How did you decide whether to send your child back to school or not?

[Emlou07]

My children are in Reception and Year 1. Their school will be open for them on the 10th.

I'm really struggling wuth what to do! DH thinks we should try it as they both want to go back. My gut is telling me it's too soon.

Even though they want to go back, I don't think at their ages (5 and 6) they are going to fully understand what's happening and why. Like why they can't see more of their friends, or leave their bubble, or why they may have a different teacher.

For those who decided based on their childs mental health, do you not worry it will be affected more with how different things will be?

I'd be grateful to hear what swayed your decision either way, thank you!

My Year 6 DC isn't returning. I work part time in the same school and I haven't been on the rota for key workers/vulnerable children despite being ready, able and qualified because I'm not a full time TA.

He isn't going back to the same teacher he had before school's closed. His best friend isn't in his bubble. He's been at the school since he was 3 years old, what is the point in sending him back to a totally different environment to the one he knows and loves to sit at a desk all day? We have three other DC who aren't eligible to go back so he'll stay at home and do home learning alongside them.

I'm not particulary concerned about transition to high school, I already have 2 DC who have moved to the school and they have been brilliant, kept us up to date on what they're planning and when things might happen. In fact, they've been more on the ball than the primary throughout all of this.

Wow I feel so lucky having our school based on some of the responses. Seems so unfair some of the measures being made, like they don't want you to send them in. I probably wouldn't in some of those cases.

Ours was hugely encouraging. They will be focusing on learning, they will be allowing children to play in a safe way, they won't be expected to be sat at their desk for ) hours and have allocated loo breaks etc. There will be lots of cleaning, hand washing etc and support for the kids.

But really I think it depends on your child, your family, your school, your work, your area's rate of cases etc. There is no right or wrong or one size fits all here.

I have a baby coming literally the day after September term starts so I wanted them to adjust to the new normal now. As this will be here for some time. I also can't imagine them having 6 months at home and the effect it may have on them mentally as they're very social but again everyone is different.

You just do what feels right for you

No brainer.
We both wfh full time and fitting in home schooling as well has been so hard - really really loooong days for all of us.
No one shielding or vulnerable in our household.

Lockdown is easing anyway.
I am satisfied with the precautions school have put in place.
School is 5 mins walk away and my older child is 15 so no logistical difficulties with the journey (only one family member can attend drop off and pick up)
My 6 year old is very "busy" and desperate for some stimulation and change of scene.
The risks are actually very low indeed.

I don’t know why parents who are going to be at home would send their children in.

Presumably either because ...

A) parents are wfh and doing that with children at home is problematic for all concerned.

B) children’s mental health is suffering from not seeing their friends.

"I don’t know why parents who are going to be at home would send their children in."

Because it is better for their child given that individual families and individual children have different needs.

I'm sending my year 1 child back and will send my other one back when her year group is allowed. We've been doing ok with home schooling but they miss their friends and also need a change of scenery. However, if it's too weird and they don't enjoy it/don't seem to be benefiting from it, then I will take them out and keep them at home until the situation improves.

I’ve got two children. One is desperate to go back, but is in Year 3. The other absolutely does not want to go back, but is in Year 1. I won’t be sending him though, as the stress for 5 or 6 school days before summer just isn’t worth it. They’ll go back when they can both go back.

We're sending our reception and year 1 age dc back to school. I trust the school, they have said that dc will not be expected to do social distancing within their bubble and several of their friends are going back too. If they get distressed we can take them out. I'm back to being a SAHM and home schooling is going well but I feel that 6 months away from school is a huge amount of time for such young dc and getting used to 'the new normal' within school could be helpful.

If you're not sending your dc back will you keep them away from dc who are going to school /people who are going out to work/dc of key workers etc until mid August? Or is it mainly the nature of school under lock down that is effecting your choice?

Not even sure when I will even have the option. Special school with 160 on roll, they are allowing 30 students per day. 24 are key worker and 16 have been selected on a week on week off but will need to be removed if any space is needed for key worker’s child, to be next reviewed in July. Although I have been told his risk assessment means ifs highly unlikely he will be assessed for a place until at least September. The ECHP and school place is a bit of a myth for many.

Mine is going back in september if allowed, I don't have little ones, but if I did they wouldn't be going back.

