Home learning at the end of term or face isolating over Christmas

[urbanmist]

Schools are clearly driving the pandemic. Unless schools switch to home learning for the last week of term, many families will have all hope of ‘saving Christmas’ ruined. Children sent home to isolate in the last week will have to isolate on Christmas Day. Being in school is clearly the best for them, but at the expense of a ‘normal’ Christmas (if the rumours of a few day let up are true)?

[Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady]

I would argue that being in school ISN'T the best for a large number of children. For example those who are worrying about bringing the virus home to their vulnerable family members. Children aren't stupid.

That point aside, yes, I think schools should close early. My childs school isn't supposed to be to fishing until the 22nd. I will be taking him out from the 11th and I will be honest with the school and take a fine we can't afford.

[Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady]

*finishing...ffs

[Waxonwaxoff0]

School is more important than "saving Christmas." I'll be alone on Christmas day as DS is at his dad's and I'd rather that than him miss school.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

Parents should be given the option though if they want to keep their children off, but I want mine at school.

[IceFrost]

No I don’t think schools should shut early to be honest. Some kids have already had a ton of time off due to isolating lots.

[DangerMouse17]

No kids need to be at school. Christmas is less important than kids learning and their mental health to be honest. They've missed too much already. Covid isnt going anywhere. We can hide away but each time things are lifted its clear cases will just go up anyway. Best thing to do is keep yourself in good nick so you can fight it off should you happen to come into contact with it...

[Smallwhiterat]

I’d personally rather they were at school until the last day even if they had to be isolated over the holidays. They won’t be doing much at home over Christmas anyway and we’re unlikely to see family. Being isolated over Christmas Day as far as they’re concerned would be great - more time with Christmas presents/new x box games, less time being dragged outside for a walk. School open or not, restrictions or not, Christmas isn’t normal this year anyway.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Schools can stay open and people can remove their children if they want.

However no more 'we don't teach children who have to be there because their parents are key workers' nonsense if schools close for most. If my child is in school, because both her parents have worked through in really challenging times, please teach her.

I don't have childcare or relatives or annual leave left. And I'd quite like my child to have an education. There will be a Christmas next year.

[Remmy123]

Schools shouldn't shut early they have kissed enough - I'd rather my kids education than Xmas

[formerbabe]

I'd rather have my dc at school thanks.

All this "saving Christmas" shite...what a load of crap.

[ThursdayLastWeek]

Yes I totally agree with the point that Christmas will happen next year.

My child in reception will very likely fall extremely behind with the basics if they close the schools, and I’m prepared to sacrifice any form of social life to make sure that doesn’t happen.

[MarshaBradyo]

No thanks I’d prefer dc in and with friends not stuck at home isolating

But if people want to take theirs out to do so they can (just SI)

[treeeeemendous]

Nope I want mine in school thanks. One due to sit GCSEs next year.

[GooseberryTart]

You can’t save or cancel christmas fed up with this shite. We are doing what we normally do and spending Christmas just the four of us its lovely. We don’t usually see elderly relatives and I certainly wouldn’t want to be spending time all cramped up in close quarters and sharing a toilet with umpteen people on the basis or that my christmas had been saved.

[ContraIndicated]

I think the huge risk is that people whose kids are told to self isolate in the last week of term (ie over the Christmas holidays), just won’t stick to it if Boris is giving people three days off the restrictions. Then potentially infectious people will mix.

I don’t think schools should move to home learning, but I will still cry if my kids have to self isolate over Xmas.

[Qasd]

I would rather they were in school and no normal Christmas but I will be guided by the majority as has to be the case, just to remember though it’s not “home learning” since the U.K. states sector doesn’t really do that. It’s maybe do a few twinkl worksheets and see you sometime when we cannot convince them to keep schools shut anymore” less catchy but more actuate!

[Crakeandoryx]

Personally don't agree. Christmas is one day and is likely to be restricted anyway. Education is significantly more important than Christmas in isolation. We're going to be isolated on and off for quite some time to come.

[ForthPlace]

We already have a big swell of parents who are taking their children out of school (11th) to allow for isolation before Christmas Day. LA attendance figures are already down to 72%, dread to think what they will be in the last two weeks of term.

[dingledongle]

My Secondary school has shut now, Xmas feels like a long way away

[ForthPlace]

Qasd

just to remember though it’s not “home learning” since the U.K. states sector doesn’t really do that. It’s maybe do a few twinkl worksheets

Not any longer. In March the government suspended the curriculum. This isn't the case now and expectations of remote ed. have increased.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/remote-education-good-practice/remote-education-good-practice

[notheragain41]

Kids being in school is worth a much higher "expense" than a normal Christmas for fuck sake. How little do people value children that some genuinely believe they are so entitled to a turkey dinner with granny that they would deny their children an education for it. Unreal.

[NullcovoidNovember]

TBH I always thought the save xmas stuff - whilst clearly about the most imp festival in our year - in the UK - I thought it was more about the businesses that need xmas money to get through the flat months of Jan, feb and march? Ie save business?

[Smallwhiterat]

I’m hopeful that if all these parents talking about pulling out on the 11th actually do so my children will have a lovely small class group for a few days. Unfortunately I suspect schools will be closed or at least closed to the majority.

[NullcovoidNovember]

"How little do people value children that some genuinely believe they are so entitled to a turkey dinner with granny that they would deny their children an education for it. Unreal."

Wow I am not sure what to make of that comment. There are some posters who literally have dying loved ones who have not seen their families or their GC hardly at all this year and they are desperate to take their dc out before xmas so they can quarantine and be safe and see their relatives.

I cannot equate 1 or 2 weeks of Missed education ( when most lesson plans and work is one line now due to the students who have to SI) with seeing a grandfather who may shortly never ever be on this planet ever again.

Thats un real to me.

[NullcovoidNovember]

Smallwhiterat

Indeed! It would be the perfect solution wouldn;t it - everyone would be safer an classes actually thinned out.