I made my little girl cry

[XxrosesxX]

So today my DD school sent out the rough plan of action for June 1st. Up until this point I had been hopeful my five year old could go back to her "normal" school life for a term before summer and year one.

I knew they were going to perhaps have less kids in. But opening the email today I just feel it's wrong to be opening. They are removing alot of toys, books and furnishing from the classroom. There will be strict rules in place and social distancing will be in place but they are warning us now it won't happen! Then it goes on to explain they may be in different classes with different teachers. They will be in smaller groups. All this will depend on the staff levels. Also they won't be allowed near other year groups and pick up times will be staggered.

My DD has been fine. I've kept it light. There
are germs. They are being cleaned. Then you can go back to school. I tried to gently explain and talk to her today. I explained she was allowed to maybe go back to school in two weeks. I explained how it might be different. Her eyes welled up. She nodded at Me. I asked her why she looked sad. She burst into tears and asked me if she will ever be in her classroom again and she didn't want to go into year one. I told her I didn't know who she would be with but some of her friends will be there. She carried on crying. I told her she was ok to stay with mummy until September. She wiped her eyes and said I'll stay here I think until the germs are gone.

I'm just sad for her. Isn't it horrible having to try and do the best for your child. One option is to go 5 months without her lovely school routine. The other is to send her to a strict place where she could pick up allsorts if anxieties.

I really don't want her worried,anxious and emotional. I feel like I can't fully protect her from the truth. I think she is starting to realise today what's going on and it's making her sad.

I'm sad for her. All that routine she had built up. Her relationship with her teacher. Her little friends who has started inviting her to parties. She will never be with those kids again in her first class again. Theres 3 classes next year so only 1/3 will be in with her.

I know she will be ok. But tonight Ive sent the form to say I won't be sending her. So therefore it's official. She won't be going back into reception. That first year is over. Whilst it's not the most important educationally it sets the foundations.

To be honest I'm not hopeful that schools will be running normally in September either. It's all a mess. All the money we've wasted on uniforms etc.

I know we are lucky to be home and safe. It's just ridiculous how Boris is reopening the schools! Not good for mental health at all.

September May or may not be different OP. However sad it is (and it is heartbreaking) we have to reach a point as a country where we manage to love alongside this virus. Yes it scary but it's not going to go by September so we must do what we can to return to some normality. The problem with COVID is that we live in a time of constant information and in a country with a media that has nothing to do but try and scare the country half to death.

I'm most concerned about my reception child bringing home potential infection and it being passed on, my partner is older and when we move into social bubbles that would mean continuing not to see the kids grandparents as although no shielding they are a greater risk due to recent cancer treatment. Isn't that more of a concern than the kids learning environment being different?

I don't think we will move to social bubbles and if we do how many will adhere. But that's a whole other thread

Our nursery has created an amazing book which explains the changes in a positive and reassuring way. We’ve been sent it now so we can prepare our dd. I’m not telling her yet though, as I expect we’ll be locked down again by June 1st! It’s a shame something similar hasn’t been prepared for schools.

What about settles? My friend's a teacher and they are talking of offering a day a week settles for reception kids as the distancing might be an issue.

Kids can surprise you. They might seem all fine and suddenly meltdown with change, while others are the opposite and seem shaky but are fine.

At nursery/reception pre covid 1 dc settled without looking back, another not a chance.

I don't know. My kids were back part time this week and while I acknowledge we are in a different position here in Australia I have actually tried to insulate them as much as possible from what is happening. More so my youngest.

When I dropped him at school this week I said "it is going to be different for a bit, just try to roll with it, it will all be OK" and off he skipped. Had a great day, which was different, but still OK.

My DH and I have made the decision about sending the kids back, they don't get a choice. It isn't fair to put that kind of decision on them, it is too much. This is their childhood. They will remember this period as the time we all got to hang out at home a lot and skip school.

They don't need to know the details, the numbers, the pressures, the worry. None of it.

I won’t be sending my child back in June, I have already notified the school of this. I don’t feel confident in this government and their rogue choices/decisions over COVID19 and I’m not happy with the measures being taken in school. I will homeschool until I am.

Totally see why you feel like that. I’m at the other end of school. Y6. My dd’s school isn’t accepting any more pupils. I’m devastated for her and she will be- haven’t told her yet. If I had a choice I’d send her in at least to try and give her the choice if you can.

It's easier for the year 5/6 kids to listen to the rules and follow them. But 4/5/6 year olds are definitely a different kettle of fish.

I agree September might still be a mess. But if it is and they sent handle the numbers now, they won't be able to then either! You've got to find a balance. Ofcourse we need to distance ourselves abit and be more hygienic. But we also need to be realistic about our children's minds. I don't think it's going to destroy them. But I do think it's going to cause OCD and anxiety in some. It's going to make them over cautious. When they have spent months dodging others and items and they go out and are allowed to mix they will be unsure. Even if we say it's ok to play with those kids in the park, or you can touch the toys it's ok now.

One example (sorry to bring the war into it) my Grandma was a 20 something year old on world war 2. At aged 85. She was a skinny frail lady who could barely walk. But she always had full cupboards. She never got over the struggle they had for food. She made sure she had loads bless her.

We do need to be careful. I don't agree with social distancing and removing books in reception. They either spread the virus or the they don't particularly. They have claimed both. Too many researchers are claiming too many different things. You can tell your child in the most gentle way that schools wonderful but it will be different. They will see with their own eyes in June this isnt what it was. They will be aware that half their friends are not there. They will wonder where the stuff has gone they loved. My child was always in the arts and crafts. She will hate not having sand and paint and playdoh.

I have made the right choice for her. I've spoken to 8 others with kids in reception and year 1 at her school. They've all decided not to send them back. That speaks for itself. I think Boris will realise he's expecting to much from the teachers and kids. Keep them home if you can until they can go near people

I honestly don't know how these 4 year olds will understand. They all run to eachother in the mornings. I'm not comfortable with fighting them all to keep them apart at drop off. We usually walk with other families because you end up walking at the same part.

OP my DS1 age 9 was gutted when I told him that he wasn’t in the first group of kids to go back. He desperately wants to go back
ASAP.