AIBU to say how happy I am that schools are open?

[WouldBeGood]

And I am so grateful to my DS’ teachers. Started high school and he’s enthused and learning loads.

I feel very sorry for the staff in schools where there are no barriers or protection between teachers and class's of 30 children all breathing at them. It's incredibly stressful and I know some teachers are incredibly fearful at dc school, some are not.

It's a shame that not every stop has been pulled out to make them safer. Personally, although we have seen cases rising in schools, esp from ages 11 to 16 we've not seen anything yet because the weather has been mild.
I'm dread to think what will happen in proper cold weather with windows open and dc unable to go out as much.
Personally I think for the right age groups blended learning is the way forward.
Don't get me wrong, dc are doing well, and although there have been cases, they remain low (that we know about) I would feel better if proper systems were in place.

@EatDessertFirst

YANBU. My two are thriving and their schools and teachers are doing a phenomenal job.

DD12 is currently in isolation due to close contact with a positive case but has been recieving work which is being marked.

Agree with a pp, the ones baying for schools to be closed do have loud voices. But they probably also have cushy WFH jobs and/or a stay at home parent. They are entitled to take their DC out and homeschool but they shouldn't try and deprive everyone elses DC of their education.

Perhaps a bit below the belt....I've had to give up a job to protect a vunerable DC in this pandemic. You may say I'm lucky to be able to afford to do that....I can't ...but I couldn't put any money in the world before my child's health. Health before wealth. TBH I would say those who are in work and who's children are able to attend school are in a much 'cushier' position. I wish it's the only thing I ever had to worry about was a job and education but when the chips are down you will do absolutely anything as a parent to keep your child safe and well and to deal with everything thrown their way, the privileged people are ones who have never had to experience that. So no I don't want to deprive anyone's DC of education but I would like it to be safer so that my own DC could also receive an equal education but as schools stand that's not the case. Covid is in them and while most kids will be fine, some will suffer ....and no one knows the day that it could be their child in that position

But parents of vulnerable children or who are vulnerable themselves aren't entitled to take their children out. Not without being fined. It's been an issue long before the pandemic. A friend has a school refusing ASD teen. Their child used to get very distressed when they had to go to school. Despite that the parents had a long hard battle with the authorities. They eventually got it sorted but not without immense stress and threats and fines. There should be more flexibility for parents - whether it's school refusing children or because of Covid vulnerabilities in the family.

I'm grateful my kids' school is doing the best they can to provide an education while keeping everyone safe.

Right now that means hybrid schooling - in school 2 days, home 3 days.

They've had no Covid transmission in school as a result, and very few quarantines.

They might go to fully open and they might go to fully online, but whatever they do, it will be the best decision for the community.

Yanbu. The people who hash tagged for the schools to be closed can piss off now and be excited for the restaurants, pubs, shops, gyms opening and stop begrudging children their education.

I’m so glad the schools are open and let’s hope it stays that way!

Yes I am glad that schools are open. Do i think all is well and jolly for all involved? No and I don't think that should be glossed over. My dd is in year 11 and the constant self isolations of pupils and staff has been very difficult and in some subjects there are only cover teachers who are trying their best but not really covering new content. Mocks keep getting delayed and moved and it is very disruptive and stressful for these kids. So as lovely as your grateful post is let's not ignore the reality for many.

My kids are still much happier back at school than dealing with my apparently horrendous remote learning teaching

Me too. I'd rather saw off a leg than have them closed again.

Honestly my children have learned so much since September! They would never have achieved so much at home and I am truly grateful ♥️

YANBU

My DS1 is in year 10 and has started his GCSE courses this term. He's a bright boy but lazy so lockdown gave him the opportunity to get away with doing far too little! So relieved that he is back on track now.

As for DS2 (year 6) he just really, really missed his friends and is so much happier this term than last term.

DD (year 8) is the only one who was suited to online schooling.

YANBU. DD5 is an only and the first lockdown felt like a really long time for her not to be able play with her friends.

The staff have been brilliant and she and her friends are all thriving. Am so pleased schools were prioritised.

When people talk about closing schools my thoughts go to those children who would have no interaction or attention at home, who are barely fed, often abused. A completely dark existence. It's vital schools are open IMO.

Couldn’t agree more. My son’s primary school has gone to great lengths to give them as close to normal term as possible and I’m so grateful. They’ve had Halloween disco in their classroom, Xmas panto is coming to perform in the hall next week (one class bubble at a time with cleaning in between) and they are doing birthday party afternoon once a month for the kids who have birthdays to make up for them not being allowed parties at home (you can take goodies in 5 days earlier so they can be quarantined before the party) We’ve had one 14 day isolation when there was a case in class and they have zoom sessions every day with their teacher/class. Honestly couldn’t be more grateful! Of course I’m anxious about the risks (we are very cautious in all aspects of Covid) but have to mitigate that against it being the best place for my son.

Lovely thread! I'm a primary teacher currently off with Covid, and I still think schools should be open. Kids need it! It's just a shame we aren't well supported by the government.

YANBU. My DD has been so much happier since schools returned, and hasn’t (yet) had a single period of isolation. I’m so grateful to her teachers for keeping everything so normal.

Schools are being kept open this time because the long-term effects of closures are worse than those of the virus for millions of kids.

Me too, DS is so much happier. Long may it continue!

