Extra Curricular In Sep

[Phoebewillow]

Just wondered what thoughts are about extra curricular activities when schools go back in September? I am secondary school teacher and have 2DDs going back in to yr8 and yr9 at a different school. They are keen to go back to theatre classes starting up again in September. My gut instinct is that is a bad idea in that they will be exposed to kids from a number of different schools in the area. I am not worried so much about the risk from Covid but my concern is that it will increase the risk of them having to miss school from being asked to self isolate for 2 weeks if a member of the extra curricular class tests positive. I am aware that there is a certain inevitability to having to self isolate for 2 weeks at some point this year due to a year or local school lockdown but I am thinking that an extra curricular isolation at a different time to their rest of their year group would be hard to bear..

[Jrobhatch29]

I think you have to weigh up the pros and cons. My oldest son has returned to football because he loves it and he really missed it. Its good exercise and he has good friends there. Granted its outdoors (and I have to stand outside in the winter but last week one of the kids relatives tested positive so he had to isolate. Thankfully none of the other kids did but these things are bound to happen. To us the risk is acceptable for something he loves so much. Swimming on the other hand, we are knocking on the head until next year. My niece has returned to dancing as again, it is a huge part of her life

[DebbieFiderer]

At the moment I am happy that cases are low enough that the risk of having to isolate is far outweighed by the benefits they get from the activities. If that balance of risks changes then I will reassess, but for now, they will be returning to all their classes.

[Phoebewillow]

Yes, I think it is about weighing it up.. I’m wondering about at least trying to reduce what they do a bit. Is so tricky to make the right choice...

[Wemol]

I’ve been wanting to ask this same question! For the moment we’re having a break from gymnastics and swimming classes but have gone back to horse riding. We’re waiting to hear re her ballet class and theatre class but think we might just do ballet. I’m fairly relaxed about the general Covid risk because we don’t fall into a high risk category and I think it’s important to get back to some kind of normality even just while it seems more sensible to do so. Our daughter did go back to Reception for 1 month before summer which we were happy about. But I’m keen to scale back slightly on some of the extra curricular stuff she does especially for the activities that are harder to adapt to the new reality and logically pose the greater risk due to their nature and the potential for increased risk due to the mix of children from all around our area rather than just fellow class mates ie the ones we are already coming into contact with through school.

[wendz86]

My two are back to gymnastics and swimming and will go back to dance in Sept.

The most worrying one i think is gymnastics as they have to touch all the equipment but they have a good cleaning regime and they check their temperatures when going in etc.

I'm not worried about the dance so much as they don't need to touch anything and can socially distance.

[Qasd]

I am more keen than ever to be honest I don’t trust the government to keep schools open but I do think extra curricular stuff is more likely to stay open as it’s profit making and helps the economy it’s also harder to justify eg closing my daughters dance class but allowing gyms to operate so I see extra curricular as being an option to remain social interaction, structure, the experience of being “taught” even in the event of another shut down of formal education (they were also much better at providing live zoom lessons etc in the last lockdown again I think the profit making element provides a real
Incentive to keep something up and running but it was great for her mental health to see her dance buddies over zoom)

[Phoebewillow]

Is so tricky. My gut instinct is to scale it back but I also feel guilty about letting down the extra curricular organisations that rely on us to survive...

[manicinsomniac]

Mine are going back.

I don't really want them to (not because of getting ill but because of the increased risk of being contacted by track and trace) but if I made them go to school and didn't allow dance/gymnastics my life wouldn't be worth living!!

[tootyfruitypickle]

We’re actually taking up a new sport together , which is indoors. If it were just me I wouldn’t but dd needs a focus and this is going to be great for her MH. It’s at a gym though and she will be the only child , it’s an adult class they’ve let her join with me.

[tootyfruitypickle]

She is having her singing lessons back face to face but presumably she only has to isolate if the teacher tests positive

[WhyNotMe40]

We've decided that outside and local is ok. Inside and in a different town is not.
So yes to football, no to swimming or gymnastics.
Possibly yes to scouts but yet to hear from them.

[NotAKaren]

Have also been thinking about this not just in terms of concerns over catching the virus but also about the financial commitment when there is so much uncertainty. I am concerned about making a big outlay on fees and a commitment to something that could very likely be disrupted or scaled back at some point this winter.

[Phoebewillow]

Yes @NotAKaren that is something I have been worried about.... I can’t see any chance of getting any money back as the providers will be struggling too..