Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To encourage you to send letters like this to your schools?

718 replies

NameChange2271 · 22/09/2020 13:18

Name changed for this as apparently it’s an unpopular opinion; but I think it’s important to protect our children.

Please can I encourage you to send a letter like this into all your children’s schools.

Dear Headteacher

I am writing to inform you that (Child Name) is exempt from wearing a face covering of any kind, as per government legislation.

There are many exemptions from wearing a face mask, which incorporate hidden disabilities, including but not limited to:

(I) because of any physical or mental impairment or illness or disability (Section 6 of the equality act 2010)

(II) without severe distress

Section 6 of the equality act states that schools must not discriminate against a student because of their disability.

I am concerned that my child will be singled out for not wearing a mask and would like to remind you that this is also discriminatory.

(Childs Name) is under no obligation to provide proof of this exemption and is protected from doing so by the Data Protection Act 2018

I have also sent a copy of this letter to our solicitors.

Kind Regards
(Your Name)

OP posts:
Positivevibesonlyplease · 22/09/2020 17:11

...unless, of course, he has a genuine health reason for not wearing one. Trying to influence others to not wear masks though, is horrible and selfish, verging on sociopathic.

EL8888 · 22/09/2020 17:11

Aaaah what fun, trying to collectively encourage people to “be one of those parents” / “be one of those people”.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 22/09/2020 17:12

OP - Why didn’t you just contact the school in a friendly and civilised tone asking for an exemption card for your son?

My daughter had a condition when she was at primary which meant she had to wear shoes with ankle support which could accept her orthotic inserts. The footwear she needed to wear was against school rules. I COULD have sent a nasty threatening letter like yours invoking my legal team (huge it is 😉) but what I did was speak to the school and explain the situation and was told that of course she could wear the necessary footwear and they would ensure staff were aware.

I work in school and I can assure you that your “win” has now come at a cost that would have been avoided if you’d dropped the attitude and just spoken to them like a normal non litigious person.

p.s. I find wearing a mask unpleasant and uncomfortable too.... but I wear it to protect myself and others....

toomuchlikemyusername · 22/09/2020 17:12

So... the letter was sent.
Hope you are feeling pleased with the result.
Right now, schools need parents like you like they need a hole in the head.
Next time, try ringing up and having a sensible discussion with them.
And you know what, they won't have given a fig about your 'rationale' and the fact you've sent a copy to your solicitor.
They'd have raised their eyebrows, allocated your child a pass and got on with dealing with stuff that right now is filling 12 hour days.
But yeah, you got what you wanted. Well done.

zaphodbeeble · 22/09/2020 17:13

The quoting of legislation and mention of solicitors is making me cringe.

LastGoldenDaysOfSummer · 22/09/2020 17:13

OP's card is marked in the staffroom now.

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 22/09/2020 17:14

But my children aren't exempt so why would I send a letter Confused

When we had emails telling us masks would be compulsory I replied offering to donate washable ones for students who can't afford them.

gamerchick · 22/09/2020 17:14

@EL8888

Aaaah what fun, trying to collectively encourage people to “be one of those parents” / “be one of those people”.
Well to be fair, nobody wants to look like a tit on their own Grin
KatharinaRosalie · 22/09/2020 17:14

In a few years, OP will march into her son's workplace and inform them he does not need to comply with any H&S rules, as this is too stressful for poor delicate darling.

Not sure how old the severely stressed child is, but what are the chances he is not bragging to all his friends that he has no issues and mummy just sent a letter?

StripyHorse · 22/09/2020 17:15

If your child is exempt, then you should be grateful that other pupils are wearing masks to protect them.

In the same way, that people who cannot be vaccinated receive protection if those who can be vaccinated are vaccinated.

School have accepted that not everyone can wear a mask and have taken steps to ensure they are not in trouble for this (the pass) whilst enforcing mask wearing for everyone else. I assume your child is in high school - I can imagine there would be pupils trying their luck to avoid mask wearing without some form of check like this... and in a high school it would be impossible for all teachers that they may encounter in communal areas to know which pupils are exempt. I am not sure your letter will achieve much apart from giving the school a giggle (as best) or simply pissing them off.

