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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder if I'm the only person who won't be sending kids to school in August

242 replies

user8558 · 23/06/2020 10:20

AIBU to wonder if I'm the only one who won't be sending DC back to school in August.

I initially thought "wait and see", but now the details are coming out about what it will be like. And my instinct is telling me to keep them off until normality resumes. Or something closer to normality.

Homeschooling has been going well. I'm not worried about their education.

I do worry about the lack of social interaction, but feel on balance this need wouldn't be satisfied adequately until things are a bit more relaxed anyway.

I wouldn't be expecting any work to be set for my kids, I'll take care of their home learning.

I cannot be the only one feeling this and thinking this?

Or is everyone going back in August/September?

OP posts:
IndecentFeminist · 23/06/2020 13:22

Your school might be Angelina,many aren't.

formerbabe · 23/06/2020 13:24

Well, they're not "banned from the school premises," though, are they?

Yes they are. They can't go.

My school is open for all year groups as of yesterday and anyone who wished to send their kids in could apply

My two DC are at different schools. Neither is in one of the years which are allowed back. It's R, y1, y6, y10. My DC aren't in those years.

loobyloo1234 · 23/06/2020 13:25

You sound neurotic OP. Your own anxieties being projected onto your DC. How sad for them. One day I am sure they will not be looking back with fondness at you keeping them wrapped up in cotton wool when the rest of their friends are back in school and socialising

formerbabe · 23/06/2020 13:25

And keyworkers / vulnerable children obviously.

The government is not allowing mine back based on their age and the occupation of their parents.

How can this be right?

Soubriquet · 23/06/2020 13:25

My children’s school is still only reception, year 1 and year 6.

If it was fully open, they would both be there

NikeDeLaSwoosh · 23/06/2020 13:26

@user8558

Clearly this raises some peoples hackles for some reason. I'm not sure why.
...because It's very difficult for people to see DC, who lack a genuine voice of their own, being ill-treated by their own parents.

You need to seek help for your own anxiety rather than projecting it onto your DC.

Lynda07 · 23/06/2020 13:26

Not unreasonable, user. You must do what is right for, and suits, you and your children.

NikeDeLaSwoosh · 23/06/2020 13:30

@Lynda07

Not unreasonable, user. You must do what is right for, and suits, you and your children.
Would you say the same if Op was suggesting neglecting, beating or otherwise treating their DC in a damaging manner?

If it suits OP then its perfectly fine for them to do as they please?

Jenasaurus · 23/06/2020 13:31

Children may only get mild symptoms but my DD is a nursery teacher and yesterday 4 of her children had to be collected as had coughs and runny noses (runny nose can be a sign in children), one of the children was on my DDs lap waiting for her mum to collect her and sneezed everywhere, the parents were asked they they sent them in when clearly unwell, the response was, its only a cold and another, we are not having my child tested as its uncomfortable. They probably have all got a cold or something non-Covid related but whilst parents continue to send their DC into school/nursery when clearly unwell is causing issues for the rest of the class. So now all 4 of those sent home have to isolate for 7 days but the rest of the class continues unless one of the adults develops symptoms. The staff are given a mask but only after its highlighted there is a potential infected child, so after the sneeze. Again its probably not COVID but if one of the DC did have it then its not just the DC it will affect its the teachers, assistants, their families and anyone else they mix with.

user8558 · 23/06/2020 13:32

Some people are being outright unpleasant and nasty on this thread.

You have no idea what circumstances are involved.

And I can only speculate why this seems to have hit a nerve in certain people.

OP posts:
Wellhowyoudoin · 23/06/2020 13:34

Right with you OP. With parents sending in children who have tested positive (yes, verified by news agencies) I’m just not prepared to trust other parents. I’ll see how it goes and if cases dwindle to a comfortable, with me, level then they can go back. State schools going back before private schools smacks of cannon fodder to me

Drivingdownthe101 · 23/06/2020 13:35

State schools going back before private schools smacks of cannon fodder to me

All the private schools in my area have reopened.

TerrapinStation · 23/06/2020 13:35

@Lynda07

Not unreasonable, user. You must do what is right for, and suits, you and your children.
Yes, everyone should suit themselves, that's workable way to run an education system Hmm
majesticallyawkward · 23/06/2020 13:41

Mines already back, reception in England, and it's the best decision I could have made. The class is a little smaller as they're split for now but dc is so much happier.

Infection numbers are so low I don't see it as so much of a risk.

cardibach · 23/06/2020 13:42

@Drivingdownthe101

State schools going back before private schools smacks of cannon fodder to me

All the private schools in my area have reopened.

The independent school I used to teach at isn’t going back until September as their term would be finishing about now anyway.
NikeDeLaSwoosh · 23/06/2020 13:43

Your DC need to go to school OP. Its as simple as that.

If you have vulnerable/shielding family members, then you need to isolate yourself + your DC from them, and get your DC back to normal.

There are literally no valid circumstances that justify keeping a healthy DC out of school.

Divebar · 23/06/2020 13:44

runny nose can be a sign in children

Is it a sign in children? I can’t find anything online to support that.

BakewellGin1 · 23/06/2020 13:45

My Y6 is back and is loving it... He will be going back for Y7 as soon as school opens in September

NoWordForFluffy · 23/06/2020 13:46

@Bartlet

If your children are happy with home schooling and you are able and willing to provide them a decent education then knock yourself out. Meanwhile, myself and many others will continue to press for kids being back at school full time without social distancing as that is what is best for my children.
This!
cardibach · 23/06/2020 13:46

@TerrapinStation
currently 1 in 1700 people have the virus, how many schools have that many individuals in them?
Virtually all secondary schools in urban/semi-urban areas, once you count teaching staff and support staff. Many have 1700 or more pupils. In a secondary school you can’t bubble and deliver the curriculum either, due to specialist staff and rooms and pupils options in KS4 and5. I expect you are thinking of primary schools. This is understandable, as that’s all the government seems to think about too. Virtually nothing they have said has been applicable to secondaries.

FrenchJunebug · 23/06/2020 13:49

my son is going back next week and I am so happy. I'm a single mum working full time and it has been hell.

Mightymurphy · 23/06/2020 13:50

I half an hour John Swinney is making a statement. Fully expected to be schools will be back I August, full time as usual unless the virus increases again.

Thank goodness. Common sense prevails. There are so few cases and deaths in Scotland. We are being held hostage by the government and need to get started on normaility again. I’ve been sat in this house for 14 weeks and my DC are suffering both mentally and with their education

sirfredfredgeorge · 23/06/2020 13:51

Virtually all secondary schools in urban/semi-urban areas, once you count teaching staff and support staff. Many have 1700 or more pupils.

But of course the distribution of cases is not even, so 1700 is pretty irrelevant, cases are of course not spread randomly in a population, they're obviously spread in clusters, since that is how it's spread between people. So applying the 1 in 1700 figure to a school risk is not in any way useful.

user8558 · 23/06/2020 13:51

Don't be ridiculous Nike.

I dread to think what you home life is like if you think kids need to go attend school more than see their parents. Some people are utterly bonkers.

OP posts:
Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 23/06/2020 13:52

“State schools going back before private schools smacks of cannon fodder to me”

Children are more likely to die by being hit by lightning but you carry on wearing that tin foil hat.

Op this is a goady post and you know it

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