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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my 5 year old shouldn't have to wear a face mask in school?

166 replies

Jumpers268 · 23/02/2021 15:35

Head teacher has stated all children at my son's primary school need to wear face masks when arriving & leaving school and going around the school building (toilet, library etc).

I'm not anti masks or anything but I posted the other day about my son being a compulsive chewer of his tops (fixed, touch wood, by getting chewelry) and I just can't see him keeping a mask on, not continuously touching it or not chewing it (which surely defeats the whole point in wearing one Confused). The exemption list on the gov website states children under 11 so does that mean his school have to let him in without a mask?

Anyhoo... If you think I'm being unreasonable do you have any tips? Pack 500 masks in his book bag?

Thank you 😊😊.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jumpers268 · 23/02/2021 18:46

*weren't not were! Sorry stupid typo!

OP posts:
BillieSpain · 23/02/2021 18:52

You are absolutely and utterly incorrect

Grin OK then, you are right. I am wrong. I wonder, whereabouts in Spain you are? More than possible that some provinces have slightly different rules.

Temperature taken walking in. Everyone in masks, no exceptions (except the cut down lunches), or sent home. Temperature taken on leaving. 1/3 normal class size, so 3 classes per one original class. Windows wide open, whatever the weather.

Desks all distanced.
Has worked perfectly, I am thrilled!

SinkGirl · 23/02/2021 18:56

@BillieSpain

You are absolutely and utterly incorrect Grin OK then, you are right. I am wrong. I wonder, whereabouts in Spain you are? More than possible that some provinces have slightly different rules.

Temperature taken walking in. Everyone in masks, no exceptions (except the cut down lunches), or sent home. Temperature taken on leaving. 1/3 normal class size, so 3 classes per one original class. Windows wide open, whatever the weather.

Desks all distanced.
Has worked perfectly, I am thrilled!

Clearly you have misunderstood, even though what I’m saying was quite clear. Are you trying to suggest that there’s no one living in Spain with profound autism or intellectual impairment which means they don’t understand what masks are and will not keep one on?

Huh. The carers I know who live in Spain must have moved.

Original poster
Jumpers268 · 23/02/2021 18:57

@SinkGirl I've ordered 2! Shame they didn't have red in stock as he's made me order specifically the red Lego ones but he's getting through 1 a day and I was at a little horrified at the potential ongoing cost 🙈. Although still cheaper than holes in 5 t shirts a day 🤷.

@peak2021 @Merrymumoftwo I mentioned this to the head this morning when he posted but was told it has to be a face mask, but I'm not sure if he was overwhelmed by the huge amount of messages after his rash 10 worded message.

OP posts:
Tal45 · 23/02/2021 19:01

The map he drew sounds amazing :-O I'd keep that as possible evidence for assessment x

SinkGirl · 23/02/2021 19:02

The lego ones are crap to be honest. There are much tougher ones (blue chewy tubes and Chewstix XXT and any Ark XXT ones) but DT2 found ways to break them all. These barely have a tooth mark on them. I was buying 20 chew toys a month and I have tried them all - these are amazing. Hope they work for you!

Skyla2005 · 23/02/2021 19:09

Well just send him in with one in his bag and let the teachers deal with it it won't be your problem once his there.

BogRollBOGOF · 23/02/2021 19:14

[quote Jumpers268]@GnusSitOnCanoes oh I know you were minimising it and I appreciate the helpful tips!

@SinkGirl thank you so much!

@BogRollBOGOF I hadn't even considered the choking risk and considering the shape of it that's a fair point. I'm going to try the masks with him tomorrow anyway as he won't need to wear it the entire day (will only be when leaving the class room really). But with the exemption thing, how do I go about doing that? Just in case? Will I need the paediatrician to provide a letter or anything or do I just say he's exempt? Sorry if that's a stupid question.[/quote]
The law doesn't require documentation for exemption.
I'd email the school outlining your concerns for him to wear it safely/ hygienically and without distress and how that falls within a legal exemption. He's already on their radar with additional needs.

Blueemeraldagain · 23/02/2021 19:16

@Jumpers268

I teach in an SEMH secondary school and have 3 serious chewers in my year 7 tutor group (one sounds like @SinkGirl’s child so I’m so grateful for the recommendation!!). The difference we have found is that these students all want to wear masks (‘because all the big boys do’....) so we have found the chewables on a longer cord under the mask is the best compromise. We have had to say they cannot chew when going from lesson to lesson given the (in my opinion, slight) chance of tripping and choking and our students don’t wear mask outdoors so are free to chew and run about as they like at break and lunch.

