Two things I want to say about schools going back...

[formerbabe]

1. I initially supported the closure of schools but I was absolutely disgusted and appalled that my children couldn't go back before the summer holidays...I was absolutely desperate for them to go back, not for me, but for them. We're now being preached at about how it's better for them to go back to school rather than stay at home...yeah, no shit, I've been saying that for the past four months. I'm fuming that my children were banned from school premises against my wishes and I'm now being told that school is really important, like I didn't know that. I'm really quite angry so perhaps I'm being irrational over this...

1. I bought new school shoes prior to lockdown, they've been worn for a week and now don't fit. Would I be unreasonable to send them to school in any shoes I want and sod their bloody rules?

I don't get point 2 at all. Who are you blaming for your children's feet growing over the past 6 months? Why is the school at fault for that?

I'm not blaming schools or teachers...I'm blaming the government @ploughingthrough

Oh, the drama.

Okay. Yes the government haven't handled things well and I can see why people are frustrated.
I think you should get your kids shows sorted though because they will get into trouble for not being in proper uniform.

Shoes not shows!

And to be fair even the government arent responsible for your kids growing. As you initially supported the school closures then it's just one of those things. Sell them on, get new ones.

1. Your children were not banned from the school premises. We accepted children back at our school based on if they were key worker children, vulnerable or in the year groups initially brought back. We also accepted children whose parents expressed concern about the impact of lockdown on their child. Did you speak to your school at all?

1. Yes, YABU. It is no one’s fault that you bought new shoes and now they don’t fit. It’s just one of those things. Sell them on and buy new ones if they are in a good enough condition.

This is a totally unprecedented situation for everyone. There have been major fuck ups, of course there have. With hindsight we will see even more.

They did the right thing with schools though, imagine if they prematurely opened them and thousands of children died.

Your dc would have grown out of their shoes at this point anyway, so you're not losing money.

The thing is I am one of those parents who follow the rules to the letter. So, not once have my dc been late to school, I've never taken them out at term time, I follow the rules on uniform. If I'm told to send in money, I do, if I'm told there's a voluntary contribution, I send it, even when skint. I'm now massively pissed off that I spent nearly a hundred quid on new school shoes for two dc that have barely been worn. Of course, I won't let my dc get into trouble for not following rules.

Could you sell the school shoes which have only been worn for one week? Facebook marketplace or something you may be able to get half your money back and put it towards a new pair.

But logically you would have spent the same money on new shoes now anyway, whether or not the previous pair were worn, so you're not any worse off its just galling when things dont get used isnt it.

1. You would need new shoes regardless, it’s not lock downs fault your children’s feet grew

Lots of people will be looking for shoes. Could you offer or sell them to someone else. I would happily pay for hardly worn shoes.

You’d have to buy new school shoes for your DC anyway so, yes, you’d be ridiculous to send them in whatever you like just because you’re angry with the government. It’s quite infantile really. I agree your DC are better in school.

Actually lots of children go into school in incorrect footwear...however, I'm one of the mugs who followed the rules to the letter

I feel you OP, it was awful that so many schools didn't open back up to ask many children as they could have done before the summer holidays. And the blame does really lie with the government for ambiguous and weak guidelines. But now they are doing exactly what you want, and trying to reopen schools to all children, and encouraging parents to send their kid in. Not all parents do feel the same way as you, so those are the people this campaign is really aimed at, not you.

As for shoes, well, yes, it's a bit crap, but there are more important things to worry about, and I'm sure most schools will have a relaxed approach if you want to send them in with some other footwear for a while.

No, you're one of the parents who make the choice to respect and adhere to the school uniform policy. There's actually quite a few of us out there. I don't care what other people's kids put on their feet, that's not my business. I just focus on what my kids have on their feet.

No need for you sarky comment about my dc being better off in school...like lots of parents, I come on here to rant.
None of my irrational opinions on this issue have been communicated to my dc.

I agree with you 100% about number 1 (number 2 is shrugs)

It's the 'gas lighting' about going back to school like it wasn't their decision making that kept children off all this time.

The 'school is the best place for kids' is shifting the blame on to parents; as if we were the ones making the choice.

It feels like manipulation and that infuriates me.

Point 1 yes it’s a bit of a finally moment.

2 no I think you’ll need new shoes which is a pain

I've pretty much got to the point with this government that I can't even get in a rage at their arrogant, bungling ineptitude. I just wait for the next major u-turn and play blame game bingo. . .

I hope they're not managing to fool themselves into thinking they're fooling us. . .

If you care about following the rules, buy new shoes. If you don’t, send them in what you have.

It’s annoying, yes - just been through the £100 school shoe shop and looking at donating on last year’s not worn-out ones because I suspect an awful lot of parents won’t be as fortunate as I am in being able to kit out my kids this September. Doesn’t mean the £100 didn’t sting.

@formerbabe

The thing is I am one of those parents who follow the rules to the letter. So, not once have my dc been late to school, I've never taken them out at term time, I follow the rules on uniform. If I'm told to send in money, I do, if I'm told there's a voluntary contribution, I send it, even when skint. I'm now massively pissed off that I spent nearly a hundred quid on new school shoes for two dc that have barely been worn. Of course, I won't let my dc get into trouble for not following rules.

That's pretty much the minimum the school expect from you, not really something to be proud of.

I do agree about the mixed messaging on schools. It's oh-so-clear that Saint Boris's grand plan for June was engineering things so that he can say: "I tried to let the schools back in June, but the public and unions stymied me." That and the way he and his merry men treat the public like children with stupid phrases such as "squeeeeeeeeeeeeeze the brakes", and that utterly despicable "new normal".

With the shoes: yes, it's unlucky, I'd be angry about that too. And I say that you have lost money, because you paid for them, and they hardly got any use from them, because of Saint Boris's lockdown. I agree about trying to sell them on.

I have two words too
THANK GOD !

It's the 'gas lighting' about going back to school like it wasn't their decision making that kept children off all this time.

The 'school is the best place for kids' is shifting the blame on to parents; as if we were the ones making the choice.

it feels like manipulation and that infuriates me

Thank you @zoemum2006 you said it much better than me. Thats exactly how I feel...like the government is making it out to have been parents choice to have kept their dc off school,