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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Back to School - AIBU to expect further chaos?

121 replies

DadAManger · 07/08/2021 04:51

We are less than one month out now from both our children returning to school. Like many others, my DD and DS were taken out of school and had to isolate because of cases within their year several times during the last school year. The whole period was stop:start for them.

I feel like we are making progress in lots of areas and feel much more freedom than we had before of course, but we know now that the Delta/Indian Variant spreads very easily and with a greater viral load amongst our kids. And Autumn does tend to see an increase in cases.

Are schools going to have to pull kids from school again and follow the same approach as before and AIBU to expect more chaos again?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 08/08/2021 13:18

@Tryingtryingandtrying

Not basing it on people I know. Local schools are struggling to get consent this time. It is different to March.
Oh mate you said "The majority of parents I know are not consenting to testing at school."

And now it's "local schools are struggling". As if you know. As if they're not closed for the summer.

Stop making shit up.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 08/08/2021 13:23

We will see. Most people, or at least a very sizeable minority will test their kids at home and then send them to school if they test negative. Some people may refuse altogether. It won't be like March.
I'm not making shit up.

Awalkintime · 08/08/2021 13:24

The schools will have to close themselves if they have no staff or limited staff. Schools are on tight budgets for supply so they can't afford to get them in so when staff go off sick with it there will be no other option. We had to do it this year even though some kids should've been in, there was 1 adult in the whole school left. We couldn't afford supply so we had to close.

noblegiraffe · 08/08/2021 13:27

You mean if you have your way they will.

But most people will do as they did in March because it was fine then, and no reason to single their kid out

Witchesbelazy · 08/08/2021 13:46

We’re still having bubbles and staggered starts at my dcs school not sure how long the headteacher will be able to drag it on for though as most other schools local aren’t

Tryingtryingandtrying · 08/08/2021 13:57

Their kid won't be singled out unless positive test. Then very obviously and harshly singled out. Or just sent in knowing they are not putting anyone at risk as negative ltf. Straight to class. Less anxiety and stress. Know what I would choose.

Howshouldibehave · 08/08/2021 14:02

My school is keeping separate entrances and staggered starts and will be having separate year group playtimes and assemblies as well.

noblegiraffe · 08/08/2021 14:04

So you don’t even have a secondary kid, trying?

Oblomov21 · 08/08/2021 14:10

We were told before term finished that there would be two tests before they returned in September. sounds fine to me.

CallmeHendricks · 08/08/2021 14:19

"Then very obviously and harshly singled out."

Why on earth do you think they will be "harshly" singled out? Just what sort of places do you think schools are these days?

GrandTheftWalrus · 08/08/2021 14:23

As far as I know when dd starts primary 1 on the 16th we aren't allowed in her classroom, we have to distance and wear masks. Yet the night before I could've been in a nightclub dancing with others no distance and no masks.

I don't know what the rules will be in a weeks time but they are also expecting my 4yo to go into a building she hasn't seen with people she doesn't know.

Bbq1 · 08/08/2021 14:38

@Notonthestairs

I thought Secondary school children will be expected to test before returning to school and once at school.
Yes, ds going into Year 11 and he has to go to school to be tested twice in the days before school resumes. Then it's basically lft's for 10 days I think if a close contact of somebody positive. Shouldn't need to be isolating all the time again.
Tryingtryingandtrying · 08/08/2021 14:41

@callmehendricks I'm sure the individuals involved are kind. The process isn't. The process is designed to identify children who are infectious, single them out, send them home.

Notonthestairs · 08/08/2021 14:49

Test at home then Trying (if you actually have a secondary school aged child).

Most kids will test as the school has asked them to and will get on with it with minimal drama. A few will need to go home and will be supported by staff and their parents.

Howshouldibehave · 08/08/2021 14:49

As far as I know when dd starts primary 1 on the 16th we aren't allowed in her classroom, we have to distance and wear masks. Yet the night before I could've been in a nightclub dancing with others no distance and no masks

Probably a good reason not to have parents in classrooms the next day if they’ve just been maskless in a nightclub to be fair!

justaweeone · 08/08/2021 14:53

The school I work in has put so much time and effort into keep staff, students, their families and the wider community safe. It was a huge undertaking to test over 1200 students and was a true team effort. In order for testing to take place school staff had to juggle this with their own jobs and pressures. Our students were stars and this last year has been so hard for both students and staff. Our senior leadership team have looked broken and times as well as other staff members, the impact on our students has worried us greatly.
We will be testing again in September as we just want to keep them safe and give them the best chance to remain in school which is where they should be!

CallmeHendricks · 08/08/2021 15:12

@GrandTheftWalrus, "we aren't allowed in her classroom, we have to distance and wear masks. Yet the night before I could've been in a nightclub dancing with others no distance and no masks."

I think you've answered your own point there.

noblegiraffe · 08/08/2021 15:13

I was wondering why someone with no secondary child would be repeatedly posting to try to get parents of secondary children to not comply with the planned school testing, using various tactics straight out of an astroturfer’s playbook.

It’s the ‘if you don’t test then covid goes away’ thing isn’t it? Someone worried that properly testing secondary kids will mean a recorded rise in cases. Stop the kids from being tested, stop the rise in cases…

GrandTheftWalrus · 08/08/2021 15:16

Obviously I won't be in a nightclub the night before but it's a bit daft when rules like that are relaxed yet they can't let 1 parent in with masks in to take their child to their new desk in a new place. I have been pointing out her school etc but she has no idea about it etc.

Howshouldibehave · 08/08/2021 16:27

@GrandTheftWalrus

Obviously I won't be in a nightclub the night before but it's a bit daft when rules like that are relaxed yet they can't let 1 parent in with masks in to take their child to their new desk in a new place. I have been pointing out her school etc but she has no idea about it etc.
I’m sure they’ll be fine. After 3 children of my own and many years as a teacher-mostly in the early years- the children settle much quicker and are much happier if they walk in the classroom door without 30 parents.
GrandTheftWalrus · 08/08/2021 16:49

I think it's also coming from a place of missing out for me. I'm about the last of my friend group to send children to primary and they all got to go in see the class, have pics etc and we won't get that for her. By the time my younger dd goes to school in 2026 this should all be a bad memory. She also ended up with only 10 months at nursery over all instead of a year and a half

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