Schools won't be reoping on 1 June, and if they do, I won't be sending my child

[effingterrified]

Unions will be doing what they exist to do and protecting the health of their members.

Until Boris can provide teachers with a safe workplace ie PPE for all staff, adequate social distancing, etc, unions will be telling members not to go in.

And if they do open, I won't be sending my child in as they wouldn't learn anything in the last few weeks under these conditions, and the health risks not only to the children, but to the teachers and parents, are not worth it.

Plus my child relies on a school bus to get to school and there is zero way of socially distancing on one of them. Or of running 3 school buses, say, per route, at an affordable cost.

Also, my dc is happy as Larry off school, and learning as much or more. Let's face it, how many kids object to longer school holidays? I know there are some eg vulnerable kids, but they can already attend at present.

Fed up of threads pretending all parents can't wait for schools to reopen. Not among the ones I know.

@mrpumblechook if you read to the end of my comment I was making the point that commentary along the lines of "you will be responsible for peoples deaths" is ridiculous and nasty.

We cant know which strategy will lead to more deaths. That's my point.

If "most" people were allowed to work then there wouldnt be millions of people on furlough - sure I read somewhere it was 70% of businesses furloughing staff.....

I don't think all those who have been furloughed aren't "allowed" to work. Obviously shop, pubs, cafes and restaurants had to although even then many have stayed open and offered takeaway or online deliveries. Many businesses chose to close and they are now being encouraged open.

I’ve never read such a twatty OP before on Mumsnet, in my life.

What a sausage.

We cant know which strategy will lead to more deaths. That's my point.

We also don't know which strategy will be worse for the economy as more deaths will have an impact on the economy.

So all those not bothering to educate your children should be ashamed

FGS. Wind it in.

It's not about "not bothering" for some of us. It's about two months of never getting a break from light until dark (this is why "days off" work are compulsory) - not being able to mentally cope with the situation any longer with zero support, not even a "You're doing well, keep going - I miss you, I love you" I get NOTHING from anyone - just more demands and try harder. My ex abused me, and I'd just got myself in a good place. If anyone is "not bothering" in every possible way, it is my children's father, who does a half arsed zoom with them every week for a few minutes and barely talks during it. He has zero interest in how me or they are coping. No one does.

I will NOT feel ashamed for feeling depressed and exhausted after all the effort I've put in over the last few weeks - craft, painting, baking, fractions, nature trails, caterpillar and frogspawn live lifecycles, huge walks, MASSIVE day celebrations with bunting, picnic, bubbles, flags, songs and bbq (I was in bed by 8 that day). I have lost my course, my savings and anything to look forward to.

I have no appetite now I just feel ill and sad all the time.

Send them or don`t send them we have a choice at the moment. No need to fall out over it. I am just glad that there is no fear when a sensible parent keeps a sick child off and gets the school police on their backs wittering about keeping percentages up.

Straycat

Quite. So the person on this thread accusing people of being responsible for other peoples deaths should rein it in then shouldnt they. Glad we agree.

So all those not bothering to educate your children should be ashamed

What a foul excuse for a human being you are. I hope you’re not a teacher - I’d rather my child never went to school again than was taught by the likes of you.

I will NOT feel ashamed for feeling depressed and exhausted after all the effort I've put in over the last few weeks - craft, painting, baking, fractions, nature trails, caterpillar and frogspawn live lifecycles, huge walks, MASSIVE day celebrations with bunting, picnic, bubbles, flags, songs and bbq (I was in bed by 8 that day). I have lost my course, my savings and anything to look forward to.

It sounds as if you are doing a lot.

Mine will be going back as soon as possible

I don't see why there is a need for a thread . The government already said parents wont be fined if they chose not to send their child back and every family has different circumstances .

the actual risk to children is minimal and to staff it obviously depends on age and health but supermarket workers for example are being exposed to much more risk .They also did say 1st June ONLY if the indicators were satisfactory .

personally I think this is a very individual decision . And I would not judge anyone for deciding what to do - but I might judge if they try to influence others who want to make their own decision by looking at the facts .

