WWYD? I’m a SAHM - should I keep my kids off school?

[CaptainCaveMum]

Just that really and recognise we are privileged and this isn’t possible for everyone.

I’m happy to send them if necessary while schools stay open but my understanding is that the reason the Government wants schools to stay open is so that key workers can keep going to work. We are luckily not in that position and I’m starting to wonder if it would be more responsible for all of us who can do to withdraw our kids from school- this would reduce the risk to teachers too. DH thinks I should leave them to go to school.

What would you do?

[NearlyGranny]

Classes being collapsed, not clasped!

[110011pi]

Take them out and force the closure that should have happened weeks ago. You'll be saving lives.

[MarshaBradyo]

I’m home schooling too, Ds (10) getting into it. Has a self made schedule with times (his personality)

[NearlyGranny]

At the point where classes and year groups are being clasped and staff are exhausted wrangling enormous numbers while not teaching anything new (because big chunks of the class will need to play catch-up later) I question whether it's worth the risk if there is someone home. I'm currently 'home-schooling' a 7yo while we're isolated due to the imminent birth of her sibling. She's getting more attention and focused teaching than she would be at school!

[InDubiousBattle]

I'm still sending my two primary age dc in. I only recently returned to work (for myself) but it's totally dried up so I'm technically back to being a SAHP. The school e mail us daily and are currently managing well, few staff seem to be staying at home. I wonder if the schools will shut completely or keep a skeleton staff to care for dc whose parents do essential work and have nowhere else to take them? My dp works at a uni and they're not sure they will return after easter and if school follow suit we can't have working parents off work indefinitely?

[Snog]

I would definitely keep them home. The less social connection the lower the number of people who will die.

[LJL1]

Another one saying keep them at home if you can OP.
Each individual action influences how the virus will spread.
Consider going easy on yourselves and having a few days to process and adjust before forging ahead with home ed.
Education can take a back-seat to health and mental well-being for a little while in my opinion.

[Ventilatorshortage]

Hoping, when I see school I see in my minds eye that map someone posted from Washington Post re spread of virus.

Every day someone, several people will be infecting others and each day that risk increases... But as soon as the dc is withdrawn that risk decreases massively..
Obviously hoping they havant got it

For your dh, surely he is washing hands, and being ultra careful?

So let's say your dc have exposure to 500 at school and your dh 1000?

At least your reducing your exposure by 500?..

[Ventilatorshortage]

Op keep them at home.

Advice is changing daily and the advice is based on models, and what information is fed into the model.

We don't know actually definitive young people figures.

But 10 to 19 is 0.2 % mortality. In figs being mooted of 550000 that's alot.

[Hoppinggreen]

I’ve got a Y10 and a Y6 and I’m considering it.
If the schools haven’t closed by Friday I think I might, DH thinks we should but he works in a busy City Centre so while he’s going there everyday there’s not much point
I would be mor Ethan happy to do it if it helped the school though

[Times10]

I asked the DCs teachers if they’d rather I kept the DCs home, and they said that everything is running as usual, so at the moment, I’m still sending them in.

[DontTellThemYourNamePike]

I have kept mine off since Monday. They were off for St Patrick's Day yesterday (NI) anyway and I had hoped there would be some movement on school closure before today to take the decision out of my hands. Nothing obviously, so I have decided to keep them home to protect the asthma sufferers in our family.

Schools in West Belfast have closed for the week, probably anticipating general closure soon. There is a lot of pressure here for schools to close since this is what has already happened in the south.

I have been told that attendance was low at our school on Monday, so at least that might go some way to reducing risk for both pupils and teachers.

[Hopefulmama34]

I wouldn’t keep them off, at least not yet. I’m in the same position with a four year old DD and she is still going to Nursery. We are all healthy and don’t have elderly relatives/friends to worry about as my parents live abroad and DH’s passed away a few years ago. I want to keep DD’s routine as normal as possible for the moment. She has mild SEN and i have had poor mental health since she was born, following PND, so routine is key for us.

[mymoonmyman2020]

When do you all think schools will close? It feels strange to be out on a limb at the moment...

[fedup21]

a lot of teachers are off and ta's teaching instead

That’s happening here too.

When we run out of teachers, TAs and supply teachers (the one we booked for the rest of the week is ill) we will be forced to close.

[sunnyday45]

Made the decision yesterday to keep them home as of today, primary school age. I have underlying health conditions so am in at risk group and daughter is actually worrying herself she might bring it home to me. Aside from that though, dh can now work from home as of today so we are all staying home now.

School is sending out daily emails saying all the time the government is keeping schools open they will stay open, but a lot of teachers are off and ta's teaching instead. If the ta's start staying home because they or their family members have symptoms, I'm not sure how the school will cope. Personally I think what some local secondary schools are doing is sensible at the moment, running with skeleton staff for exam year groups, and for people whose parents can't work from home who have younger ones in lower year groups that they need need childcare for.

[Brunelofbrio]

Mine - primary age- have been off since the weekend. We’ve told school that we are self-isolating because DD has a cough.

I am a SAHM/unemployed primary teacher. It would be madness for me to be sending them in. The fewer kids in school the better the school can manage it IMO.

Mind you my DCs have high expectations of what home schooling entails ( not least the idea that every lesson needs a worksheet!) so it’s a bit intense. Hopefully we’ll settle into a routine pretty soon.

[TwilightPeace]

Keep them home! Stop the spread and help flatten the curve.
I think it’s madness people are still sending their kids to school when they have the option to stay at home (unlike some others).
The schools will be closing in a couple of days anyway so just do it!

[fedup21]

am teaching two year groups in the same classroom for now on account of CV related staff shortages. Made possible because several children are being kept home by considerate SAHP. So grateful to them.

Exactly the same at my school.

We are coping-that’s about it. It’s socially responsible to keep them home.

[wormshock]

I'm at sahp and my primary aged children are off. My youngest has a cough, but would have taken them out anyway.

[mymoonmyman2020]

I WFM and mine have been off since yesterday. Already challenging tbh and youngest wants to go to school today! But their school is really struggling with staff shortages, illness etc and DH has health issues so I think it’s for the best.

[lorisparkle]

My children have all asked to be 'home schooled' - not sure if they think that means 'unlimited technology' ! If I could keep them home I would but currently can't work from home.

[Bringonspring]

I like the routine of school for my son but he is already in a small class and temp being taken of children where he goes. As a family we are in a low risk category/have no older family at home etc

[BeardedMum]

Unauthorised absence during a global pandemic

I keep my youngest off and just said self isolation for 14 days. The two older teens are going in as they have to prepare for exams.

[Curious78]

Schools are really struggling, some year groups have been told not to go in through staff shortages, TA's are having to step in and teach. So if you are in a position where you can have children home with you, then at this point I'm sure no one would mind