AIBU to send/not send my child back to school

[flippertygibblet]

I have just received an email from my sons school to advise they will be open for his year to attend for 2 days a week from next week. This came as a bit of a shock as I wasn't expecting his year to back until September. Now here is my predicament, my son would really benefit from going back to school, academically he has always struggled & I am concerned how far behind he may fall, we have been doing school work with him every day but obviously it's not the same as school,however, I am shielding due to falling into the 'extremely clinically vulnerable' group & am torn on what to do. Any advice from households with shielders? Thank you!

I'm very surprised that they've left it so late to get in touch, are you sure you haven't missed a message somewhere/somehow?

My school had to finalise numbers by the end of last week to get ready for opening on Monday 29th (Wales).

In your shoes, I'd send him back.

It might be a good way to gradually ease yourself out of your shielding position, which will end on 1/8 anyway.

Schools are being incredibly cautious, and you could email the Head for reassurance about the changes they are making in order to be covid secure too.

I'm in the same position

Ds is year 3 so not expected until sept & I'm shielding

We've decided to send him in 1 or 2 days a week

He'd benefit from seeing his friends and a bit of a transition into the next classroom etc

i would send my kid in for a couple of days if it were allowed. poor thing is bored out of his brain.

It might be an additional year group, so the school had to be sure of numbers first(both staff and pupils) and see how smoothly/safely playtimes,lunchtime etc go before adding any more.

If it's just for education purposes then it would be a bit pointless, as there is not a lot of teaching going on. Definitely not to the level it was done before.

If it's also for the social side,routine,seeing friends then he would definitely benefit from it.

The risk does depend on the area I think. How many cases there are,deaths... basically likelihood for him coming into contact with the virus, it escaping the hand washing and other precautionary measures and then bringing it home to you.

There are things you can do to minimise the risk if you think it's likely he could catch it.

TBH at this point in time, it's entirely up to you to risk assess and what you feel comfortable with for the sake of what? 6 days in total?

We are a shielding family with DC in year 6 and decided against sending them back to school. DH had a transplant before Christmas.

They would benefit from being back in school but because the transplant is still quite recent and the teachers told us they wouldn’t really be doing any teaching (and it was only for 2 days a week), we decided it wasn’t worth the risk for us.

Also, they wouldn’t have been doing much this last half term anyway (residential, play, transition). Transition is mainly being done online as they are not able to visit the new school yet so sending them back in would have only been for the social aspect.

I would send him back.

The chances of him bringing Covid back are extremely low

2 days a week for only 3 weeks will not make any difference to him academically- they'll probably be doing 'settling in'/mental health activities & end of term fun stuff. So make your decision based on what's best for you & him - don't factor in his academic situation. X

You need to send him back. For the good of his mental, social and physical health, not to mention his education.

6 days will do fuck all for his education, even if schools were operating on a normal curriculum/timetable.

It’s impossible to say without knowing your reason for shielding really. Although I would say that at some point you will have to un-shield, but I can see why you might want to wait a bit longer.
What we do with my kids (back at school) is have a sort of decontamination zone in our downstairs loo where they change clothes, leave shoes and wash hands etc. My view is that after this the risk of infection is no more than me going to the shops, or someone bringing food in.

We are teaching proper lessons to all of our returning children, and following the usual Summer term curriculum.

Today, we did maths, English and science before spending an hour playing games on the field.

Lots of things have changed in terms of school routines, classroom layout and hygiene but they are definitely learning, having fun and socialising with friends.

My bubble are with me instead of their usual teacher but we have built a good relationship in a short amount of time, with our own little in-jokes and routines. They have all said how happy they are to be back at school. Talk to the school if you're worried but I would definitely recommend sending dc back to school, and I was on here being sceptical a few weeks ago.

Today, we did maths, English and science

Are you providing the same to the children at home?

I am firmly in the ‘get children back to school’ camp but it must be so hard for people shielding. I can’t say that I’d be entirely comfortable getting back to normal from august if I was very clinically vulnerable. One thing to weigh up is that now may well be safer than autumn/winter depending on what happens through winter. It could be a long stint if there is a further spike and he can’t go to school then. I feel for you as it must be a tough decision to make.

@PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock

Today, we did maths, English and science

Are you providing the same to the children at home?

For year groups who have been invited back, we are providing resources so that similar work can be completed at home by those whose parents have decided to continue homeschooling.

Children at home will obviously not benefit from teacher instruction and feedback, collaborative work or the social aspects of lessons.

Similar not the same, as we try to ensure that homelearning requires minimal adult input and no printing (taking account of parental preferences and feedback).

If it's about education then check what school is doing.

We only have KW and vulnerable children in, and the 'work' they are doing does vary - it's some, though by no means all, of the hone learning in some classes though the school minimum for those bubbles to do some mental maths, a bit of phonics and some reading.
As much as possible they are outdoors doing activities outside in the bubble. They are mixed KS1 classes do two years together. Or eyfs in their own groups. Few are really in their same classrooms or with their normal teaching staff so a lot of work was about getting to know you. There is a big focus on wellbeing.

So education wise may make very little difference. Though socially it may well be.

In your shielding situation it may be worth phoning school to talk through the procedures (especially to do with health and safety precautions ) see how you feel after that.

If you are in an extremely clinically vulnerable shielding group why on earth would you? Sorry, I just can't get my head around that. Both of my kids schools won't be providing any education as such, more of a well being check really. Socially things will obviously be very different as well. I get kids are struggling at home, mine are too, but you need to consider your health as well.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts & opinions, some good points made I'd not considered

My Y6 has been back at school since beginning of June and she has loved it and really benefited being with her friends and teachers. Nobody has been unwell.

@flippertygibbet I have a friend (& colleague) in the same position who was telling me yesterday how badly her Y6 daughter needs to go back for mental health etc & how much they were looking forward to September. I asked her (& I ask you) whether full classes in September/October heading into winter will be less at risk than bubbles of 15 in summer now? But we are currently in an area with low R rate & very low number of cases.

@flippertygibblet the School guidance says not to send dc into school from shielding households. It’s very unlikely the school will accept your child.

[quote ToothFairyNemesis]@flippertygibblet the School guidance says not to send dc into school from shielding households. It’s very unlikely the school will accept your child.[/quote]
Is this official guidance? I have not seen this anywhere & the school are aware I'm shielding & are happy to accept my child (if I choose to send him in)

Aren't those who were strongly advised to shield supposed to be easing their lockdown by going out for walks and to the supermarket with a view to shielding being "paused" on 1st August?

DH is the same and has been told to continue to shield, so DC are off till September.