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)

@Thisismytimetoshine

Christ alive! This is the stupidest post I've seen in a very long time, and you've had some stiff competition

Amen to that.

I’m cringing a bit at the solicitor part.

No I don’t have an exempt child so don’t need to send the letter.

@NameChange2271

DS doesn’t have medical needs on the system. It wasn’t until masks became a thing that we knew he struggled with them.

Lots of us struggle with them but we put up with them as do others. Since no medical need could he try again or is it straight to the solicitor?

Although when I see people without them now I assume medical/rape/trauma/autism/disability and try not to assume just a twat who doesn't want to wear one.

YABU to encourage parents of children without health conditions to send this.
YABU to add the solicitor 'kicker'.
At first glance, YABU to have written this given your use of the I and II Clauses don't seem to work.

The only saving grace is that by sending this, you will save the school some time in understanding what kind of parent you are.

Why would you even contemplate such a letter? Everyone is trying their best in really challenging circumstances and surely you can see there are rules in place for the public good. A perfectly acceptable system for exemptions is in place and you want to threaten your school with a solicitor! I fear your child has bigger challenges ahead of this is your level of parenting.

Solicitors, how many do you have?

Send it, the staff could do with a good laugh as its read out in their next meeting.

@PaxMalmKallax

I’m a teacher, just tested positive for covid and in bed feeling rubbish. If I saw a letter like that I would probably lose my job due to my response. Wear a mask, get your kids to wear masks - don’t be a selfish twat.

I hope you feel better soon.

OP, stop being a selfish arse and tell your son to wear his mask.

There are however a small group of children at secondary school who have really bought into the conspiracy theory thing - their parents don't help and don't believe they should wear them.

Most wear them and there are some excellent fashion statement ones - a bit of positive in a dreary school uniform.

My daughter wears a mask from getting into her school taxi at 7.30am until getting home at 4.45pm apart from when eating lunch and on the school field. Her school told us in July they expected students to wear masks during lessons etc and I worried. I could actually claim exemption for her but we don't as she and all her peers don't even bat an eyelid at wearing them now, I honestly think adults struggle more than kids with the masks. The only complaint my 14 year old has is she has gotten a couple of small spots on her cheeks

@PaxMalmKallax

’Im a teacher, just tested positive for covid and in bed feeling rubbish. If I saw a letter like that I would probably lose my job due to my response. Wear a mask, get your kids to wear masks - don’t be a selfish twat.'

I hope you feel better soon. Most parents are getting their children to wear them to help protect teachers. There are very few parents out there that would send such a stupid letter!

Perhaps a polite email or phonecal to school requesting an appointment to discuss the matter with his form tutor, head of year or SEND lead would be more effective under the circumstances.

Why can't you just call the school and say your child has asthma (or whatever) so can't cope with wearing a face mask?

I would write no such letter. I feel severe distress at reading such an idiotic, goady and irresponsible post.

@mummydoris2006

That's great of your daughter and very mature. My friend's son has a teen on the spectrum and he is also wearing a mask and he could also get an exception but he has stuck with it and doing well. Fortunately, just from his taxi tot he class, the corridors and at the end of the day.

So he's not exempt - well rather than penning letters I suggest you sew him some masks that he will find more comfortable. He's over 12 I'm guessing so he legally must wear one on buses, in shops etc too or have you been breaking the law? I don't like them either but there's a pandemic don't you know!

God. op

Parents like you make me want to scream into a pillow.

97% YABU, I see. Yes OP, you were right about it being an unpopular opinion!

Kids who have actual needs-exempt.
Kids who have pushy parents who treat them like total wetties- shouldn’t be exempt.

Jesus; he's not even actually exempt on medical grounds, he just "struggles" with them (like the bloody rest of us)??
You are a piece of work, op.

It's a misunderstanding amongst anti-maskers that no-one can be asked to disclose their disability in order to have reasonable adjustments made for them.

Oh god what have I missed?

oh for gods sake give the schools a break they are real people, parents, grandparents, who have their own children, parents, grandparents to look after. They do not go into a box after school until awakened the following morning you are an ass @NameChange2271

We've just received an email from school saying that they'll be requiring the wearing of masks in communal areas from now on.

This thread has prompted me to compose an email reply :

"Dear school,

Thank you for keeping us updated on recent developments. ElementsFamily are very grateful for your continued efforts to keep all the children safe and happy, whilst maintaining educational standards in these difficult and unpredictable times.

We will of course ensure that our DC comply with all safety measures.

Please convey our thoughts and gratitude to the staff, and we hope that all keep safe and healthy.

Thanks and best wishes,
Elements

Is there any reason you're sending this? Even if your child had been asked by a teacher why they weren't wearing their mask, all it takes is for you to send a polite email, or send your child with a note explaining why, that they can show the teacher.

This whole thing is a minefield, teachers are under enough stress trying to stick to the new rules without having arsey parents threatening legal action for no good reason.