Anti dementors visit the zombie beach

[BarkandCheese]

New thread! Hope the title is acceptable.

I wondered if that might be the case DominaShantotto. There is a key worker on our reception WhatsApp group who has been very vocally trying to persuade the rest of us not to send ours back when they reopen to reception.

@Drivingdownthe101

I was a bit angry then a bit sad that yesterday someone accused all people sending children back to school of wanting to get rid of them, despite needing to work to live and so needing schools to open. Apparently she is able to WFH and home school really well

I don’t even need to work (I can do my work in the evenings) and one of mine is going back today. I’m the lowest of the low!

I saw that post yesterday and considered replying to it, but that thread is such a car crash I didn’t bother. This is what I would have said though; I my job, DD is 12 anyway so doesn’t need looking after like a younger child, she’s entirely self sufficient with her school work and is a generally chilled character who is easy company. I have no need to get “rid” of her, I desperately want her to go back to school because it’s the best thing for her not for my sake.

Why can’t some people understand that for most of us this isn’t a special, precious, bonus time to spend with our children because it’s not doing our children any good? Sure a few quiet days spending time together when life has been hectic is lovely, but day after day of no company, nothing to do other than go out on a walk and no prospect of it ending any time soon? That’s not fun or nice at all.

@waleshasgonecompletelycrazy thanks for the recommendations. Will do.

It's crazy. Some people saying schools will not fully reopen till nov and no wraparound care

Teatea - that's good to know, some of our parents have said the same. It's not so much the older, competing swimmers that I think we'll lose but possibly the younger learners whose parents might decide to cut back, or not sign up in the first place. They are the club's future.

Garden centres open but not zoos is really odd when you think about it isn't it?

There's probably more of them overall being small bussiness dotted around and Alan Tichmarch was all over media for a while trying to help them get open - saying we were going to lose these business and the jobs.

I'd talk to the school Orangeblossom78 see what they say but I'd also think about putting him on some antihistamine if not on already- it sounds mad but vasaline around the nostrils every morning. It was all I was allowed for 5 year due to pg and bf but worked surpsingly well. Problem is even if school is understanding other chidlren and parents may not be for a while though as soon as they've been back a bit I expect everyone will clam down.

Orange blossom, I would definitely tell them in advance about the hay fever.

@Drivingdownthe101 I'm even worse I'm on mat leave and husband furloughed and ds is going back in on Monday .... because he desperately wants to!! He's no bother at home - I have a 3 yr old and 3mth old and ds1 is more of a help than anything .

Allhallowseve I still have my 4 year old and 16 month old at home too... like you it’s easier for me to have the 6 year old around as her and her sister generally just play together and leave me in peace! The next week and a half will be more challenging as I’ll have to entertain the 4 year old!

@Drivingdownthe101 me too ! My 3 yr old and 5 yr old are together playing all day . I think my 3 yr old will be lost without his big bro to be honest. But I need to do what's best for him , he loves school and wants to go back I can't keep him at home in fear of this disease.

Surely opening zoos is a win win situation? They desperately need the money and parents desperately need something to do with their children which isn’t another sodding walk.

It’s not even about going back to work for me; I’m a SAHM. It’s about my children’s wellbeing and social development.

But I think people posting that “can’t be arsed to look after their own children” nonsense know full well the real reasons why parents want / need them to go back to school. They’re just striking the lowest blow that they can because shaming people who disagree with you is what passes for debate on the internet. In normal circumstances, if you used the “can’t be arsed” accusation against parents who need childcare so they can work you’d be (rightly) ripped to shreds on here!

I don't think they realise how many people wish they didn't need 2 salaries to pay the bills. It would be a lot less stressful for us if that were true. I don't want to not work but it would be so much easier if I didn't need to iyswim.

Even if I didn't work I'd be sending Ds back because children need other children and I can't provide that. They also need education from people who are trained to do that. I'm not!

I don't need school for childcare either. I do need it for the welfare of my child.

Surely opening zoos is a win win situation? They desperately need the money and parents desperately need something to do with their children which isn’t another sodding walk.

I don't disagree - but perhaps it just need to get on the governments radar more - the garden centers were doing quite a bit of PR and lobbying to be allowed to open.

But I think people posting that “can’t be arsed to look after their own children” nonsense know full well the real reasons why parents want / need them to go back to school. They’re just striking the lowest blow that they can because shaming people who disagree

I agree.

They also need education from people who are trained to do that

That's the bit that gets me - suddenly having professional teachers teach isn't important and anyone ie me can fill the gaps left and if they fall behind oh that's all on me.

The BBC had a live report from Chester zoo this morning so that might bring the story to a bit more prominence.

Thanks, I will try the vaseline if he'll let me! It's mainly first thing, the sneezing and then settles down so I will see how it is. Maybe if the weather is less hot it will be OK.

It's strange that some seem to miss the benefits of education and play etc to the child - very odd, isn't it.

I agree @enjoyingSun. Teachers are highly skilled and hard working professionals and yet now we’re just expected to be able to do their job with no training?

I guess at zoos people tend to crowd around the animal enclosures, perhaps? I'm guessing that might be part of it, not sure.

@enjoyingSun

They also need education from people who are trained to do that

That's the bit that gets me - suddenly having professional teachers teach isn't important and anyone ie me can fill the gaps left and if they fall behind oh that's all on me.

It’s amazing, isn’t it? For years teachers have been highly trained dedicated professionals who work all the hours there are and aren’t paid nearly enough for their qualification level. Now all of a sudden if we can’t do their job in a few spare minutes between zoom calls after looking up the KS2 curriculum on Google, we aren’t trying hard enough!

I am happy though, ds2’s school has uploaded some more work. He’s been adding up fractions for an hour.

There was a thing in the Times today about York Minster prep school closing because York Minster can't afford to support it any longer (because it can't charge visitors). I know that not everyone will care hugely about private schools but this is going to be a worrying time for all the families of those children.

Here it is

I am happy though, ds2’s school has uploaded some more work. He’s been adding up fractions for an hour.

If you need need more maths work - mathsfactor is brilliant it does manage to teach new concepts and is curently free. All mine did it and it impoved them so much - got yongest Y6 back on it and bluetick which is also free currently - as I don't want her falling behind before starting secondary.

Teachers are really going to be fucking themselves over with this "parents need to take charge of educating" thing - they're setting up for a world where we managed with some online providers and teachers just overseeing it while unskilled people did the grunt work back in 2020 - so let's raise class sizes to 60 with the teacher allocating work tasks for someone on minimum wage to supervise the kids doing it brave new world in the future.