DS aged 6 isn't going back yet. His school have said they only have room for key workers' children, not wider opening to YrR /1. I am in a key worker category so he could have gone, but the friends he most wants to see won't be there, nor will his favourite toys and resources, and he is very resistant to going back if his buddies aren't all there.
He is an only child so it was a tough decision but we opted for keeping things as they are for now.
He is settled into the new normal at home now, he is engaging better with home learning than at the start, and we can both wfh and juggle hours and childcare and muddle through.
He had a nasty respiratory infection the week before the start of lockdown which I got too, probably not Covid-19 (who knows, without tests) but the combination of symptoms plus lockdown made him very anxious about infection (tummy aches, bedwetting, nervous throat clearing, nail chewing etc) and it took ages to settle those anxieties. His grandfather died from sepsis not that long ago so he knows "germs" can kill which won't have helped. "Safe" to return to school is a mixed and confusing message to deliver to little ones in context of new rules and routines around distancing and hand hygiene etc which could feel the opposite of safe, so we thought returning now is high risk for re-triggering anxieties.
On balance it just doesn't seem worth it at the moment.

If we had a child who was more adaptable and less anxious, he would probably be going back.

Tearingmyhairout0110 in your situation, i would be considering school too

It sounds as though you are in a tough situation, do not feel bad for the choices you make for your family.

My DD is going in at the moment as she has an EHCP, even if she didn't have that she would be going in as my DH is a keyworker.

She had the first 7 weeks off at home with me and I noticed a change in her and she needed the routine of school.

She started off with one day a week, and I have increased it each week and she has been in 3 days this week, next week she is back full time.

She has had a different teacher but a familiar TA for the last two weeks but next week going forward she is in her bubble with her usual teacher and her one to one.

We had tears the first day for a few minutes, but that was expected as she had got a new routine in place and this was different, she soon got back into the old routine.

The bubble she is in only has about 6 children in it as she goes to a small school and only about 12 children are coming back next week, most are the keyworker children she has been with.

We are also lucky as the school has a large field with outside classrooms, playground and a wooded area so they are spending most of the day outside.

They have put a list of directives in place, but there is nothing in them that I find outrageous or not in the best interest of the children or staff. They have been straightforward and honest with us.

They will be doing some maths and English.

Remember this is your decision, if you try it you will know if it is right or wrong - if it is wrong don't send them in again. Your DC might surprise you and really enjoy it

In terms of mental health my six-year-old is back at school and the staff say all of the kids have been very adaptable. It’s certainly been good for him. But we’re not in the UK.

@ScubaSteven 'I don’t know why parents who are going to be at home would send their children in."

I'm working pretty much full time-some days 8-7 including eating at my desk. And at weekends. (Keyworker wfh)
DH often away for work. DD needs more than I can give. She has spent the last week on screens (mostly unsupervised when I'm on calls)
Her mental health is suffering.

She is returning to school next week because it is right for her.

Infections here are very low. I'm happy with the 'risk'

And DD is aware of the changes at school- she's still desperate to go.

Mine are going back. They are in Year 1 and 6. They've both missed school a lot and the school have been really positive and keen to have the children back.

Suspending normal schooling for...how long??? Is going to be a fucking disaster for disadvantaged families.

Absolutely this. Prolonged school closures are going to be very bad for a lot of families.

My son is going back (reception) as I can't get any work done at home, he's watching way too much TV, he's missing social contact, I have no clue about homeschooling, we live in an area with very low COVID. He will
Actually prefer being in a class with fewer kids and the school are being very helpful and not trying to put anyone off, and have agreed to part time, so it won't be too much for him.

No because one of us isn’t working so no childcare needed. He won’t be learning more there or able to interact with his friends so there are no real reasons to for us.

I'm not sending mine in. I will be back as a teacher and will give my 'bubble' my all but I'm not happy sending my children to school. It's partly because one of them will be fine getting on with her work at home (year 5) so there is no point taking a key worker place. My other one (year 1) could have a place but they want them in full time and I'm not happy to have one in full time and one not at all.

I really don't think the government have chosen to open schools because it is safe yet. My children are happy at home and I feel that I can take responsibility for taking necessary precautions outside of the home while I can't say the same for my five year old!

There are 3-4 cases of Covid a day in my large London borough at present. Not 300-400 or 3000-4000. The risk is miniscule and one I'm happy to take when weighed against the potential impact on her education which could hinder her for the rest of her life.