To think a NT secondary aged student should be able to manage at home?

[turquoiseblueglitter]

AIBU to be surprised key worker parents are sending secondary aged children to school?

My parents went away for weekends when I was in year 10, shouldn’t most be able to manage?

Isn’t it just year 7?

I would think most NT children with good mental health would be able to cope fine.

Do you know the neurological and emotional state of all these children being sent in?

See, you say NT, whereas my ND children were much more responsible than their peers when left alone because they stuck to my rules whether I was there or not.
And no, I think a large number of children would be a danger to themselves and others if left alone for extended periods. They are not used to it, and many have never been held accountable for their actions and as such, have little idea of personal responsibility.

If it was me, and both my parents were out the house - I would have done the sum total of bugger all.

So that’s probably why they’re sending them in!

That’s not to say I wouldn’t have coped. I would have. I just wouldn’t have done any work whatsoever.

They should be able to manage.

But if you read other threads, or use social media, it seems a lot of parents think their secondary age students, even gcse age ones, can’t possibly work at the moment.

Dds secondary are only taking year 7 and 8. I think that’s fair enough really...I don’t think most parents would be happy to leave an 11/12 year old home alone for 8+ hours. My DD has just turned 12 and I’ve never left her for more than a couple of hours.

In our area some went in last week because the free school meals were still being provided however from this week they’re sorting something else out ( vouchers I think) so probably less will be in as they’d have to bring a lunch .

My DD's MH problems started in Y10; I didn't know until the end of Y11. She was ill because she wasn't neuro typical but had masked so well nobody guessed. Her depression and anxiety and self harm woukd likely have escalated exponentially in these circumstances.

It isn't that simple OP. If only it were.

They are not used to it, and many have never been held accountable for their actions and as such, have little idea of personal responsibility. that’s interesting too.

Judging by the number of clearly unrelated teenagers I’ve seen going past my window this week often returning eating sone snack purchased in one of the shops I’d say sone clearly need babysitting.

No. There are students of all ages who for one reason or another need the routine and security of school.
This is not meant to be rude, but I don't think you are a teacher - if you were you would be more aware of just how many vulnerable children there are in schools.

Secondary children can be as young as 11! Very much depends on the child and how they feel. Some would manage and others wouldn’t. That’s why it is up to the parents of each individual child to make that choice. You simply can’t make a mass judgement about a child’s level of maturity and emotional well-being based on the fact they attend secondary school.

I think it depends. My friend is a nurse on 12 hour shifts, plus commute and showering/ changing after shift she can be out the house 15 hours. She's a lone parent so whilst her kid could manage a school day or an evening by themselves, asking them to wake up to an empty house, spend all day in an empty house and go to bed before she's home, is a bit much (and has to happen on weekends sometimes anyway).

My two would be fine alone. I doubt my eldest would do any work but they could certainly cope. Both me and my husband have to isolate for 12 weeks though so it hasn't affected us (both key workers).
My youngest is autistic but she's following the timetable the school sent as a,guide to the letter so is happy with that

I wouldn’t want an 11 year old home by themselves for 13hrs a day, every day for weeks. I’m sure many adults would struggle with that.

I’ve worked in an average secondary school with teenagers who were drug dealer, abuse survivors, alcoholics, drug users, at risk of becoming involved in terrorism and being sexually abused by gangs of men. Some teenagers have very risky lives.