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.

I do think, it will come to a point when all DC are expected to resume schooling. If parents want to continue at home, then they officially home school and come off the school roll. That is only fair to the schools and teachers.

However, we all know there are huge dangers in this for vulnerable children. It is a massive minefield.

It is all very well for the peoople who can home school, and are effective at doing so, but others are not. They may well be scared for their children and do little in the way of home schooling them and, we also know, the children might be carers or need to be under the watchful eye of a school. I shudder to think of what could be going on if legions of children do not return to school and they are not being schooled at all! Or worse!

@Homemadeandfromscratch

Teachers should not be asked to provide online learning in addition to teaching at school. I won't be

can you refuse to do the job you are given to do?

I am only used to private sector, where you get the boot if you are not happy.

Of course you can't refuse. You do what you have been asked, if you are unhappy then talk to someone if that gets you anywhere. It's not possible to do both in class and online learning, to be asked to do is unfair. But hey ho - as someone has already said - there is a huge discrepancy between school, their provision and how well they consider their staff's mental health and wellbeing. I find it appalling at how little so many schools and teachers have been doing regarding home learning, it's laziness, of the teachers and of the school leaders who aren't following it up. I do as much as I can and the best I can. Shielding or otherwise. There's no excuse not to engage with children who are willing to engage and mark their work on a daily basis (this is primary).

@user8558 tbh I think worrying about the infection controlled environment being upsetting for the child isn’t necessary. I think the 1 m rule will be in place and soon enough social distancing in schools will be scrapped altogether. Even then kids adapt - it’s probably you projecting your own fears. Also I could be wrong but I’m getting the feeling that your post is just a bit of a stealth post in the guise of appearing to want to be helpful I.e : your child is doing so well and is ahead of his work schedule at home, so you can let someone else have his place.

If you, or anyone else, want to home educate your children then crack on with it. You dont need anyone approval 🤷‍♀️

If you’re not married and not wealthy you can’t afford to SAH. That’s a massive personal, financial risk.

If you want to home school then by all means do but we need to get schools up and running again as close to normal as possible.
It is not good for large numbers of children to be missing out on the school experience - both educationally and socially.

Yes, if you have the ability to do so. Many people home school anyway so this is no different.

If teachers are back in teaching full time then you would be unreasonable to expect the teachers to do all the planning/marking for your kids though.

I still figure people should (and will) do whatever they think is best, with their circumstances

Personally, my son is going back on Monday..his school took an extra couple of weeks to sort things so the y1 goig back is only happening now. He has not enjoyed home learning at all, and has missed friends, so its best for him. I figure his overall risk is extremely low, probably more likely to be hit by lightening..so IMO its the best choice for him.

If he has issues deaing wit the changes in the school, I will reconsider. But for now, definitely the way we are going. DD hasnt had the option of going back yet..shes y2.

Noone should judge anyone for whichever decision is made tbh.

2 friends have decided to homeschool permanetly after this. I imagine a few more will too. Just depends on your situation, and the child involved tbh. Some will thrive at home, others like my son..are not happy

That was a drawn out way of saying that basically..even if circumstances allow, I don't think there should be pressure on parents to keep their kids at home. Same as there shouldn't be pressure to send them back either. So no, I disagree that those who are able to should keep theirs home.

Yes, if you have the ability to do so. Many people home school anyway so this is no different.

this is 100% different!

My home schooling friends below to loads of groups.
Science gruops, music groups, art groups.
They do swimming lessons and football club, martial arts or dancing.
Their kids do extra curricular activities like scouts or Boys Brigade.
And as part of their home schooling they make use of all that is available, museums, art galleries, Roman houses, forests, beaches, National Trust, Stonehenge etc etc.

Thier kids have friends who they regularly see and play with.

What they do NOT do is sit at home for 12 weeks.

Mine have been attending school constantly from lockdown
No one is ill as a result
We should follow scientific advice and our kids needs, we shouldn't be keeping them off because of our gut feeling or nervousness

Yes this is very very different to homeschooling outside of the CV pandemic. Done properly children thrive on a home school environment.

Very few will be thriving on this - this level of being at home and no social interaction isnt normal or good for anyone

I think individuals need to do what’s best for them. Trouble is that my year R dd is back at school but getting no education to keep it fair on the rest of her class as they can’t take back more than 10. She a few months off six and still can’t read or write. Year 1 will have to be binnned to get her up to year R leaving level and reading and writing.

