AIBU to think Y6 should go back first?

[desperateneedschooltoreopen]

On Friday 15th May when Bojo decided that yR, y1 and y6 were going to be going back to school first I thought it was a strange decision for the younger ones to be going back but relieved that my DD who is in y6 would be returning to school for her last few weeks in her primary school with her friends. On Friday last week we got an email from the headteacher that yR were going back to school first on 1st June and then after that y1 will go back when they’ve decided it’s right and then after that y6. Yesterday we got another email saying that due to the amount of extra key worker children and the yRs there may not be enough space for y6 children to go back AT ALL!! I realise this is a hard time for everyone and we've all been thrown into a situation we've never had before but surely better decisions should be made? Y6 children will be the best ones to understand about social distancing and talking to friends from two metres, and also be able to do everything for themselves. My emotional 11 year old daughter is such a hormonal wreck and is not coping being at home 24/7 with me, my husband who is working from home 8-5 everyday, and our 8 year old son whose coping mechanism seems to be just winding her up. She's already so unhappy she's missing her week long school trip in July, the y6 production and their Y6 disco.Surely the oldest children should go back first?

The government guidance ( although they’ve changed it so many times it may not say this!) is to prioritise youngest children first. So the school is most likely following this.

The official reason is that the youngest children are in the most need of being in an educational setting ( for social and educational reasons)

Many millions of children are feeling the same as your daughter and have reasons just as good as yours.
It's not top trumps on who goes back

Schools can't magic a solution, they are doing their best

Children under 9 are the age group least at risk from corona, and also at higher long term developmental risk from neglect (as well more serious abuse) Vs year 6. Yes, theoretically vulnerable kids can go back but families have been understandably reluctant to either take the risk or face neighbours who, based on posts here will be relentlessly judgy about sending DCs unless both parents are ICU doctors, or alternatively judgy about why they are vulnerable. YR and Y1 children are also not able to truly follow online learning, nor can parents work from home to any meaningful level with them home, or trust them to travel to and from school unaccompanied.

I have 4dcs, none of whom will be going back before September, so am not personally involved here - but seriously, don't think that mn should be so surprised and horrified by the (crappy) Dominic Cummings issue, when every second coronavirus post is about why someone or their child needs better treatment than others, it's exactly the same mentality...

Seems all schools are slightly different, our headteacher said from the start that they were unable to accommodate nursery rec y1 and y6 straight away (along with the key worker and vulnerable) instead they are opening first for reception then week after y6 will attend possibility of more years by end June

Op have you tried letting your dd go for a walk / bike ride with one sensible friend? This has made my year sixer so much happier

I'm torn. I have a Y6. He wants to go back, so we have said yes.
But, what are they going to do? The primary curriculum is finished, and all the stuff they were anticipating cant happen - plays, leavers assemblies, residential. They wont be with all their friends, and maybe not in their old classroom , or with their old teacher. Secondary visits are cancelled.
I actually think my Y4 would get more from school right now, but cant see him going back before Y5.

Our reception class goes back 9th June but not my ds as he has asthma.. Year 6 is 22nd June!! 3 weeks to prepare for secondary school... Madness.

I think y5 should be prioritized over y6 for educational purposes. Once SATS are done, y6 have lots of fun stuff to do like plays, DT days, school trips, transition days at new schools... which all can't happen this year

Our school have prioritised year 6. They're going back first, followed by year 1 if it works with year 6.
We've been told it's highly unlikely that reception will go back before September. They just don't have the room.

^The government guidance ( although they’ve changed it so many times it may not say this!) is to prioritise youngest children first. So the school is most likely following this.

The official reason is that the youngest children are in the most need of being in an educational setting ( for social and educational reasons)^

But why are they in most need? All they do is play!! I don't know how they will do that two metres apart.

@PickUpAPickUpAPenguin I also thought y5 would have been a priority given they have SATs next year

I am sure that for whatever complicated reasons headteachers across the land are making what they, very well informed, think the best option for their particular school at the best time. Much rather trust the headteachers and their staff about our children's safety and education than the government.

My daughter was really sad that SATs was cancelled as she has worked so hard for them and now there was no use. I think y6 is really important for the last 6 weeks for the transition and getting ready to move up.

Op have you tried letting your dd go for a walk / bike ride with one sensible friend? This has made my year sixer so much happier

Thank you I think that's a really good idea. I'll talk to some of her friend's mums to see if we organise something.

Our school has gone the other way, only space for year 6, possibly year 1 in a few weeks but it looks unlikely reception will be back before September.
The other side of the debate is that the younger age group are like sponges, so most likely to get the maximum benefit from the short amount of time available before the summer.

If I'm feeling generous, I'd say the youngest children are being prioritised because early intervention is important for children who are living in homes that are cramped, chaotic and have limited capacity to meet emotional needs. More likely though is that it's a move to get parents of younger children back to work.

I think Y6 were identified as a useful cohort to return not for any transition (otherwise England's transition years would be returning i e. Y2/8 in some areas) but because there's limited research on transmission between children over the age of 10. What better way to test it out than to pretend it's about transition to secondary school?!

As secondary schools are only going to be having Y10 and Y12 back, and only 25% maximum at a time, why not ask your primary headteacher to advocate for the Y6s to spend some time in their allocated secondaries instead? That's what some of the schools round here are looking at. Those transferring from the same primary are hopefully going to be visiting on the same days but in any case, they'll not be returning to primary yet so will be in 'bubbles' at their secondaries.

Everyone has valid reasons as to why they think their children should be in the age groups to go back first. there was a thread on here not long ago about how Y2 should go back, ive also seen arguments that say y5 should be able to go back sooner. But unfortunately they aren’t able to please everyone. The guidelines as to why the young children should be prioritised seem pretty clear.

Surely the only reason for year 6 going back is for a transition half day or day, that is all. This is a good opportunity for children to understand that sometimes life doesn't work out how you wanted and you just feel the pain, manage it and pick yourself up.

The most important years currently are years 10 and 12, you know the children who have really important exams next year.....

Imo here is no point in year 6 going back. They have finished all of their work now, Sats have been cancelled, their end of year parties/discos won’t be going ahead and I expect they won’t be able to have transition days to their secondary schools. All they’ll be going back for is to say goodbye to some friends who won’t be joining them at their chosen secondary school. Whilst I realise it would be sad for them if they couldn’t do this, it isn’t essential.

Surely the reason is so they can socialise, play sport, build confidence before starting year 7 which is stressful enough

If mine were year 6 they'd be goimg back no question even if it was a few days

Sadly mine are 13 and 16, the forgotten years

But with the transition day visits and activities are not happening there is no reason to prioritise year 6

All they’ll be going back for is to say goodbye to some friends

I don't agree at all

In the summer term my 2 started walking home from school alone to prepare them for seco day school - they can still do this

They can get into the routine of getting up, packing their school bag again

Playing rounders and tennis like most did in the last term

Personally I don't think that year 6 is a priority. IMO what they normally do in the last half term after SATs is watch videos, practise for the year 6 play (cancelled) and go on their residential trip (cancelled). I honestly don't think that much preparation for secondary goes on in most schools!

"3 weeks to prepare for secondary school... Madness"

Is it? What do they really need to do?

Our school are taking year 6 only and only for 3 weeks. It seems enough to me

"In the summer term my 2 started walking home from school alone to prepare them for seco day school - they can still do this

They can get into the routine of getting up, packing their school bag again"

Surely they can practise all of this without school being open?