Schools are closing, aren’t they? Just tell us the truth

Just days before the end of the school term, we had a letter from my children’s primary school telling us that children should come back to school two days later than initially expected, to accommodate for teachers who will need additional planning time in case of another lockdown.

Every parent I spoke to had assumed the same thing: at some point very soon into the new year, schools will close again. As cases of Covid rise and the NHS continues to beg for relief from escalating numbers of patients, why don’t we bite the bullet and accept schools will be closed following the Christmas holidays? Announce it now and give children, parents, and professionals a chance to wrap their heads around the idea.

Perhaps you are someone who thinks another lockdown is nonsensical. Or maybe you see why it’s necessary. Whatever your thoughts may be on lockdowns, I think most people agree – children often bear the brunt of the effects lockdowns present. Even children from stable homes feel the strain of not having a daily school routine, not seeing their friends and teachers every day. We know children thrive on routine, realistic expectations, and boundaries. By leaving it up in the air about whether or not they will get to return to school or not in January, we allow their little minds to grow anxious with the unknown.

Even worse would be if children return to school as planned in early January, and then get sent home as Covid numbers continue to rise. They’d get used to an intermittent routine of Christmas holidays – waking a bit later, adapting to family interactions, and falling into a rhythm of the day. We’d pull them out of that routine, into the school routine, and then right back home again. These kids have had two years of ups, downs, and all arounds. What they need now is a bit of consistency – if schools are heading toward closure, let them know now.

For working parents, leaving school closures until the last minute completely disrupts childcare provisions. If we can plan, we at least have some degree of control. We can talk to our bosses to figure out flexible learning. We can delay meetings and deadlines. We can review home learning plans from teachers. We can talk to childcare providers – nurseries, childminders, and grandparents – to figure out who can watch the kids while we work. But if we continue as we are, expecting a school closure without a definite decision, we can’t plan for how to care for both our kids and our jobs.

Headteachers, teachers, and social workers who are deeply concerned for the welfare of children at risk in the home also need the time to prepare alternative care for vulnerable children. In past lockdowns, schools formed hubs where children who weren’t safe at home could come during the day, and social workers figured out how to check in on these children in unconventional ways. If a school closure is sprung on them last minute, those professionals will feel mounting stress, their plans will be rushed, and they may not be able to provide the care they might have if they had been told earlier.

I understand that those in power don’t want to make sweeping decisions without depending on hard data. It would look irresponsible to cancel school if it turns out Covid transmission wasn’t quite as bad as we thought over Christmas. But if cases rise over the next few weeks, like they have the last few weeks, we’re heading for numbers high enough to warrant school closures. There doesn’t seem to be any doubt things will only get worse over the holidays.

Instead of delaying the inevitable, better to make a decision and announce school closures.