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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To prepare DC for the fact that schools may not open?

322 replies

collageofphotos · 01/08/2020 10:34

It's now looking like full school re-opening is in doubt, unfortunately - I'm so torn about whether to be open with my DC (10 and 8) about this fact or just keep talking as though it's definitely all back to normal in September.

I'm leaning towards the latter, but wondered what others are planning to do? For context, one of my DC is desperate to get back to school, the other is absolutely dreading it, which makes things complicated...

It feels like it will be a huge shock to suddenly have to announce on eg Sept 1st (as last-minute announcements seem to be this government's specialty Hmm) that it won't be happening after all, but on the other hand I don't want them to be worried for a whole month before we know what's actually happening...

OP posts:
lyralalala · 01/08/2020 15:24

@collageofphotos what a good idea, well done your head

I think so. The local uniform shop and some of the better off parents are up in arms about it, but it's a great idea. Especially as one of the major employers locally is likely to announce major redundancies in the next couple of weeks.

I'm actually hoping that it's her way of starting a step-back in uniform. It used to be a school with a very simple uniform policy - navy trousers or skirt, white shirt or polo, navy cardigan or jumper plus optional tie. PE kit was 'shorts and t-shirt'. Then about 10 years ago a new head came in and made massive changes with logo-ed everything including PE Kit. It's just unecessary expense

ChavvySexPond · 01/08/2020 15:26

Ours are a little older than yours OP but I'm always open with them about almost everything.

We joke about worrying things in our family so we have a running joke going about school this term being one long round of self isolating because there's always going to be at least one kid in one of their bubbles with a cough.

It's not going to be a normal term and joking about the ridiculousness of it all is how we prepare for it.

KatherineOfGaunt · 01/08/2020 15:27

Someone said to tell primary-aged children that the teachers are trying their best regarding having schools open in September.

Please don't say this.

We have no say in what happens. So if schools weren't to open, it may inadvertently cause children to think it's the teachers' fault.

Original poster
collageofphotos · 01/08/2020 15:28

@ChavvySexPond I like that approach Grin

OP posts:
Rosebel · 01/08/2020 15:30

Isn't there talk about shutting pubs and restaurants in certain areas to ensure the children do go back in September?

funinthesun19 · 01/08/2020 15:31

Schools need to re open. They can’t stay closed forever. I hope they do open and they stay open.

Original poster
collageofphotos · 01/08/2020 15:31

@Rosebel yes, there’s also some doubt about whether that will be enough...

OP posts:
monkeytennis97 · 01/08/2020 15:32

@JustFrigginNameChange

DH and I are in that tiny percentage I guess then... secondary school teachers.

NeverForgetYourDreams · 01/08/2020 15:35

Shut the pubs. Go back to minimal mixing of houses. Do this 31st August. Then schools back 7th sept. It's a trade off. Education is more important than dinner parties and drinks in a pub.

Letseatgrandma · 01/08/2020 15:42

@Goingprivate2020

Schools will open and stay open. Other things will he sacrificed if necessary. Teachers won’t/shouldn’t get ill anymore than everyone else so should be business as usual.
Schools cannot stay open if they don’t have the staff. If staff or someone on their household has symptoms, they will need to self isolate. Don’t underestimate how often this might happen. The test results aren’t always quick at coming back-the person I knew who had one recently had to have a home test which took 5 days for a negative result to come back. If they have no staff to cover that class and supply teachers don’t want to cover a class in which the teacher has had symptoms (and possibly infected the class), then that class cannot remain open.

It also absolutely won’t be ‘business as normal’ because whilst in the past, the workforce has struggled in with a cough, temperature and feeling shit, now they won’t. I predict that illness levels may be significantly higher than usual.

Classes and schools will close if they don’t have the staff. It’s not like we can whip out a TA to take the class temporarily either as we don’t have any because they were made redundant. We don’t have laptops or decent WiFi in my school either and our deficit budget means this is unlikely to be improved any time soon.

FrippEnos · 01/08/2020 15:52

@funinthesun19

Schools need to re open. They can’t stay closed forever. I hope they do open and they stay open.
What are you willing to sacrifice for this to happen?
CountessFrog · 01/08/2020 15:56

Can we all just agree that we should just see how it goes? Nobody knows.

