As ever, the government wait and wait until we are in a crisis and then suddenly impose emergency measures - such as closing schools. While, tragically, that is now necessary, it isn't a strategy. Here is a strategy, now on the @IndependentSage website: https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Schools-Jan-2021-final.pdf

First, while we can only get the pandemic back under control right now if we close schools for all but genuine exceptions, we fully endorse the WHO position that education is a priority, schools should be last to close and first to open. https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-introductory-remarks-at-the-press-briefing-with-unesco-and-unicef

And this isn't currently the case: we still allow religious gatherings, we allow cleaners and tradespeople in and out of houses, many non-essential jobs are classified as keyworkers and people forced to go out and expose themselves whether they like it or not.

Second, while schools are closed we need to make them secure: hire extra teachers and spaces so groups can be small and properly distanced. That will make it possible to reopen sooner rather than later and that pupils and staff stay safe when they return. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2020-05-22/denmark-s-children-return-to-school-in-museums-and-graveyards

Third, we must mitigate the harms caused by closure. The government has given up on providing computers, wifi and space to those lacking resources for remote study. They have simply reclassified them as vulnerable and told them to go back to school, thus maintaining inequality.

We must also mitigate the mental health costs: 87% of children felt lonely during the first lockdown, 69% had poor mental health on return. And yet only 27% had talked to any staff member about what they felt. There must be greatly extended mental health support in schools.

There is much more to be done. An emergency closure of schools may be necessary. It isn't a strategy. And without addressing issues of safety and harm it is neither practically effective nor morally acceptable.