Why has return to School has been much better than people thought it would be ?

[worzelsnurzel123]

Prior to the return to school, there was a feeling in the media and on here that it would be awful for the children, sparse classrooms, social distancing and bubbles would all affect the children negatively? Now it seems as though the reverse has happened. Children are reported to be coming out of school beaming, having loved their time to reconnect with peers. Aibu to think that this is only because of the amazing effort put in by those heads of schools and teachers who are doing their best, and not because it was a case of “ see there was nothing to worry about after all”. The worry in my view wasn’t so much about the children but about teachers being exposed to the virus by children. Aibu to think that some parents feel that now the kids are back and happy there’s an element of “ and they all lived happily ever after” at play here. This isn’t over and I’m not one of the doom sayers. I’m desperate for this thing to be over but I can’t help but feel some parents are being a little over optimistic after the first day? ( I’m not a teacher by the way.

The drama is being far more driven by the people saying that those who send their children back are (to quote a pp here) 'playing russian roulette with the health of children and teachers', implying manslaughter at minimum.

^^couldn't agree more. I couldn't care less what others do.

"as the government says that they will fine parents who continue to choose to keep their children at home, they will be beating down the doors to get their children back"

I still don't see what the problem is. That's true - I'm desperate to get back to work and
get a break from 24/7 childcare. I'm not sure if it's safe for my kids to return yet, not at an individual level but at an epidemic control level. And I can see numerous benefits to keeping my kids at home, as well as many benefits to their returning to school. It is possible to hold multiple, even conflicting ideas about an issue, without that being in some sense reprehensible. I don't imagine many people have an entirely one-dimensional approach to the question!

My 3.5 year old has gone back to nursery and she has changed so much in the past 3 days. She is back to her old self. She was full of anxiety and emotion being stuck at home all the time (we do not have a garden). This has also enabled us to work from home properly in normal work hours and it is a much better home environment for us all. They are young so social distancing is not happening. They still have cuddles from staff. I hated the scaremongering pictures I saw. It was unnecessary.

And yes, this awful situation is, in some sense, and for those lucky enough to be able to have a break from work, an opportunity to try out home schooling without having to burn our bridges with the school system, which is surely the case in most areas with high demand for school places. I have one definite square peg in round hole child, and he's made huge progress at home. I'll still send him back when I can, because I'm not cut out for this long term and neither is he! I would still obviously prefer the pandemic not to have happened (in case that needs stating), but if I look for silver linings, and that is one of them! I don't see why that's a bad thing.

My kids school is still closed.

"They still have cuddles from staff."

That's good but not universal - our school has specifically stated this will not happen. It is not scaremongering, there are differences in approaches in different settings!

lyra absolutely there’s no pressure to send DC back right now.
It suits both schools and government to return slowly.

But come September, when we have a measure of government borrowing and drop in tax take etc there is not a cat in hells chance that Boris and friends will continue to fund places for DC not in school.
Perfect opportunity for the shower in Downing Street to reduce the education bill. And good schools wishing to keep their budget will no doubt have other parents wishing to take up some of the freed up places.
Not so popular schools will be worse hit.

Bloody awful.

Genuine logistical concerns have been drowned out by dramatic politicking and scaremongering. Then there's been the virtue signalling that people love their children more because they're not prepared to send their children into what is tantamout to being a death trap, or they're so loving that they actually enjoy spending time with their precious darlings. In the face of thinly veiled hyperbolic criticism like that, most reasonable, nuanced people tend to roll their eyes and ignore. It seems to have passed them by that the most exposed keyworker children and staff have been in all this time with little major incident. Yes, improved testing has picked up some minor cases, but it's been no more hazardous than school is normally.

Of course children will be happy to be back in a familiar buiding with familiar faces after 10 weeks of going nowhere beyond their own home and interacting with no one beyond their immediate family for over two months. It's the most exciting, stimulating thing to have happened to them since 20th March.

I really hope it goes well and goes smoothly so that all children regain access to proper education and their peer groups. (Yes I want mine back in as soon as it is offered).

BogRoll so your decision is sensible, and anyone who chooses otherwise is politicking, scaremongering, or virtue signalling? I see no more nuance in your own position than in those of the people you are criticising.

It's funny the universes people live in. The people I know have all thought long and hard about the decision and balanced up multiple concerns in the light of their family situation, individual child's personality, and school plans. They have come to various conclusions and respect the fact others may come to different ones. Nuance and tolerance, yes - that's right.

well the very first replies of the thread talked about

a lot of misinformation, histrionics and silly predicting going on.
and scaremongering

so that tends to set the tone and posters reply accordingly.

