To not understand why people are taking children out of school for the last week?

[TellerTuesday]

To be clear, I don't mean people who have travel plans for the the first week of the holiday. I totally understand why people agave decided it's not worth the risk of having to isolate and not being able to go away etc.

But I really don't understand why people are keeping DCs out of school for the last week so that they 'don't have to isolate for the first week of the holidays'

There are 6 children in DD's class who have now finished for the year despite them not breaking up until next Friday. 1 is travelling the first weekend so I do see logic with that one hut the other 5 don't have anything planned.

In that situation are people not just isolating for a week to avoid the risk of POSSIBLY having to isolate the week after?

I’m a teacher. I finish today (all out insets we’re twilight so time in lieu) but my children don’t finish until next Weds. I’m not sending them next week. Firstly we have a holiday booked next weekend and secondary they have put up with a stressed out mum for the last year and have come second to m job, it’s time I put them first.

Both mine at home isolating, DS only just completed 1 isolation, went to school for a few days and deemed close contact again, DD due back to school on Tues but won’t be sending her in for last couple of days, too risky, she has some normal fun stuff planned next weekend and I will not let another isolation period get in the way.

I really don’t get t. Read Postings from months ago people s teant their kids need to go back to school, why are private school kids getting ahead with in line learning (if they’re school rolled it out before state school) - all these complaints about the children missing school as their education is being damaged and yet here we have people pulling their kids out of school an extra week for a holiday.

Teaching right up to the last period in secondary school so don't assume your child is missing no learning..

But, that aside, I don't blame parents for removing children early. Covid is absolutely rife in schools again. The biggest local school to me is now getting 20-30 cases a day. Positive PCR cases, not just numbers of students isolating.

For those asking why the children aren't carrying on with formal learning can I just say I teach little ones and they are exhausted. When you are having to deal with constant 'He's looking at me.' 'She's not my friend because she won't play my game.' you know trying to revise lines of symmetry is not going to help.

We will be busy meeting our new teacher, lots of challenges eg build the tallest tower, make a boat that will float and hold the most marbles, doing a play of our favourite fairy tale complete with made costumes and props etc.

I know a number of mine won't be in next week so I want them to have good memories of the end of the year with their friends and not of struggling through the last week.

Secondary kids are absolutely knackered too. Exhausted. But they fall out less and misbehave less if we do proper lessons than if we give them fun stuff.

@DanglingMod it just shows the difference between the ages. I would have tears if I tried too much formal teaching at the moment so we are doing a mix.

I’m a secondary teacher. Yesterday afternoon we had a whole school picnic and this morning we’re having a form party followed by whole school (zoom) assembly. I really wouldn’t want to formally teach to the last lesson. Been lovely to see so many happy and relaxed faces yesterday!

I've done it. Covid has stopped many plans for us since last March. I'm not have them ruined because my child is sent home again because someone who he actually has no contact with at all has had a positive test.

@TellerTuesday

To be clear, I don't mean people who have travel plans for the the first week of the holiday. I totally understand why people agave decided it's not worth the risk of having to isolate and not being able to go away etc.

But I really don't understand why people are keeping DCs out of school for the last week so that they 'don't have to isolate for the first week of the holidays'

There are 6 children in DD's class who have now finished for the year despite them not breaking up until next Friday. 1 is travelling the first weekend so I do see logic with that one hut the other 5 don't have anything planned.

In that situation are people not just isolating for a week to avoid the risk of POSSIBLY having to isolate the week after?

Well my daughter is being forced to isolate, she’s due back in school for Friday, her last day of reception. She wouldn’t be isolating the first week of the holidays if told you and she isn’t isolating now. We are enjoying this time having fun. Not one child in her school has every caught Covid from the original positive case this year and I’m damned if we’ll be under house arrest a minute longer.

We've had fun stuff interspersed, like sports day, and there'll be a Zoom assembly, but if there's nothing "fun" on the calendar, individual subject teachers will still teach a proper lesson rather than stick a video on. They behave better with the structure!

Oh I see. Same at my school. 5 hours of film watching would note when the most well behaved child!

