AIBU to think that some parents won't want to send kids back yet?

[Toomuchtrouble4me]

I totally get that loads of parents want to get back to work and want to get their kids back to school - even though this pandemic is still raging.
We have a health compromised family with over-reactive immune systems and I don't fancy two of our chances if we get this virus.
I don't really see why were re-opening schools when nothing has changed, we may as well have kept them open all along.
It's not so much of an AIBU as a WWYD - I'm not sending mine back, unless something really drastic changes, before September when I'll re-assess.
Just wondering if i'm a lone voice? I know that lots of you will HAVE to send kids back because of your own jobs, but if you didn't have to, if you could keep them home until summer holidays start - would you do it? Should parents who are too scared to send kids back be fined for non-attendance?

You are not a lone voice, I have a reception child who has asd - in theory she would probably be better at school but I am not willing to play Russian roulette with her life - not when there are growing cases of children being admitted to ICU with symptoms mimicking Kawasaki diseases and TSS which some experts believe may be linked to covid (I believe an alert was sent out to all GPs).

I'm deregister my.children & homeschool permanently before I send them.back while there's still a.risk , I'm shielding (life threatening asthma, chrones & im.immunecompromised) too I'm sure they'd rather have there mum around than go back to see there friends .. We are paying for there schooling still and will continue to do so to hold there place but I will be emailing the headmaster tomorrow to let them know in no uncertain terms that.my eldest (year6) will not be attending on the first of June ! And my other 2 won't be going either until there are no cases at all for a sustained period of time ! I'm positive.there will be a second peak the loosening of the lockdown will end in a disaster , im.so frightened for everyone , we are staying in for the long run , id.rather.be.alive.x

Mine's Year 2 so won't be going back immediately anyway, but I need him to go back for work reasons. I'd send him even if I didn't need to. From doing my own research I believe the risk to children is tiny and the risk of keeping him at home long term concerns me more than the risk of him getting coronavirus. Neither of us are high risk or need to shield.

If the virus affected everyone the way it does the under 10s, we would all be living as normal. In fact, if it affected everyone thre way it does the under 50s we would also be living as normal. They allow those children as they simply are not at risk and mine would be first in the door if they were lucky enough to be allowed an education.

I don't think we will have a vaccine for another year - in the sense of having one actually distributed to everyone. We can't even organise PPE. I am not keeping my kids out of nursery for that long so why not June rather than September?

I think it would be more beneficial for people to point out their employment status.

I would assume those not sending them back are stay at home parents or those who can afford to loose their jobs.

Hopefully the government makes it optional so stay at home parents can properly home school.

If you don’t send them back then you should lose your place. There will be no difference in September.

I think it depends on each persons level of risk acceptance, work situation and child that they have.

For me, I work in the nhs so I'm less risk averse. I'm used to dealing with the outside world while simultaneously dealing with covid risk - at some point everyone will have to do the same but it is scary at first.

Also, for my SEN only child - 6 months at home alone will do him more harm than good.

However, behaviour science will take over and once some children start going back and nothing bad happens - lots of parents will get fomo and more will start return I should imagine.

All of this ok and totally normal.

Hopefully the government makes it optional so stay at home parents can properly home school

School is already optional. De-register and home school. Simple.

I would assume those not sending them back are stay at home parents or those who can afford to loose their jobs.

I'm sure some of those who can wfh can also keep them off if they chose. Is wrap around care available? Will the children be in every day from June 1? Lots of unknown's

I don't see how they can force parents to send their kids in where it's only tailored at certain yr groups.

@Utterlydespairing I don't think you will have to deregister personally for this term. What happens if their is a case in your school, does it close again for deep clean? What if the R rate goes up again, do schools close again?

I meant optional as in you don’t need to detegister.

And to the point, they can’t force you, no parent is forced to send their child to school home schooling has always been an option.

The 1 June is targeted at year groups, but it’s very clear it’s a phased approach with more years going back every week or two or so until all primary are in by the end of June latest.

If nothing else changes I think I'll be sending my yr1 back in June. The risk to him and his household is tiny and I don't want his education to suffer more than it already has.

My child is in year 6. I'm waiting to hear from his school about how they intend to handle the children returning (e.g.splitting classes?) and procedure if a child/teacher becomes infected etc, before i make up my mind.

I am, however, thinking I'm highly likely to send him back. He's an only child so has desperately missed kid company. He's also going to a different secondary school than all his friends. We're not on the shielding list. I am currently more worried about the impact on his long term mental health than covid-19. But, like i said, i wil make a decision after ive heard from the headteacher

What if the R rate goes up again, do schools close again?

I think if it reaches level five and we are back to square one, yes, past that it will be a geographical approach with likely primaries and child care, as well as work places, the last to shut.

I certainly won't be letting her be used as a human guinea pig

Some of us have had to send our children to school throughout this in order to go to work and save lives

I think people should wait and see what the government says it its more detailed guidance and how thier individual school is set up. It might look like something you would think safe and beneficial. It might look like it risks health and woild be difficult your child. At the moment all we know is phased return from 1st June at earliest.

I'm furloughed until the end of May and work would probably extend it. I can wfh but not effectively with children at home and can't imagine my employer would be so understanding if school was open.

I will happily send mine back when they are open, I feel the risks of staying home are greater for them.

Will we be in a different position though in September? It will still be there, we will still not have a vaccine and we will be going into colder weather and when people will start needing the nhs more.

I have a year one son and mentally he is struggling a lot. He misses school, his routine, his family and his friends. His mood, behaviour and homeschooling effort is falling. Mentally it would do him the world of good to go back to school. He is also at low risk of complications himself, as are statistically myself, our youngest and my dh. Dh is also a key worker so at any time can bring it home.

However I do worry about what school life will be for him, and his chances of passing it on to others who are at risk of complications. I don’t think it’s one answer fits all, it will be down to each individual family on what they feel is best for their child and the risks to their family.

I'm interested to know if they will be returning to "normal" schooling or if it is as now primarily childcare.

I'm not convinced it will happen, the 1st of June may be pushed back & they by the time they start phasing them in & resettling them the Summer holidays are upon us.

Foggy I suspect that’s wishful thinking on your part.

Totally agree @Dg556f. All this talk on social media about guinea pigs etc is very disrespectful to key worker staff who have been sending their children throughout.

I think many won't. Reception and year 1 kids?

Depends if parents are working. Boris wants people back working. He can't afford the furlough portal for too much longer.

My children’s school in Queensland opened for FYOS and grade 1 kids today. My DD’s class had 27 out of 28 kids there. She was the happiest I have seen her in weeks when I picked her up.