To think if you can keep your kids off school beyond September, you should?

[user8558]

Firstly I want to make absolutely clear that by "can" I mean people in similar circumstances to myself. I've no job anymore due to coronavirus, my industry will be one of the last to find its feet so I'm likely unemployed for the forseeable. Fortunately my partner is able to cover bills etc with his income.

I'm a bit wary of schools going back in August. For me it feels too soon.

However, I also know it's not soon enough for many other families. That working parents are struggling and for many other reasons kids are really missing school.

Am I being unreasonable then in thinking perhaps that people like myself, with nothing better to do anyway (and have the mental resources) are doing everyone else a favour by keeping our kids home to make life easier for teachers and other kids trying to manage in cramped schools? To make social distancing in the classroom easier for those who need and want to be there.

Are you nuts? Why wouldn’t you want your kids to see friends / have a normal life

OP, you have every right to keep your children at home in September, if that's what you want to do. So does anyone else.

Assuming that all the children in this scenario would continue to be satisfactorily educated at home, we could even think up a name for this astonishing new phenomenon.

"Home education", for example.

Meanwhile, everyone else who doesn't want to "home educate" can get on with sending their children to school.

Just like it was pre-lockdown, strangely.

YABU.

I can provide my children with support for their learning but education is about so much more than learning.

Lessons. Not learning!

I’d love to but I can see that keeping children in isolation is cruel. So, no.

"Ah I haven’t missed anything then, I’ve seen all those studies. None of them have indicated that opening schools causes a huge increase in community transmission".

I think what you mean is it's too early to be sure but most experts including obviously all scientific advisors to all countries suspect it does increase transmission or else schools would all be open now. The evidence has mounted that opening schools is leading to outbreaks and research into viral load in children is shown to be high. This is new evidence which strengthens the suspicion that schools have their part to play in aiding this epidemic.

What Covid19 data there is simply does not support the utterly disproportionate fear about it, so in an ideal world, I would want schools opened to all ASAP.BUT we're living in odd times where people have been scaremongered into not wanting to leave their homes

I sometimes wonder are we all ott over this, but I have a friend whose neighbour's ENTIRE FAMILY died of covid (her mum dad and brother, all in the same week) and another friend of mine got it and still isnt over it.

I don't agree, it's not about saying that those who are SAHMs or WFH "should" keep their kids off at home, to make room for those who are returning.

State education is a right that every single child is entitled to (if their parents so wish to send them back).

DC1 is year 1 and is now back at school and it's been fantastic so far, they are SO much happier being with their friends, going outside to play with them and being back into some normal routine.

It's a decision for each family to make based on personal circumstances, I understand where a family member is shielding and needs to be protected. But for the vast majority, I think children should be returning to school as they start to open up for more year groups.

If you are now unemployed and think you would like to homeschool your child, then I'd say crack on, get hold of all the information you need to do this to the best of your ability.

Otherwise, just send your kids back to school when they start accepting them.

Personally, I don't see the issue of watching & waiting etc...we would have let DC1 return weeks ago if it were possible.

You do you.

Why would you try to influence what others do, it’s none of your business.

There is not and never has been a requirement to send your children to school. If you want to homeschool for the foreseeable, knock yourself out. But that’s a decision every family should make for themselves.

@Oaktree55

"Ah I haven’t missed anything then, I’ve seen all those studies. None of them have indicated that opening schools causes a huge increase in community transmission".

I think what you mean is it's too early to be sure but most experts including obviously all scientific advisors to all countries suspect it does increase transmission or else schools would all be open now. The evidence has mounted that opening schools is leading to outbreaks and research into viral load in children is shown to be high. This is new evidence which strengthens the suspicion that schools have their part to play in aiding this epidemic.

If I’d meant that I’d have said it.

I can, but I am not so sure because of peer interaction/socialization factor. In normal circumstance, if I decided to home school there are a lot of things I can do to support that side of it. But just keeping kids home just because you can, without covering that aspect is too risky, I think.

Haven't read the full thread but I will answer your OP.

You can do whatever you like with your children. But if you choose keep them at home full time beyond September you should give up your school place and/or not expect teachers to set work for your children. The teachers will be too busy teaching my/other children who are at school where they should be. It won't be long before you'll be asking the school to take them back anyway as educating children is no easy task.

Peer interaction is vital to child development. The social distancing measures making school 'scary' will only terrify your child if you let it. Its a good time to teach resilience. My yr6 should be going back on 22nd and will have to wear a mask to school. She's not bothered, she just wants to see her friends and get back to her education.

The social media fear mongering and frothing has to stop. Do what you want, but prepare for what that brings.

I am not sure we are reading the OP the same way.

The OP is not trying to keep her kids as long as possible, just suggesting to free some places for parents who might need them more than others.

I have already said why I don't agree, but some people seem keen on completely misreading what is said.

DD's primary had 40 children in her Y1 group. They've been able to take back 25 because of space. We were asked to keep kids home home if we could, and the deputy head confirmed this week that there won't be any more space this school year. She's not even sure if they'll go back in September yet, as it's too early to say what measures will still be in place.
My daughter's education is vitally important to me, but I'm confident that she's keeping up via the work we're doing at home, she's happy with our company for now and I'd rather kids who need the spaces have them. Keeping kids at home doesn't mean you don't care that they're missing 6 months of schooling. I'd send her back tomorrow, but we're in a want rather than need category, so I'm happy to step back.

Nope. I'm not going to set aside childrens' basic rights to education & socialisation indefinitely.

Our school have opened up to YR, 1 and 6 (all of them, full time). If the spaces aren’t filled by the eligible pupils, they won’t be offered to anyone else. There will just be slightly smaller groups.
They are opening up to Y5 and Y2 next week and hope to have Y3 and Y4 in for a week at the end of term too.

School is about more than picking up facts/being academically educated. It's about interacting with peers, development of interpersonal skills, managing friendships, being part of a wider community, teamwork, taking part in discussions and opinions and experiences with those beyond that which exists within the four walls of home.

Have you actually asked you children but they want to go to school?
Some children are happy to be home educated and some are not

I think people need to decide if they are sending children back into school when open or choosing to home school properly not relying on teachers to provide work. Cannot really expect teachers to be running on line provision alongside increasing numbers at school to be fair

Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

i have three of the little darlings, all at senior school and all learning at different levels. 2 of them are doing subjects I have no clue about. All need to be in school, being taught by professionals, not by a parent who hasn't a clue.

Kids need to be around other kids. It's not healthy keeping them locked up and away from other people their own age.

If you can only make your own life worthwhile by depriving your children of theirs, something is very wrong.

The onus needs to be on the government and the education sector to deliver their basic requirements to our children.

Not on well meaning parents to limit their own child’s educational opportunities to help the powers that be get themselves off the hook.

YABU. This virus is showing up just how many people are unable to see anything outside of their own bubble ffs. It's all about primary school aged kids. Well, here's a newsflash: most who aren't teachers can't teach kids GSCE level subjects, and yes, those people are still kids, too, and deserve an education.

If you can only make your own life worthwhile by depriving your children of theirs, something is very wrong.

what a shitty thing to say, no need to project your own shortcomings by being so nasty and unfair to others. It says a lot about you, nothing about them

LaurieMarlow
perfectly written

i think it's up to the individual family and what's best for them.
I know what you mean though, many parents are managing to educate their kids when they have the time, it's not rocket science.
I"m a qualified teacher, believe me there's nothing in your teacher training that prepares you to support learning from home, it's not being a teacher, so you don't need to be qualified.
I don't have a GCSE to my name and it didn't stop me h.edding through primary, I'd have done secondary too if necessary.