No your previously self-isolating kid can't go to school tomorrow!

[Stronger76]

I'm on a parents fb group. Apparently run by muppets. A few folk have taken kids out of school over the last week due to their own al'precautionary measures'. Now school is closing on Friday they're all over the group saying how they want little Johnny to go in today and Friday so they don't miss out on Y11 leaving school experience.

I know that this week the school have been following advice and having students collected who have siblings self-isolating, as well as those with listed health concerns. All students self isolating are marked with a special code on registers for the period of their isolation.

I get it, my son is in Y11 and tomorrow will be his last day in secondary school, don't even get me started on exam situation. But AIBU to think that if you've been worried enough to self-isolate you don't jeopardise everything for this?

In year 11 they arent "little johnny" anymore. Most of them are unruly do as they like f*ing big johnny.

My daughter's (year 11) school is shut as of today, except presumably, for the pupils of essential workers, because the head simply doesn't have enough staff to run it for the last two days.

I can only begin to imagine how the (depleted) teaching staff are struggling to get info out to parents re: continued study and of course exam related guidance, given the situation is changing daily and no one knows how GCSEs and A Levels will be managed. So far, they've been fantastic in producing resource guides and reassurance to the kids.

The fact that some people, in spite of all this, would even consider sending kids in who've previously been absent due to self isolation... because they, or someone they've been in contact with, has symptoms is mind-blowingly selfish and beyond stupid. For what?..... the so called end of year experience? When a good number of the school - staff and pupils - won't be there anyway and there won't be any sort of bloody experience as there might have been a couple of months hence under normal circumstances.

Sending a child with questionable health anywhere is utterly irresponsible. Sending them into what constitutes a social gathering simply so they can say, presumably, that they were 'there' is even worse. Particularly if the health of essential workers, like teachers remaining to care for pupils in the exempted groups is compromised. If they go down, who looks after front line workers' children then? The parents intending to do this so little Johnny doesn't miss out should feel the full force of the law but of course there simply aren't enough resources, nor, I believe at this time, appropriate laws regarding deliberate endangerment of others in relation to the virus, so these absolute fuckwits almost certainly won't have any case to answer and will no doubt carry on being selfish in other areas too.

I just hope any child in that category is turned away. Jeez, what the hell is wrong with people?

I totally get the disappointment, fear and frustration of many if not most of our kids. But keeping all of us as safe as we possibly can transcends that. This isn't a rehearsal FFS.

I think it is normal in times of great anxiety to focus on what are really irrelevant things. Anyone who has had a traumatic experience knows that in the very immediate aftermath you often worry about minor things.
Last day will be nice or them to see their friends, but it is really pretty irrelevant in terms of the lock down and dealing at being isolated at home with kids.

To be fair there are 2 types of self isolating for children:

1. The worried well, who decided as a precaution to not send their children in even though everyone in the family was well.

2. Those requested to self isolate due to showing symptoms or a member of their household showing symptoms.

It wouldn't be entirely unreasonable for the first group to go in, or to have been meeting up with 1 or 2 friends. That is still better than mixing for days on end with 1000 others.

@Teenplustwenties

We're a third type - no symptoms but my husband and daughter have asthma and there was no indication that they would ever close schools. And I wfh anyway (and my sector has collapsed) so I took them out of school on Tuesday. They won't be going back. I will pop in to school today or tomorrow to collect their stuff and wish farewell to the staff.

It is ridiculous yes.
My two are year 7 and 8 and were a bit gutted about their mates, but you've got to keep them positive and say, well it's not forever, you may be back after Easter, it will be fine. They're all lucky they can text and WhatsApp their mates, in our day you didn't get a number or make plans to meet up you barely saw each other again.
With my two,to cheer them up, I promised yesterday to do something later this year.

When they were younger, we used to do a Halloween party, I'm bringing it back but with less costume and kiddiness and more sleepover/film/snacks. It's given them something to look towards.

I must be one of those overbearing parents, then. Took them out last Thursday to try and stop the spread, after reading up on social distancing and realising that the govt was being reckless and unbelievably stupid by delaying distancing tactics. Will not be sending them back in, though I know it's hard for them not to see friends or their beloved teachers.

Not worried about our health. Trying to stop the spread.

I really hope that I was completely overreacting.

Absolutely, two weeks paid hols 😄

DDs school was being super vigilant about symptom spotting yesterday. She's at home with "the cold" that has been doing the rounds all term. She won't be going back. Apparently three of her tutor group were sent home in the morning for displaying symptoms. Parents not best pleased.

Mines back today. But that’s because she’s done her 7 days isolating for a cough and she’s now good to return for theses two days.

Stupid is as stupid does

If only this virus selected out the stupid instead of the elderly and sick

This exactly, if parents have insisted on keeping kids off school there's no way they should attend for tomorrow, fuckwits

Mine are off because the changes to school and tense atmosphere was having such an impact on them. If we don't go back till September it may well mean that DD2 doesn't get to properly leave her wonderful infant school that have been such a family to us over the last few years.

I've cried - she lost out on saying goodbye to her nursery because of pneumonia a few years ago and this kid just seems to get by every swing of the bad luck stick - but it's my emotional baggage to carry in private and not hers. I'm also devastated at the idea of her having to transfer to juniors without any transition planning for her SEN either - but today and this week isn't the time to be hassling the school and the SENCO over that either... I know the school have home working arrangements for the staff and I'll email the SENCO at a later date when the picture becomes clearer and if needs be I'm sure things can be done via Skype or email triangles or whatever. I'm trying to prioritise my worrying according to what can be resolved at any point in time!

Yanbu, some people on my fb like this. Self isolated when it was a big drama to get attention. Then got bored after 2 days and decided to carry on as normal. Um, that's not how it works. You're either in or out 😂

I spoke to someone yesterday who told me that they have loads of play dates lined up for when the schools close. Her justification is that none of her childs friends have the virus. How does she know.

My DS us year 11, too. We don't have reason to self isolate, and he's in for these 2 days.

I'm sad for him, it looked like his solid grades could have been even better in the now cancelled exams, but it does look like his predicted grades are enough to secure his college place.

Assuming colleges open again in September.

I did tell him to make sure he has his friends contact numbers. At least they can talk, text, skype.

My dd school just sent. A text saying clubs on as normal tonight and tomorrow after school. Does that strike anyone as odd? See on here that would be a big no no and unnecessary, but everyone else seems to think it's fine they're doing hockey and choir tomorrow

Sorry, major hijack, didn't want to strat another one.

Our school cancelled all clubs and after schools last week, Frogglette. I got the feeling they were only staying open because they were told to, to be honest. Glad they've finally got the word to shut.

The mum of one of DD’s classmates told me today on leaving school with her Dd that her other DD had been at home all week with a high temperature but luckily her other DD was at school. So no 14 day isolation for them then! They were not the only ones breaking the rules though. My next door neighbours are supposed to be self-isolating but mum and the kids were off out today and later on friends arrived at their house for a visit!