If you don't want your child to go back, homeschool them.

[Mrgrinch]

I've seen so many people on here ranting about how they don't think the schools should open. Many even saying they won't follow any other rules anymore if they do.

AIBU to think they should just homeschool their DC then?

Do they not realise how badly this is affecting so many children and families? Do they not realise how many children have been having no education at all? Some parents are at breaking point trying to keep their jobs and make sure their children are doing some school work.

Homeschooling was always an option, even before covid so if you are so concerned then unlist them and provide their education yourself. We can't stay home forever.

[quote Drivingmecrazy2021]@Mrgrinch my DD is not going back because she is vulnerable I am not giving up her school place though and she will go back when I deem it safe to go back.[/quote]
Have the school allowed that?

@Mrgrinch yes, so has the local authority. She has 3 zoom sessions of phonics a week and work set daily.

Of course many children's mental health has improved by being at home.

Do they not enjoy school? It may be the case for your dc. But it’s not for all.

That study is very old btw last April / May when we’d barely come out of Easter holidays

A 16 year old (no underlying health conditions) and a 13 year old have died from COVID in the last few days
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/news/14110427/teen-16-no-health-conditions-dies-covid/amp/

It was a bit of a fight with the school but now it’s fine. It’s ok do you to see what’s best for your child the same way it’s fine for us to see what’s best for ours. My child shouldn’t be removed from her school permanently just because she is medically vulnerable in a middle of a pandemic.

I mean with a very large percentage of group 1-4 already vaccinated and vaccinations open now to groups down to 6

So now it’s ‘vaccinations open down to group 6’ that actually matters? Not having had it. Not being three weeks past it and actually benefiting from some protection but your group potentially being vaccinated sometime soonish.

And we still seem to be forgetting that 7-9 are also priority groups for a reason.

But yeah, let’s ignore the period of time where schools are open no mitigation measures and priority groups aren’t protected because then people might start suggesting mitigation measures in schools.

For weeks people have been on here moaning that school is not open to all pupils. So the government decide to send the children back and everyone goes oh no. It's not safe.
What do people actually want? Secondary schools have measures in place. Masks are likely to be worn more now (possibly in class too), different exits and entrances, extra cleaning, different start, finish and lesson times. I'm not sure they can make it any safer.
It doesn't affect me as my children are at school anyway but I think they need to go back, the sooner the better.
If it's a real struggle to WFH and homeschool why don't you want to make things a bit easier for yourself?

I am supportive of schools going back but people who keep wheeling out the “bubble” thing, I have an HLTA who covers me for PPA, and also works with another year 5 class, and covers staff absences - so was in my class and three others in the last week of term alone. I doubt this is a unique situation.

For weeks people have been on here moaning that school is not open to all pupils. So the government decide to send the children back and everyone goes oh no. It's not safe.
What do people actually want?

It’s not the same people but I’d say majority want them back

@Annabell80
For weeks people have been on here moaning that school is not open to all pupils. So the government decide to send the children back and everyone goes oh no. It's not safe.

Jeez what a conundrum....you don't think it could be that different people think different things.

Yadefnbu!!!

Just for info, for those concerned that if you remove your child to electively home school and they lose their place, if they then want/need to return the LA is legally obliged to give them a place AT THE SCHOOL OF YOUR CHOICE once they have been out of the school system for at least 7 weeks.

I know this to be true because I electively home-schooled my own DCs from the off, and then one went into school, and back out 2 years later. Was at home for a year then wanted to return... we got a place very easily.

Home schooling in more 'normal' times is actually really brilliant, there's a huge network to meet up with, lots of resources and support etc. and it's a whole lot less stressful for a lot of children.

I know it (a) wouldn't suit everyone and (b) wouldn't be best for all children and families. And I also have felt for everyone having to home school in a pandemic - an absolute nightmare for most I would imagine. Not a true reflection of what it CAN be like, we'd have gone crazy juggling home school, lockdown and WFH. With elective home schooling you're not obliged to sit and 'do' lessons etc, it's far more organic and child led. So much can be learnt NOT doing formal lessons.

But when things are normal and it's easy to get out, meet up with others, it's really amazing IF it suits you, your children and your family. It's not something only 'better off' families do, there's the widest range of families doing it. We weren't well off by any stretch, but it was something we wanted to do so made sacrifices elsewhere I guess.

Home schooling through the primary years was dreamland. Secondary, not so much, and the one who went in and out of school eventually left altogether in y9 and went to college for the 14-16 year old provision where they did amazingly.

