If you don't need school for childcare...

[HorsesDoovers]

If you don't need school for childcare will you send your child back on 1st June? I have a Year 6 DS and I am so undecided. I handed in my notice at the beginning of all this so I am now at home and can home educate him if I choose to. I don't want him to miss out but I also don't want to take unnecessary risks.
I know that he will be sat at a desk, socially distanced, for most of the day as this is what his school has done for Key worker children. The school has said they will send more details tomorrow but that they are well set up to follow the guidelines as this is what they are doing already.
It sounds a bit miserable really and I'm not sure how much he would benefit from it.
I also don't want him to miss out on any transition to Yr 7, but we've (understandably) had no info on this so I don't even know how its going to work, if if happens at all.
Just looking for opinions really.

Sorry I meant to put this in Coronavirus topic

Yes, I am going to because she is missing interacting with children her own age.

Still undecided. Mine are reception and year 1. I’ve seen all the plans as I’m chair of governors... I swing between ‘no way, it’ll be too weird for them’ to ‘it’s going to still be weird in September so better to ease them in now’.
If it helps though our head was surprised that year 6 were identified as a priority year group. She had them down as low priority for return. She said the main thing they need at this stage is transition to senior school, not sitting in a classroom learning.

Our school have ask us to nominate 1 or 2 friends for the kids to be in a 'bubble' of 6 with (with only 2 of these groups in school at once). They'll only go 1 or 2 days a week and be sat 2 metres apart but will be allowed to talk to each other. My son has ADHD and was promised extra support for the transition, he's already completely out of routine so I don't think keeping him away any longer will be beneficial.

According to our head,it's still not definitely happening so I've not mentioned it to him.

Nope.

I don't think it's fair on the teachers & other staff (nit fir the R rate for everyone) . I hope the unions/councils etc stay strong and say NO ITS TOO SOON
But if they don't, I hope many parents decide not to send their kids in, the fewer kids, the less the risk for teachers/other staff.

I've no desire to put them at risk simply to
Provide a baby sitting service. It'll be a clusterfuck as far as any teaching is concerned. Transition stuff won't happen.

Far better for senior schools to have a couple of days with just year 7's at the beginning of next year where possible.

Yes , the DC need an education and interaction outwith the people in this house.

I really hope that this doesn’t become an issue - whether parents “ need “ school as childcare , working parents VS non working parents etc

All our teachers are extremely keen to get back. I’ve seen the anonymous survey responses about their feelings on it.

Yes, because my son needs to be at school for a myriad of reasons outside it being childcare. And I do not feel guilty on any level about sending him back when the time comes (3rd June is the earliest date given here for various reasons). I believe he will be as safe as is practicable and so will staff.

No. Lucky I don't need to. I get that other children have to or want to.
My concerns about the bubble, outside of school, teachers have no idea what level of exposure kids have to the virus and then risk bringing it back to their bubble.
A lot of families in my town have taken kids to the play areas for example.

Yes.

A mixed bag then. I think its obviously harder for the little ones, if DS was Yr R or 1 I'd be keeping him at home, he is at least able to understand and follow the rules.

HoobleDooble that sounds like a good set up, unfortunately DS school won't be doing anything like this.

Honestly I think people have to take this case by case. My DCs school has about 18 children per year so obviously much easier to manage than a school that has 90 kids per year. The teachers are very keen to get the children back and I know they're working hard to set this up safely. I will make my final decision once I know the details but for now we are leaning towards yes.

I'm a SAHM with a 3 and 5 year old. I won't be sending them back to preschool or school just yet if they do open. If like to wait a bit longer. They are both happy at home and I have the time to spend with them. I understand others have different circumstances and will make a different decision and that's fine, by not sending mine back it'll make it that bit safer for the children and teachers who will be going back. I'm keeping an open mind though and taking each day as it comes.

I don't need school for childcare and I am key worker so could have sent DD to school if need but she chose not to and here's the important part because none of her friends would be there. As soon as school reopens I will be sending DD to school. Herself and her friends want to do all the usual things before they transition to high school and they're really missing each other, she also hates the minimal amount of "homeschooling" work she gets.

So yes

Will they still be setting work? I’m abroad and haven’t sent my Dd back because the social distancing set-up sounds a bit miserable and the school are continuing to provide work for kids at home on the days she could go in (about once a week). Tellingly the teachers seem to be keeping their own children at home with the other parent even if they are working at school full-time.

But everyone’s situation is different - we have a SAHP, close in age siblings, enough tech to go around, garden etc which made it a much easier decision.

We have been told that no online work will be set for Year 6 once school reopens for them. Fair enough, teachers won't have time to do both. That part doesn't bother me as we have access to loads of online stuff, I am a teacher so I'm happy to help him. But of course socially he'll be missing out. Assuming he'd be back with some of his friends in his 'bubble'.

Astrid I wonder how much of those usual things they will actually get to do though, there presumably won't be any of the usual disco, leavers assembly etc, we don't even know how transition to Yr7 will work.

Oh and DS school is a large 4 form entry Junior school with over 500 pupils when at full capacity.

I'm sending DD in. She is old enough to wash her hands properly, not pick her nose, and maintain social distancing. I'm doing it purely for her mental health. I would be fine with them doing nothing but chatting and playing outside all day, in fact would prefer that to school work. Our school is small with about 11 year 6s and they have only been offered Mondays and Tuesdays. If DD were reception or year one, I probably wouldn't send her in.

Theses images are from schools in France since SD has been in place.
This is what I am worried about for all of our children.

hennybeans with only 11 Year 6 children I'd be sending mine in too!

Mine is Year 5 so I won’t get the chance, but I will send her as soon as possible. She needs to get back to school and see other children, she’s a gregarious only child and this is really bad for her mental health.

IHateCoronavirus I really don't think it will be like that, not for the little ones, they've already said in the guidance that Yr R and Yr1 are not expected to socially distance.

Maybe for Yr6 though, which is one if my main concerns.