I do notice however that some posters seem to have a vested interest in schools not opening, or closing soon afterwards. Or other posters seem to enjoy speculating worse case scenario.

What if? What if? Have you thought of?

I do worry for the mental wellbeing of those who catastrophise so.

FrippEnos · 01/08/2020 16:05

CountessFrog
Can we all just agree that we should just see how it goes? Nobody knows.

No we shouldn't just see how it goes, there should be layers of plans for this.

I do worry for the mental wellbeing of those who catastrophise so.

Why?

Its the governments and DfEs job to sort this shit out.

LBH, its why some of the provision form schools was so poor.

lyralalala · 01/08/2020 16:12

I do worry for the mental wellbeing of those who catastrophise so.

I worry much more for the people who seem to think the kids will go back, stay back and all will be normal.

I'm mentally planning on the stress of having my kids at home full time doing more distanced learning and lots of disruption. That way if it goes better than that it's a bonus

That's a far healthier position than some people I know who've made all sorts of plans based on full time school with no disruption at all.

SueEllenMishke · 01/08/2020 16:18

@lyralalala

I do worry for the mental wellbeing of those who catastrophise so.

I worry much more for the people who seem to think the kids will go back, stay back and all will be normal.

I'm mentally planning on the stress of having my kids at home full time doing more distanced learning and lots of disruption. That way if it goes better than that it's a bonus

That's a far healthier position than some people I know who've made all sorts of plans based on full time school with no disruption at all.

Do you work full time? Do you have an employer expecting you to be back firing on all cylinders come September? I have to plan on the basis that schools will be back otherwise I may as well quit my job now.
Sparkles715 · 01/08/2020 16:31

The best way to keep schools open is to prevent school staff from catching Covid. Putting teachers in badly ventilated classrooms with no social distancing and no PPE is not going to help.

FrippEnos · 01/08/2020 16:33

@Sparkles715

The best way to keep schools open is to prevent school staff from catching Covid. Putting teachers in badly ventilated classrooms with no social distancing and no PPE is not going to help.
what is strange is that so many people have failed to see this.
Sparkles715 · 01/08/2020 16:34

It really is what will close schools. Staff shortages will be the main issue.

Letseatgrandma · 01/08/2020 16:42

@Sparkles715

The best way to keep schools open is to prevent school staff from catching Covid. Putting teachers in badly ventilated classrooms with no social distancing and no PPE is not going to help.
Yes-this is the crux of it!

The people frothing about schools having to open as normal ASAP seem to be the same ones saying nobody should be allowed masks or any other form of risk mitigation. It’s ironic that arguing for the latter, means that the former can’t happen!

Danglingmod · 01/08/2020 16:43

Don't be daft.

All we need to do is keep repeating that children don't and can't catch it nor pass it on to their teachers or teaching assistants and all shall be well...You just need a 'can do' attitude, that's all! Covid doesn't infect people with a 'can do' attitude Wink

funinthesun19 · 01/08/2020 16:45

What are you willing to sacrifice for this to happen?

What types of things do you have in mind? If you mean pubs and restaurants I’m all for it. I very rarely go out anyway.
Are there any other things you had in mind?

Mosschopz · 01/08/2020 16:48

@JustFrigginNameChange

I hope to god they open, my child's education should not be sacrificed any longer so that a tiny percentage of people don't get ill (Don't want to get covid? Stay inside).

I'm fed up of it. And I've been working all throughout lockdown, full time, so I've not been able to do all the home-schooling other parents have managed.

That tiny percentage are going to be teaching your kids...so kind of an important tiny percentage.
Letseatgrandma · 01/08/2020 16:57

Don't want to get covid? Stay inside

I don’t want to get Covid but I can’t stay inside because I will be teaching a class of 32 children.

I WILL be self isolating though if me or any of my (pretty large) household get symptoms, as will every other teacher. If the head can’t persuade a supply teacher into that class (which would have been exposed to anything I breathed on them), my class will have to close.

Parker231 · 01/08/2020 16:59

@lyralalala - I’m assuming you don’t work full time and aren’t expected back in your workplace in September?

puzzledpiece · 01/08/2020 17:24

It's a government priority for all sorts of reasons, so I think they will, but I am dreading the worry as I have one shielded child and one not. Both want to go back. I am almost tempted to wait for a vaccine.