Will history write we have failed children over this time?

[Bewareofisms]

I have just read a BBC article stating that 6 healthy children (in the UK) have died from Covid over the course of the pandemic. Six. We have closed schools and imposed all these "bubble" rules for this, the impact on children's mental health will remain to be seen.
I have an acquaintance working with social services that has personally been involved in dealing with children that have lost their lives from abuse over this period. She, one person, has personally been involved in many more than 6 cases over this time. She hasn't stopped. Vulnerable children have been "lost" due to school closures. The impact of that will far outweigh the deaths from Covid. I wonder if they will ever release the true figures here...

In 100 years time will it be written that we utterly failed children over this pandemic? 😞

@indigovapour

*Children can test positive and most are a symptomatic. I have read findings that show that people with no symptoms (not people that are about to become ill, people that never get ill) are unlikely to pass it on. These findings are quietened down (which makes me take more notice).

Let's stop believing the narrative painted of children as these "super spreaders". Think about the fact that this picture must be painted to justify the actions taken. Now think about the whole thing again...*

Love posts like this - claiming to be one of the few able to see through the "narrative". If only the "sheeple" were as free-thinking and perceptive as you hey, OP?

Do you only read / watch mainstream media?👀

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

I fully expect to be shot down for this, and will say upfront that our children are adults so from an educational point of view, they have not been affected. So expect most people will say I don't have a right to comment.

But I have observed two very different camps (via MN, FB and other social media, and my own contacts).

Camp 1: our children's lives are ruined; they have missed out on so much: their lives will never be the same again; the government has failed them

And
Camp 2: yes it's shit for you kids, and you've missed a few things that are a right of passage, and that is really sad . But you have learnt some new skills that you wouldn't have done, had more time at home with your parents (who have realised that work doesn't have to come first, sometimes it is ok to take time out to be with your kids). Everyone's in the same boat, we will help you catch up and you will come out of this just fine.

Or is that just me?

I agree to a certain extent.

We also don't know how many kids mental health was impacted because of how their parents reacted to lockdown. Some people panicked so much and were so terrified, that itself scared kids. There's so many variables to what could have contributed to kids mental health.

My eldest was doing gcse last year and has just finished her first a level year. Her education has been greatly impacted. But, she is doing OK. The college being closed a few weeks ago, due to contacts hit her harder.

My ds has autism, but we kept him at home because we could. His mental health improved, during lockdown. Much more time with me and then his dad, more relaxed routine etc. Though going back in March was quite difficult. But the school were very supportive and he came through it.

Its been very very difficult with some. And I feel for those kids. But its been very difficult for these kids for lots of different reasons. Those who have lost loved ones of multiple loved ones. Those whose parents own mental health has got worse. Those who have awful home lives. Those whose parents have been admitted to hospital. Those that had to go to the supermarket, as they only have one parent and saw the queues and the masks and the distancing. Those that haven't seen loved ones for over a year.

Unless we changed nothing, people would have been impacted. But then more people would have been impacted by death and lack of medical care once the hospitals were overwhelmed.

@Bewareofisms

I have just read a BBC article stating that 6 healthy children (in the UK) have died from Covid over the course of the pandemic. Six. We have closed schools and imposed all these "bubble" rules for this, the impact on children's mental health will remain to be seen. I have an acquaintance working with social services that has personally been involved in dealing with children that have lost their lives from abuse over this period. She, one person, has personally been involved in many more than 6 cases over this time. She hasn't stopped. Vulnerable children have been "lost" due to school closures. The impact of that will far outweigh the deaths from Covid. I wonder if they will ever release the true figures here...

In 100 years time will it be written that we utterly failed children over this pandemic? 😞

The info is worrying I agree.

I’m not sure what people will think after it’s passed. Maybe, not in 100 years we’ll be able to collect ourselves and assess before then.

Do you only read / watch mainstream media

Where's your information from?

You linked the BBC. Isn't that mainstream?

My neighbours have had multiple Covid exposures (NHS docs) and at one point their little girl tested positive despite my friend barely being able to get near her with the test stick. She said she must have been absolutely shedding virus. She had no symptoms at all.

You only need that to happen with a few kids in a class and you've got a big problem very fast. The crisis has certainly shone a light on just how small UK classrooms are and how lacking in ventilation, washing facilities etc.