I have to say, for some children - and therefore their parents - school is an absolute nightmare and some children are recognised as being 'school phobic'. They flourish when out of the system, some just cannot cope with being a round peg in a square hole.

@HazeyJaneII exactly, everyone had different opinions on this and this is why I think being allowed to choice is an option. I don’t get why those who are so pro schools
Opening for their kids to go back actually care about those who won’t send there’s back yet. It literally makes no difference to their life.

[quote Drivingmecrazy2021]@Mrgrinch yes, so has the local authority. She has 3 zoom sessions of phonics a week and work set daily.[/quote]
I'm glad you've got something in place that works for you. I hope others are able to do similar.

Deaf-friendly masks are a thing. These issues are not insurmountable.

Obviously I want my son to go back to school ASAP, not because I can't be bothered or don't want to homeschool anymore, but because going to school is best for him in every way possible, not just the learning part but the socialising with other children. He misses school so much. He started Reception in September and was settling in really well, then this happened.
I want my husband to be able to go back to work (I appreciate he will be able to one day and acknowledge we are luckier than others). Selfishly I want to go back to being able to get my nails and eyebrows done once a fortnight. I miss that.
But when it's safe to do so. I don't believe it will be safe enough to reopen anywhere before Easter. And I don't think schools should go back until after the Easter holidays at all.

Certainly for adults there is no evidence of any increase in suicide rates.

The BBC reported on a 20% rise in infanticides in the first lockdown: www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54827702

@Tiktokersmiracle my 7-year-old son successfully wears a mask all day at school and has done for months. His school clamp down hard on messing around and have a spare supply of masks for kids who forget them / break the straps / come from chaotic homes and don't have them. We live in a very deprived ward where kids are severely disadvantaged by home learning for many reasons, including lack of internet access, poor housing, and non-native-speaker parents. His school has been open throughout despite us living in a huge Covid hotspot. They've had one kid test positive and no teachers in a school cohort of about 300.

@KeflavikAirport

Deaf-friendly masks are a thing. These issues are not insurmountable.

Nobody is saying they are. The ones we've found are just a plastic hole instead of the cloth and it steams up if worn properly so you can't see anything anyway. Not to mention everyone would have to wear one for it to make any sense. My DD wearing one isn't going to help her read other people's lips is it. I would love to see a bunch of secondary school kids wearing one without getting taken the mick out of. I am just completely confused why other countries seem to be a me to give parents choice but the UK, with it being one of the biggest economies and smallest countries, doesn't seem to manage.

I am just completely confused why other countries seem to be a me to give parents choice but the UK, with it being one of the biggest economies and smallest countries, doesn't seem to manage.

Not sure I understand? Masks have been compulsory in schools for ages in some other countries.

Some countries have given parents the choice of sending their children to school or have them at home with remote provision, which then helps with social distancing in schools

@Mrgrinch

I've seen so many people on here ranting about how they don't think the schools should open. Many even saying they won't follow any other rules anymore if they do.

AIBU to think they should just homeschool their DC then?

Do they not realise how badly this is affecting so many children and families? Do they not realise how many children have been having no education at all? Some parents are at breaking point trying to keep their jobs and make sure their children are doing some school work.

Homeschooling was always an option, even before covid so if you are so concerned then unlist them and provide their education yourself. We can't stay home forever.

You’re talking about the education of children. You need to be suitably qualified, preferably as a teacher, in order to do that effectively. 🙄

The problem is that electively home educating is a process that should be considered carefully as it is a huge undertaking (when done correctly). People who flippantly say "home educate them then" have no empathy. Why should a child have to give up their school place (that the school gets funding for) and risk not being able to get it back once things return to normal. Do you also know that the amount of hoop jumping Home Educators have to go through to satisfy the powers that be who constantly overstep and threaten them. Look what's happening with Plymouth Council. It's appalling. It's called "Elective Home Education". Not "Forced into this because there's a pandemic on and we might die but we better pull out of school completely or we'll get threatened and fined if we don't". School open for those who can and want it. Stay home for those who can't or don't want to. Everyone stays on books. School gets the money. Children can dip back in when their parents feel it's safe for them. Every family is different.

The BBC reported on a 20% rise in infanticides in the first lockdown:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54827702

That article says a 20% rise in babies being harmed or killed. That's an awful figure but it is not the same as saying it was a 20% rise in murders of babies.

Yes I misremembered slightly. Still appalling.

Why can't they give us the option to homeschool for a bit longer with no fine and keep our places? It would lighten the load for teachers and pupils in school too. I'm so so angry with this government, threatening to fine parents. Sickening.