Teachers preparing ‘home learning packs’ for coronavirus school closures lasting up to a month from next week
TEACHERS are preparing "home-learning packs" as schools could close for a month-long Easter break due to coronavirus.
The deadly bug has now been confirmed as a pandemic - with the UK taking steps to stop the spread.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The "delay" phase of the government's plan could see schools shut down, with teachers in some schools said to be getting ready to continue classes remotely as soon as next week.
Many Brits have already been told to work from home, with a lot of workplaces and offices already preparing for how to deal with an Italy-style lockdown.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar today announced all schools, colleges and childcare facilities in Ireland will be closed until March 29.
If this happens in the UK, schools could close for an extra week or two ahead of Easter - meaning pupils would be away from classrooms for around a month, depending on the usual length of their break.
One teacher : "We have been told an extended Easter break is a very real possibility if the virus spread continues at the predicted rate.
“We are now preparing for that eventuality. But this will not mean two weeks’ extra holiday.
“Schools in our local authority area - both primary and secondary – are drawing up plans for children to be given lessons at home.
“This will come in the shape of material drawn up by staff in advance in the form of set work from the curriculum on paper and also online work.
“Schools are drawing up lists of all children who have access to the internet at home even if it is via a parent or guardian’s phone."
Teachers at two separate London schools told the Sun Online they were getting ready for pupils to learn at home.
What is the delay phase and what could happen in it?
- Public information campaign on washing hands steps up
- Population distancing measures will be considered such as school closures, encouraging people to work from home and cancelling large scale gatherings like concerts and sports matches
- Measures to protect vulnerable individuals or those with illnesses and who are more at risk will be looked at
Primary school teachers in Staffordshire and the South West have already prepped enough work for their students to do at home if schools close.
And another said: "We have had guidance from our head of the academy who has been told to expect at least a week-long closure, possibly two."
Some schools have already shut for short periods where children or staff have been exposed to the virus.
As the number of people who have been infected with coronavirus in the UK rises to 590, with global cases above 100,000, concerns about schools shutting continue to grow.
Experts in the UK say the country could go into lock down in a matter of weeks - with it thought we could move into the delay phase today.
The PM is set to put Brits on notice that they could face sweeping restrictions on their lives.
It means the public could be told to start working from home and to scale back their socialising as the country tries to get a grip on the outbreak.
Care homes could place extra restrictions on visitors to protect the elderly, who are most likely to die from the killer bug.
While any Brit with a cold, cough, sniffle or fever could be told to stay at home for a week to help halt the spread of the infection.
FIGHTING THE BUG
Mr Johnson is expected to declare the major shift as he chairs an emergency COBRA meeting at lunchtime.
Parents are entitled to take time off work to look after children - and you won't face disciplinary action or lose your job.
This is known as "dependant leave" which allows mums and dads to take time off work to deal with an unexpected problem or emergency.
A Department for Education spokesperson said they have not yet issued advice to prepare for closures, adding: "As the Chief Medical Officer has said, the impact of closing schools on both children’s education and on the workforce will be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be.
“Decisions on future advice to schools will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.
“The advice from Public Health England continues to be for schools to remain open, unless advised otherwise.”
MOST READ IN NEWS
You can check for school closures in England and Wales using the , which redirects you to the council website the school falls under.
In Scotland, you can check using , which will again redirect you the local council's website.
In Northern Ireland, closures are listed on the - there aren't any at present.