Long term, the forced technological change may help DC who have to miss school for illness and so on, I hope, as well as facilitating case meetings for professionals who find it a challenge to get together.

The attention on how DC on free school meals are fed in holidays was overdue too.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

I fully expect to be shot down for this, and will say upfront that our children are adults so from an educational point of view, they have not been affected. So expect most people will say I don't have a right to comment.

But I have observed two very different camps (via MN, FB and other social media, and my own contacts).

Camp 1: our children's lives are ruined; they have missed out on so much: their lives will never be the same again; the government has failed them

And
Camp 2: yes it's shit for you kids, and you've missed a few things that are a right of passage, and that is really sad . But you have learnt some new skills that you wouldn't have done, had more time at home with your parents (who have realised that work doesn't have to come first, sometimes it is ok to take time out to be with your kids). Everyone's in the same boat, we will help you catch up and you will come out of this just fine.

Or is that just me?

I agree that is mostly the 2 camps you will see on FB, Mumsnet etc. I don't think people from the other camps will post.

Yes I think so and we still are.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

I fully expect to be shot down for this, and will say upfront that our children are adults so from an educational point of view, they have not been affected. So expect most people will say I don't have a right to comment.

But I have observed two very different camps (via MN, FB and other social media, and my own contacts).

Camp 1: our children's lives are ruined; they have missed out on so much: their lives will never be the same again; the government has failed them

And
Camp 2: yes it's shit for you kids, and you've missed a few things that are a right of passage, and that is really sad . But you have learnt some new skills that you wouldn't have done, had more time at home with your parents (who have realised that work doesn't have to come first, sometimes it is ok to take time out to be with your kids). Everyone's in the same boat, we will help you catch up and you will come out of this just fine.

Or is that just me?

That doesn’t chime with me really.

In 100 years time will it be written that we utterly failed children over this pandemic?

In 100 years time any longterm impact on childrens education in the UK will barely be mentioned, they are more likely to focus on the global impact, deaths, lockdown, economy and the decision makers of the time.

@FrippEnos

Bewareofisms

Children can test positive and most are a symptomatic. I have read findings that show that people with no symptoms (not people that are about to become ill, people that never get ill) are unlikely to pass it on. These findings are quietened down (which makes me take more notice).

Let's stop believing the narrative painted of children as these "super spreaders". Think about the fact that this picture must be painted to justify the actions taken. Now think about the whole thing again...

I'm sure that as long as you are not writing the history will will get a more balanced view.

I really don't understand your response. I have not said I know any answers, I have just questioned what we have been told. The immediate aggression in some people's response to being asked to think is astounding to me.

You think a person that questions things is not a good person to write history?

P.s. I have no plans to become a historian.

@noblegiraffe

I really hate that you are using vulnerable kids who have died of covid as some sort of point-making exercise.

I don't believe I have done this? I am talking about published facts.

@noblegiraffe

Kids are only in school for 52% of the days of the year. School isn't the solution to abusive households. More funding for social services would be a start.

Absolutely agree

My CEV child attends mainstream school. He is one of the ones who was entitled to a place in school throughout but couldn’t go in because of his status as CEV.

His school where fantastic and provided for all throughout. Thankfully though he didn’t need to be treated differently to his peers just because of his conditions, they where all in the same boat of having to miss school. So he wasn’t left at an educational disadvantage as he would have been if he has been treated differently to his peers

@Romanoff

Do you only read / watch mainstream media

Where's your information from?

You linked the BBC. Isn't that mainstream?

Yes. Of course I read the BBC news - I'm British 😉

My point is not to think you have a rounded view from just mainstream media. I AM NOT saying I know all before we go there. I am however not happy with the way any expert with a different belief to the narrative the government want has been so rigorously discredited. Does that not seem strange to you?

Bewareofisms

I really don't understand your response. I have not said I know any answers, I have just questioned what we have been told. The immediate aggression in some people's response to being asked to think is astounding to me.

I haven't said that you have any answers, but you clearly have very few facts.

You think a person that questions things is not a good person to write history?

I think that anyone that questions the 'truth' is a good thing, what is not so good is when they replace it with their 'truth' and very few facts.

P.s. I have no plans to become a historian.

We can all be thankful for that, especially as anyone that disagrees with you is "aggressive".

