To think schools should not reopen in Sept?

[SusanFrimp]

I think that schools should not fully reopen in September and instead be partially reopened to some years. It is just not safe enough to reopen yet. I'd say December at the latest for full reopening. If they can't reopen other smaller places, how can they reopen schools with 1000's of kids? AIBU?

my only child is suffering, you can suggest online meet ups all you like but all that does is enforce to her how much she is missing, she's much better when she can ignore it all. She can't wait to get back to school and I dread to think the damage that will be done if she doesn't get to go back in September.

I have total sympathy for anyone who doesn't want to send their child back and would support anyone who wishes to deregister and homeschool going forward but I don't think you can have a system where some children attend school and some don't and it is solely at the discretion of the parents. If you did I could tell you exactly which children wouldn't attend because the parents couldn't be arsed to get up to take them. Yes some wouldn't attend due to concerns about covid but at our school more would be because they couldn't bother.

If there are serious reasons to keep a child out of school then that can be discussed and agreed but unless an extremely vulnerable situation then either send or deregister.

I worry about COVID, but I think the risk to their mental health is much greater for a number of young people

@EuphegeniaDoubtfire

Where the fuck are they going to go, then? Mine starts reception in September. How will I work if he can't go? He will no long have a nursery place!

@EuphegeniaDoubtfire. Don't worry, Boris will make sure the schools are open.

After all, it is free childcare and Boris will want you at work.

Boris has already allowed the virus to kill off many of the great grandparents and he doesn't care about teachers, they are expendable :(

Your Y9 might be able to cope with learning from home until December but my Y11won’t for example. Nor will my Y12 for that matter.

And that’s just for exams.

Children NEED to be at school. They need their friends, they need to learn. They need some independence from mummy and daddy.
Looking at my two dcs, I really think that them staying at home would do them a great disservice tbh.

Wtfdoipick
Is your dd not meeting up with friends?

@howlathebees

I worry about COVID, but I think the risk to their mental health is much greater for a number of young people

Hello..... schools have adults in them!

"The Government can't keep putting off sending kids back to school. The kids in my neighbourhood are pretty much feral now due to lack of school and routine; adults are having to go back to work so it is about damn time kids got back into education."

But the Government isnt putting off opening schools. Theyve already said they will open in September. What we have now is normal summer holidays.

I need both of my primary aged children back in school in September.

They are losing out on their education, on their friends and social contacts and on their general development and well being. I can't single handedly replace all their teachers and peer group. While also working on top of this. I have tried, have done my best, have quit my job last month so I could take the summer off to support my kids and be there for them. I believe I have done reasonably well given the circumstances but see clearly where I have fallen short. Now I am on my knees. I will start a new job in September and they need to go back to school.

They can close everything else: pubs, shops, limit travel and social contacts but not the schools.

For everyone who doesn't want to send their kids to school: Absolutely fine with me. Be my guest. Please homeschool your kids. Many families have done this already pre-lockdown. But please don't ruin it for the rest of us because we can't take it anymore and our children are suffering.

Im still waiting for the big summer catch up we were told would be happening, or did I imagine that?

@Norabird

I think schools going back should be a higher priority than a lot of other things tbh. It's all about balancing the risk budget. If schools are open then other things may need to close to keep the balance right.

I would feel happier if secondary schools asked everyone to wear masks though. I see no good reason why the expectation on them to do that in school should be different than any other public place they go. I have one DC halfway through A levels. I think this has already cost them at least one grade if not two because they've struggled to keep up with the work at home (despite the school's best efforts). Middle DC is getting far too comfortable with never leaving the house. Smallest is miserable with no school. They really need to be back in school BUT I don't think enough is being done to make it safe unless things change before September (which they well could).

I would agree with you. But I would assume tis means ANYONE working in an en listed space should be wearing a mask all day. I can’t see PARENTS been happy to do that whilst THEY are at work....

At least for primary schools, we already had plenty of guinea pigs - most independent schools went back in june, and things were fine. Nurseries are back, no issues (no social distancing at all there!).
I appreciate that secondary is an entirely different situation, but being a teacher isn’t that risky compared to many other jobs.

