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

[NameChange2271]

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)

It’s just ridiculous. Why should my DS be pestered multiple times a day for a card? What happens if he misplaces it?

Most stupid thing since they introduced “sock sweeps”

Put the card on a lanyard arojnd his neck if necessary.

They are trying to keep staff and pupils safe. People like you are making a tough time even worse for the school.

i think it’s important to protect our children

Yup so do I, by wearing a mask asking them to wear a mask and making sure teachers and hoping as many people around them ARE WEARING A MASK.

and I’ve just read that your son doesn’t actually have an hidden disability just doesn’t like it. Oooooh diddums, I don’t Luke not having any support for a year and I actually do have a hidden disability, I don’t like the realisation for both my parents and my protection I can’t see them until there’s a vaccine. But do you know what I’m DOING IT!
I am except from wearing a mask because I want to protect myself and people I might come in to contact with despite genuinely being except!
also in England at the very least only secondary school kids only have to wear masks in communal areas and corridors not the class room, in Ireland secondary school Children gave to wear them all the time in the classroom. In America everyone has to wear them from age 5.
People who won’t wear masks because they don’t like them are a massive part of the problem.

If your child was genuinely except and your child wouldn’t be constantly asked where his mask was

OP - you should read this. It will change your mind about making teachers life’s even more difficult. I supported teachers bet but even more so after reading this. OP - you should be ashamed of yourself.

amp.theguardian.com/education/2020/sep/26/our-first-case-of-covid-parents-are-hounding-me-staff-are-afraid-diary-of-a-headteachers-week

Why should your DC be able to ignore the request to wear a mask, when you've given no indication that he's in a group which is exempt from mask wearing? The exceptions are for people with genuine conditions that make mask wearing too difficult or unsafe. They aren't for people who don't fancy it, feel a bit uncomfortable (don't we all?), feel a bit claustrophobic (most people) or find it trickier to communicate (everyone).

If the majority of students at my Dd's special school can manage, then most people can manage. There will be people with genuine respiratory conditions, disabilities, or past trauma, that can't. Otherwise, crack on and accept that this is how it is.

Why should my DS be pestered multiple times a day for a card?

Because you've decided he doesn't have to wear a mask.

What happens if he misplaces it?

He asks for another a clear s to be more careful. Or does he "struggle" with that too?

People parading as having "disabilities" to get out of something that is inconvenient really pisses me of.

I and many others are exempt from wearing masks, on clear medical grounds but we still suffer and wear them when in inclosed public spaces because a) we want to keep others safe and b) we are at higher risk.

I'm autistic and some days find wearing a mask physically painful due to hypersensitivity. I am also severely asthmatic and struggle to catch my breath. I'm partially deaf so without being able to use lip reading often have to rely on my husband to repeat things for me loudly and more clearly as struggle to understand what people say if its in a noisy environments. I suffer from anxiety so extreme I often struggle to leave the house, and the combination of being out, breathless and pain from a mask oftrn makes me panicky. However i still wear one and you know what makes me panic even more? Seeing dickheads who are clearly flouting the mask rule because they don't "like" it. Because I know they are most likely the ones who are flouting all the rules, yet wont wear a mask and therefore put everyone around them in danger.

Many of my disabled and autistic friends also chose to wear a mask as unpleasent as it is as we understand the need to protect not only ourselves but our community in general. However i also fully support my friends who are exempt and genuinely cannot wear a mask, but we all know and understand just like herd immunity for those who can't be vaccinated, those who genuinely cannot wear a mask rely on those around them to take the necessary precautions and wear a mask which keep them safe.

Yet another person “who can’t wear a mask”. There are very few people who can’t wear a mask and it’s been tainted by people who just don’t want to. Yes it’s uncomfortable and yes it’s not great getting a sweaty upper lip etc but it’s not about you. It’s about everyone and the more self entitled people I see the more I wonder about out society.

I have asthma and aniexty...guess what I wear a mask. Seriously some people need to grow up and get a pair.

I will state again, there are very few reasons why someone can’t wear and mask and for the people who actually can’t, it’s been ruined by these self entitled (I don’t want to use the term but it fits perfectly) snowflakes. 😡😡

Dear OPS CHILD

I am writing to inform you that MUM is exempt from HAVING ANY CONSIDERATION FOR ANYONE of any kind, as per COMMON SENSE

There are many exemptions from HAVING ANY CONSIDERATION which incorporate NOT BEING VERY INTELLEGENT including but not limited to:

(I) because of any STUPID CONSPIRATY THEORY THAT MIGHT BE SPREAD BY JIM CORR PIERS CORBYN ET ALL (see the 10p tabloid)
(II) without any scientific evidence

Tabloid newspapers state that you should believe every single piece of rubbish that comes from their Hacks imagination

We’re concerned that you will be singled out for not wearing a mask and would like to remind you that you are not only protecting yourself but you class mates teachers and indeed tour mother by wearing one.

YOUR MOTHER is under no obligation to PUT YOUR CLASS MATES AND TEACHERS AT RISK

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

Kind Regards

THE REST OF THE NATION

While I think about this and get more annoyed at the stupidity. If my child went to school with yours, turns out they were positive and spread it around, I would whole heartily put a load of effort into bringing a law case against you.

