Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

info from school today - wear masks at break and lunchtime

47 replies

Sarah510 · 28/08/2020 22:45

so we got a letter/email from the school today - ds due back next Friday, year 8. They have to wear masks in the corridors and at lunchtime and breaktime. DS wondering how will they eat their lunch.... ??? Seems very tokenistic really, or what do you all think. We've already been told they will be staying in one classroom all day, only moving when they have P.E. or computers where they have to move room.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 28/08/2020 22:47

Maybe they just mean that once you finish eating the mask goes on until you go into your next class

Original poster
Sarah510 · 28/08/2020 22:50

maybe, but they usually go outside so... they haven't said it has to be a certain colour yet, I suppose that will come. I dunno, I think the masks might be more trouble. I cant imagine ds being careful with it, and putting it in a plastic sealed bag every time he takes it off. we'll see I guess.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 28/08/2020 22:53

Shouldn't need them outside. My dc's are supposed to wear masks from Monday after being back at school for nearly 3 weeks

WorraLiberty · 28/08/2020 22:57

DS wondering how will they eat their lunch....???

I hope you looked at him deadpan and said "Soup only, you'll have to suck it through the mask" Wink

UsernameNotValid · 28/08/2020 23:02

Ours are wearing them from Monday.

Dining areas are being classed as "hospitality settings" so no need for masks but they must wear in communal areas e.g. corridors between classes, gathering areas and library/computer rooms.

formerbabe · 28/08/2020 23:06

Yep exactly the same in my ds school. I dont know about anyone else, but I'm wondering what happens if a pupil forgets their mask? My ds is continually sharing his stationery with his forgetful friends...I'm imagining lots of them borrowing each others masks...yikes!

coronafiona · 28/08/2020 23:08

It's going to make life very difficult for my deaf y8 child Sad

formerbabe · 28/08/2020 23:11

@coronafiona. As soon as I heard this I wondered about deaf pupils...there's quite a few in my dcs school. I'm assuming dc with sn will be exempt but the thing is that the deaf children will need others not to be wearing them?

UsernameNotValid · 28/08/2020 23:13

@formerbabe I can't speak for all but our school has said they have a supply of disposable masks for pupils who don't have their own for whatever reason but they won't be excluded if they refuse to wear altogether.

formerbabe · 28/08/2020 23:14

Good to know @UsernameNotValid thank you

coronafiona · 28/08/2020 23:18

[quote formerbabe]@coronafiona. As soon as I heard this I wondered about deaf pupils...there's quite a few in my dcs school. I'm assuming dc with sn will be exempt but the thing is that the deaf children will need others not to be wearing them?[/quote]
Yes exactly. I have no hearing issues but find it hard with a mask.

BillywilliamV · 28/08/2020 23:23

Yep, they're all caving in!

Finerumpus · 28/08/2020 23:29

In order to be effective pupils will need a new mask for each transition: arrival, break, lunch, departure. Storing in a plastic bag is probably not a good idea. I know that schools are currently suggesting this this but sealed plastic is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria- is a virus the same?

whydobirds · 28/08/2020 23:37

It's not the schools caving, it is because of a change in govt guidance issued yesterday.

I teach kids with communication difficulties and one also has hearing loss. For the times when I'm supposed to wear a mask I've got some with a clear window in so they can still basically see my whole face.

BarefootHippieChick · 28/08/2020 23:38

I can understand why schools are doing it, but think it could just make things worse. The same masks will end up being taken on and off throughout the day, stuffed in bags and pockets, or on the table at lunch, or dropped on floors. Most children won't have enough to take 3 or 4 masks in a day. Also the fact some schools are insisting on uniform colours. What if your child prefers disposables and your uniform colour isn't blue?!

Nochangeplease · 28/08/2020 23:39

Ours are being provided with face coverings that they have to keep on all day, pulling them up and down as required 🙄

whydobirds · 28/08/2020 23:43

@barefoothippiechick we are doing it because the government have decided to put it in the guidance at this late stage.

ILoveFood87 · 28/08/2020 23:50

They obviously mean wear a mask after you have ate OP don't be thick.

Pobblebonk · 28/08/2020 23:51

We've already been told they will be staying in one classroom all day, only moving when they have P.E. or computers where they have to move room.

What's supposed to happen for science and art?

Pobblebonk · 28/08/2020 23:52

"I forgot/lost my mask, miss" is going to be the new "I forgot my PE kit" isn't it? And schools will get festooned with abandoned grubby masks.

Original poster
Sarah510 · 29/08/2020 00:07

lol I'm not a bit "thick"!!!

In fact when out at the shops today I saw a couple having lunch in a café, and they had special masks that had 'food holes'. I don't know how else to describe it...
Yes we've been told to provide a ziplock bag to put the mask into. I dunno, I think they will become germ spreaders. Young boys in particular are very grubby - maybe girls are too, but I know ds comes home from school pretty grubby, so I can imagine the mask will get pretty dirty. Wonder how it will all pan out.

OP posts:
Chillyourbeans · 29/08/2020 00:27

DD's school has emailed to say that they must be worn in all communal areas. They have also reiterated that to be effective, hands must be washed for a minimum of 20 seconds as soon as the mask is removed. I'm baffled how this can work. Child wears mask from dining hall to get back to classroom, removes mask in class room, needs to wash hands, no sink in classroom, pops mask back on to go to toilets, washes hands, walks back along corridor to classroom, takes off mask, needs to wash hands...

latticechaos · 29/08/2020 00:31

@coronafiona

It's going to make life very difficult for my deaf y8 child Sad
This is such a nightmare for pupils like your child.

I don't know how we balance all these things.

I'm in favour of masks but then these issues make me wonder.

Really hope your child is ok and doesn't feel too alienated Flowers

latticechaos · 29/08/2020 00:33

@Pobblebonk

We've already been told they will be staying in one classroom all day, only moving when they have P.E. or computers where they have to move room.

What's supposed to happen for science and art?

They are doing art in normal classroom and theory only for science.

It is going to be super dull.

Another reason I favoured 50% time in school with small groups, cos then they could have done more normal stuff, with distancing.

AmyandPhilipfan · 29/08/2020 00:59

With regard to kids forgetting their masks, if they’re still allowed lockers this year I plan on giving my very disorganised Year 8 boy at least a couple to keep in his locker just in case he doesn’t pick up the day to day ones one day. Then he’ll always have some at school. Personally I think it seems a bit unnecessary. If the risk is so great that they need to wear masks, why do they not need them in a classroom of their peers where they’re sharing the same air for an hour or more? Why do they only require them when they quickly pass by someone in a corridor?