@gallbladderpain
Perhaps a bit below the belt....I've had to give up a job to protect a vunerable DC in this pandemic. You may say I'm lucky to be able to afford to do that....I can't ...but I couldn't put any money in the world before my child's health. Health before wealth.
TBH I would say those who are in work and who's children are able to attend school are in a much 'cushier' position. I wish it's the only thing I ever had to worry about was a job and education but when the chips are down you will do absolutely anything as a parent to keep your child safe and well and to deal with everything thrown their way, the privileged people are ones who have never had to experience that.
So no I don't want to deprive anyone's DC of education but I would like it to be safer so that my own DC could also receive an equal education but as schools stand that's not the case. Covid is in them and while most kids will be fine, some will suffer ....and no one knows the day that it could be their child in that position

We are in a similar position, I had to give up my job at the beginning of this, we are facing an uncertain future wrt our house, which we rent and are now in a position where buying is going to be very difficult. Ds is home and safe, and as his Dr has written a letter saying it is safest to be home at this time, we have avoided a fine. We are working really hard to make sure home learning works, and are really grateful that his teachers have supported home learning so well, but this doesn't feel like an easy privileged position to be in.

Absolutely. Teacher and parent here. But if we want them to stay open in areas of high transmission the government needs to start accepting that whilst the benefits of them being open are worth it, they are not covid safe. We all want schools open, consistently and safely. At the moment schools in high transmission areas have kids in and out like yoyos. I suggest:

• the more CV teachers online teaching (CV is such a varied group, some should really not be in that environment, others will be ok)
• No fines or needing to deregister for pupils who are CV themselves or live with ECV or CV. Taught online.
• funding for supply teachers so education can continue when teachers are sick or self-isolating
• funding for cleaning (it should be a national scandal that this hasn't happened)
• pupils KS2 and up to wear masks in class unless exempt
• relaxed uniform rules so pupils can wear appropriate clothing and stay warm with the windows open for ventilation.

For some children it's what they need and thrive on but for some it isn't and is having a huge affect. Some schools are going above and beyond and some are not. Some parents are fab and sticking to the rules, others are not. Schools should be safe for all and they should have received the funding to do this but they haven't.
I'd rather parents were given the choice without the threat of fines. My child is really struggling being at school it's a slither of normality but my child has suffered loses and doesn't really appear to be getting any pastoral care whilst there and come the end of the day she's an emotional wreck flitting between emotions. It's not a one size fits all and it doesn't have to be an us and them sniping match.

I am happy the schools are open but it has made a massive gap in the education difference between the children that can serene the really vulnerable ones that can’t.
When schools were shut there was online learning
Since they opened we basically get sod all 🙈
But that’s not other parents fault just sucks.

Yanbu I’m so grateful to my dc schools, the leadership and everyone has been excellent.

Brilliant communication and effort. I’m really thankful to them.

Also both dc are happier all round and Ds doing mocks atm which was a big hurdle.

I am hugely grateful every single day my children are in school. Not to mention the many and very sensible adaptations the schools have made to try to make it as safe as possible. I have friends and family members who are teachers and know how incredibly stressful the job is at the moment for many; we are hugely in their debt.

Yanbu. I am just in awe of how much both my children's schools have adapted and been so positive through all of this. Hugely grateful to their teachers for maintaining a relatively normal school life for the children particularly those that have vulnerable families themselves.

Yes. My daughter is a totally different child since schools have gone back.
She’s so much happier and fitter! She was on the verge of becoming very depressed I think, she needs the company of other children.
Our school has done well. A few bubbles were sent home but now it’s gone very quiet again.

I'm pleased to be in school and seeing my pupils again. They're SEN but despite EHCPs didn't come to school from March - July. It was so hard trying to teach them online in that time and we lost a lot of progress.

It is hard, though. I have to be within 2m of them due to their physical difficulties and the other day one of them spat on my face (not on purpose). They're always coughing and sneezing. So I've made the decision, along with a lot of other people in front line jobs, not to see family over Christmas, even with a relaxation of the rules, because I can't guarantee that I'm Covid-clear. I'll be last in line for a vaccine, too, due to my age.

There's no one size fits all answer to all this, but at least I can give my pupils quality first teaching in person.

@Whattheactual20201

I am happy the schools are open but it has made a massive gap in the education difference between the children that can serene the really vulnerable ones that can’t. When schools were shut there was online learning Since they opened we basically get sod all 🙈 But that’s not other parents fault just sucks.

Other way round here.

March to July we got grainy photos of textbooks or powerpoints. Inaccessible to anyone really, let alone a 9yo with SENs including those that affect his literacy.
We blundered our way through Bitesize most days when we had the mental capacity to cope with it. DS1 couldn't cope with school life merging into homelife due to ASD.
By June/ July, DS2 was showing depressed behaviour, lurching from lethargic to angry because of the absence of face to face social contact and stimulation for months.
August got easier as I could book him into some sports clubs and more outings were avaliable to break up the groundhog day.

I'm so relieved that they are back in school full time. We all need that external structure and routine. They are particularly lucky that their year groups were not the two that have missed one week as local cases were peaking in October.

I appreciate that the autumn term has been more disrupted elsewhere and that it's not an even playing field. I'm happier to have that default on full time schooling and to risk the hit at failing at remote learning for a fortnight as is necessary, than to regularly fail at it and then fail in school which needs that remote content for continuation. "Blended learning" is a fallacy in this household with a child that can't cope with software like zoom/ teams and can't even handle a phonecall.
If we're going to have to endure that situation, better to do it because there is no choice, than to ruin education and routines in the name of equality because Covid cases are higher in other schools.
We already lost half of year 4/ year 2. They need y5/ y3.