Just teacher I won't be sending DS back to school

[TheGoldenNugget]

Just got off the phone with DS teacher, we spoke about schools opening in June and she asked me if I'm planning to send him back when they open. I said no. Anyone else not sending their kids back when schools open in a few weeks?

Yes I'm a working single mum and I need to.

If you want to keep your kids at home, I suspect the school will be very supportive of this. To any of you that feel this way, please contact your school to let them know as they will be in the middle of a logistical nightmare trying to work out staffing so it would be incredibly useful to know who will/will not be attending.

I’ll be sending my DD back (3yo) on at least some days - DH and I are both teachers so we aren’t likely to have an alternative anyway. I’m not much worried about the risk to her, but I am a bit sad at how it is likely to work e.g. no cuddles for scraped knees and such. But we do have to start somewhere.

Perhaps for those of you that can choose, wait for more information. Schools don’t know exactly how it’s going to work, and they don’t know yet which pupils/staff will be present. There will also be more data coming in soon as several other European countries have primary schools reopening next week - wait and see what happens to infection rates and then make your decision when you are more informed. There may also be more information soon now that antibody tests have been approved.

The virus was here in January - some think Nov last year - our kids were all in school, not read any reports of teachers, school staff or children being effected by it, or even since they have been teaching care workers' children - and this is about the third time I've made this comment. Anyone want to challenge it? I'd be genuinely interested to hear of any cases in schools/from schools since lockdown.

Well they’ll be delighted. No idea about mine.

I’ve filled in the parent questions and stated I till it was safe for both my older children to attend with their actual teachers then no they won’t be back.

Honestly, neither sending nor not sending will be unusual. Uncontroversial.

not read any reports of teachers, school staff or children being effected by it, or even since they have been teaching care workers' children

Between 9th March and 20th April at least 65 education staff have died of Covid-19

www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-revealed-least-26-teachers-have-died-covid-19

The TES data is taken from the ONS and does not include over 65s or more recent cases so it may be higher once these are added.

DS is year 6 and very keen to return. I’ve kept in contact with his teacher and have been delicately sounding her out with a mind to keeping him off if it sounded like she didn’t feel comfortable returning. However, she has repeatedly said she’s excited to get back and has been in contact with the children sharing ideas about how they still can do creative and fun things like drama whilst maintaining social distance.

DS knows it won’t be school as he knows it but is also very curious to see what it will be like and keen to learn some new things (and get a better teacher than me, no doubt )

I’d be a lot more wary if he was younger though.

I think parents need to know the reality of how schools will operate.

I agree with this. Whilst each school may have slightly different variations, it's clear that for the children going back it will not be the same environment as the one they were used to.

The way schools are opening, with all the measures, surely that is education in a covid world. It's not going to get better or be different in September or beyond surely? All the measures will always be needed until covid ceases to exists.

What I'm trying to say is, when children return, they will be learning what schooling will look for them from the long term. It's sad. But it's the reality of living in a covid world.

@VenusTiger yes, I have heard of cases in schools. I’m a teacher, and am fairly sure I caught it in school, as my school (in London) had many cases among staff and students and had to close for deep-clean before schools generally closed. My DH (also a teacher) caught it from me, and was still attending school during what (with hindsight) would have been the incubation period. My daughter also caught it from me, and again, would have been at preschool during incubation period so potentially infectious.

I’m not in contact with any teachers outside my department since lockdown, but within my department (10 teachers), there have been 3 that had symptoms about 1 week after lockdown, but none were tested so aren’t confirmed cases.

Wow that letter is horrendous. Poor children.

@Biscuit0110 I'm guessing you're a teacher? I wasn't 100% sure if I was going to send him in or not, I asked if she could call again next week because i just needed some more time to talk about it with DS dad, but she needed to know now as they're already making plans? So I said no, as we were already leaning towards that way. She also told me that a lot of parents are not sending their kids back and they're not going put pressure on the parents. The teacher has already prepared a lot of online learning resources schools website so will just homeschool until September 🤷‍♀️

@Straycatstrut
Really feel for all the teachers and staff.
No you don't, as if you did you wouldn't send your child back and put staff at risk by having to be in because of increased numbers.

I can’t imagine younger children being very happy sitting alone at a desk all day - teenagers could be expected to stick to but to make a young child stick to these rules is cruel.

I have never been so glad we homeschool.

Just as long as you know that the children won't be social distancing. Teachers and other staff have no protection and can't really do their job from 6ft away from the children, so won't be able to social distance either.

The children of key workers in my school have not been social distancing either. It's impossible!

My DH went to the tip today- the staff there were outside and a good distance from everyone, it was one car allowed at a time with one person in it and you were only allowed to use one skip. The staff were complaining about how they were risking their lives. Pah! Compared to teachers the risk is minute!

Probably not. Can't risk my husband catching the virus.

I don’t believe schools will open in June. If they do it’ll be short lived.

I hear a lot of people saying that they will wait until September. What will be different in September? We won't have a vaccine (if that is even the solution) and we won't have eliminated the virus from our communities.

I think we might be on the brink of the Autumn wave/devastation myself and so will be squeezing any schooling my kids can get in now!!

when children return, they will be learning what schooling will look for them from the long term

This is so true @londonskyline. I wonder if that’s one of the reasons they think getting Year 6 back will help with transition to secondary school?

@LadyPenelope68 I hope you don’t mind me asking, but are you a teacher? His teacher has said she’s excited to return, but I really don’t want to send DS (Year 6) back if that’s the party line and she’s secretly hoping we’ll all keep them home. Equally I don’t want to snub her by not sending him back when she’s made such an effort to plan lessons and get the classroom and spaces ready. I just wish all teachers would be given a completely free no-strings-attached choice to return or not, and schools allowed to stay closed to most students if they don’t feel they can manage to reopen in these conditions and at this notice.

KKSlider they are extremely different measures from the ones being implemented by our school (I am chair of governors and my DC are reception and year 1).

they are extremely different measures from the ones being implemented by our school

Very interested to hear a different approach.

I'm waiting until September because:

• several months down the line our understanding of CV19 will have hopefully moved on and we will know more about transmission, risk, containment, etc. We may also have more effective therapies and treatments.

• track and trace should be up and running which will help control infection rates

• infection rates will hopefully be lower

• former plans will begin place for schools, including how they will.operate on a day to day basis, rather than the current 'up in the air' approach

• schools may not open in June so I don't see the point of preparing the DC and then it not going ahead. They may open and numbers will increase so they'll quickly close again

• school in June will not be the school they are used to or expecting and I think the restrictions in place will be harmful to their mental health

• I'd rather wait and see what impact the current easements (people returning to work, increased exercise outdoors, etc.) have on numbers, which we will know in 2-3 weeks time. I'd rather not send my DC to school at the same time as we will see any increase due to these

I'll reassess everything in August when we have a clearer picture of what September onwards looks like but, for this school year at least, they are not going back.

@SuperFurryDoggy
Yes, I am a teacher in Y6. I've told my children that I'm really excited to return and see them again as that's what they've asked and needed to hear. In normal circumstances I would be, I really miss them and have already shed tears about not being able to say goodbye to them properly. Yes, I've put a lot of work into planning work that they will enjoy at this difficult time. I

In reality, I'm absolutely worried sick and don't want to go back whatsoever. I've posted on another thread about how our school is going to be - I won't even get to see some if my class and some won't be with their friends. I'll make it as pleasant and happy as I can, but reality is it's going to be very different and very difficult for some children to adapt to.

@KKSlider that's very similar to how my school will be.