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?

I can understand your upset but if it helps many people keep their kids off school until the term they turn 5 anyway (I was a summer birthday so didn’t go until after Easter) and they have no trouble adjusting. I mean this to console you a little not because I think you’re BU in being sad about it all.

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

I think that many parents of very early years children are seriously overthinking things, yes you will miss your child's 'firsts', whatever they are, but they won't see it that way as this awful time is happening to all of us, they have no concept of what they're missing.

Please don't project your sadness onto your children, for them this is 'normality' as it is happening to all their friends too.

I have a dc in reception and Yes, I feel for her. It took her ages to settle in but she loved it!

Everyone us in the same boat though. No one wants anyone to struggle, there will have to be accomdations made at the start of the new year.

I have also enjoyed having my DC at home ( despite juggling work which has been hard).

I feel like they've made a start on phonics and got enough to get them reading and writing. The 1:1 time is helping with writing and reading.

It's made me realise how much I expect from my DC with me working long days and how much nicer it is to not be racing home in rush hour traffic, picking them up late, All of us exhausted and hungry either slopping out something barely edible from the slow cooker or making toast.

I want to change things for the better in the future...

It's sad for everyone however I think they will go back before summer

Germany have kids going to school from 4th May

France 11th.

Our school holidays in May don't start until 22nd.

It's perfectly feasible that they will be back for the last half term in some capacity and it will benefit the kids massively

It's 6 weeks away and actually that's ages in a situation like this. Look bAck over the last 6 - a lot has changed

Same here @MT2017

I understand your feelings. My twins are in preschool and moving to big school now in September. Feels very sad they won't get to go back to their lovely preschool with its lovely garden and teachers. I love the school they will go to but I'm not ready to accept their next drop off now will be Junior Infants 😥

Yes, we are lucky. It's ok to feel what we feel though. Sadness is ok for the experiences we are losing. We are of course mindful too of what's going on around, and the deep losses that are being experienced. Xx

Aw 75% think YANBU, it's tough times.
I have a dd similar to yours, but she's 16 now, and is going to be very lucky to scrape core GCSE's, learning difficulties and it just all clicking too late, low predictions and mocks were only questions. They are resilient and take it in their stride, usually.

Make sure you encourage her interests, support her learning and model a love of learning.
Practically you can discuss some of these changes, speak to her teachers and ask for guidance,
Mine used to respond well to role play e.g You are her new teacher and she is in her new class.
You sound such a lovely person and a brilliant mum.

I'm absolutely heartbroken that I potentially won't get to see a primary leavers assembly or play or party for my boy. That I did only a year ago with dd and dsd.
I am also utterly terrified of him starting secondary school without a transition. He has a diagnosis if adhd and ASD. I feel it's going to go badly wrong.

YANBU op. I have DD1 in year 1. Although she's not in reception she has been struggling massively with school. Not so much academically but she's quite sensitive and was having anxiety issues. Her teacher is wonderful and we were just starting to come out the other side when this all happened. I am so worried for her as think this will massively set her back.

DD2 is due to start reception in sept. She was poorly the last week of nursery so never got a last day, to say goodbye to her amazing teachers and her little friends (lots will be going to a different school). She's summer born so seems so young to be starting school and her nursery are so good at preparing them. She won't get her "graduation" or settling in days in the summer term.

As much as I don't want them in school if it's not safe I do hope they get to go back for a few weeks of this year at least.

I also have a daughter in reception and felt sad today when the school places came out. She loves reception and was learning so much and really becoming more confident. She says she misses her teachers and friends every day. I'm really hoping they go back after may half term but not holding out much hope.

I feel for all the current reception children. That year is a chance to play and learn social skills.

I did wonder if the kids might be able to repeat the year but knew in my heart it wouldn’t be feasible as everyone has to move up to allow the little ones to start. I suspect you might be right about the kids going back in June. I think it might just be long enough for people to feel a bit safer.

It is sad, but children are very resilient. She won’t be anywhere near as worried about this as you are.

When school starts again, she will take it in her stride, you’ll see.

It’s our job, as mums, to worry about them. They will all get through this, as they are all in the same situation.

Try not to worry.

I'm worried about my Year 1 son -(summer born) who was already behind and receiving extra support. He will start in Year 2 still at the level of a reception child. Will he ever catch up? :( Year 2 is so much harder on them than year 1..

