Coronavirus - At risk families with school aged children

[piccola15]

Hello,

I was just wondering if there are many people in our situation, I'm sure there are. We are at risk because I have a long term chronic condition and one of my children is also at risk. She's actually only 4 so we can't be fined however I have a 7 year old as well so we could be for him.

My other half has been given permission to work from home for some time due to my health and the risk but I am pretty sure the school won't allow the kids to be homeschooled temporarily. From watching the parliamentary discussion about this I don't think it's likely schools will close and I kind of understand that in terms of those whose priorities are work due to not being at risk.

But I feel we should have a choice here as we seem to have 3 options; Take the kids out and be fined; de-register them or leave them in school and risk serious health consequences. For the NHS it seems sensible to take at risk people out of circulation to spread the NHS burden out and also to see what happens in terms of the antivirals they mentioned being ready soon (if they work).

Who else is in a similar situation and what are your thoughts? I know this is controversial and I have seen lots of opinions from those who aren't concerned and don't feel at risk but I am interested to hear other views if I can! X

[Awkward1]

Me
I'm taking them out from monday.
I'm sort of hoping they don't notice. And if it does start kicking off in sure the least of anyone's concern is that a dc had an extra 3? Weeks off.

However there is already a risk they may have caught it as there is community transmission already.
The numbers are mostly growing from travel abroad but how many of the Italy Germany etc holidayers were not asked to self isolate?
It has spread all over Italy so was likely there and elsewhere 2w ago.
They shouldn't just be asking about travel to those countries but anywhere really.

[Bluebelle32]

I was thinking about this today as I am at risk and my son is just a baby. We can control our exposure now but if he were in school I’d be vulnerable. The whole thing makes me feel invisible and insignificant.

[Babyfairy0923]

My husband is in an at risk group & we are worried about what to do, we will be discussing it later & taking everything on board including the mental health effects of taking the children out, how long it might have to be for, if we could completely isolate ourselves etc etc. Would you still go out at all?

[Sirzy]

The issue is though this could go on for months or even longer so you need a long term plan.

Ds is 10 and has a number of chronic conditions and a number of extended family members are also likely to be more vulnerable. However we are just going on as normal because I think at this point the risk of panic and paranoia is a bigger risk.

Taking sensible precautions makes sense, hiding away from the world much less so.

[ThatsWotSheSaid]

Can you tell the school you are self quarantining due to some vague contact so they don’t take the school place away.

[piccola15]

I think we would completely isolate ourselves but for how long I don't know and I don't feel sure that now is the time to do it yet.

I am pretty much bedbound myself as it is at the moment so unfortunately already hidden from the world! It's not as bad as it sounds, you get creative!

At this point possibly but it could help in many ways to avoid being involved in the peak of cases.

The self quarantining thing is a good idea but I'm not sure. I am such a terrible liar! But it's something I will consider, thank you! X

[Babyfairy0923]

Let us know what you decide to do 👍

[Joyfulnhs]

My dd is at risk. She has a serious respiratory disease. Information was released yesterday from the national body that issues statement about her disease saying that people with her condition are at a significant increased risk of serious respiratory decline. Was a bit scary to read and I was surprised they were willing to state it publicly. Loads of parents I know which dc with the same disease are now putting plans In place to isolate. At the moment I'm not keeping her home or isolating us as a family. My other two children are also attending school and their extra curricular activities. I work for the NHS (non clinical) but no option to work from home and my dh cannot do his job from home either.
Unless things take a dramatic turn for the worst in our local area or the government recommend isolation for those at risk I will keep her in school and we will carry on as normal.

Despite what I'm doing I can totally understand why other families are making a different choice. You have to do what you are comfortable with.

[chinateapot]

There are a lot of NHS clinical staff in a similar situation to you. This wouldn’t be a sustainable option for everyone to take. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it but it is worth thinking about.

GP with daughter on chemo.

[ItsALittleMoreNuancedThanThat]

OP I'm in your position and am conflicted.

I have cancer, COPD & was in hospital 3 weeks ago with chest sepsis.

I have a dc in primary, & another in secondary (not a GCSE year).

I want their lives to go on as normal for as long as possible, but - however disruptive and distressing keeping them at home would be - it beats them losing their mother. If it weren't for Coronavirus my life would be getting back to normal now.

I saw a post on another thread saying 'why don't we just get the old and sick to isolate'?. Well, that would mean me staying in my bedroom and not looking after my DCs.

I don't know what to do. I'll watch this thread.

[lampsandrain]

Talk to your child’s headteacher.

These aren’t normal times and things like fines shouldn’t apply.

[PossumPossum]

Hello, I'm just reading these posts now, start of the start of the '2nd 'wave (not that the first one really went away). The schools closed, soon after these posts were made I hope it worked out well and you all could stay safe and protected. I'm wondering what your actions are now. Those who were previously shielding , on the very vulnerable list were 'protected' by not having to send children to school. Those rights of safety, as far as I am concerned, have been taken away now. Since we are again legally obliged to send our children to school, we have been put in terrible risk, as far as I'm concerned anyway. I am being forced to make decisions not in my or my child's best interests, ie deregister. It seems I have no right, legally, to protect myself, forced to put my life at risk, every day of my child is at school. How are you all dealing with this? At first, our school was helpful, sending us class work for home / blended learning. That stopped weeks ago. I am now being pressurised to deregister. I don't want to. To keep things as normal as possible for DD is a necessity. To continue their school education ( but at home) is a necessity..me staying alive is a necessity. What are your experiences?

[TomNooksBalanceBook]

I’m at risk with not much of an immune system. One kid at school and the other in nursery. I have to weigh up their need for company and education against my essentially crap existence. They win. I don’t want them resenting me for taking what little freedom they do have away. I know the risks, my partner worked in icu during the first wave and has returned again for the second. I feel like I’m a sitting duck and it’s terrifying but my existence in the home is
Miserable and I don’t want to force that upon the others who have an opportunity to escape. We’re in a tier 3 of 4 (Scotland) area but my particular neighbourhood isn’t so bad at the moment for cases.