Now if you were making children go into care homes it would be a different argument.

I think most educated people understand that we're in this for the middle-term and we can't disrupt their education for long. I don't know a single person (who isn't in the shielding category) who is keeping their child off school when they're due to go back.

I will get bollocked for this bringing up the war. But my father and siblings also my mother went to school every day, the bombs dropped at night he said.

I had every intention of sending my year 6 dd back until we had a school planning meeting today. To follow the government guidelines, it will not be the version of school they are all missing... It sounds awful. I will wait to see what changes but, if the plan remains, I won't send her in as I think she would be miserable. I very much appreciate the fact that I have this choice.

If I had a child of primary school age I would send them in without hesitation . I see no difference between June and September .

The teaching unions should be spending their energy on coming up with solutions to the problems rather than coming across as just plain belligerent.

Jolly good OP - clearly a wind-up, but anyway...

If schools aren't reoping in June and Also, my dc is happy as Larry off school, and learning as much or more. Let's face it, how many kids object to longer school holidays?

Well who needs schools, eh? Or qualified teachers providing a structured, broad curriculum? Or a stimulating environment with similar aged pupils, engaging in debate? God forbid, developing social skills? And if you really want 100% safety guarantee, sorry, that horse bolted months ago - you keep up your fabulous efforts at home for the next year at least. And then please don't whinge about lost opportunity for your DC.

FWIW, I'm appalled at the government's handling of this whole situation. But let's allow schools to TRY and get something safe up & running. And yes, staff health must come first. And with the proviso Heads can keep schools closed if they feel that's the right decision.

Of course you should be ashamed.
The comments about teachers, the bashing etc when many parents aren't abiding by education law and their duty/ responsibility.
We aren't in normal times and teachers are trying their best, unlike many parents.

You're being hysterical. I'm in Northern Ireland so our schools won't be back until at least September, but I would send my 5yo back tomorrow if they were open. She's miserable and lonely, her education is suffering and its affecting her mental health. All the current scientific evidence is showing the risk to children is minimal and that they are not the superspreaders of this virus that they were once thought to be. I appreciate there are risks involved including to staff, but in all fairness my 65yo DM has been working in tesco all this time with every tom, dick and harry coughing all over her with no PPE and is expected just to get on with it - and there are many selfish dicks in supermarkets not following guidelines and social distancing, shouting in her face and giving her grief but somehow not being able to guarantee social distancing in supermarkets to protect staff isnt a reason to shut them. Her health and her life is at much greater risk, and has been throughout, but shes still expected to get up and go with no option to stay at home. Unless you're planning on keeping your children off indefinitely, I dont see what the difference between now and September is - not much will have changed. And life needs to go on. Children need to be educated. Bully for you that your kids arent vulnerable, you can afford to stay off with them and you're a magical fantastical teaching genius so they're learning more than professional teachers can instill in them - but not all of us are in that privileged position, and there are people having to work in worse conditions you're so disgusted by, and are at a substantial risk from the virus to boot.

Don't then.

@Straycatstrut

^Of course you should be ashamed.
The comments about teachers, the bashing etc when many parents aren't abiding by education law and their duty/ responsibility.
We aren't in normal times and teachers are trying their best, unlike many parents.^

Why do you have to be such a nob? When those laws were written, there was access for all children to school. Now there isn't.

Most parents will be doing their best. But I do know that there are plenty of parents who can barely read and write themselves, let alone teach their children.

Teachers are well aware of this. They are well aware that there will be some children who are suffering at home. Now maybe that's the parents fault? Maybe no one should have children unless they're well educated, own a home with no mortgage, have 10 years worth of savings, don't need to work? Just incase if any unexpected circumstances?

Maybe doctors and nurses should also start refusing to work because it's unsafe. Maybe they should refuse to treat patients who are unwell through their own lifestyles.

Maybe we should abolish school altogether?

@effingterrified your children are happy to have an extended summer holiday......does this mean you aren't home educating them ?

So when do schools open? There won't be a vaccine in September, or in January.

Do you want to stay in isolation until a vaccine is found, it could be a year, or years, or never.