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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..to be a bit annoyed that we still aren't allowed into dc primary school, no assemblies etc

142 replies

Henni19 · 01/09/2021 08:03

Ds started reception last September. Ds2 starts at the same school nursery tomorrow.
I had really hoped things would be different now we are learning to live with this virus but they've just posted to say same rules apply, no parents in the building, operating in bubbles, no assemblies, queuing up outside school to collect etc etc.
I just feel gutted, I've never stepped foot in the building and really hoped things would be a little more relaxed this time.
Aibu to think that we need to think the school should have done things differently this year?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 01/09/2021 08:20

Also for many many children not having extra adults around in the cloakroom (and school hall??) when they are trying to get used to things can actually be beneficial. It helps School keep things a lot calmer and more child focused when you don’t need the staff “encouraging” parents out of the cloakroom

DancesWithTortoises · 01/09/2021 08:20

YABU. Covid hasn't gone away. It's about to pounce again.

DonGray · 01/09/2021 08:20

We are allowed in the playground for drop off and pick up but masked (outdoors)

SirSamuelVimes · 01/09/2021 08:21

@DancesWithTortoises

YABU. Covid hasn't gone away. It's about to pounce again.
It's not a fucking tiger.
toomuchlaundry · 01/09/2021 08:22

@SirSamuelVimes they are probably checking the local position before finalising their risk assessment

katienana · 01/09/2021 08:27

I hope our school relaxes a bit. Usually reception and y1 go to forest school every week, didn't happen last year. Reception didn't have any trips at all (my older ds did a residential, restaurant, walked to the park, museum all in YR).
Also want to see masks go on the school run, we are outside anyway and I don't think it has saved 1 person catching covid anyway! All that's happened is render me blind when my glasses steam up!

PathOfLeastResitance · 01/09/2021 08:29

I’m pleased. I work and always feel guilty when I can’t go to events.

EatYourVegetables · 01/09/2021 08:30

YABU. Frame it as “my child won’t be unnecessarily exposed to viruses shedding off 60 adults”.

Suzi7979 · 01/09/2021 08:35

We haven't received any information yet from school.

DumplingsAndStew · 01/09/2021 08:36

What are you missing out on by not being able to go in the building? What's the issue with lining up outside to collect them?

Some schools on Mumsnet seem to have this habit of needing children collected and deposited at their chair, or think their children need help pegging up their jacket of a morning. It's unnecessary.

HugeAckmansWife · 01/09/2021 08:39

I think it's largely positive for a lot of reasons, Covid aside. Sports day and Christmas play fine, but endless invites to come in to assemblies, lunches, look at art work etc put a huge amount of pressure on working parents who simply can't do them, and avoids the very common situation of their kids feeling sad that they don't have anyone there. There isn't always a grandparent or someone else available either. In addition, I think some parents are way too over involved with their child's school. It's their school, their experience. You need to know things are OK but you don't need to be in there all the time.

actiongirl1978 · 01/09/2021 08:41

It's ridiculous. We were allowed into our DC private school to watch Saturday sports from after Easter. I went to two musical concerts in the school hall with other parents at the end of term.

All events are going ahead as normal this term. Parents are invited in for information evenings this week and I should think that we will be allowed inside for cake and tea at Saturday sports this week.

Society is open again and the schools should be too.

didireallysaythat · 01/09/2021 08:43

First school DS1 went to parents didn't go into the classroom. Good. Second school all the parents seemed to simultaneously go in, helping little Johnny find his PE kit, books, desk, who knows what. Absolute mayhem. 30+ adults in the narrow hallway that all the classrooms come off, where all the coats and pe kit are hung up. New head teacher thankfully put a stop to that. So covid rules haven't changed that and thankfully a staggered start means that we no longer overlap with all the parents who can't park for toffee abandoning cars all over the place.

I fear the staggered start has been dropped and the new reception parents will have to get the hang of parking their range rovers parallel to the curb so the harvesting lorries can get past....

PepsiHoover · 01/09/2021 08:47

@SirSamuelVimes

I wish I even bloody well knew what my child's school are planning. She goes back next week and we have had no communication at all from school. Don't know what time to drop her, what time to pick up, if they're still insisting on masks in the playground for adults, if they are keeping the staggered starts.... Nothing. Taking the piss.
Mine go back tomorrow and we still haven't been told.

I'm expecting the email today.

LittleBiscuit09 · 01/09/2021 08:54

It's more annoying because sporting events can go ahead

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/09/2021 08:58

I really hope open days or evenings can take place this autumn

ThanksItHasPockets · 01/09/2021 09:07

@Sirzy

I think them being cautious early in the year makes sense. Wait and see how things pan out when children are back before making changes.
Agreed.

The school is acting against current DfE guidance and I imagine there will be reasons for that within their own risk assessments; possibly vulnerable staff or difficulties ventilating spaces.

moomin11 · 01/09/2021 09:08

We never went into the school anyway even in reception, just watched them walk in. I would have thought it would be chaos with 30 parents going into the classroom with their kids? I hope the queuing has gone this time but the staggered start/finish tines did help with parking etc.

seaandsandcastles · 01/09/2021 09:09

YANBU. People are going to get covid; it’s not going away. We need to just cope with it.

EmeraldShamrock · 01/09/2021 09:09

Cases are rising. It is the sensible option.
The DC starting don't know any different.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 01/09/2021 09:10

I think the cautious approach is probably best. They're likely working on the assumption there'll be another u-turn by the Govt that would require all the measures being put back in place by October half term.

Our school sent out an email before we broke for summer with the plans for next week (although they may well change between now & then). They have slightly changed drop off, just to make it quicker, but other than that all the previous measures are remaining.

Everanewbie · 01/09/2021 09:10

@DonGray

We are allowed in the playground for drop off and pick up but masked (outdoors)
Wow, that is so ridiculous. Masks outdoors is nuts. Real effectiveness indoors has never been conclusively proven, but outdoor mandates just smacks of COVID fundamentalist theatre.
ConstanceGracy · 01/09/2021 09:11

No of course they shouldn’t do things differently!
Covid is still around and cases will rise when schools go back so it makes sense to keep the parent ban. You have plenty of years left to sit in a stuffy hall with your camera phone blocking someone’s view ..

Smileyaxolotl1 · 01/09/2021 09:13

Absolutely, it’s utterly ridiculous and damaging.
We have to learn to live with covid.

Smileyaxolotl1 · 01/09/2021 09:14

ConstanceGracy
2 years have already gone by in terms of summer balls etc. how many more do you want to take away from kids?