Who is keeping their kids home from school from Monday?

[alloutoffucks]

I am. I am at real risk if I catch this. I am not locking my kids in the house. But it will mean they see a small number of kids rather than the hundreds they do in school.
And yes I will be keeping them away from clubs or any large gatherings as well.
Anyone else?

Are you planning to keep your children off probably until after the summer?

Yes, if necessary.

After seeing that poor little girl in Italy on ICU I will not be risking my dc.

We are self isolating as from today, and will reassess after Easter.

That Brexit garage/pantry/veg plot/every available inch stash is coming in very handy!

Yes my children aren’t going in from Monday and yes I’m prepared to keep them off and home school if needed indefinitely.

Grain of salt thankyou that's so useful.....

No they are continuing to go in until we are told differently. Neither DP or I are in the at risk group. Neither sets of grandparents live nearby, so we only see them during school holidays anyway, so we are going to avoid them for a while. Lots of FaceTime.

DH and I and our two DC are all asthmatic.

Yes, i am seriously considering pulling them out of school from Monday, and yes, till September if needs be.

DH can work from home, and they are old enough to not need constant supervision but not old enough to be doing exams, which is lucky.

Mine are going in. The school sent out a communication stating it's likely schools will close in the next couple of weeks and we use the ParentPay platform, so work and communications can be sent out using that.

It is amazing how the UK thinks the science is different to what the scientists in WHO and every single other country are saying?

It's amazing how plenty of our own scientists are disputing it too, but some people choose not to listen. Former Chief Medical Officer for one.

It's also amazing how people choose to stick their oar in, smugly ridiculing and making condescending remarks to others for choosing the course for action they can and want to take. But hey, if that's how people like to spend their day, each to their own. Crack on.

There's a lot of news going on at the minute! What exactly did the former chief medical officer say?

Tin-foil hat I know, but what aren't they telling us?

They have no evidence that children ar catching or transmitting it. They need to close schools for two reasons, either will it slow the spread or will it help children. The answer to both of these is no, and as such there is no reason to close them.

On the flip side, closing them means folks have to do their own child care. Delivery drivers delivering food, petrol, hospital supplies. Paramedics, doctors, nurses. Hospital cleaners. Those who make the food. Fire fighters, Emergamcy line operators. Lab staff. Police. They need all these people working. Shutting schools means a major disruption to critical services as people need to stay home

They aren’t keeping it a secret they have called it out, that’s why they aren’t closing them. The damage far outweighs any benefit

Absolutely not.

@AllTheIceCream - I do apologise. Public health chief. I wouldn't say the same experts are united over the strategy though.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-uk-cases-john-ashton-nhs-hospital-covid-19-budget-a9396211.html

I own a nursery.

I had a very timely email this afternoon from the DfE. Apparently, the government will continue to pay for funded children next term, but not if parents have withdrawn them due to coronavirus fears.

So there you go - that’s one reason why they haven’t closed the schools. They want everyone to pull kids out so that they don’t have to find them next term.

Please, please - if you pull out your kids, don’t say it is due to coronavirus fears. Say that they are ill and will be back as soon as they are better. That way, the government will have to continue to provide funding to settings.

This is really important and we need to get the message out there.

Definitely not. There are less than 15 cases in the county I live in out of 1.5 million people. We have more chance of being knocked over by a bus! Should DC be ill or the school actually has a case then I will revisit my decision but until then I see no reason to change our normal routine. The media are sending everyone into panic and it really isn't helping

They have no evidence that children ar catching or transmitting it. They need to close schools for two reasons, either will it slow the spread or will it help children. The answer to both of these is no, and as such there is no reason to close them.

It's not at all certain that children don't catch or transmit it. See e.g.:

Detection of Covid-19 in Children in Early January 2020 in Wuhan, China

Guess you didn't see the bit where, during the PM's announcement, it was said that we probably have 5000-10000 cases undiagnosed in the country.

How many of those are in your county?

You're right that the main reason they won't close schools is childcare, though. Children are going to end up being the only group not allowed to work from home, even if they can.

Definitely not. There are less than 15 cases in the county I live in out of 1.5 million people.

They are not testing people, so how do you know that?

Mine is still going to nursery, I assume that will close when (not if) schools do, but I teach so we're probably equally at risk anyway and her primary carers are healthy adults (obviously will avoid vulnerable grandparents).

We probably will catch it, and that's ok.

If I or DH were vulnerable I'd be isolating as a family now.

Not only going to keep nurseries open come what may, but withdraw funding if parents take their child out so you have to send them in. And mine have told me they quite happily take children with temperatures. Brilliant.

@EYProvider Thanks for the Infor. If I could just ask - my son isn't 3 until September, so we're paying privately and won't get any free hours until next January. If I keep him off, and continue to pay the fees, can I be upfront about why I'm keeping him off with the nursery?

We are! Plus 2 members of my family are doing the same.

As I am in self isolation myself my kids school wont accept them. School has issued a statement this aft stating if any member of immediate household is in self isolation due to new cough +/temp then the whole household needs to stay away from school for 7 days. We are to report in on day one and 7 days will be authorised for the children affected. Sensible measure which I have found greatly reassuring.

Are you all not letting your children out of the house for months on end then?

Will be taking a view based on how things unfold. Currently just house and garden..

Are you all not letting your children out of the house for months on end then?

Potentially not.

We have a big enough garden and there is plenty enough for them to do. Some of us are high risk so I'm sure the dc can put up with it for a few months if it is a choice between that and losing a parent/sibling.

None of us are planning to leave the house either.

Will be cancelling Portugal holiday at Easter and may be finding remote walks to do in the Peak District to keep sane!