Have You sent your yr6 back to school?

[Calabasa]

Not a paper/journalist/whatever.

Just a mum wondering what to do for the last 4 weeks... trying to guage what the general feeling is.

Have you sent your yr6 back or not? Are you going to? Or do you think its best just to leave it and send them back in september to their new schools?

I really dont know what to do for the best.

Yes, this week. The change in him is huge! He has been so much happier, he has slept so well, he has really enjoyed doing the work and seeing his friends and teacher, and he has been riding his bike to and from school and spending far less time online. It's only half days but it is much better than nothing and I am so glad we sent him.

Mines gone back this week and loving being back.

Yep. Much much better. At home it's a constant battle to keep him off screens and the atmosphere was tense and unhappy. Now he's properly occupied and socialising and doing sport. I have no concerns re virus.

Yes from the first day she could go. She is so much happier, a completely different child. Her school has been brilliant and I am so impressed with her teacher and TA.

Absolutely yes. DD has been in two days this week (that's what school are offering until end of term). She has been so much happier and sleeping better too.

Mine is finally allowed back from the 6th July, she’s so excited! So relieved for her, would have been awful to leave school so abruptly and never go back

Yes. Two days and came out like a different child - a happier one. Only downside is she is sad she can’t go everyday!

Yes as soon as she could. She does 5 days as I'm a keyworker. She is much happier. Her younger siblings are all in too and the same.

Our school isn't taking them back so their next classroom experience will be in their new school with no transition day

Yes, for the last two weeks. Full days, Mon to Fri.
Only about half of his year group have gone back and he says they aren’t doing much work! Lots of running around outside.
Previously, he had been mostly on his computer/ PS4 whilst DH either wfh or left him with his older siblings (sleeping all day) whilst I was out at work.
He was nervous about going back, but I’m so glad he has. I think he would have struggled to be off for six months, then go back to a completely new, much bigger school.

@peekaboob We had an email recently saying our school was scrubbing the return of years R and 1 and just going with year 6s for the time being, there definitely hasn’t been a full return of that year.
For transitioning they’ve said they’ll set up 1 hour block sessions (for all years) where one adult & 1 child can come in, meet their teacher and see their new classroom. But if their new classroom is currently being used by Y6/Vulnerable/Keyworker groups they’ll be seen in a different classroom. Oh and if the teacher is shielding or working in a bubble then it’ll be a Zoom call to the class pc/projector.

Yes and she's like a different child this week, happy and chatty and much less time tik toking!

Yep, since the day he could go back! He, too, is a different child (and I thought he was coping well with lockdown.) Happy, sleeping well, enjoying the routine. It's lovely.

Mine has been in KW provision throughout but is switching to year 6 bubble when they return next week- she is so excited to see her friends as it's been just her, her bother and a couple of younger ones in KW bubble up to now.,
In the year 6 bubble- 10 of the 15 Y6 children are returning.

Mine is going on Monday. He has been fantastically conscientious at doing his school work for the last 3 months, but his enthusiasm and energy is waning. Weirdly, because he is in middle school, he has no transitioning to do, and 2 more years in the school.(our middle school is Y6-8). Dd (Y3) is furious.

Our county ha ulcers only just said children can return from Monday. DS’s school are having half of year 6 back on alternate weeks so he’ll get 2 weeks of school before summer. They aren’t having reception or year 1 back at all. He’s so excited to be going back!

*have, no ideas where ‘ulcers’ came from 🤨

Mine went back 2 weeks ago. He didn’t really want to go back, we were having good time at home and all having fun. But he has loved it ! Head and his class teacher have both commented on how bubbly and loud he has become. And normally I have to drag him there. I think it’s the group he’s with and the small class size. All his class who’ve gone back seem to be loving it (about 70% back). Have to say though , we are rural and not much covid here at all at any point so far. ....

Mines been back a couple of weeks, and he is so so much happier for it. We both work full time and we just couldn’t spend any meaningful time on homeschool - he was at the end of his rope as were we. Going back has done him the world of good, and he is really loving being around his friends again.

Yes, mine has been back for just over a week and is so much better for it. I was seriously concerned for his mental health at one point. There was literally a change in him on the first day back.

@doctorboo that sounds like a good set up for transition. We have been sent online forms from the new school and they are planning to do virtual tours and zoom calls with new teachers. Our school hasn't opened up to any other than key workers. They're pretty strict on what the kids can do out of school as well if they are in - they are not allowed to socialise outside of school with kids outside of their bubble. They are starting zoom lessons next week each day.
I have a year 5, 6 and 9 and they are all desperate to get back in. Toddler has just gone back to nursery so Starting to get a bit back into a routine.

Yes. Been back 2 weeks. He is in a different classroom to normal with a different teacher, but still loving it. I don't think any of will take school for granted again.

Yes, two weeks ago and she is loving it. Like most pp's, whilst she was ok at home, the change in her has been dramatic - happier, sleeping better and whilst screen time is still a big thing, I dont care as much now as she's spent most of her day with friends, running around! It's also closure for her - the school have been soooo good to her for seven years!

Everyone's circumstances are different of course but if you're leaning towards sending her, definitely do it!

We haven't. Another middle school set up here, so we don't have the concern of it being the final year of school (2 more years to go). I'm not working at the moment so have time for home schooling, the school bubbles are by class group and I know that none of his close friends are there so he'd be in a bubble with kids he's not that friendly with. He's doing well at home, we've spoken openly about the options and given him plenty of chances to change his mind, but he's not that bothered.

So for us, there doesn't seem to be a good enough reason to go back for the last 4 weeks, with all the change that will bring, only to revert to 6 weeks at home again.

Yes, he went back this week and is a different child. He wasn't keen but I have my happy, smiley 11 year old back. My others are back 1 day (key worker) they moan but are happy when I pick them up.