Ds's high school have confirmed her class won't be in until September at the earliest. I'm feeling a little panicky and tearful.

[SistemaAddict]

I've done 9 weeks now of shielding/self isolation. I'm exhausted and feel like there's no end in sight and the news hit me hard today.

I've been doing really well, the dc have been doing great, but this seems to have zapped us. The thought of 3.5 months more of no school is going to take some getting used to. It was pretty obvious they wouldn't be going back before September but being told that's the definite case really made it real to me. And the HT said "at the earliest" so not even definitely September. It's all a bit much today.

Is anyone else feeling the same?

I thing shielding could last much longer anyway.

Ive got asthma and its crap not knowing what it will look like by then.

I wouldn't mind so much if I was assured they would get proper online school instead but the lack of any teaching is really getting my 9 year old down

We've been told the same, to have it in black and white has shaken me, school seem to expect only 7,11amd 13 back in September, I'm heartbroken

I know what you mean. I think before I just assumed it would all be sorted out by June at the latest we would have a lovely holiday and then DD would go back to secondary school in September. Somehow back in March it seemed that September was a very long way off.

They are reviewing their online teaching now that it's not just short term. I'd like to see virtual/video lessons like I've read about on here. Dd just gets set work, completes it and submits it. The teachers are great at keeping in touch and are there to help and provide feedback. I've got no complaints there at all but dd needs a more class like teaching experience now.

Dd2 is due to start year 7 in September. It's her I feel for most.

The shielding is shit as I don't cope well with the unknown and it feels so endless. I'm anti-social and autistic but I miss our family seaside trips and days out in the hills or to our favourite cities. I need something to look forward to and I haven't got that except for saying we'll go to our favourite seaside town when we can. By this time our summer plans have usually begun with a weekend away somewhere. We don't have a big summer holiday, just days out and cheap and cheerful Travelodge breaks.

I shouldn't complain though. Others have lost so much more.

This situation applies to us too and I'm also dismayed, OP.

Are you working from home? I ask as if not, could you get in the frame of mind that you're choosing to homeschool her? Plan lessons yourself etc. Obviously this isn't possible if you're working as its time consuming!

I’m devastated about my dds school. They are choosing not to open to more children. She is Y6. I haven’t told her yet. She now faces damage to her social skills and no ehcp work, not seeing or saying goodbye to her friends, school do online chats but her friends haven’t been on them, no transition work or support and a really challenging start to secondary when she won’t have mixed with other children for 6 months. I’ve now got to try to pick myself up and teach her for another half term (they aren’t doing online lessons)
Devastated isn’t an exaggeration.

Message from dc school was not to expect normal schooling even in sept because they can’t socially distance without going part time and cutting just about anything fun. Also as the pupils have to take crowded
Public transport to get there no one knows how that will work.

I really feel for these high school kids. It looks like mine and DH's furlough is about to end so that leaves the kids at home alone for two months. I feel awful for them.

@Alakazam8 guidance makes provision for children with an EHCP to attend school except in certain circumstance. Broadly the exceptions are if the child is safer at home or living with a shielding individual. Safety is examined through an assessment.

If this hasn’t been mentioned by your school you could raise it with them.

Full guidance here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people

I thing shielding could last much longer anyway.

Latest advice for the shielding group is to shield until 30th June unless otherwise advised.

Thanks @Solarcat
School have reinterpreted this to mean that children can go in if they are ‘at risk’ at home. Not sure what this level is but dd not included.

@MsChatterbox I'm not working outside of gone but I'm doing a TA course with back to back assignments. It doesnt take up much of my time in the great scheme of things but is difficult as by the time I'm free to do any work I'm exhausted and it's 9pm at least. I'm managing to do the work though, I just find it stressful to find the time. I will definitely try to rethink this as homeschooling being my job now. It's mainly the youngest who needs my input, the other two just need telling to get the set work done. They know I'm there to help if they need help with anything.

After reading the replies and having some sleep, baking and cooking new recipes, I felt a lot better. I've decided to incorporate 3 activities (so far) into each week. On one day a week, probably the day the shopping arrives, we will all try out a new dinner recipe and everyone will be involved in the preparation, cooking, eating, and clearing up. We will take it in turns to choose something to try. Secondly, we will try a new cookie/pudding/dessert recipe each week and again take it in turns to choose something we fancy trying. Thirdly, movie night on a Saturday night with popcorn, fizzy drinks, and sweets. We used to do this regularly pre-lockdown but had got out of the habit. So I need to make sure I'm organised with getting the ingredients in that we will need along with the weekend treats. They all love baking in particular, and the older two dc are interested in cooking so I think it's the perfect time to make the most of that and teach them these important skills.

I am also going to set up a relaxed timetable for school work and plan more what dc2 and 3 will do. Dc1 has her work set each day by school. The younger two have weekly work set so there's less pressure but there's not much of it at all really. I'll step up and get more involved. A better routine will do us all good and will give me more purpose. All they've work is done by 3 at the latest usually anyway so then it's free time. We've got one week left before the half term holidays so I'll see how my new plan works.

I feel so much better now I have a plan and have been able to talk on here. I just got overwhelmed. Thank you for helping and solidarity to all of you who are also struggling

Which area are you in OP?
How on earth can schools predict what will be happening in September? Announcing this is ridiculous nothing has been announced yet by the government.

That sounds like a great plan. I’m a teacher and we knew the school closures were coming near the time but it still made me feel like I’d been punched in the stomach when they announced it.

You’ll have good and bad days I’m sure but for what it’s worth it sounds like your children are lucky to have such a caring lovely mum.

North west. Dd1 will be going into year 9 and is therefore not a priority year. The high school plans seem to revolve around gcse years which is understandable. There's no way of social distancing in a school of 1500 with stairwells and corridors of less than 2m wide. Lunch is a nightmare of big queues and a rush to get served normally. It seems impossible to me to fully open unless advances are made in prevention or treatment or covid-19 by some miracle fucks off from the planet. I don't envy the teachers at all trying to figure it all out.

It was advised that children dont go in june anyway if youre n the sheilding catgory

I've just realised my title says ds but it should have been dd. Bloody autocorrect.

Yes, I wouldn't have been sending my YR and Y6 in anyway in June but the realisation that there's now 3.5 months of this is taking its toll. I'd originally held on to the thought of a trip to the seaside for my birthday but I'll still be shielded then even if anything is open. I'll just do it whenever it's safe to do so instead.

I totally understand @Bercows. I have 2 DDS, Y7 & Y9. I'm also devastated, the Y 9 has already started GCSE content, but obviously Y10 take priority

I'm also NW

Where are you where you refer to 'high schools', OP?

And all those respondents who claim to be 'devastated' that their DC might not be able to go to 'high school' in June?

I smell several massive rats on this thread.

I don't know anyone who seriously thought it was a dead cert their child would be going to school in June.

And zero people who are 'devastated' that they might not be.

I bloody hope they don't go back in June or thr second wave on the UK will be huge.

They are called High Schools on Scotland 🙄

@effingterrified
Lots of parts of the UK have High Schools. It’s not remarkable!