it doesn't matter that the lie is as irresponsible as the thing they're originally accused of.
This made me think many parents will decide to home school for the foreseeable future, partly to protect their kids or other family members, plus likely loss of a job or reduced hours of one parent.
Bookies slash odds on Loch Ness Monster being sighted before Boris Johnson
Never mind. England is safe in the capable hands of the far-seeing Mr Cummings, who is clearly able to find his way about the country without his glasses...
How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
Some of us marooned in little plague-ridden England, awaiting the descent of the Even Greater Darkness (post-Brexshit) feel like this...
Brexit will happen here too. Even being in Wales cannot save me from that
Neither has the Loch Ness Monster.
If it was Brexit, the competition should have done better on Brexit. They should do what every other worker in the same category should do.
From the *government* website:
'...you can go to work as long as the workplace is Covid-secure, but should carry on working from home wherever possible.'
My bold - because that's where there may be problems ISTM, if the school is NOT Covid-secure.
I don't think it's quite as easy as @Telford would like...
As far as I’m concerned they did. Brexit won them the election not policy not history. A lot of the voters will revert back to their normal party. It is an empty win. That is the end of what I have to say on the matter
A large number of companies are erring on the side of caution and going the extra mile, not just because their liability insurance picture gets better this way, but because people constantly being sick for rolling periods of two weeks isn't great from a planning perspective. At the main site I'm based, making things Covid safe along with enforced extended screening means that there are about 1/6th of the normal number of people in work at any one time -- with most of the meeting rooms reduced to single occupancy.
In a meeting with only one person present, who takes the minutes?
If an individual has had a letter from the doctors saying that they should shield themselves, that's just what they should do. If Labour did better at Brexit, they should have won on Brexit.
It's quite easy if fit and healthy teachers just went back to work. Shielding is meant to be for those classified as vulnerable.
Schools are no different to other places of work.
So, you agree then that those who are currently shielding should work from home unless their place of work is covid-secure. And, for teachers that will be working from home as schools will never be covid secure, especially if the expectation is for all children to be present full time. Which, of course, creates the problem for schools - how do you bring all children back full time when you can't bring back all your staff?
They had a sensible plan. People did not want a sensible plan, they wanted a hard Brexit. That does not mean it is the best.
They're a lot less safe. Not enough room to social distance, no requirement to wear masks and inadequate ventilation.
@Telford, have you ever actually been into a school? Especially one which is usually crowded, and short of space at the best of times.