Montsti · 23/02/2021 19:18

I’m in South Africa and all children have to wear masks the whole school day (other than eating) from reception up so 5 years old and older...they have done for a year now. There are no exemptions.

Crackerofdoom · 23/02/2021 19:21

Hey OP, I have a chewer who is wearing a mask every day. At first he was constantly sucking it into his mouth to chew on it but he seems to have stopped now.

I just gave him loads in his bag and made sure they were fabric with nothing toxic in.

I have seen a few kids who have the masks round their chin and it is always the same kids so I assume the school has accepted that masks are not going to work for everyone.

FoxyTheFox · 23/02/2021 19:23

There are no exemptions

Yes there are. There are exemptions for people with certain disabilities or medical conditions, particularly respiratory conditions.

SinkGirl · 23/02/2021 19:23

@Montsti

I’m in South Africa and all children have to wear masks the whole school day (other than eating) from reception up so 5 years old and older...they have done for a year now. There are no exemptions.
So a large proportion of disabled kids can’t go to school then?

Awesome system.

IndecentFeminist · 23/02/2021 19:25

One of my BiLs lives in SA. There are exemptions.

MrBullinaChinaShop · 23/02/2021 19:25

@Montsti

I’m in South Africa and all children have to wear masks the whole school day (other than eating) from reception up so 5 years old and older...they have done for a year now. There are no exemptions.
You say that as though it’s a good thing. Luckily the UK has robust disability discrimination laws and allows exemptions for those who are unable to wear a mask.
FoxyTheFox · 23/02/2021 19:26

South Africa exempts disabled people and people with medical conditions.

All these people posting "I live in and we have compulsory masks with no exceptions!" really ought to try Googling the rules for their country as every one so far has allowances for people with disabilities and/or medical conditions. Perhaps be more observant of the disabled people within your society?

itsgettingwierd · 23/02/2021 19:28

For those with great strong chew and nashers I recommend the dog tag style chew from Amazon.

It's the only one we had that stood the test of time!

SinkGirl · 23/02/2021 19:30

Another idea for you OP if he only wants to chew fabric...

You can buy rib knit tube fabric for cuffs etc - you can buy a metre, cut a strip off and attach to a lanyard or similar. I know lots of people who find this works well and saves clothes being wrecked!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264783925978

Original poster
Jumpers268 · 23/02/2021 19:33

@BogRollBOGOF thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I weren't sure if I'd have a fight on my hands. I'm overthinking it anyway though I'm sure!

@Crackerofdoom I also really appreciated @SinkGirl recommending those! They're a similar sort of shape too so I think it'll be just as comforting to him. And also really good to know re how it would work. He's also said he wants to try the mask so fingers crossed! I'm comforted that he won't need to wear it in class and as he's in year 1 it's the same classroom all day (no moving between classes or anything).

OP posts:
Original poster
Jumpers268 · 23/02/2021 19:34

@SinkGirl you are the queen of great ideas tonight!! Thank you so much!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jumpers268 · 23/02/2021 19:38

@FoxyTheFox also following on from one of your previous posts the avoiding sensory overload really makes sense now I think about it. He goes crazy with the chewing in Tesco, but he doesn't look overly stressed or anything (he's great in shops, walks lovely next to me, one hand on the trolley, doesn't shout etc) so I never really thought about it before but it is always really busy and it is a lot for even me. He did also find it very stressful when they had the arrows on the aisles and people wouldn't go the right way - he is a stickler for the rules. I really need to do some more research into this!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jumpers268 · 23/02/2021 19:47

@Blueemeraldagain sorry meant to reply to your message above but I got you and @Crackerofdoom mixed up! Yeah a relative works in a primary school and she said most of the kids in reception & year 1 will be wearing them round their chin. That made me feel better 😂.

OP posts:
Doimatter · 23/02/2021 19:52

Have you spoken to the school? They may agree hes exempt due to his sensory issues /special needs.

I can't see how the school can force it without considering people's situations. It's makes communication difficult as well.

BogRollBOGOF · 23/02/2021 20:00

@Doimatter

Have you spoken to the school? They may agree hes exempt due to his sensory issues /special needs.

I can't see how the school can force it without considering people's situations. It's makes communication difficult as well.

Especially if the sensory issues are part of ASD which affects communication and processing and the child is extra relient on non-verbal communication signals.
Casschops · 23/02/2021 20:08

@Fastestbrownie what mean thing to say. Not all children are capable of a whole list of things as you think they should be. The children I work with have unhappy anxious and experiencing all sorts of effects from COVID. My son is like OPs son, the mask will be compusivley chewed to render it useless. He needs to regulate himself this way. Jog on, just jog on.