@Viviennemary

To all those what about meeeeee people. I'd say what about the rest of us. We need things to get back to normal. If people don't want to participate that's up to them.

There speaks a what about meeeeeeeee person.

What about teachers and school workers working in unsafe conditions? But as long as it's all about you, it's ok?

You are seriously deluded if you think that we will get back to normal any time soon. It could be years. Get used to it and try to develop some empathy along the way.

@whittingtonmum well said

schools didn't close in WW2 in case a V2 came through the roof, and they shouldn't shut indefinitely now

True, but in London children left their families, were often separated from theirm siblings, and sent to stay in rural areas with total strangers without even the most rudimentary of checks.

They need to go back.

I understand the concerns, and I'm sure the next year will be one of disruptions - but some children are really suffering.

On the one hand, I have a child who is going into year 1 who would happily be off for another year, and I'm sure I would be able to teach him at home and he wouldn't miss out much educationally (although would socially). Also, I return to work in September (also in education) so the homeschool scenario would no longer be feasible.

However I also have two teenagers who are in a crucial part of education; one of whom has developed mental health issues as a result of all this uncertainty.

I think we all need some kind of normality back. We can't just shut down forever on a basis of "what ifs".

Children might NEED school. But does the country have a competent government that can get permanently children back to school without creating a second wave which kills 100,000 before Christmas? I don't think so. The government has failed in its task from mid-Feb - Today of getting new daily cases right down by sensible consistent restrictions, perfecting tracking and tracing, and consistenly tracking new arrivals.

Orchidsindoors

Funny how you find some one complimenting on you and your family mental wellbeing, while dismissing everyone else point of view on how their family and children are coping.

I find your posts rude and dismissive.

Schools have to be prioritised over everything else. For education & mental well-being first. And because life can never return to normal if children stay at home. How can parents work?

@whittingtonmum

I need both of my primary aged children back in school in September.

They are losing out on their education, on their friends and social contacts and on their general development and well being. I can't single handedly replace all their teachers and peer group. While also working on top of this. I have tried, have done my best, have quit my job last month so I could take the summer off to support my kids and be there for them. I believe I have done reasonably well given the circumstances but see clearly where I have fallen short. Now I am on my knees. I will start a new job in September and they need to go back to school.

They can close everything else: pubs, shops, limit travel and social contacts but not the schools.

For everyone who doesn't want to send their kids to school: Absolutely fine with me. Be my guest. Please homeschool your kids. Many families have done this already pre-lockdown. But please don't ruin it for the rest of us because we can't take it anymore and our children are suffering.

I need schools to be as safe as possible. I need my DC to still have parents. We all need schools to be safe to limit community transmission. Currently the proposals for secondaries (not a primary teacher so only know my sector really) do not adhere to the 'Covid secure' strategies for other workplaces.

"I talked about my health upthread when I quoted you. So no dripfeed.

And you were absolutely talking about my child.You quoted me then said Diddums"

Never noticed that sorry, I tend to skip read a lot, and dont focus on individuals circumstances and talk generally in posts. The diddums remark was genuinely made at a general average child crying about homework, not aimed at you.

"Going back" isn't the problem. Its "Staying back" till Christmas without killing 100,000 vulnerable citizens in the process that is the issue.

"17:50Clutterbugsmum

Orchidsindoors

Funny how you find some one complimenting on you and your family mental wellbeing, while dismissing everyone else point of view on how their family and children are coping.

I find your posts rude and dismissive."

That's your prerogative, I wont be upset about it. Curious what you mean though? Can you explain further? Who did I find complimenting me?

@MrsMariaReynolds
You can’t compare the American long holidays. There are a plethora of summer camps there and in some other countries. Dh went away for a month to a summer camp when he was 8/9. As in didn’t see his parents. I imagine with more 2 people working families these are even more in demand. They are very structured. A bit like school but more arts and crafts, outdoor activities, sports, outings etc. Not all are sleepover obvs.

Thank you. Apology accepted. 😊

Daily cases are rising and schools havent even reopened. The country is living in fantasy land, led on by this utterly, utterly shit Brexit Fanatics Party (so-called government)