Unless you can stand up in court and prove why they can’t wear a mask (there better be a good damn reason which I can’t see you stated yet) then I would sue you for damages. Lost time off work, loss of childcare cost and loss time for my weekends when I would have to isolate. Can you imagine if some of the parent joined together? Might be quite expensive.

👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏

@NameChange2271

It’s just ridiculous. Why should my DS be pestered multiple times a day for a card? What happens if he misplaces it?

Most stupid thing since they introduced “sock sweeps”

If he misplaces it, he’ll hopefully be told off for not being careful. I mean, it’s not blooming hard, how old is this child? My 5yo wouldn’t lose a card around his neck/in his school bag.

Also, sorry, but all you’ve said so far leads me to see you as an irresponsible parent and someone who doesn’t understand mental health.

Asking for a card or whether someone’s wearing a mask is NOT traumatic. It’s highly offensive to suggest it will cause MH issues when people have been through actual trauma - rape, abuse, war, medical trauma (life threatening conditions), sudden death of a loved one, attempted murder, neglect, house fires, stillbirth etc. Your idea of what causes MH issues from trauma is skewed. YOU may give him MH issues through poor parenting and reinforcing the idea of self importance. Asking him to learn empathy, think of others, build resilience through learning to manage mild discomfort and being asked for either an exemption card or where his mask is will NOT.

I’ve barely ever heard such a load of tripe. This pandemic has really demonstrated how few people understand what actual trauma is, no wonder people (even doctors at times) can be so judgey towards those of us who’ve been through actual trauma when idiots like you blather on about a simple question being traumatic.

Shouldn't you be in Trafalgar Square OP? Or otherwise demonstrating your fuckwittedness elsewhere instead of taking up our time. Your ignorance appears to have no boundaries but its highly objectionable when you wave it around like a flag of truth.

You'll have noticed that there's a global health crisis on then? Jesus, I hope your kid doesn't attend the same school as mine.

Masks are to protect OTHER KIDS from yours. They also protect your kid from others. You're ok with taking that protection but not affording it to others?

Bloody selfish.

It’s highly offensive to suggest it will cause MH issues when people have been through actual trauma - rape, abuse, war, medical trauma (life threatening conditions), sudden death of a loved one, attempted murder, neglect, house fires, stillbirth etc. Your idea of what causes MH issues from trauma is skewed

To be honest I think OPs understanding of “extreme distress” is a little skewed what the exception means by extreme distress is distress that’s caused by a MH relating to one of those things you’ve listed that may genuinely cause fear and panic to wear a mask, hyper sensitivity caused by a disability such as autism, a sensory impairment to do with hearing or speech. Not because Ops little precious cries a bit because “mummy I don’t like them”

My parents tried every type of sock available to make me uniform compliant it wasn’t until my head teacher found me literally crying in pain tearing at my socks did school say ok yeah enough distress. That was 20 years ago.

It makes me cross that sensory distress and MH is being used in this way

God OP. I'm embarrassed for you! That letter is cringe. Especially the solicitors reference.

OP you really are a bit lacking aren't you? Intellectually speaking?

What possible link do you see between wearing regulation socks at school, and a global pandemic which has killed almost a million people? Do enlighten us.

Oh and BTW the world isn't flat, Shergar isn't hidden on the moon and 9/11 wasn't an "inside job".

@ChalkDinosaur

I can understand writing a note to school to explain why your child can't wear a mask (if they really can't) but why on earth do you need to mention the solicitor?!

I clicked on this thread thinking it was going to be about sending a thank you letter to school for everything they're doing at the moment 😂 Clearly I am far too naive for Mumsnet today!

Thank you for this - it's inspired me to email both my kids schools today to say thank you and well done on their hard work during such a difficult time.

I'd encourage other parents to do he same!

@QuizzlyBear that's so lovely of you! Knowing teachers the way I do though.. wind is always a safe bet 😁

Eh?

So you have an issue with your son being asked to wear a mask. And you think the best way to address this is to encourage a load of strangers on the internet to email their children's schools, using your completely overblown and over the top template communication.

Riiiiiiight.

Yes OP. Your son is a special flower and it’s totally cool to send threatening letters and to enable him to spread a disease that is killing people and ruining lives and our economy because you’re both super special and important.

No i’m good thanks.

My teenagers are quite happy to wear a mask on the buses to school and around the school. Why would i want them NOT to wear a mask? Ridiculous.

Have you actually seen inside a school? Do you realise how crammed these corridors are when classes change over? Do you know some knob end children are coughing at each other for a laugh?
We get a list of the children who are exempt, and they have a pass they can show to teachers who don't know them. It's not a big issue. What does bother me is the arsehole teenagers who don't want to wear them because they don't like that. I get to hang out with 180 odd kids all day but can't go to my parents house anymore so excuse me for being annoyed.
Yes, they are bloody horrible to wear, deal with it. Send your letter though, it won't reflect badly on your child, they'll just know his mum is a nutter

I wonder if this has gone the way op thought it would

@NameChange2271. This has got to be the most ignorant, damaging, foolish and entitled post I've seen on here.