On the flip side, there's my lovely Year 2 child who won't get to show the world how bloody brilliant she is academically and will simply finish her infant years without getting the award she so desperately wanted and deserved .

I think EVERY parent feels the same irrespective of what year their child is in.

Yeah I think they might go back for a few weeks before summer, which could help a bit.

I’m also doing my best not to be sad on my DS’s behalf! He’s safe and cared for, probably a bit bored, but he’s fine. He’s none the wiser about how school holidays work as he’s only been there a few months, so might get a shock if Y1 lasts longer than 6 months 😂

It’s a weird time. Let’s hope if they remember it at all, they remember it fondly.

I think that many parents of very early years children are seriously overthinking things, yes you will miss your child's 'firsts', whatever they are, but they won't see it that way as this awful time is happening to all of us, they have no concept of what they're missing. Please don't project your sadness onto your children, for them this is 'normality' as it is happening to all their friends too.

This, totally.

Yes, get a grip. Life is long. This is inconsequential.

I must admit I'm glad mine left primary school last year. I feel bad for all the things they're missing like leavers assembly, play and activities week.
I do think the teachers will be understanding when they go back especially the ones in reception going in to Y1. It's probably harder for us as parents than it is for them.

I hear you. I have a year 6, in a small school and I’m devastated for them all. I’m in charge of ordering their leavers hoodies and it looks like they won’t even get to wear them. They are going to 4 separate secondary schools so won’t even be reunited in September. They will all be ok though.

They start later in other countries anyway. Even if she started at 7 she would still end up in the same place at 16 because the countries where they start later the children dont end up behind. She wont remember. My son is missing his year 6 camp and leaving party so I was sad for him but he isnt bothered. He is happy at home. I'm sure your little girl would rather be with you than at school anyway. She wont be behind because they will all be in the same position

My DD got her school place today. She asked which of her friends from preschool will be going to the same school, apart from one I have no idea. She asked if she would be able to say goodbye to her other preschool friends before she goes and I have no idea if she will be able to. It’s hard for everyone and the ‘excitement’ of finding out which school everyone is going to has been lost a bit. But in the big scheme, she will move on and make new friends and this will all be a distant memory at some point, as it will be for all young children.

DS1's last term in yR was disrupted by strike action. At one point he ended up doing GCSE geography with me as DH was out of the country and there were no other options.
His class have actually had quite a disjointed time. The next year in Y1 had a staffing change to a job share partway through due to maternity leave. Y2 they did have the same teacher all year, but sadly she was seconded and moved on. In Y3 their teacher went on maternity leave partway through and now it's y4... Plus he has dyslexia, dyspraxia and ASD which means I am concerned about the nature of a return to school and how that is re-established.

Remember though, this is a common experience for the 2020 cohort of whichever year group. Teachers will be aware of the gaps left and accommodate around that, both social and accademic.
At 4-5 all children need is a little bit of phonics and numeracy and a lot of play and practical experience.

I moved at near the end of y2 to a different part of the country. I had about a month at the end of the school year but didn't really get established and had no friends by the summer holidays and lived out of school catchment on a busy road so had no one to play with all summer. Not ideal. Harder than this as it was an isolated experience and not shared by my classmates when y3 came about (plus the school system was different so I didn't leave infants and start juniors as expected which wasn't ideal) I still got through it and made friends more easily with the new school year.

Dd is summer born and leaving nursery for reception and i feel sad we missing her last year before school. However its the last year or primary and those doing gcses and a levels i feel for most.

The I feel sad for my DD too. She’s in year 2 at an infant school. If schools don’t open until September she’ll be at her new junior school. It’s strange to think that one day in March the year 2 children all abruptly left and didn’t come back. DS went to that infant school too. I’d like to say goodbye to the teachers who looked after and taught them both, let alone DD.

I have a reception child and feel exactly the same way. Yr1 is such a different environment, I hope they get to go back to reception even just for a short time. I have a child a couple of years older and I’m not worried about them at all.

I have a child in Year 6. He said to me today that the virus has ruined Year 6 for him. He has been looking forward to going to PGL since last September, he loves being a play leader for the younger children, misses his friends and his sports. Also has unworn leavers hoodie.They are only young once, what this virus is doing to our children is just awful.