If I’m social distancing with an underlying condition, do I keep the DC off school too?

[PurpleBirch]

I’ve been sent home from school (teacher) as I have one of the conditions on the vulnerable underlying diseases list.

Should I keep my children home from school too? There no guidance on this but they could still be bringing CV in from their schools so does it seem sensible to keep them home too?

I am in the same position and I am taking my DD out of pre school.

I think this is a case of you doing what’s right for you and yours

it would make sense to, if you are able

Yes

Yes

You need to make a judgement call on that one. Can they manage for an hour when they get home, change and wash their own clothes? Do they remember to wash their hands as soon as they get in?

I spoke to our school about this and they said that they couldn't tell us what to do as it's our decision as parents but they understand our circumstances with a few nods 🤣

It’s such a tricky time to make decisions without looking like you’re panicking but also taking it seriously enough.

I just think that if I’m safer at home, then if they’re home too after 14 days we can be a bit more certain that we don’t have it.

Yes.

It's less an issue of them bringing it in on their hands, than them getting infected. The longer they stay in school, the most likely it is that they get infected.

It’s guidance at this stage. You make the decision based on your own assessment. Bear in mind this is going to go on for some time so what you do has to be realistically sustainable.

I'm 29 weeks' pregnant and have made the decision not to go into work (ft SEN HLTA/teacher in a huge primary school).

My eldest son's school has shut and I'll be homeschooling my youngest from Monday (he's with his dad this week).

Yes, absolutely,
Children are super spreaders and teachers and childcare workers can’t possibly manage the levels of hygiene that would be required as well as care for the children and everything else they are tasked with.
I have an underlying condition and pulled my son out of childcare before I started to WFH because I can control my own precautions - I can’t control anything happening at childcare or whether other parents send their kids in sick.

To does seem bizarre to ban mass gatherings except for the one group of people who have the worse hygiene in Britain.

My sons schools email told us if u have a person with an underlying problem then keep the kids off

I would absolutely take them out of school too OP. Good luck

Yes. Have taken mine out for that reason. School were very understanding.

My husband is high risk. We've both started working from home today and have decided our teenage daughter won't be going to school. She's really not happy about it though which is stressful

The advice I have seen, is that it is expected that Heads will be able to authorise absences in these circumstances.
It's in the Govt daily guidance from the DoE.

Thanks everyone. I’ll keep them home. It’s not going to be easy but will be a whole lot easier than being hospitalised with coronavirus. Think I just needed some opinions to justify it- which is why clearer government guidelines regarding children would really help.

I'm high risk too but my DC are in GCSE and A Level years so keeping them off isn't really an option. It's going to be pretty soul-destroying being shut in for three months while they all come and go and potentially bring in the virus.

If my DC were younger and at less critical stages I would take them out of school.

My daughter went in today but she’s not going back. There’s no point in me socially distancing and her going to school. Now the decision has been made and I know she’s not going back, I feel do much less anxious.