OP how can you know the exact plans of all 6 families you say are doing this- you say one is going on holiday so that’s ok with you. Have you had a detailed discussion with all of the other 5? Maybe they have days out booked, family coming to visit, children due to attend summer camps, kids booked hair cuts or dentist appointments, and so on.

I’m a primary teacher (I’m currently on maternity leave) and yes, things do become more relaxed in the last week but I wouldn’t describe it as “bugger all” We are doing learning through quizzes, games, active stuff outdoors, team building challenges, kids get the chance to meet their new teacher for next year (socially distanced outdoors this year!) Yes maybe baking or arts and crafts as PP mentioned but they’re all valid learning experiences, just because it’s not sitting doing English and maths in an exercise book. I have lots of stuff booked in the holidays and have been on edge every day this week in case of a possible phone call about my 7yo DD’s bubble. But I know she’s enjoying herself in these last few days with her classmates, can’t beat the feeling as a child of coming out of school on the last day with your mates and six weeks stretching out ahead of you

Surprised to read so many say nothing is really done in the last week. We (primary) have sports day, assessments and general lessons planned as usual as well as making sure every child has enough books to read through the holidays.

I’d still take my children out if I could though. I wouldn’t want to spend the first part of my holiday isolating. So many bubbles popping.

@LongTimeMammaBear

I really don’t get t. Read Postings from months ago people s teant their kids need to go back to school, why are private school kids getting ahead with in line learning (if they’re school rolled it out before state school) - all these complaints about the children missing school as their education is being damaged and yet here we have people pulling their kids out of school an extra week for a holiday.

It could quite easily be different people though couldn't it?

e.g.
50% quietly get on and do whatever they are asked
25% complain about schools being shut etc etc
25% pull kids out for an extra week to save being in a burst bubble and having to isolate

"these complaints about the children missing school as their education is being damaged and yet here we have people pulling their kids out of school an extra week for a holiday."

There is an end in sight for self isolating and people are balancing the advantages and disadvantages of their child being in school till the end of term.

To be honest I think it's quite an understandable, as schools are breeding grounds, and it's impossible to teach kids in the last week (I teach secondary)- we always try, but the kids are just very excited about their hols and it's unlikely anything sticks.

Yeah I totally understand actually. I work in a school and covid is rife in our area. So many bubbles have closed at local schools, my own ds is having to home school this week, so I think it's only a matter of time until we have to close a bubble in our school, in fact I'd be very surprised if our school manage to make it to the end of term without a closure! Holidays are so damn expensive this year and the chance of availability to rearrange for this year if you do have to self isolate is probably zero. It would definitely be something I'd consider!

I’m normally one of those ‘they should be in school’ parents, but COVID is ripping through my kids’ school. They’re in and out like yo-yos. They’ve had to stop doing their sports and activities. They’ve had to stay home because the school has so many staff off or self isolating they chant cover lessons. This just goes on and on. I would prefer it if they closed today and went online for the last week. It would at least stop the disruption and constant upheaval, and give us some confidence that they wouldn’t be stuck at home for a quarter of their much needed holiday.

They isolation rules for schools change on Monday anyway so no-one should be told to isolate due to cases in their classes after we enter step 4.

OP you really can't understand why they wouldn't want their children to be stuck in the house not able to go anywhere or do anything when its summer holidays?! Really?

"They isolation rules for schools change on Monday anyway so no-one should be told to isolate due to cases in their classes after we enter step 4."

Close contacts still have to self isolate and for ds (in special school) it will be the same as it is now. School would shut to him anyway as his class would have no staff since they will all be close contacts with the other staff and children in the same class.

At least no one on this post has come along and said “what’s the problem with staying home, you can have some lovely family time”

@Sleepyblueocean

"They isolation rules for schools change on Monday anyway so no-one should be told to isolate due to cases in their classes after we enter step 4."

Close contacts still have to self isolate and for ds (in special school) it will be the same as it is now. School would shut to him anyway as his class would have no staff since they will all be close contacts with the other staff and children in the same class.

Children in classrooms will not be counted as close contacts.

Close contacts will of children will only be counted as ones that have been together in a close social setting for example a sleepover.

Could some of them be to avoid having to self isolate and be off work, not just because of holiday plans? Some employers only pay SSP if you do.