"Well, Liam and Alex go to school, but you just let us stay home"

[letsgoschool]

Is what my 7 year old DS said to me today. I’m one of those parents who chose to keep my children at home even after the school had opened. They speak to the neighbours kids when they are in the garden, some of their parents are key workers and have been at school from day one, others are not and were sent back to school when they opened.

DS knows about the coronavirus as he watches the news and we’ve spoken about it. In the beginning he understood, and was ok with it but as time has gone on and he’s seeing the neighbours kids go to school, he says “ well Liam and Alex go to school, and they don’t get sick. Why can’t we? But you just keep us at home”

It broke my heart, I didn’t even know what to say. How do I explain this?

It's a question of taking a risk-based approach. The risk to children from the global data available is less than for adults, and far less for adults in at risk categories.

Schools (I work in two) are I'm my (admittedly limited) experience diligently following Government guidelines, with an emphasis on teaching and exercising stringent hygiene . If my DC's year group was in an eligible class I would send him.

I observe happy, excited, confident children who are really enjoying being back into no their school and I think that's what we, as parents, should be aiming for.

OP, are you one of the parents that I have been trying to get in contact with for 13 weeks?!
Check your emails! You might miss something important.

Well you'll need to get your shizzle on OP. Gavin W quoted is in the Guardian that schools in England will be open in September.

You're entitled to do what you think is, best but you have to stand by that decision and be confident enough in it to tell that to your child.

You have a right to not send your child to school, even if we weren't in the middle of a pandemic that killed a 13-day-old baby yesterday.

This however, is a ridiculous response. A 13 day old baby has no immune system at all - hardly comparable to a healthy, school aged child.

Just for context, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) which is the most common cause of bronchiolitis caused ~ 30 infant deaths in 2019.

It’s remarkable how few children and babies have been affected by coronavirus compared to other respiratory viruses.

(in the UK, that is; approx 120,000 worldwide)

My son almost died of RSV when he was 5 weeks old. Went from fine to struggling to breathe in minutes, and spent days in an oxygen tent. It terrified me how fast it took hold of him and the doctor said that it was not unusual for it affect tiny babies that quickly.

It is your decision op.
weigh it up

If it broke your heart you clearly aren't comfortable with your decision to keep him off.

My 7 year old (under the vulnerable category, due to all sorts of reasons) has been back for 2 weeks and he's back for 4 weeks more until the summer. He is thrilled. My 3 year old is the same. They are over the moon. I am over the moon and beyond.

I am fully confident and happy with my decision and it reflects in their behavior and attitude towards it too.

She's not keeping him from school. His year group aren't back yet. It's quite simple... She didn't know that when she posted though! I would suggest it isn't only the idea that's simple!

How do I explain this?

Easy just be honest:

I'm/husband/your sister/your brother is very vulnerable because I have serious asthma and so I have to be more careful, so you need to stay home for the moment...

I have not balanced up the actual risk to you and so because I am scared and even though the risk is tiny to you, I have scaled it up out of all proportion....

Something else - just tell them and be honest...

Oh my - his year group aren't back yet.... easily covered then under 'something else' tell him that his year group (therefore his class/friends) aren't back yet.... why so difficult?

I think schools have some discretion. My DS is year 5 and they're going back on Monday....there are plans to get year 3 and 4 back before the holidays too and the head teacher has already set up marquees in the school grounds, but I know not all schools are back.

I don't think there is a wrong or right answer, in the end we all do either what we have to, or what we believe is best for our own family if there's any choice about it.

If society isn’t careful there are going to be groups of children too scared to get back to normal. Unless medically advised children need to be back with their friends, playing and having fun.

I think it’s distinctly odd that you weren’t aware that your son was not able to be back at school yet. It seems to be the only topic of conversation i have at the minute, in whatsapp, social media, anytime I speak to friends and family.
But perhaps that’s just me. My son is also year 2 and not at school. He’ll be going as soon as they’ll have him but am intrigued that a lot of parents on here (not necessarily including OP) seem to think that September will be ok. There is a virus around, it will be around for a long time, at some point we have to accept the risk and try and get on with our lives.
Totally understand for a certain section of society it’s not nearly as straightforward as that but for most of us it is.

* OP, are you one of the parents that I have been trying to get in contact with for 13 weeks?! confused*
Check your emails! You might miss something important.

It would that you broadcast live and had the prime minister deliver your email, alongside national newspaper headlines and multiple mumsnet threads.... the OP would still have missed it!

What are you basing your worries on? Because if you didn’t even realise what year groups are going back to school I doubt your understanding of Covid and the risks associated is up to scratch if I’m honest, your obviously not paying that much attention to any news or briefings. Although that was also clear from your ‘just seeing how things go...’ answer. Be honest... can you just not be arsed with the school run?

You sound really engaged and informed on your child's education...

You have a right to not send your child to school, even if we weren't in the middle of a pandemic that killed a 13-day-old baby yesterday

The baby was positive for Covid 19 but there is no evidence that was the reason why the baby died.

We've told our dc that different families are making different decisions about whether to send dc back to school, that their dad and I have read the scientific research available and we don't feel it is safe to go back yet.

Well if you arent vulnerable or shielding then you'll just have to tell him its because of your own fear.

What utter rubbish.

From the BBC. I imagine this is back to compulsory schooling with fines for non attendance(accepting medical issues).

All pupils in all year groups in England will go back to school in September, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced.

At the daily coronavirus briefing, he said the government was "signed up... to bring every child back, in every year group, in every school".

Guidance on safety measures will be published in the next fortnight.

It isn't the OP's decision - her son can't go anyway unless his school accepts Y2s.

You're going to have to make a decision for September though OP.

(and if it's like Scotland you may not get one - John Sweeney was saying all kids would be expected in from August, presumably with exceptions for the most vulnerable but not because mummy is scared)

xp with Parker!

The news OP - nooooo! It's catastrophic and politically driven. Stop watching it please!
I found out last Friday that there have been 6 (very sadly) cases of covid related deaths in our town - and it clearly said deaths with covid not from - it put all into perspective.