To be sad to see the school places being announced

[Lexijayde44]

Mum to a reception child. She was really getting into school after a slow start grasping the routine. Seeing her progress was such a relief and we had a good parents evening the week before lockdown. Its clear my little girls one of the lowest in the class with stuff but they just are happy she likes going to school. She's picking things up much better at home reading and writing wise though!

I know it's absolutely tough crap that we are in this situation. We are all parents who's kids are missing out massively on their education and seeing friends etc. I'm not a special case. But I just felt sad today. People were announcing their kids schools for September. The offers came through today. It just seems so bizarre that the next class is getting ready to start in 4 months time and I am wondering if my child will ever get chance to be in that class again with her friends and teachers. In year one they have 3 mixed classes. I know she will be ok. I know the teachers will be prepared for it all. But I still feel sad. This year is a year of moulding them and prepping them for the rest of school. It's play based and loads of outdoor time etc. Its going to be a huge shock to her going into year one and not having the routine she remembers.

I know this comment will get me some flower emoji/get a grip comments but I feel sad that I've been robbed of my child's firsts! I know people are dying. I know we are lucky. I know there's many years ahead. But I just know how badly she needed the next few months to really prep her for school life.

I hope others can relate. I know it's not a big issue but I can't help how I feel

We've kept everything positive for her too. But I worry how she is actually digesting all this. She knows there are germs being cleaned away. But I feel so bad for her being kept away from everything she once had. She's not old enough to understand. I really feel sad for the kids tonight. Not just mine. I know they are having fun at home and this is needed. I just can't see how anything will get better until a vaccine is available. Therefore I feel they all need to repeat a couple of months in their old classes. I hope the government puts a fair plan on place to support everyone's children .

Personally I think reception, year six, year 10,11 and 12 are in the worst situation. Other years hopefully will be returning to the same classes and people. Plus they are old enough to understand you change class etc.
Is anyone else feeling sad for the kids?

It is tough, I have one in reception too (a summer born) and one in year 1. I try not to think about what she’s missing too much and focus on what she’s enjoying about being at home.
They’re adaptable. They won’t remember. They’ve got hopefully a long school career ahead of them and it’s just a blip.

I understand exactly what you mean. They change so much during reception.

DS should have been sitting GCSE’s, instead he has a long summer break and no idea if he’ll get to enjoy it. I also have one in year 4 and one in year 8.

Not year 6s for us- It’s year 4s and 8s but I know what you mean. I have a year 11 and a year 4 and it’s so sad.

I know what you mean. DS has such a lovely reception teacher and I think it's very sad he didn't get to finish the year with her. She really is special.

Which firsts won't she have? Surely she'll have them just not on the schedule you expected?

It's normal to feel sad. Some of it you put back in perspective and some of it you "grieve".

No school, no teacher is going to expect children to be able to pick everything back up as if school had continued and this hadn't happened. Your daughter's school was positive and supportive before, and they'll be positive and supportive when she returns.

Hopefully they will be going back mid may so will have a few more weeks left of reception.

hug I have a reception child too, so I know what you mean. I am reassuring myself that in other countries they wouldn’t even have started school this year, so waiting until they are coming up to 6 will have no lasting impact (not to say that lockdown itself won’t, but the education will be fine in the end).

I agree with you my son will be going into yr 3. He has been doing so well and had a teacher who pushed him and got the best out of him. He misses school and his friends it feels so sad.

I know she will be ok

^ this is all that matters.

Ds's exams for this year are cancelled. It is likely he will miss significant teacher time for his Highers next year.

If we get through this without losing a loved one, if he gets through it without losing a parent that is all that matters. They'll all be in the same boat when they get back to school, whatever year they are in, and they will adapt.

No grips from me, @Lexijayde44 - your feelings are perfectly valid - I think that most people have something that they are feeling sad about - something we know doesn’t come close to some of the big worries and sorrows in the world at the moment, but that still matter to us.

Ds3 isn’t graduating this year - he changed subjects and went back a year - but he is feeling sad for his best friend and his girlfriend who both do graduate this year, and the fact that they are missing out on all the end-of-university stuff - the celebrations after your last exam and after everyone’s last exam, graduation and so on. They will still get their degrees, and no-one should suffer academically because of Covid 19, but they have every right to feel sad at what they are missing.

I am sure that the schools will know that the little ones will need some extra help and support when school does restart, and your dd will settle back in and will catch up with what’s been missed - and in the meantime, please don’t beat yourself up for having perfectly normal and natural feelings.

It is sad. I feel especially sad for the kids in year six and eleven.

They're all missing so much.

I know what you mean, it's a special year I still remember my child's reception year fondly and I'd rather he missed what he's missing now (year 3) than that first year when he really fell in love with school. I would really imagine the year 1 teachers will compensate with play based learning for at least the first term as all of the children are in the same boat it's not like you pulled your dd out to go travelling or something.

If they dont go back until next academic year, Y1 will adapt and ease them in.

They've only missed out on a couple weeks so far, and there is a chance, albeit a small one, that they may go back before the school year ends, so they will see their friends then. Also, kids of that age easily pick up where they've left off. It's the kids nearer to gcses that I worry about.

How you feel is understandable, I’ve got a child in reception and it is a shame if she doesn’t get to return.

I think its fine for anyone to feel a bit sad and disappointed by what is going on and how it is affecting them, even if it is the small stuff, really.

But I think your OP is verging on the maudlin. Children are adaptable, especially small ones. She doesn't know she is "missing out". She will have her firsts another time, probably soon. It will be ok.

My elder two are in Years 11 and 13. Their schooling came to a very abrupt end - now we are waiting on the exam results.

This year will be a time that lives long in the memory.

When they are older, you dont even remember reception year.

I empathise, there are children of all ages who are missing out on firsts and lasts. My DS18 is missing out on taking his A levels, he was devastated when the announcement was made cancelling exams. Your DD is at least young enough that, honestly, it is your disappointment (which I’m not minimising) rather than hers. I am disappointed as a parent that my son is missing out, but far worse is witnessing his disappointment.

Kids are learning a valuable lesson here.
Let's hope they don't make the same mistakes that adults always seem to make (forgetting history and think bad sh1t won't happen)

I think everyone is allowed to feel sad for whoever and whatever they feel sad for.
It’s a sorry state of affairs when we need to seek permission for feeling sad.
No flowers for you OP but you are perfectly justified in feeling the way you do.

Exactly the same situation here! My DD has ASD and she needs to be in Reception right now! She's already behind on her PSED apparently and I'm really, really worried!

I spoke to Head teacher last week (she called me about something unrelated before I get told off for bothering a busy headteacher!) and I asked if it would be a case of going straight into Y1 if schools are closed until September and she said "Well we're being told by the DfE to work towards a June or July return. This would enable us to have Reception classes doing 2/3 transition days per week, or at least as many as we can, in order to ease them in gently, ready for September. I didn't ask what the plan would be if they don't get back to school by July. I didn't want to take up her time with multiple questions!
There was no mention from her, of cancelling the summer holidays either.

Tabby, I'm 70 and I remember mine including my first day. I quite enjoyed the first year, started when I was four.

I have a Y11 and a Y8 (going from Middle to High this year)
Both are Autistic and were already struggling :(

I do understand the sadness, I have a Yr 6 child who will miss out on all the fun end of primary activities and important transitions to secondary school. Plus a Yr 2 child who is in an infant school and is due to go to Junior school in September - I’m gutted. I know it could always be worse but still, I do feel sad for them both.