MitziK · 22/09/2020 17:15

@Walkaround

Would the Data Protection Act really apply to protect someone from disclosing a disability if they are claiming discrimination because of a disability under the Equality Act? Seems bizarre that anyone should actually be capable of suing someone else for a secret condition they do not have to disclose. The whole letter reads like a pile of tripe.
In order to discriminate against somebody, it has to be reasonable that you knew or believe that there is a disability to discriminate against.

It's why you have to declare them, as that's the only way the law gives you protection against it. If you don't tell anybody, well, how can you complain about being treated as a person without any disability?

CanICelebrate · 22/09/2020 17:16

One of our secretaries was in tears in her office last week because of the amount of parental complaints.

@NameChange2271 I bet you’re really pleased with yourself but I hope you read these responses and take them on board

Positivevibesonlyplease · 22/09/2020 17:16

OP, ‘I think it’s important to protect our children.’ Masks protect our children. Most children want to protect others by wearing them. Most of them dislike wearing them. I dislike wearing them, but I will continue to do so because I think it’s a decent and caring thing to do. Why don’t you want your child to grow into a decent and caring human being?

Pretenditsaplan · 22/09/2020 17:16

Your whats wrong with the world. You disgust me.

Frogsandsheep · 22/09/2020 17:17

OP's card is marked in the staffroom now

So true.

Strokethefurrywall · 22/09/2020 17:17

Jesus Fuck, some people shouldn't breed...

Get a fucking life.

Hoppinggreen · 22/09/2020 17:18

Why would I do that when my 2 aren’t exempt and quite happily wear their masks?

Frogsandsheep · 22/09/2020 17:18

This smug comment really bothered me as there would have been so many other more pleasant and reasonable ways of achieving this @NameChange2271

I sent the letter into the school yesterday. He was given a pass today - so clearly it was worth sending it!

AlrightTreacle · 22/09/2020 17:19

I still don’t agree with every teacher stopping to ask “where’s your mask” it is discriminatory and will have a negative impact on Mental health.

Jesus, I know people who went school back when the cane was used, they came out of that relatively unscathed. Not saying I agree with corporal punishment, but it's a bit ridiculous to suggest that being asked if he has an exemption card (which he does now anyway after your batshit letter) will affect his mental health.

enjoyingscience · 22/09/2020 17:19

Urgh. That letter is incredibly depressing. How one person can be so deeply self centred and ignorant.

I hope you got the response you deserved when you sent it OP. (I.e silence).

SionnachRua · 22/09/2020 17:19

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Changethetoner · 22/09/2020 17:20

But my child WILL be wearing a face covering if required by the school, so I do not need to even consider such a letter.

Surely you realise your child's situation is extremely minority? You do not speak for me.

LondonJax · 22/09/2020 17:20

Our school hasn't mandated wearing masks because they have two entrances to each building, each year set has its own building, they have two years on lunch or break at any one time and they are at opposite ends of the building, each year has its own bus waiting area (patrolled by staff to ensure each bubble stays in its own area) and each year has its own play/meeting area for the morning (again patrolled by staff). It is up to the children and the teachers if they choose to wear a mask. At the moment about 25% wear one to school - most of them straight off the buses and don't bother removing them.

But DS carries one each day as the HT has asked parents to ensure a mask is available in case of a suspected case in school - prior to a class being sent home. Or if a teacher prefers the students to mask up because she/he is vulnerable or has a family member who is vulnerable.

DS has a friend who is diabetic and all the kids who are her friend wear a mask in her presence if they are in close proximity to protect her. Their own idea - no-one prompted them. They just used their common sense and sense of care for their friend. She's seated near a window for lessons and no-one faces her then, so it's only if she's heading to the canteen with them. It's minutes out of their day.

And even if it were compulsory I wouldn't be sending a letter to exempt my child. He has a heart condition so I value people masking up. I certainly don't see him as a special case - a mask doesn't cause him any issues with his heart. So it's mask up or stay home for him - his choice, I'm not namby pambying him. He sucks it up and gets on with it.

mumwon · 22/09/2020 17:20

when you have a dc with disability you need school on your side & I found the best way is to talk to people & ask for help or discuss what you have learnt to support your dc.
However I read that letter as passive aggressive & score pointing
if that's the case Hmm

MsTSwift · 22/09/2020 17:22

It’s not passive aggressive it’s aggressive aggressive!