Nervous about school - reassurance needed

[shedoesnotreallyseeme]

Hello,
We've been shielding since last March and I think I've decided it's now or never for the DC to finally go back. Lots of reasons, but I can't see the rates getting better and as they're reasonably low now I think they should take their chance to do something normal. I've lost family during this and am generally worried, and I just wondered if anyone who has primary school age kids could reassure me about how it's been. Thanks

Our primary has been great. We have a risk assessment we can read so your school should have one too and hopefully it’ll reassure you. The hand washing has been constant and they are limited to the number of dc they interact with. Primary was less of a worry than secondary throughout for us. Secondary is doing well but there’s just so many more dc in a bubble.

My ds has been much happier being back. There may be a few questions from other children about why they were off for so long as I think most of them are in, so maybe practice a neutral answer with them, putting the emphasis on your family rather than risk in general- 'I couldn't come in because my mum gets sick really easily but she has had the vaccine now'. Bubbles are still operating but fortunately his year haven't popped at all. I think key worker school was quite different but ds has only been in when schools were open. Hopefully you have had a vaccine now which should offer you some protection.

If you’re shielding for medical reasons does that mean you’ve been vaccinated? If so I’d say you’re extremely safe. If not, I can see why you’re worried but I would say you’re right - this is the best time for your kids to go back and I’m sure they will greatly benefit from doing so. As someone who has a lot of contact with kids through work I can say that kids have suffered a lot in the last year and if you feel able to give them any sort of normality safely then that’s the right thing to do.

I’m not someone who feels overly concerned about the pandemic right now, but I say this as someone who is fit and well so I don’t mean to sound insensitive. I do think that people who have isolated themselves more see the world as riskier than people who have started getting on with it. I know this sounds stupid as they’re self selecting groups but I do also think that if you start to get back to normal your perception of risk will decrease.

I am so sorry for your losses, and I say all of this without any knowledge of your health circumstances so please forgive me if anything sounds insensitive.

Good luck!

I think your dc may find the transition back very difficult. They will have missed lots of shared experiences and changes in class dynamics.

I think you need to prepare them for that. You can't undo the time they weren't at school and you made your decision about keeping them at home. They'll find socialising again incredibly tiring.

Primary has class size bubbles in most cases.

Thanks, these are all reassuring. I am mainly worried if anyone has caught cover recently from school.

*covid!

My DD has gone back. She is much happier and there hasn’t been a single case, bubble closure, anything. It’s so, so good for her to be there.

My son is in a very big primary school (4 form intake each year). At its worst only a couple of year groups had to isolate for positive cases.

My partner and I did catch covid from the school but that was back when it was keyworker children only going in (we got it at the end of Jan). Since everyone has been back in March, I’m not aware of any bubbles having to isolate.

I completely understand your anxiety and your reasons for keeping your children off as ling as you have. The rates are now very low and so I think it is as good a time as any. Good luck to you all.

Thank you @AFS1, I hope you are feeling completely recovered now.

DS is in high school and has has no isolations and one case in his class.

We are thank you. We were very lucky - I was almost completely symptom-free. My partner had it worse, but more like a bad case of flu. I’m very thankful that we had mild cases, but it was still very scary, which is why I completely get why more vulnerable people remain anxious.

My DC have been off since early March 2020 due to one of them shielding. We made the decision after Easter holidays to return them to school after a chat with the health team given that cases in our area are extremely low at the moment and therefore the risk is much lower than it has been. Last summer cases were relatively low as well and hopefully this year it will be better again with the roll out of the vaccination programme even though our shielded one has not yet been vaccinated.

We usually have a risk involved with attending school even pre covid just with normal run of the mill viruses so with cases low at the moment it feels like a similar risk as there has been before covid so it was as good a time as any and the professionals agreed. Nobody knows what is ahead for winter (fingers crossed it comes and goes with no issues) so it was best for them to have at least a little time incase it all goes tits up again.

So far the DC are enjoying being back and school were supportive of their transition back and therefore no issues have arisen with that at all, they have settled in really well. No cases in our classes yet, the children are washing hands regularly and I'm actually rather shocked there has been no 'normal' back to school bugs doing the rounds either so I presume the bubbles and handwashing must be doing something.
I can honestly say at the moment I don't have any anxiety over the children being in school to be honest all I feel is relief that it would seem the end may finally be in sight and I just hope young vulnerable children and those with vulnerable family members will be able to receive the vaccine at some point in the near future to further improve the situation.

Nobody who hasn't been in the position of being vulnerable and shielding can ever understand how this feels OP. Many people think it's just anxiety...that we don't realise the world is pretty much normal outside our bubble (almost like they think we enjoyed being locked away for over a year with young children) but equally they haven't seen what some of us have on a regular basis with illness either. I fully understand why you would be anxious.

Good luck to you all OP. It's been a tough year

I work in a school, caught covid in mar 2019 but I don’t know where from (and that was when covid was rife. Not like now)

I hope you're better now @amazinggrapes

The risk in our primary has been very well managed. We had one isolated case in March - bubble contacts isolated and no further cases. The benefit our kids have had is huge. We have been cautious throughout as husband and daughter are vulnerable- but I am sure that all things considered the best thing for our kids now is school. I can understand your concern and caution - but think your move to send them in is likely to be a good one. You could chat to your head who I would hope would be happy to run you through the measures they are taking etc. Best wishes to you and your kids for a smooth and happy return.

There is no requirement for primary pupils to do twice weekly testing, but if you want them to there is nothing to stop you (unless they find it distressing). I wouldn't for a 5 year old, I would for an 11 yo, obviously it is a personal decision. It might help you to feel reassured.

It’s fine. I’ve been in full time since last summer when I qualified and my bubble hasn’t had to close. That’s the same for most classes in my school and we are a massive school. I’ve also recently found out I have a condition which puts me in group 6 but I haven’t had the vaccine yet. I don’t feel any less safe than I did before I knew! I think it’s very important for children to be in school, and I think that once you’ve had your DC back for a little while you will feel much better. Numbers are so low at the moment!

Are you vaccinated now if you’ve been shielding @shedoesnotreallyseeme?

Good idea @Love51

I’m guessing you’re not vaccinated, OP. Were you advised to shield or did you just decide to?

Thank you to everyone on this thread, they've gone back fine and I was very grateful for the input.