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Original poster

to ask if your kids are going to school on Monday?

297 replies

MoonBlood · 14/03/2020 22:13

I’ve been quite happy to follow government recommendations so far, but today my DD couldn’t go swimming with her mates as their parents are keeping them home. I made a comment that they’ll be surrounded by kids at school on Monday anyway and she said that their parents will be keeping them off now as they disagree that schools should be open. I was going to keep sending mine as long as they’re open, I’ve got three healthy teen kids but also a preschool child with asthma who ends up in hospital fairly regularly just from basic colds and am second guessing myself now?

OP posts:
Tonyaster · 15/03/2020 14:26

I think there's a balance. I think its unlikely kids will go back after Easter so I think sending them in this week will avoid fatigue

catspyjamas123 · 15/03/2020 14:28

But there is a lot more out there than just the confirmed cases. Two friends of mine are both sick - one almost certainly coronavirus. The other one has to see how it develops. No tests for them. It’s spreading and there are no figures because we know what the government’s policy is. Soon, if not already, hospitals will be overwhelmed. Best to stay in, not only for your own safety but for everyone else’s.

TheCountessatHotelCortez · 15/03/2020 14:29

@LimitIsUp how are their frontline healthcare staff managing to work while they are on lockdown?

catspyjamas123 · 15/03/2020 14:29

Do we all really think GCSEs will take place as usual? I doubt it. They will be postponed or given on predicated grades. Or online somehow.

Drivemybluecar · 15/03/2020 14:33

I will be stunned if Boris shuts the schools. I really will. But if he does and the exams go ahead in September. What happens to the college courses

bobstersmum · 15/03/2020 16:20

I do not know what to do with my two young boys, yr1 and yr2. I have been poorly with a type of flu thing this week which I was given antibiotics for and got better very quickly after starting them so hoping it was just an infection (didn't have a cough of any sort but had a very high fever). It actually scared me to death, I thought that was it for me, I felt that bad. I've been quite emotional since as it's all just a bit too real now. Not able to visit either of my parents or in laws because they're all keeping themselves locked away as at high risk of problems. I'm feeling scared, vulnerable and depressed. I really want to keep us all home including dh but we have bills to pay like everyone else. It's like a bad dream.

Original poster
MoonBlood · 15/03/2020 16:37

Do we all really think GCSEs will take place as usual? I doubt it.

I’m really hoping this is the case but am still keeping him home with the others. We can do prep here and if they go ahead somehow the. He will still be prepared. Hopefully the schools will be shut soon anyway and work will get sent home or done online.

OP posts:
LakeFlyPie · 15/03/2020 16:55

My DC are yr 4+7. DH and DS are asthmatic and I'm worried about them. My DPs (mid 70s) have chosen to stay home for the foreseeable future and see family via FaceTime. I work in NHS and have little faith in the govts approach and am concerned about NHS capacity from the offset. We're in the fortunate position that DH can work from home (this has been actively encouraged by his company via email today) so I think we will keep DC off from tomorrow in spite of communication from headteacher today to say school will be open. Think I will tell schools the truth and that they'll be off until Easter break. Unsure of consequences re unauthorised absence but that seems to be the least of our worries ATM

YgritteSnow · 15/03/2020 17:04

tell me, how do you think Ireland, Spain, Italy etc have managed to close schools? Do you think Irish / Spanish / Italian parents didn't have childcare considerations to manage when schools closed?

I never said anything remotely like that. I challenged your assertion that "school is not childcare". Childcare is one of its functions hence SAHP being expected to find full time employment when their child reaches school age. The economy runs on the back of childcare provided by schools. It's only a select few sanctimonious MNetters who believe otherwise.

DuckWillow · 15/03/2020 18:05

Our school is open as usual tomorrow and we are a special school with children who can be immune compromised. I'm expecting most of them to be in school unless the advice is otherwise.

Nearlypassover · 15/03/2020 18:06

You’re ‘expecting’ them, duck?

DuckWillow · 15/03/2020 18:12

Not in a compelling "they must attend" way but in a "neither we nor they have been told they shouldn't attend."

crosspelican · 15/03/2020 18:19

Mine aren't going in. They don't know this yet... They won't be back in until after Easter (or whenever schools reopen).

As my job (and thus income) has likely dried up now until this is all over, sadly I have ample time to do the home education I have always talked about wanting to do. Well now's my chance. Wine

LimitIsUp · 15/03/2020 18:23

Childcare is categorically not a function of school. It is an unintended consequence / or benefit of the fact that children are elsewhere enabling a parent to work. Any working parent who isn't now considering how their younger children will be cared for during school closures is burying their head in the sand. Yes it may require unpaid leave. From a couple of the defensive reactions on here it is apparent that some parents relying on childcare for school are likely to convince themselves that their child's persistent cough is just a seasonal sniffle and send them off to school.

A lot of us are going to have to suck up and deal with the unpalatable and difficult over the coming months

LynetteScavo · 15/03/2020 18:25

I think exams will go ahead even if schools close. Every pupil will have the same disadvantage and exam desks habe to be a certain width apart.

NellMangel · 15/03/2020 18:29

Mine is going in. Unless he is ill of course.

I work, am single and I'm already worried about what to do when the schools close. So he can go in this week and I'll hope that the schools close soon and my employer agrees some form of paid leave.

That said - no health problems and only a couple of positives here - otherwise might be a different story.

DuckWillow · 15/03/2020 18:30

DH who works in schools and also provides talks etc has been getting cancellations in all over the place. As he is self employed this will be an issue but at least he can provide childcare if schools DO shut.

TheCountessatHotelCortez · 15/03/2020 20:04

Looks like I’ll be another nurse taken from the already strained numbers then and sure i won’t be the only one

catspyjamas123 · 15/03/2020 21:05

Nobody is stopping you sending your child. We just aren’t sending ours!

Tonyaster · 15/03/2020 21:12

I think its mad to take kids out now. The spread is still very low. In a month it might be huge and then you won't want to send your dcs back.

MasterMargarita · 15/03/2020 21:14

@Tonyaster in a month the spread will be huge because of people who think and do like you

Tonyaster · 15/03/2020 21:19

Nothing to do with me. Mine finish on Wednesday. We are all going to get this eventually. The psychological effect of isolation and no education shouldn't be underestimated.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 15/03/2020 21:40

Mine will be educated at home. From tomorrow.

MigginsMrs · 15/03/2020 21:44

Yes until and unless they close.

Tonyaster · 15/03/2020 21:44

Won't make a blind bit of difference.