School Places and staying off due to Covid

[soapboxqueen]

Hi all, I've seen a number of people saying they are going to keep their children away from school until at least September. I've read that schools won't fine parents if they keep their children away from school between the 1st of June start back date and the summer. However, keeping in mind that it's 6 weeks of school roughly, could schools start removing places from children because they aren't in attendance and aren't sick?

[Eyewhisker]

I think they should as statistically the risk to children is zero. It is hysterica nonsense unless they have a grandparent at home.

[SpookyNoise]

A school cannot just remove a place from a child.

[AnduinsGirl]

Well, they can, but they won't at this time.

[LIZS]

They can in theory. However may be difficult if school timetable is only pt.

[Porridgeoat]

The school would be on dodgy ground I’m sure and potentially disablist. Lots of families with sheltering adults will avoid sending children to school. The risk maybe small to children, however the risk to vulnerable family members is deadly

[TeaAndBiscuits666]

Technically schools can withdraw a child's place. But if the local authority is any good the they would prevent the school from doing it.

There is no incentive for schools to do it at the moment as attendance targets have been scrapped for the year and schools need pupils on roll to get the finance.

[soapboxqueen]

I know it's probably unlikely given the circumstances but I suspect a lot of parents will keep their children off if there is no fine.

They're are so many different family dynamics that many people will feel they have justifiable reasons.

I appreciate this is all based on whether teaching unions support the measures or distancing is even possible.

[timeforteea]

@Eyewhisker if the risk is 0 then why are there children dying of this awful disease?

[TiredMummyXYZ]

Schools won’t penalise children for non-attendance - we are using a different code for Covid related absences and will continue to do so. Families need to do what they think is right. If it reassures you I’m a teacher and my kids won’t be going back yet. My friends and colleagues who are primary teachers are also keeping their kids off. Read into that what you will.

[soapboxqueen]

tiredmummy thank you for that.

I already home school one child permanently and am also a teacher (though obviously not in work while I teach my ds) so it feels like keeping my dd at home would reduce the burden on her school.

Not the only reason but a part time timetable seems like a palava.

[BreatheAndFocus]

I think they should as statistically the risk to children is zero. It is hysterica nonsense unless they have a grandparent at home

The risk to children isn’t zero 🙄 Tell that to the parents of children who’ve died around the world. Also, some children have underlying health conditions eg asthma or diabetes. Their parents might have underlying conditions or their siblings. The children and/or their family might be BAME and be at greater risk. Nobody’s risk is “zero”.

I bet you’re one of those people who think Covid 19 is just a bad cold.

[FourTeaFallOut]

No. They have said they will not penalise parents.

[Eyewhisker]

Timefortea. There are less children dying now than normal for this time of year despite the pandemic. Up to age 40 the ONS data has that there are basically zero excess deaths compared to normal. The deaths are almost all of older adults - 60 and above.

If children are less likely to die now - in the middle of this pandemic - than they had been for the last few years, they should go to school. Keeping them at home is detrimental to their social and educational development.

[Hmm12121]

I’m not sending my yr 10 and 12 back if they ask them to. They are both up to date with work, both still on track for good grades and I can’t see what possible benefit ‘some’ face to face teaching will have got only two weeks. The risk is too great to even consider it.

[PickUpAPickUpAPenguin]

I think they should as statistically the risk to children is zero. It is hysterica nonsense unless they have a grandparent at home

What about kids who are shielding or kids who live with someone who's shielding?

[BillywilliamV]

Everyone is going to have to accept a teeny tiny bit of responsibility for getting the world going again. We cant crouch in our houses for the rest of our lives. The risk to children is minimal!

[Dozer]

“ They're are so many different family dynamics that many people will feel they have justifiable reasons”.

Nothing to do with “dynamics” or what people “feel”. Some households with school age DC include people who are at much higher risk than others of serious illness / death from the virus.

[BillywilliamV]

My year 10 will be going back as soon as possible. It is not good for her to be stuck at home, away from her friends and life!

[Dozer]

Dismissive terms like “teeny tiny responsibility”, “hysteria” and “crouch in houses” show no empathy for families in that kind of situation.

[Eyewhisker]

I don’t think it is a bad cold but it is a disease of the late middle age and the old. The link below shows how deaths in 2020 compare with previous years by age group.

Until above 45, there is no higher death rate. Above that age it rises sharply.

This means that grandparents and older adults should take care but that children are safe to go to school. If the death rate for all ages was the same as for the under 45s we would all lead normal lives. There is no need for children to be off school unless they are living with a vulnerable elder relative.

twitter.com/victimofmaths/status/1260129619354824704?s=21

This is positive news and should be seen as reassuring.

[JellyBelly78]

The risk to children might be minimal but what about all the staff that work in the school!

[FourTeaFallOut]

I'm shielding and I have three school children. There's no 'teeny tiny' risk about it.

[Bol87]

Oh for goodness sake, those saying the risk to children is minimal are NOT talking about vulnerable children nor those with vulnerable parents 😫 rather, referring to the majority who don’t! Of course those who are vulnerable etc should remain at home! 🤦🏼‍♀️

[Dozer]

Many parents of school ages DC are aged over 45! And with health issues putting them at high risk, hence the “shielding advice”.

[Eggybreadleg]

We don't know the risk to children because they've been in lockdown. We will only know when schools open and hopefully open sensibly. We have had child deaths and serious long term complications. It's been flagged all over the world that a Kawasaki like disease is appearing in children. London has had 40 cases despite being in lockdown. It is not a disease of the old. And kids will catch it and transmit it to adults.