Are you sending your children back to school in January?

[RosieLemonade]

I assumed people would be pleased the schools are remaining open (probably because that’s how I feel) but the two people I’ve spoken to about it this morning are disgusted. Both are SAHM so don’t need their children in.

No. Keeping my DD off for a few weeks to see what happens. Her school have had numerous cases since September and has had to SI over Christmas because of close contact. A few families in her year have also mixed which doesn't help.

I'm not sure what the protocol with school will be regarding fines, surely they understand the anxiety this is causing. I won't be expecting any school work as it's my decision and they don't give much anyway.

@peacockfeather11
You can always say that he has been told to isolate. You then have 2 weeks. Then say again, and you bought yourselves almost a full month where they can't do anything.

@TheSunIsStillShining...thank you, didn't think of that. But who would I say requested the isolation? Won't the school ask for proof?

depends on school. In sept we said friend tested positive.
Then when things started escalating and we decided not to send him in at all in the term we came clean to the school.
I think it's up to the HT how they react. Ours was okay-ish. Still had to report it and I am dealing with LEA.
Our latest correspondence was that they asked me when will my non-curable life long condition get cured.

@LittleOverwhelmed
my translation of what you said:
"normal" ppl's kids are entitled to an education and everyone who deviates from that normal can go and suck an egg.

Why is it too much to ask that everyone make a small sacrifice (masks and SD/rota) so that ALL kids can have an education that is closer to normal?

No we are tier 4 and numbers have almost tripled.
School did sterling work up until now but Covid safe it just isn't, lots of bubbles burst and lots of cases in run up to Christmas.
Home school it is for now

Time and time again when the issues of schools arise, there is a big divide.

All children need an education. All children deserve an equal education. I understand those without underlying vulnerability wanting schools kept open. Yet, what about those children living with parents or guardians who are at risk of becoming seriously ill or death? Why should it be schools open as they are? Why should it be that those children have to go to school knowing that their parent is shielding and that they could potentially bring it home due to the lack of covid secure practices and other families reckless acts?

Yes I want schools open, but there has to be some provisions in place for these families.

@Dementedswan

Time and time again when the issues of schools arise, there is a big divide.

All children need an education. All children deserve an equal education. I understand those without underlying vulnerability wanting schools kept open. Yet, what about those children living with parents or guardians who are at risk of becoming seriously ill or death? Why should it be schools open as they are? Why should it be that those children have to go to school knowing that their parent is shielding and that they could potentially bring it home due to the lack of covid secure practices and other families reckless acts?

Yes I want schools open, but there has to be some provisions in place for these families.

I agree. Time to give parents a choice, risks niw are simply too high abd school teams simply too overstretched.

No, we withdrawn him at the start of the pandemic as he was shielded.

Yes they will absolutely be going if the schools are open. I met a friend for a coffee outdoors yesterday and she completely agreed.

Yes will send both in if open but not very optimistic they will be open for mine, 1 year 10, 1 y9 with SN.

For what its worth. My dc have been going to school despite both parents and their grandparents being on the vulnerable list/and shielded.

The risks seem too big now for us as they have no other family, I would like a choice and support in place for families like us. We don't shop, we have deliveries, we haven't been anywhere apart from walks since march. Should get vaccine in the next couple months. Yet the law says we have to send our dc to school or deregister and try to homeschool whilst working from home with no support. Both choices suck right now.

I’ll send mine back if legally obliged to but I’m nervous. Cases have rocketed here, I have one in year six and one in year 8. I understand the kids don’t get poorly but it’s the fact that they could make their families and teachers very sick. My 36 year old BIL has been floored by covid this year. He’s on day 10 and still a fever. Was taken into hospital in an ambulance on Xmas eve and paramedics called again yesterday. 100 covid patients were admitted to the same hospital on Xmas eve. So you never know how it’s going to affect you as an adult. Even if you think you’re fit and well.

Yes. Y11 can not afford to miss any school with GCSE mocks coming up.

Yes, I'm cev. Two of my three children have had to self isolate after being close contacts of confirmed cases and so far we have been lucky it came to naught. Not looking forward to crossing my fingers and hoping for the best again in January.

Unsure at the moment. Our local schools had lots of cases throughout December. Nearest secondary had to shut as it had so many cases in every year group. This then trickled down into the primaries through siblings. In the last week of school only reception and year 1 were in in my dcs school. My yr 4 dd was hardly in at all. Personally I would much prefer them in, as trying to homeschooling 3 kids, 2 with asd, is really hard. But I think its a lot harder for them going in, then being sent home to isolate, then going back in again, they don't know if they are coming or going!

I would love to send my DD to school; I do not trust the Government advice at all. Our school has had numerous outbreaks since September and all over Christmas which amounts to a lot of weeks lost learning - that message to me is that school is not a safe environment.

Both my DC are at secondary school and we were told on the last day of term they would be learning remotely for the first week of term, with a view to start back on 11th January but a firm start date given nearer the time. I’ll send them in when school reopens. I work in education myself and am back in January.

I understand why some parents wont want to send their children in, though. One of my closest friends will be keeping her year 5 child at home in January, and will ask the school for work to do from home. She doesn’t think it’s safe, and I respect that.

DS12 will 100% be back when they are open. His school have ran well and he has only isolated once in three months.

He is so far returning the second week of January and I'm hoping this continues to be the case.

I am very worried about the lateral flow testing in secondary, replacing periods of isolation for contacts.
Our dds have been going in, despite ds shielding - and we keep everything crossed they don't bring it back...but this new proposed system seems incredibly risky, with the number of false negatives reported on lateral flow tests.

Y11 can not afford to miss any school with GCSE mocks coming up.

Of course but my y11 dd had four lots of isolation last term , one from me when I caught covid from school. So them being ‘open’ as they are when cases are high isn’t working.