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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School in September

172 replies

Mumlookingforadvise · 31/07/2020 16:35

Hi all,

I have a girl who goes to a school in Wimbledon ( Year 4 ). I am thinking of not sending her to school in Sept due to the current situation around Coronavirus.

AIBU - to not send her to school
AIBNU - Your choice.

What are other parents thinking?

OP posts:
bendmeoverbackwards · 31/07/2020 19:04

It's too early to tell. A lot can happen in 6 weeks and the infection rate is changing all the time.

AdoptAdaptImprove · 31/07/2020 19:04

And in my (very flexible and supportive) workplace, you wouldn’t be able to hold a home working post without having either a SAHP or full time childcare in place.

Original poster
Mumlookingforadvise · 31/07/2020 19:08

Maybe we are lucky with our workplaces. DH has a discussion with his line manager every 2 weeks on how the childcare is working. He is working reduced hours now with agreement. So lucky in that sense and still productive. We can always work late night if needed. It's just good to understand so many people are thinking about this.

OP posts:
slashlover · 31/07/2020 19:09

I'm in Scotland, kids are going back in less than two weeks.

Newdaynewname1 · 31/07/2020 19:12

@Mumlookingforadvise my main concern would be the social isolation - you won’t be able to go to home-ed groups as they are during the day (and that defeats the point of being out of school anyway as the risk of coronavirus will be even higher than in school due to the number if adults), playdates - similar.
The damage due to extended social isolation is massive and only in severe cases justified (i.e. shielding children and parents).

SpringSunshineandTulips · 31/07/2020 19:17

My year 4 will be going back and does have a health condition. Shes not high risk but mild to moderate. It does worry me if she gets it as she will prob need to go to hospital (a sickness bug could send her to hospital too) but I think there’s more chance of her mental health suffering and becoming behind at school if she stays home.

ConquestEmpireHungerPlague · 31/07/2020 19:40

I worry that people talking about continuing to homeschool don’t actually understand what happens when you deregister your child and move to home education. It won’t be like it has been before, with schools providing content and you supervising your child in undertaking it. You don’t get work set by someone else.

What a strange and patronising post. Why would anyone considering home education be expecting this?

labyrinthloafer · 31/07/2020 20:30

I'm also leaning towards mine not returning so I understand and think yanbu.

Original poster
Mumlookingforadvise · 31/07/2020 20:37

Strange times. In normal days, this would not even have crossed our minds.

OP posts:
hedgehogger1 · 31/07/2020 20:38

I think you should look at some local home schooling groups and try to get a good understanding of the long term pros and cons

PablosHoney · 31/07/2020 20:40

Are you British OP?

Original poster
Mumlookingforadvise · 31/07/2020 20:41

My DH previously had kidney problems and is diabetic. Maybe that is colouring our views.

OP posts:
hedgehogger1 · 31/07/2020 20:41

And also look at how you'd cover subjects other than English and maths

Original poster
Mumlookingforadvise · 31/07/2020 20:44

No - not British

OP posts:
PablosHoney · 31/07/2020 20:48

👍

catsarecute · 31/07/2020 20:59

My DS will be going into year 9 in September and I am very worried about it if they open with the current plans (full classes, 'bubble' of 180, basically a bit more hand sanitising than usual and no hot lunches seems to be the jist of the plan at the moment). However DS is desperate to get back to school, and if they are open and I don't let him go back, I think it will damage our relationship. Of course in normal times, full schooling is good for his education and his mental health. But I am also very worried about this virus. I am vulnerable (not shielding) and worried about the long term effects it would have on my health if I catch it. DS has also been hospitalised 3 times in the past with non-blanching spots suspected to be septicemia, but actually caused by viruses (last time, flu). At the moment though, the plan is to send him in as that is what he wants. It will be a big job for me to control my anxiety about this.

I think in your position I would wait and get more info from the school about the precautions they are putting in place (I heard that private schools were looking at weekly testing for example but am not sure how accurate that is. That would reassure me a lot for a start. They might also do daily temperature checks) and also find out if they will offer any online provision if you don't decide to send her. A lot might also change between now and September as the last 24 hours have shown. But I don't think you would be unreasonable to take her out of school if she is happy with that and you think you will be able to do a decent job of home educating.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

frazzledquaver · 31/07/2020 21:00

@Mumlookingforadvise

My DH previously had kidney problems and is diabetic. Maybe that is colouring our views.
I would certainly say that my UCTD/lupus and my son's type one diabetes colour my views, in that I have to be really convinced that the benefits of school attendance are worth the risks. But only you can take a view on the level of benefit and risk to your family.
lunar1 · 31/07/2020 21:07

We just got put back in lockdown. How can classes of 25 in a small space be ok, but 2 family members aren't?

I don't think mine will go back if there is no social distancing in place. We have several increased risk factors in our house. BAME, and health factors.

Waiting to see what school decides.

TheSunIsStillShining · 31/07/2020 22:24

If numbers are like today, no.
But a lot can happen until sept 4. Maybe even the rainbow farting unicorns will appear.

Koennt · 31/07/2020 23:53

I don't really see why this is such a big deal. HE is perfectly legal. If you're not happy with the school's provision, take your children out of school. It's not a big drama.

I'm personally delighted that my last one is going back to school. No talk of bubbles etc as yet - but even if there is, it's better for her than being at home. And I speak as someone whose children didn't start school until Year 1, so I'm not wedded to schools as the universal panacea.

I am, however, horrified by the hysteria about Covid.

labyrinthloafer · 01/08/2020 00:00

People don't have to deregister immediately, and legally HE, they can express concerns etc.

Original poster
Mumlookingforadvise · 01/08/2020 00:10

Covid is not a hysteria though. People are still dying even in UK.

OP posts:
stayathomer · 01/08/2020 00:12

I am, however, horrified by the hysteria about Covid.
See, that's why I'm worried about the kids going back. We can be careful about everything and the kids sit next to someone (I dont know if you believe in covid/wear masks/social distance, and if you do, great) who has that attitude, and their family might be asymptomatic and my family might get covid and not be so lucky. And with that one case, the school shuts and everyone thanks their lucky stars we caught it in time, only our family are affected in one way or another, possibly even fatally.

Latinlover · 01/08/2020 00:26

School is so much more than a few maths books, can you really provide the same learning and social experience at home? Kids need other kids. All schools will be taking sensible precautions. My two children in year 5 were lucky enough to have 4 weeks of full time school before summer holiday and having a normal routine and social interaction really lifted them. The school thought through distancing and the children rose to the occasion with good sense. I am a teacher and have provided endless zoom lessons for the duration of lockdown and could really feel the lethargy of home learning setting in for many students by July. I think we should all try to give our kids some normality if at all possible in the autumn whilst taking sensible precautions. This may mean having to drive rather than using public transport and setting off earlier, but I think it will be worth it

confusedandold · 01/08/2020 06:03

@ballsdeep
I know it because he has completed workbooks for Year 4 and is now working through Year 5. He will be Year 4 in September. We also have a programme called Conquer Maths which is widely used in schools for homework etc. The curriculum is set out by UK Year groups will all the topics they would cover. He has completed all of Year 3 and 4 and feels extremely confident on it. He has nailed on the topic tests and is not working confidently through the year 5 work. This isn't a boast as we live overseas, he's bilingual, his written English is very weak and he's behind on it. I'm happy that that at least this is one area he is confident with so we can get his written English up to scratch. My son does a full one hour of maths daily and this is probably the reason why not because he is a mathematical genius.

Thankfully, I'm not thick enough to imagine that he is ahead purely by completing one page of a workbook. But thanks for your concern Hmm