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AIBU?

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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:
52andblue · 29/08/2020 01:04

My kids Academy sent a letter.
Only they are insisting that Their Qwn Branded Mask is worn.
They are giving one out free (decent of them as they have no money) but any spares must be purchased by parents on ParentPay.
A fresh Branded mask must be worn each day as part of their Official Uniform Requirement.
My kid has processing and sequencing difficulties as part of his ASD.
There is no way on Gods green earth he won't lose his Branded Mask daily. I could apply for exemption but he will be bullied mercilessly. Plus he will be massively anxious he might catch / spread Covid.

Titsywoo · 29/08/2020 01:07

I thought the guidance was that masks should be worn in communal areas in towns where there has been an increase in cases/local lockdown. Our school has said the kids will have to wear masks if that happens but in the meantime only kids who want to should wear them.

dementedpixie · 29/08/2020 08:14

Depends where you live. In Scotland all children at secondary schools have to wear them

MJMG2015 · 29/08/2020 08:22

@AmyandPhilipfan

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?
Because the Govt has NO concept of the cheek to jowl nature of classrooms & imagines (despite being told otherwise) that they can all SD in the classroom!

Or they just don't care.

Acdcccc · 29/08/2020 08:27

@Sarah510

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.
This right here is what makes me question the mental capacity of the people making the decisions on mask protocol.

Masks are not necessary outdoors.

Can i ask please are you in Scotland or England?

AmelieTaylor · 29/08/2020 08:28

@52andblue

My kids Academy sent a letter. Only they are insisting that Their Qwn Branded Mask is worn. They are giving one out free (decent of them as they have no money) but any spares must be purchased by parents on ParentPay. A fresh Branded mask must be worn each day as part of their Official Uniform Requirement. My kid has processing and sequencing difficulties as part of his ASD. There is no way on Gods green earth he won't lose his Branded Mask daily. I could apply for exemption but he will be bullied mercilessly. Plus he will be massively anxious he might catch / spread Covid.
Well, it's not like you have anything else to worry about is it?

🙄🙇🏻‍♀️🙄🙇🏻‍♀️😢

Maybe you could staple it to DS's ears!

I don't know what the answer is for schools, but this isn't it!

🙄🙄. Even our Indie has said ANY suitable mask/ face covering as long as it's not 'offensive' but obviously the one with the logo is preferable! And can be bought at the supply shop.

dementedpixie · 29/08/2020 09:49

Our school is buying one for each child so that everyone starts off with one but they are not specifying type or colour of any others except to say no football colours or offensive ones

Pobblebonk · 29/08/2020 11:13

If the DfE has any sense they will issue guidance NOW saying schools are not allowed to insist on branded or uniform masks. It's not practical, imposes totally unnecessary expense on parents, and looks suspiciously like profiteering.

VenetoResident · 29/08/2020 11:16

@coronafiona

It's going to make life very difficult for my deaf y8 child Sad
Maybe ask the teachers to wear masks with the clear panels?
VenetoResident · 29/08/2020 11:21

Mine have been at school wearing them for two weeks so far. No issues.

They wear the same one all day I think.... they could take multiples. I wash disposable masks so we have loads of different masks lying around.

DS1 doesn't lose his. DS2 (ASD) loses it daily between end of school and next day. I just wash any I find lying around the house and put them in one place when clean.

BiBabbles · 29/08/2020 12:09

Schools are in such a difficult position trying to figure these out with the ever-changing guidelines and pressure from parents. I can see why it can feel tokenistic with everything else.

In my DDs' school, previously it was no masks and with the guideline changes, it became optional in communal areas unless our area goes into local lockdown when it will become required (of course, there is new guidelines on that now...). It must be plain - no logos or pictures (already no logos on bags, so at least consistent) and not the ones they wear outside of school.

They emphasised repeatedly that not everyone can wear one and they will not allow students to tell anyone else that they have to wear one. I think this part may be partially aimed at parents too.

D4rwin · 29/08/2020 12:14

You could attach some sort of loop on the mask to a button on a blazer? Then the can pull it away quickly and be unlikely to lose or drop it on the floor. Single masks for one day at school aren't really acceptable inline with keeping them clean/ touching them. Probably need 3 in use and 3 in the wash.

middleager · 29/08/2020 12:20

@AmyandPhilipfan

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?
Lockers are restricted now at our school, so children must carry everything with them for the day.
fuandylp · 29/08/2020 13:00

It's absolutely ridiculous to insist on a branded mask and then insist that a freshly laundered one is worn every day.
Obviously cloth masks should be washed frequently and a clean one put on each day but the cost of buying enough branded masks to be able to do this is going to be too much for a lot of families - let alone those who can't afford to send their child in to school in fresh uniform everyday.

I am pro-face coverings and masks as I do think they can reduce the transmission of the virus but they do have to be used properly and kept clean and you do have to keep your hands off your face. This is difficult to do with masks. The hygiene required to make sure they are effective is very difficult to achieve with 100s of secondary school kids.

Unfortunately I have started to have panic attacks in my masks and I live a country which has been a lot hotter than the UK recently. I've had to purchase a face visor which is worn like glasses. We are allowed to wear these here instead of masks. It has made a big difference already. I've stopped panicking. It has interchangeable visors so they can be taken off easily and washed in hot, soapy water. I've stopped touching my face all the time and I can communicate better than others. The plastic shield comes down quite a long way so that my nose and mouth are definitely covered.
I know that the visors are not quite as effective as masks in reducing transmission but they do still work and I think they would be a better option for a lot of secondary school pupils and end up being more hygienic than a cloth mask which may end up shoved in a grubby pocket instead of carefully removed touching the straps only and placed in a new clean ziploc bag until the next time it is needed.

Spiderseason · 29/08/2020 13:02

Dining areas are classed as hospitality.

Obviously, the virus takes a break in hospitality zones!

pussycatinboots · 29/08/2020 13:03

@WorraLiberty

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

🤣🤣
Spiderseason · 29/08/2020 13:04

Bibabbles

I think that's ridiculous! Forcing them to wear plain ones, for goodness sake!!

FinnyStory · 29/08/2020 13:04

So they need a mask to travel to school, a clean one for break, another for lunch, another for afternoon break (maybe) and then one to travel home? Plus somewhere to keep the dirty ones and the facility to wash hands before and after putting on or removing a mask....

BiBabbles · 29/08/2020 13:46

Spiderseason I'm a bit baffled by your response.

UsernameNotValid · 29/08/2020 23:44

@Spiderseason if that's in response to my comment I didn't say I agree with it, that's just how it's been justified by our government!

I haven't/won't be going near any hospitality setting (don't even get me started on the ridiculous Eat Out to Help Out scheme!) but my DS has no choice in school unfortunately.

Spiderseason · 29/08/2020 23:54

Bi.

What's baffling? I simply don't agree with making parents fork out extra for plain masks. So what if they have colour or patterns. In this pandemic who cares!! Let the comfort of the mask be key.

Re user, that wasn't a comment on you, I was musing how silly it is that masks are not compulsory in dining areas.
I also can't see how they would be because they need to eat but still... Eating with family is one thing, in the '' hospitality area with friends 'is another...

I just think it's silly. Ie covid may infect you in the corridors so wear masks but covid will also have a hospitality break when the kids do!

UsernameNotValid · 30/08/2020 00:03

Ah I see, yes sorry I agree. Must've misinterpreted your post.

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