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Original poster

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

61 replies

CaptainCaveMum · 17/03/2020 22:40

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?

OP posts:
ScoobyCan · 17/03/2020 23:36

Good luck. 🤣

WWYD? I’m a SAHM - should I keep my kids off school?
theflushedzebra · 17/03/2020 23:41

I have a yr 7 (off since Monday, sh's not going back), a yr10 doing exams (in just for exams, so 2 more days, then I'll keep him off) and an A level student - still under discussion, only going in if necessary for coursework - so off tomorrow, but will attend for vital work, but thinks school will close on Friday.

I cannot wait until I can get them all home in isolation. Just cannot wait. Of course they just want to socialise, and do exams and stuff. It's agonising, 2 years ago I'd have had all three out of school in a heartbeat.

theflushedzebra · 17/03/2020 23:44

*I'm just boring old mum, wanting to isolate them from the pandemic They think they're young and invincible.

Original poster
CaptainCaveMum · 17/03/2020 23:59

I'm just boring old mum, wanting to isolate them from the pandemic They think they're young and invincible.
Grin @theflushedzebra
To be fair I think my kids are freaked out by how many pupils are turning up to school coughing and having to be sent home plus their form tutors are in self isolation which is also scary for them. We are in London so they know we are worst hit.

OP posts:
DubTheeUnforgiven · 18/03/2020 00:10

I'm a SAHM and took my children out of school/nursery today. There is much gratitude from the teaching staff towards the parents who are fortunate to be in a position to do this.
The pressure on teachers and TAs to 'just carry on' at the moment is awful.

ameliethree · 18/03/2020 06:05

I'm keeping mine off now, Yrs 9 and 12 - found it almost impossible to weigh up the disruption to their education vs me being at risk with an underlying health condition, and I'm still stressing about it now. I'm not sure whether their school is struggling, but there are 1800 plus kids with no soap in the toilets and I just feel the risk is too great.

If they were younger I'd have no hesitation in pulling them out at all. If you're fortunate to be a SAHM there are a huge amount of resources online 🙂

Jespers · 18/03/2020 06:07

We're both WFH now, we're keeping them home from today.

MarshaBradyo · 18/03/2020 06:11

Yes do. Two home and teen last day as has a test he wants to do. Then that’s it.

With 10 year old we’ve drawn up a schedule with play, test, work, games with his timing etc he loves the idea of it (so far) as he misses school and it suits his personality.

MarshaBradyo · 18/03/2020 06:13

The teen is the hardest decision as he can’t access the work until they shut the school and he finds that hard, doesn’t want to miss out.

Cranb0rne · 18/03/2020 06:16

I've kept mine off but have been told it's unauthorised absence.

MarshaBradyo · 18/03/2020 06:22

Cranborne just say it’s self isolation.

Curious78 · 18/03/2020 06:27

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

BeardedMum · 18/03/2020 06:29

Unauthorised absence during a global pandemicConfused

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.

Bringonspring · 18/03/2020 06:34

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

lorisparkle · 18/03/2020 07:07

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.

mymoonmyman2020 · 18/03/2020 07:07

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.

wormshock · 18/03/2020 07:14

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

fedup21 · 18/03/2020 07:14

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.

TwilightPeace · 18/03/2020 07:18

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!

Brunelofbrio · 18/03/2020 07:29

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.

sunnyday45 · 18/03/2020 07:40

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.

fedup21 · 18/03/2020 07:46

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.

mymoonmyman2020 · 18/03/2020 08:32

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

Hopefulmama34 · 18/03/2020 10:10

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.

DontTellThemYourNamePike · 18/03/2020 10:33

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.