Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you send your dc back to school in September if there was no social distancing?

331 replies

wakeupitsabeautifulmorning · 04/06/2020 20:28

I worry about how much longer dc are going to be expected to learn at home considering a lot of them aren't. However, if they're going to have to socially distance I can't really see a way forward.
YABU = No I wouldn't send them without social distancing
YANBU = Yes I would

OP posts:
cassgate · 04/06/2020 22:08

Yes, I would send mine back tomorrow. Doesn’t apply to dd as she is year 11 and would be in the middle of GCSE’s now so wouldn’t be going back anyway but DS year 9 definitely. He is being set work by school but he needs to be taught not just read powerpoints which he doesn’t always take in. I have been sitting with him and we have been looking at work together so that I can check understanding and I get him to research other sources if he is struggling but not all parents have the time or inclination to do this. I am also a Year 6 TA and went back to work myself on Monday and think it’s ridiculous the measures we are expected to follow. I would be far happier If we could just go back with a full class with no social distancing than what we have at the moment.

cantkeepawayforever · 04/06/2020 22:12

mooity,

That is a really good point. Would everyone here be so keen if they knew that the whole school would shut down for a single case with no SD?

Fr0thandBubble · 04/06/2020 22:13

Yes, yes, yes. I’d send them now.

Disquieted1 · 04/06/2020 22:14

100% yes.
DD has not seen another child for 12 weeks already and it's not good for her to just be with mum and dad. September would mean 6 months without seeing another child and even that's too high a price to pay.
If there's no vaccine or effective treatment we need to think of better ways to protect the vulnerable but the kids need to go back.

Stannisbaratheonsboxofmatches · 04/06/2020 22:15

Yes - one of mine has gone back, and not social distancing in their groups.

MrsFogi · 04/06/2020 22:16

Yes I'd send them back tomorrow with no social distancing - this is having too much of an effect on their education (pretty much no education happening apart from the tutors I am paying for).

3LittleMonkeyz · 04/06/2020 22:23

Yes.

cantkeepawayforever · 04/06/2020 22:32

I think there is a difference between tight bubbles with limited social distancing within the bubble, but strict distancing between bubbles, and a complete no social distancing free for all.

I am OK with limited social distancing in bubbles and strict between - which is pretty much what anyone in school at the moment has.

i am not happy with no SD anywhere.

HappyAsASandboy · 04/06/2020 22:35

Yes. I am sending one of mine back when his school opens next week and I wish they weren't going to try and socially distance then.

I wish all three of my school-aged kids could go back now and not sociably distance.

resskiestonight · 04/06/2020 22:35

God yes

cantkeepawayforever · 04/06/2020 22:36

Another question for the 'no SD' brigade.

If there is a case, or a cluster of cases, in the school, and there has been no SD, what would you like to happen?

  • Shut down completely?
  • Shut down partially e.g. all classes those children have been in self isolated, including staff, and rooms cleaned, but other theoretically more remote contacts stay in school or
  • No closure, child/ren just sent home?
Whitegrenache · 04/06/2020 22:37

Absolutely/ I'd send ds 11 and Dd 14 back tomorrow if i could and I'd return to normal tomorrow too with no social distancing
The mortality rate for COVID is much lower than the day to day things we are exposed too

cantkeepawayforever · 04/06/2020 22:38

The mortality rate for COVID is much lower than the day to day things we are exposed too

Are you sure? The excess deaths graphs do tell a rather different story?

Nihiloxica · 04/06/2020 22:40

Just send the affected children home and test the rest.

They've given up months of their lives to this.

Their continued education must be the priority.

MamaFirst · 04/06/2020 22:41

@CarlottaValdez My children are not in the ages to return currently, however our school has only 30 children returning throughout the entire school (small primary school, 150/160 children) , and that includes vulnerable and key worker children. We also were sent a questionnaire asking if we planned to send other children back in July and the majority have stated they won't be.

MeglaFlop · 04/06/2020 22:45

@wakeupitsabeautifulmorning

^Another question for the 'no SD' brigade.

If there is a case, or a cluster of cases, in the school, and there has been no SD, what would you like to happen?

  • Shut down completely?
  • Shut down partially e.g. all classes those children have been in self isolated, including staff, and rooms cleaned, but other theoretically more remote contacts stay in school or
  • No closure, child/ren just sent home?^

In primary schools there is little evidence that children spread the virus, they are not at any more risk than from countless other day to day events.

cantkeepawayforever · 04/06/2020 22:45

Just send the affected children home and test the rest.

Test the whole school?

How often?

Takingabreakagain · 04/06/2020 22:48

@cantkeepawayforever

Another question for the 'no SD' brigade.

If there is a case, or a cluster of cases, in the school, and there has been no SD, what would you like to happen?

  • Shut down completely?
  • Shut down partially e.g. all classes those children have been in self isolated, including staff, and rooms cleaned, but other theoretically more remote contacts stay in school or
  • No closure, child/ren just sent home?
I would say no closure just send that child/ children home. A school wouldn't be shut if there was a child with an illness like measles (which in rare cases can be fatal) - I can't understand why this virus is being treated so very differently from others when children (except in very rare cases) do not suffer badly if at all.
cantkeepawayforever · 04/06/2020 22:48

[2 suspected cases, and a staff member parent of a suspected case, involved in testing so far .... been open more widely for less than a week]

NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy · 04/06/2020 22:50

Yes!! Preferably without social distancing too.

cantkeepawayforever · 04/06/2020 22:50

when children (except in very rare cases) do not suffer badly if at all.

Would you allow the staff who had come into contact with that child to self isolate? They are, after all, adults, some elderly and some with conditions that mean they do suffer quite badly....

TiredMummyXYZ · 04/06/2020 22:51

No. My year 1 child is still at home. I’m hoping to send him and his sister back in September but if there’s no social distancing then I won’t be.

cantkeepawayforever · 04/06/2020 22:51

Most people are vaccinated against measles, which tends to limit outbreaks, and means that spread can be controlled by rapid vaccination programmes rather than isolation.

Mascotte · 04/06/2020 22:52

I'd send mine back tomorrow.

Takingabreakagain · 04/06/2020 22:55

@cantkeepawayforever

when children (except in very rare cases) do not suffer badly if at all.

Would you allow the staff who had come into contact with that child to self isolate? They are, after all, adults, some elderly and some with conditions that mean they do suffer quite badly....

If they are at risk and should be shielding then it is unlikely they would even be in the school. But if they test positive then yes of course they should self isolate. I'm not sure how isolating after the contact with the child (unless they test positive) would be of benefit to them.