Impact on daily life

Impact 3^rd September
Are your children going back to school this week?  You should receive letters and information from the school about how it is to work.  Many parents are confused and there are different arrangement in different parts of the UK.  Here is what we know.
Primary age children are less likely to catch the virus and if they do have it, it is not going to be serious (unless they have other medical conditions).  Secondary children may catch the virus although the symptoms may not be so severe.  It is not clear how easily they can pass it on.
If possible, desks will be spaced apart and have to face forwards; and in corridors there should be one-way systems.  Teachers will have their own zones in the class – usually tape on the floor and kids should not enter that area.  Teachers are allowed to wear masks if necessary.  There will be lots of places to wash hands and toilets will be spaced apart.  Lots of cleaning to happen after lessons and out of hours. 
Children are supposed to be in bubbles which will usually be their year group.  The bubbles will have different times for breaks and lunch. 
Buses taking children to school will have seats spaced out and kids should be wearing masks.
In Scotland:  all schools started three weeks ago and in class there are no masks; now they say in corridors they have to wear masks.  Same in Northern Ireland.  In Scotland, kids are not meant to hug or shake hands but this might be hard for Primary children.
In England:  no masks in class and up to head teachers if they wear masks at other times.  If there is lockdown or virus increases, all kids have to wear masks outside of the classroom except when eating.  Secondary schools do not have rules for kids like – not to touch each other.
In Wales:  headteachers can decide about mask wearingObviously masks are a big issue for deaf kids in mainstream school and in deaf schools.  If you can’t see the person’s face it is hard to communicate.  This can be worse when a deaf child is starting a new school.  Different schools should be making arrangements for deaf children but there is no simple rule and there will be differences about wearing masks especially between Primary and Secondary schools.  If you are worried about this, you should talk to the schools.
If there is. Virus outbreak – this means 2 or more children with the virus in 14 days – then schools have to have advice from local health.  They may send home all children in a bubble.
The Government are saying “You have to send your child to school!” – and there may be fines unless the child is ill, has the virus or a relative has the virus.  Many parents are still worried and some will not send their children into school.  If they refuse to send it is not clear what will happen about fines.