Exactly. This is the big risk though, isn't it? Children not attending school for even longer and parents who cannot cope, but are fearful, letting them get further and further behind. The cost of this will be immense. Funds will go into schools. It will not stretch to teaching in school and home schooling resources. I believe parents will have to choose but only a relatively small number will be capable of teaching to any reasonable standard. Let alone teaching social skills and all the clubs/skills involved as stated above. Many children could be seriously disadvantaged.

If everyone is happy with home schooling then yes. It takes he pressure off schools. It wouldn't work for or family but if it works for yours then great. Parents who are not working shouldn't be pressured into it though.

Agree with steppemum but if your children are happy with you home schooling then do so.

As a retired primary teacher I'd like to add one more thing. Germany, Finland and many other countries with good education systems do not start formal education until children are six. It seemed unnecessary to start with Year 1, as their first year at school will be quite different from the rest of their education - I hope. Also, having been born a couple of years before the second world war, my older sister and I didn't really start school until we were eight and seven respectively.

I could home Ed DS from September if we wanted to but I won't be. He's already suffering enough with the fact his mates are now back at school, in the same bubble, and he's not - our school only took back children of working parents. He's now alienated from them - yes sounds dramatic but he has SEN so social skills that aren't face to face are something he struggles with - so he doesn't get the in jokes on WhatsApp etc.

I'm desperate for him to go back, spend time with children his own age, to the point if it came to it I would find a job so the school have to take him back. Whatever it takes.

Apologies for the stropping, I've just had enough

No your not right. We cannot get back to normality if it’s optional weather to send your children to get an education. Children need routine and stimulation too. Also schools need to face the reality that all children need to be taught in school and they will only be able to do this if they have all the kids back.

It’s not fair on so many things one being the children who are attending school currently aren’t having their usually lessons. The amount of disruption CV has caused. To suggest this just because of your situation is madness there will be far more parents who need to go back to work and rely on school as childcare.

Absolutely no way are my kids staying home beyond September! I don't work and mine both went back last week (yrs 1 & 6), not because I don't want to parent my own kids but because they needed to go back and socialise with kids their own age. My 6 year old was so upset all of the time and desperately missing her friends and teacher.

Homeschool was going to pot and I'm thick as shit so they aren't learning anything from me 🤣 I've got friends who are flying with homeschooling but not me!

DS is 4 and I was a primary teacher before I had him. We’re in wales, where it seems likely to be a part time system and I think that will suit DS down to the ground. I’m confident I could keep him up to speed academically but what I Can’t do is provide him with the social aspects of school and he desperately needs this. Wales’ lockdown rules have been stricter and he hasn’t spent any time with anyone but DP and I since 23rd March. I won’t be sending him to school for education, I’ll be sending him to socialise.

Children need an education. If they are not back full time at school by sept they will all suffer immensely. So will parents.

I'm at home all day due to long term illness. My kids are old enough to fend for themselves mostly.

I'm keeping them off till September as there are limited places in school and I know many working parents NEED those spaces.

But after September they're going back.

They need to, mentally and for their education.
I'm a crap homeschooler and we've all but given up on schooling tbh.

But after September they're going back.

if they have a place.. and that's a big IF.

One of my kids can't go back at the moment, despite the year group restarting, we don't qualify as I am not a key worker. I wasn't even asked if I wanted them to go back...

Now, I am most definitively not a key worker, and my role would be a big joke in the Walking Dead. That said, at least 90% of my clients are abroad, so all our taxes - company and personal- are from foreign currency. We are bringing money in this country. It's only at our own scale, but you could argue that businesses like mine are key to this country when you all add us up. 🤷

Ita good for them to be back at school, and I really don’t think parents need to feel the way you do, even though you are clearly coming from the best possible place.

Most of my class is back now, and I can see how good it has been for them. The social distancing was weird for the first couple of days, but children are amazingly adaptable, we keep everything very matter of fact and normal for them, and it hasn’t been the issue I was expecting it to be. They’re just happy to be able to play with their friends again.

The only thing I would strongly advise against is keeping your child at home while waiting until everyone else has gone back to see how what it’s like, and then sending them back a week or two later. We have had this, and parents still expect their children to have the same ‘induction’ back into school as if they had come back at the start with everyone else. It won’t happen, your child will just have to fit in and pick it up. We’re done with the gentle introduction back into school and have moved on now, so I would definitely say that if you’re going to send them back, send them back at the same time as everyone else. If you’re going to keep them home, keep them home until the start of the next term.