How do 'bubbles' work for teenagers?

[LasagneQueen]

DD turns 16 next month.

She has a dozen friends she'd like to invite round for a 'party' and honestly I'm a bit flummoxed.

I think I'm correct in believing that only 6 people are allowed to meet at a home/private garden, yet she will be in a 'bubble' with all of these girls at school so don't really see what the difference is between them being in a contained classroom together all week, or being in my garden at the weekend.

We'll have the gazebo up so they will be in the garden regardless of weather, in and out only to use the loo, I'll put a bottle of hand sanitiser on the back door and paper towels in the bathroom. Food and drinks will all be individually served rather than buffet style.

Would you be happy for your DC to attend something like this? I'm not naturally a rule breaker and quite honestly I've got enough stress in my life at the moment without worrying about all this, but want her to have a decent birthday.

[LasagneQueen]

@ineedaholidaynow

If you are going to put the sides down on the gazebo you may as well be indoors.

I'm not.. it's mainly for hanging decorations off!

[Hearhoovesthinkzebras]

@LasagneQueen

Hearhooves

I take you point but I'm going to potentially be in contact with 1300 students and 200+ staff at school anyway...so if one of the invited girls has it, I'm just as likely (moreso in fact) to pick it up at work.

Who ever thought an "illegal birthday party" would ever be a thing? I'm glad I'm an anti social type and will be celebrating mine with just a good book and a cuppa.

And we all agree that bubbles in school are ridiculous. The only caveat is that all 200 are unlikely to be in very close proximity to each other and in worse case scenario you aren't going to be responsible for anything that has happened if there's an outbreak caused by being in school. You will be responsible for an outbreak due to a party you hold though.

[askmehowiknow]

@SaltyAndFresh

Presumably your DD's bubble will be 200+, depending on the size of her year group, so I don't think that's got too much bearing on the number invited. I'm a teacher and I'm at max risk anyway, so it wouldn't make any difference to me if the same kids got together for a party. They won't be SDing in school so what's the point?

You started a thread days ago saying working parents need a plan B if schools close due to CV!!

Sudden change in attitude

[ineedaholidaynow]

Maybe @SaltyAndFresh has accepted the inevitable that schools/year groups will be closing on a regular basis, and parents need to do so too.

[askmehowiknow]

@ineedaholidaynow

Maybe *@SaltyAndFresh* has accepted the inevitable that schools/year groups will be closing on a regular basis, and parents need to do so too.

Maybe. It's an interesting attitude from a teacher. After a school closed due to CV spread at a party in Scotland though...

[ittooshallpass]

I wouldn't even consider this OP and I certainly wouldn't allow my DD to attend.

School bubbles here aren't 200+, they are 30. The children stay in their tutor groups and the teachers move around.

Teachers are risking so much and are doing so much to make sure our children can get back to school as safely as possible and you are jeopardising it all by holding a party.

You are being totally irresponsible and your neighbours would be right to report you.

[PimlicoJo]

I've known people have gatherings of more than six people in their garden - a friend recently had a barbecue to celebrate his 50th birthday and there were just under 20 people there. Everything was done in the way you suggest, with good social distancing and hygiene in place. No visitors went into the house other than for toilet visits.

I think this is fine, although you may find that some parents feel differently, and it risks spoiling the event if some don't come. Why not restrict the numbers to six, and perhaps do it over 2 days like you suggest.

Although the guidance is for groups of 6 or fewer, the law is 30 so you would not be breaking the law. You just need to decide if you feel comfortable breaking the guidance. Personally, I wouldn't be happy to host something that breaks the guidance, although I attended the barbecue I mentioned. A bit hypocritical of me, I know.

[LasagneQueen]

ittooshallpass

Dd is at secondary school where bubbles are by year group not form. They will be contained largely in the same area of the school but within that area they will be moving between classes as necessary as they are in different streams for maths/science and taking different GCSEs.

Dd will be in contact with every one of these girls during the preceding weeks on a daily basis.

Anyway...I'm going to say a definite no to the 12 in at once and we'll have to find some kind of workaround.

Tbh I'd much rather arrange something special for the two of us and do a party at a later date when its less hassle, but yellow...teenagers.

[Shalliornot]

I think school ‘bubbles’ are being misinterpreted- the school bubble shouldn’t mean that all social distancing is abandoned it just means that circumstances are permitted where it isn’t possible (ie classrooms). Where there can be distancing there should be. Something is better than nothing and yes they will be in a classroom with each other and there is risk associated with that but putting them in a party together surely increases the risk, plus it’s different risk if they are sharing food etc - which they shouldn’t be in school.

[Shalliornot]

Completely get your issue though!

[ittooshallpass]

OP, my DD is in secondary school too, but her school is obviously doing things differently to your DDs school. The teachers move around, not the pupils.

I do think it's wrong to have a party for your DD. I know it's hard, but we've all had to miss weddings, christenings and funerals due to corona, so sadly your DD has to miss her 16th birthday too.

Please don't hold this party - none of us know what the return to school is going to bring, but if people keep holding social gatherings with numbers above what is being recommended then we'll just see more localised lockdowns and all of this will go on for much longer than it needs to.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

No I wouldnt host this or allow my DC to attend a party whilst the rules are in place. They are there for a reason and at 16 can easily be understood.

What happens if they take the virus into school and a teacher, vulnerable pupil or family member contract it and get seriously ill or worse? All for the sake of a party. Many have had to miss out on things for the sake of protecting others but we should be encouraging children and young people to have social responsibility.