@Phineyj

My neighbours have had multiple Covid exposures (NHS docs) and at one point their little girl tested positive despite my friend barely being able to get near her with the test stick. She said she must have been absolutely shedding virus. She had no symptoms at all.

You only need that to happen with a few kids in a class and you've got a big problem very fast. The crisis has certainly shone a light on just how small UK classrooms are and how lacking in ventilation, washing facilities etc.

Long term, the forced technological change may help DC who have to miss school for illness and so on, I hope, as well as facilitating case meetings for professionals who find it a challenge to get together.

The attention on how DC on free school meals are fed in holidays was overdue too.

Really agree with your points here 🙌

I don't believe I have done this?

Questioning whether they'd have gone to a mainstream school...saying that 'only 6 healthy kids died'.

What, so only healthy kids count? Only kids who go to mainstream school?

It's clear that you have come onto this thread with a pre-prepared answer 'kids were failed, schools should have remained open' and want everyone to simply sigh, agree, and wring their hands about how terrible it has all been.

Dropping in stuff like 'debatable whether they even spread covid' and referring to 'mainstream media calling them superspreaders'. You're not being very subtle.

@Sirzy

My CEV child attends mainstream school. He is one of the ones who was entitled to a place in school throughout but couldn’t go in because of his status as CEV.

His school where fantastic and provided for all throughout. Thankfully though he didn’t need to be treated differently to his peers just because of his conditions, they where all in the same boat of having to miss school. So he wasn’t left at an educational disadvantage as he would have been if he has been treated differently to his peers

I am glad you & your child had a positive experience.

I do not know of any school that closed. All schools still had key worker children & vulnerable children were offered a place. So by what you have said, children were treated differently, depending on their parent's jobs etc.

I can only speak from my own experience. My daughter (second year a level) has not been able to sit her exams or assessments. Due to MH issues she had poor attendance. Along came school closures and it took away the momentum at her new school. Can she repeat the year? No, no space. Effectively she is written off. She is not even 18. Next.

@FrippEnos

Bewareofisms

I really don't understand your response. I have not said I know any answers, I have just questioned what we have been told. The immediate aggression in some people's response to being asked to think is astounding to me.

I haven't said that you have any answers, but you clearly have very few facts.

You think a person that questions things is not a good person to write history?

I think that anyone that questions the 'truth' is a good thing, what is not so good is when they replace it with their 'truth' and very few facts.

P.s. I have no plans to become a historian.

We can all be thankful for that, especially as anyone that disagrees with you is "aggressive".

People that disagree are not aggressive.

People's language in their disagreement can be aggressive. You might not have read the posts I'm referring to.

As others have already stated, closing schools acted to protect adults who otherwise would have been severely affected by COVID. Children are super spreaders of infectious disease, they are in close contact, touch the same surfaces and equipment and interact with each other in a much closer proximity than adults.

The school closures are not what has failed children. The fact that social services are now overwhelmed by supporting vulnerable children shows just how much we, as schools, do this job for them and this should not be the case. There has needed to be a serious shakeup around support for vulnerable children for a long time. I hope that this will happen now that more people are becoming aware of just how many children need this support.

I was really sad to hear that some children who are lost out of education are very unlikely to return.

Yes it happened before, despite people’s efforts, but we made it much harder on them. And more will have left. Life choices changes

@LipstickLou

I can only speak from my own experience. My daughter (second year a level) has not been able to sit her exams or assessments. Due to MH issues she had poor attendance. Along came school closures and it took away the momentum at her new school. Can she repeat the year? No, no space. Effectively she is written off. She is not even 18. Next.

Sorry to hear that

@noblegiraffe

I don't believe I have done this?

Questioning whether they'd have gone to a mainstream school...saying that 'only 6 healthy kids died'.

What, so only healthy kids count? Only kids who go to mainstream school?

It's clear that you have come onto this thread with a pre-prepared answer 'kids were failed, schools should have remained open' and want everyone to simply sigh, agree, and wring their hands about how terrible it has all been.

Dropping in stuff like 'debatable whether they even spread covid' and referring to 'mainstream media calling them superspreaders'. You're not being very subtle.

Who on earth would think only healthy kids count?!?

Maybe slow down and read what I have said without your pre-conceived opinion of my motive?

During the first lockdown schools provided childcare or education.

During the second they offered the same work as they sent to the children at home.

What was in schools was very understandably very different from what is normal in schools