To send my kids back to school?

[Sussed]

Everybody I've told we're sending our kids back draws a sharp intake of breath and either asks "really" or "how do you feel about that"?

Really confused about it all.

We have 2, in 2 of the age groups that can go back from June. We don't HAVE to send them back...we've been managing (and enjoying) homeschooling, even whilst working full time from home.

But the issue is our eldest in Y6 is desperate to see all their friends and get some closure before going to high school in Sept, esp as they're going to a different school to everyone else. The youngest doesn't want to be left home without their elder sibling.

Are we insane to send them back??

Just do t get it! My sons are yr 10 and 12 and are desperate to go back.
Sending the younger ones, IMO,is ridiculous. GCSEs and A levels next year are far more important.

I am sending mine back to school and nursery. One is a reception aged child and one is going as the school have accepted him as we are keyworkers. The rest of the family think we are mad.

As long as your children are aware it will be different when they go back and there are no health concerns then I,would probably send them in.

I don't think you're being unreasonable no
But once come to the point where I've no idea what to do about mine
I want to send her in but with all these saying it's not safe...
And also she'll cry when she leaves me and cling on...

Putting your kid's wellbeing and mental health above trendy mass hysteria seems like a positive thing to me. I hope they get to go back and enjoy it.

I'm in a very similar position myself with one child going back to reception and one in year 6. I gave my son in year 6 the choice as i feel i have given him all the information i know and he really misses his friends but he said he is not going back yet. My daughter in reception will not be going back yet as i have not been informed by her school about they are going to implement change. It is impossible to expect a 4 year old to social distance when she hasn' t seen her friends in nearly 3 months.
DO not feel bad for any decision you make. You are making it based on whats best for your family, always go with your gut when making decisions based on whats best for your children. We can't isolate forever.

Get them sent back, you lucky thing. I’ve got a year 2 🤦‍♀️

My gut instinct tells me to put her in but is this situation too important to trust my gut instinct...
In the case this choice might have bad consequences I might regret so I don't know...

It'll be different but it'll be school and they'll be fine.

You do realise that more children have been seriously ill with and died from flu this year than from CV19.

I can more understand the reluctance of teachers (although I think that is unreasonable too) but not parents/ children.

Our children are being far more damaged by not being at school, not having social interactions and not being allowed to be children than will ever be directly damaged by CV19.

The social/emotional/mental damage of CV19 will be apparent for far longer than the physical.

Khione I am sending my yr6 back but I completely understand the reluctance. It doesn't take much thought really.

• those with vulnerable family memebers. The kids would likely be find but passing it on at home is still a worry for us.
• what they are sending the kids into. Especially reception , for many people its a weigh up as to whether that will be a better experience than home with all the rules in some schools rather than what the play based learning they are used to.

• their friends arent there.

You aren't being unreasonable. She wants to go, lots of people seem to think 10/11 year olds have no idea what is going on, I beg to differ. Personally I think going straight to secondary school from having x months off will actually be quite terrifying, it's hard enough for some after a transition and 6 weeks off. If you say all hell will break loose if you don't it sounds like your younger child wants to go too, you can always stop sending them if they aren't dealing with it well etc, but I reckon they might surprise you. I would definitely give it a shot.

No OP, you’re not insane.

Do what is best for your children. If missing out in school is proving detrimental to them then sending them back is a good idea IMO.

Other people will judge away

Haven't they been advised that those years should be accommodated in going back though @DogsandBoysmeanMud? I take it your local school isn't?

@Khione

You make a lot of statements in your post as if they are proven facts. Why can children not be children at home? Why do they need to go to school for that?

And why do you think teachers are unreasonable not to go back? We’ve been told children don’t get as unwell as adults but if they spread the virus to teaching staff it will be taken into those people’s homes. Can you not understand why staff wouldn’t want that?

I wouldn't. I'll make sure they see some friends outside of school.
What would be the point? They'll be on summer hols soon. Half their friends won't be there and the weird atmosphere at school will be odd, plus our teachers have confirmed that the 'learning' will be the same worksheets that we get sent to us once a week.

Its not insane unless you live in a hot spot. I would make my decision based on the amount of cases in the area and how desperate the children are to go back to school, if it were optional. DD had to go back two weeks ago (not optional in my country) but I'm glad I sent her as she was suffering really bad with insomnia, getting barely any sleep, but now she's doing better, seeing her friends has been so good for her. We have zero cases in my area though.

Theres a huge point for yr 6 in our case. It won't be worksheets and there wil lbe an emphaiss on wellbeing and preparation for secondary. Mentally my duaghter hadn't "left" primary as she wasn't in that last week so it wil l provide a realky good "ending" for her before going off to secondary. Not as good as the residential/dance/play/etc but stillxbe something.

She misses the routine and she loves learning and foucses better at school. I have worries about catching the virus but for her wellbeing at this stage we need to send her.

In a few weeks you won’t have to worry. As soon as some children go back the handwringing guinea pig bleaters will get serious FOMO and send their kids back and then it will all go back to normal pretty quickly.

I would’ve sent mine back but our school isn’t opening. If I’d been happy with what they’re proposing (more to do with the set up rather than hygiene stuff)

I'm sending my 4yr old back to preschool, I think he needs the social interaction. He goes to a private pre school, they are splitting the rooms so in separate bubbles by age except for 1 higher risk keyworker bubble, toys that can be washed still being used but washed after use, staff not allowed to mix with each other outside of their bubble but no social distancing for the kids in the bubble from each other or the staff

YANBU. I'd be sending mine back if he was in the year groups that are going.

I think you should do what you think is best. I am not sending my y1 child back on June 1st but will consider doing so later. Not because of any kind of fear. I believe that hand washing and ventilation will be enough I have two other children who have to still stay home and none of them want to go back and I think that is a big part of it as well. School has said they will only be able to offer the same lessons as they are currently doing remotely ( they have been brilliant at this) so there isn’t something educational they would miss by staying at home. When all three can go back, I will send them.

I’ve had the opposite to you OP and had family say things about the fact I’ve chosen not to send my DC back to school even though they’re in the appropriate year groups. People will always have opinions but at the end of the day just go with your gut instinct.