It's a concern that other countries had to close back the schools in a hurry, so things are not as rosey as we'd like. The UK seems to have decided that we ignore the problem and it will go away. It's a gamble, but not everyone want to play it.

@Hadenoughfornow
Ladyyou are suggesting that the teachers at my child's school are being pressurised to going back?
I'm suggesting that things aren't always what they seem and don't just believe what a Headteacher has written in a letter, you can't say it's a fact and documented. The letter sent from my School says "all staff are thrilled to be back", when in reality 3 come under the Vulnerable category who are advised to work from home, but they all had requests to work from home denied, so feel they are at significant risk and they most certainly aren't happy despite the letter saying so.

Because teachers put in a lot of time, thought and preparation into the return of their pupils, and genuinely enjoy teaching them.

^ This. Contrary to the view of the media (and many MNers), teachers' concerns and reservations have been about safety and about how to practically reopen schools in a format that's beneficial to the children and as safe as possible for staff. It was not about refusing to go back because they secretly hate children and want to sunbathe in their gardens for 6 months.

Lady but it doesn't say staff are thrilled to be back.

It says no staff will have to come into the school if they do not want too.

I'm not sure what you want me to take from that other than what it says.

And surely if that's not what it means then unions can get involved as that's what's documented?

We've got the first unhappy parent on our parent's whatsapp for the class..she turned up 1/2 an hour late with her child and wanted to bring the child into the classroom herself despite the letter to parents that we had stating the drop off time for each bubble and that parents were not allowed in school. They've only been back for 3 days..some people

Pickled.... that doesn’t surprise me! I genuinely think having parents hanging about schools is a total pest at the best of times, but just unacceptable at the moment. Our school have had ( in the past) parents trying to have detailed chats about their darlings each morning and afternoon, bustling around classrooms etc. They soon put a stop to it! You certainly can’t be having parents in the school at the moment!

It's a bit hypocritical, if it's fine for the children to mix, there's no difference about the parents.

I don't disagree that parents shouldn't disturb class and should book appointments, but saying that it's safe to have the kids, not safe to have the parents is ridiculous.

My dc went back today for the first time as a key worker child and I was really worried but they absolutely loved it! Asked if they could go back tomorrow. I work Ft but only need to do visits on one day a week and can wfh with the on other days so only one day necessary. They loved seeing their teachers/ TA's and other children. I also know quite a lot of the teaching staff and TA's and they all came out smiling and chatty. There was no sense of negativity. I was very impressed by how they had made the children feel comfortable.

Our foster children go back tomorrow.
It’s incredbly important that they reconnect with a school mates whe they’ve lost their family and neighbors etc
I can only keep everything crossed for them.

I hope they enjoy it @HelloMissus . School staff are doing a great job at helping children feel safe and creating a new normal, Numbers are smaller than usual so I hope your little ones get lots of attention.

Thank you mummy I think they will enjoy some normality.
We’ve done our level best to try to stabilise the situation (been helped by the fact they’ve been here before) bit bless them, they need things they know.

@lazylinguist

Because teachers put in a lot of time, thought and preparation into the return of their pupils, and genuinely enjoy teaching them.

^ This. Contrary to the view of the media (and many MNers), teachers' concerns and reservations have been about safety and about how to practically reopen schools in a format that's beneficial to the children and as safe as possible for staff. It was not about refusing to go back because they secretly hate children and want to sunbathe in their gardens for 6 months.

This!!!

Largely because of the media with it's own agenda, when have you ever seen them put positive news out there. If anything now was the time to put out news that was factually correct and reassuring but not they just have to spread lies, make crap up and panic people. Then you have sites like this with pickets of people doing the same thing.

You have pockets of people so anti government or anti Boris they spread lies and panic people.

The biggest eye opener on this was thay weekend when they made announcement they would easing restrictions. Noone knew what it would be until sunday announcement yet in days leading up to it the press and social media sites like this had posts and articles of pure and utter tripe...oh easing up is going to mean this or that and if anyone did a comparison it was 99% gutted bollocks to what was announced.

But hey you get labelled a conspiracy theorists or Tory lover if you point this out. People need to wake and really see what is going on, agendas at play etc.

Because the unions were determined to stop a return to school in any way possible, which included total scaremongering about safety and science.

I don't disagree that parents shouldn't disturb class and should book appointments, but saying that it's safe to have the kids, not safe to have the parents is ridiculous.

FFS the more contact people have the more likely covid is to spread. It’s just common sense

My daughter went back to reception year yesterday, she thoroughly enjoyed it. I even prefer the new drop off and pick up system, there's no scrum to pick up your kids.