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How long could schools be closed? Who are the workers whose children can go to school?
(about 3 hours later)
Schools across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are to close on Friday because of the coronavirus epidemic. Schools across the UK are closing on Friday to the vast majority of pupils, possibly until September.
What will the impact be? A small proportion of children will still be able to attend.
Whose children can still go to school?
Government advice is that all children should stay at home, if at all possible, from Monday.
This refers to primary and secondary schools, colleges and nurseries, both in the state and private sectors.
But schools have been asked to provide care for some children - those who are vulnerable, and those whose parents are key workers "critical to the Covid-19 response", who cannot be safely cared for at home.
Vulnerable children include those with a social worker or special educational needs.
A child's parent is a key worker if their job is considered critical to keeping the country running and/or fighting the spread of the virus. The government has published a list of key worker jobs:
A child only needs one parent to be a key worker to be eligible to attend school.
Which schools will be open?
It is not clear which will remain open for the children of key workers and the vulnerable.
The government has suggested most will be able to go to their usual school, which suggests nearly all will be open.
The number of children attending is also unclear. Ahead of the publication of the key worker list, head teachers asked parents to nominate themselves. Local authorities were coordinating unofficial lists.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said that in England the aim would be to provide support in school for an estimated 10% of pupils.
But demand will not be evenly spread and some schools have much higher numbers of pupils to care for.
How long are schools likely to be closed?How long are schools likely to be closed?
Head teachers in England, at least, think schools will not open again properly before September. It is increasingly likely that schools may be closed until September, although nothing has been formally announced.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she cannot guarantee that schools in Scotland will reopen before August. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she cannot guarantee that schools in Scotland will reopen before August.
The peak of the virus outbreak is likely to be in May and June, after which most schools start to wind down. What we do know is the peak of the virus outbreak is likely to be in May and June, after which most schools start to wind down.
But ultimately it will depend to a large extent on the effectiveness of measures to reduce the spread of the outbreak.But ultimately it will depend to a large extent on the effectiveness of measures to reduce the spread of the outbreak.
Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said school closures were necessary to reduce social contact throughout society and hence the spread of the virus.
So will every school be completely closed?
No. Some schools will be kept open with a skeleton staff to provide support for the children of key workers, including NHS staff, police and food delivery drivers.
Schools will also be asked to help those most in need - for example, children who receive free school meals and those with special educational needs or education health care plans.
But it is not yet clear which schools will be the ones to provide these services.
Mr Williamson said in England the aim would be to provide support in school for an estimated 10% of pupils.
Teaching unions are supportive of the plans, but say they want to see more details of the plans urgently.
The government says it's also asking nurseries and private schools to close, and will provide financial support if needed.
What will happen about exams?What will happen about exams?
The summer exams have been cancelled in England, Wales and Scotland. This includes GCSEs and A-levels in England and Wales, plus primary school national curriculum tests, known as Sats, in England. In Scotland, Highers and Nationals will not be going ahead. Summer exams have been cancelled in England, Wales and Scotland. This includes GCSEs and A-levels in England and Wales, plus primary school national curriculum tests, known as Sats, in England. In Scotland, Highers and Nationals will not be going ahead.
Mr Williamson told the Commons on Wednesday: "I can confirm we will not go ahead with assessments or exams and that we will not be publishing performance tables for this academic year. Mr Williamson told the Commons on Wednesday: "We will work with the sector and [the exams watchdog] Ofqual to ensure children get the qualifications that they need."
"We will work with the sector and [the exams watchdog] Ofqual to ensure children get the qualifications that they need." More details are awaited.
More details will be released on England's plans on Friday.
Northern Ireland is expected to follow suit.
How will children be assessed instead?How will children be assessed instead?
Exams watchdogs have been working together for some time to look at alternative arrangements.Exams watchdogs have been working together for some time to look at alternative arrangements.
These may include:These may include:
It is likely the exam boards and individual exams regulators across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will agree a uniform system to ensure comparability. It is likely exam boards and regulators will agree a uniform system to ensure students can be compared.
With regard to offers of university places, Universities UK - the vice-chancellors' organisation - suggested universities may honour the offers already made on the basis of predicted grades. For those hoping to go on to university, Universities UK - the vice-chancellors' organisation - has suggested universities may honour offers already made on the basis of predicted grades.
What does this mean for parents?
For many working parents, the closures will mean huge childcare issues (this was one of the reasons why the government delayed closures as long as possible).
Some may need to take time off work, raising concerns that some families will struggle financially.
Head teachers have told the BBC that they have been making plans to continue teaching and supporting pupils during the closure, using social media and technologies such as Google Classroom and Maths Watch.
Why did government hold out against closures?Why did government hold out against closures?
In many other countries across Europe, schools were closed earlier on in the outbreak. In many other countries schools were closed earlier on in the outbreak.
The UK's reluctance to follow suit was based on information that children are not as vulnerable to coronavirus as adults.The UK's reluctance to follow suit was based on information that children are not as vulnerable to coronavirus as adults.
There were also fears about elderly relatives - the group most at risk from the virus - from being called upon to provide childcare.There were also fears about elderly relatives - the group most at risk from the virus - from being called upon to provide childcare.
However, head teachers have been struggling with the growing number of staff who have taken time off because they are ill, have underlying health conditions or are self-isolating.
Many individual schools had already been closing their doors, or sending certain year groups home.
Have you been affected by the school closures due to coronavirus? Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by the school closures due to coronavirus? Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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