Our children can't hug grandparents, but they can go back to school?

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Another thread, I know, I'm sorry.

I have a child in Reception and a child in Year 1.

Am I gonna face a fine if I don't send them? Probably!

The two years who are probably going to be the worst at social distancing!

Anyone else not feel comfortable sending them back so soon?

We'll look at the data from other countries and weigh up if there is a risk of transmission. Between the children, social distancing isn't needed, they don't shed the virus.

Other countries are allowing contact between the children and their GPs (but not the adults) and we aren't seeing infections.

We know a lot more about transmission now than we did at the start of lock down.

I honestly don't believe that you will be fined. I am quite sure that whoever normally administrates it won't be prioritising that right now. And I should think that heads will be quite happy to have less children in each class at the start. It really wouldn't make any sense to fine!

Children don't shed the virus?

They won't be risking the majority of other children or teaching staff as they aren't vulnerable, but they could transmit to their grandparents that are.

It's awful and sad but better for the grandparents at this point x

Teaching staff could be vulnerable, so could members of their family be.

I'm so heartbroken about this situation OP. I have a 9 week old baby and a toddler. We can mix with other households if it's for the benefit of the economy but I can't see my mum, knowing she hasn't seen anyone for weeks? It's no ones fault and I do understand the governments position but I'm heartbroken all the same.

It's ridiculous isn't it. Not to mention all the teachers who would be in a class teaching a bunch of kids but can't see their own grandchildren.

Because grandparents are more at risk from the virus. Children are very low risk.

It's ridiculous. The whole thing is a bad joke.

Actually other countries that have started to loosen lockdown measures, sending schools back, slowly reopening have seen a spike in their r values and infection rates...

Well, kids don’t need to socially distance. From each other or teachers really. They are not getters and spreaders in the main.

I take it to go to their grandparents for the hug an adult would have to take them? The adult is the problem in the equation. If grandparents are elderly they are also a lot more at risk.

Not sure what’s not making sense about all of this to you?

Doesn't anyone else think that the family thing will be relaxed closer to 1st June? If they mentioned that now people would take liberties and start seeing family and infections would soar. It's not really one they can give notice of, in my opinion, because it's so close to everyone's hearts.

I think we will be 'allowed' to make the decision to see family, within social distancing rules, if we deem the risk minimal (eg, all household members both sides have been isolated, no health issues, etc), before the kids go back to school in June.

And to answer your question, I'm not uncomfortable with the idea of sending them back to school in general (although I do have concerns about how it will be managed). But I do have a problem with basically pressing 'reset' and going back to having no idea whether any of us have the virus, having spent 7 weeks isolated other than a couple of supermarket trips. I'd rather see my parents at a distance of 2 metres a couple of times outside, while the risk is as minimal as it can possibly be, and then potentially spend another 7 weeks not seeing them until summer holidays.

Did anyone see the interview with Dominic Raab this morning? They've clarified that you can see family as long as it's outside (e.g. a park) and each household remains at least 2m apart. Of course that won't apply for a lot of people – myself included as I'm in Surrey and my family is in Devon – but for some might help.

Also, I doubt schools will be fining everyone; the NEU have branded the government's plan as reckless and are demanding better measures to make schools safe (neu.org.uk/press-releases/phased-return-schools).

Because granny is at risk from the virus in a way that the rest of a reception class isn’t. Small kids are low risk from the virus and high risk from development issues from isolation so the sensible solution is to allow them to mix with other low risk humans - I e other small kids (above all generalisations on a population level)

Teachers, parents waking kids to school are all risks and this is where inventive solutions will need to be found.

I'm hoping the unions put a stop to this stupidity.

Shame we don't have a union to stop this meeting in parks shit

Death rate in 3 weeks is going to be grim and get grimmer by the day.

You have my sympathies. There needs to be some serious planning if schools are to open in a way that is safe for children and adults.

Children spread the virus at the same rate as adults, they are just less likely to suffer serious consequences. It's a numbers game for them. They def can't hug their grandparents after a visit to school though as they are much more likely to be asymptomatic carriers

I don't understand the question. No children can't hug their grandparents because they're at high risk of death from the disease and small children are not. So don't hug granny (as we've already been doing), keep her isolated (as we've been doing) and we can start to work towards herd immunity and schools reopening. What's to complain about?

There seems to be a throwaway that nurseries/preschools will open at the same time.

That's a much higher staffing ratio, so lots of adults in the building and in each room where social distancing is considerably less possible than with reception, and almost every child needing full personal care. Plus every child meaning an adult dropping off and picking up.

Your children are not going to be able to hug their grandparents for a long time.

Schools opening isn't going to change that.

It may be good for your children and their physical well being to go back to school.

Why assume grandparents are at high risk of death dolly? Higher than the children, certainly, but plenty of grandparents are in their 40s. Being a grandparent doesn't equate to being high risk in itself.

re schools opening: school gates entry to classroom especially in the case of reception where children after the gap of attendance may well be unwilling ditto leaving the class
if all children were low spreaders why have there been families where the children have spread to their siblings & where one poor dc died?
Children are dirty little blighters & it isn't just the sneezing which apparently they don't do - teachers have apparently caught it off dc before & there is also the number of low spreaders in a close area & that for dc that young the teacher has to be close by - ie good old viral load. It is as said by pp an experiment & what happens if you have dc of different classes - some who will be able to go to school some who wont . try keeping dc apart in the playground when you take them in & what if your dc are vulnerable ie asthma which is more likely to be uncontrolled when younger? as another pp states are you going to be fined

www.theguardian.com/education/2020/apr/20/thousands-urge-uk-government-to-keep-schools-closed

Why oh why can’t people understand that the government HAS to approach this from a epidemiological point of view? Ie yes, it’s ok for children to interact with each other because even if they pass the virus on, statistically they’re unlikely to be badly affected. But, no, OF COURSE they can’t say “hug granny”. Because they don’t know on a granular level whether your child has the virus. And fairly obviously if your child has it and hugs granny, they could literally kill granny.