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?

I do know what everyone means but my daughter is getting more and more depressed and some days refusing to get out of bed. They’re so hormonal at the moment and I just think some stability at school would be helpful. She gets so much work from school and it would really benefit her to be able to do it at school.

When I read these threads I am amazed that I have survived the ups and downs of life really. I am in my fifties - it's a long time ago but I think we had one visit to the secondary school and we just got on with it.

They don't need to go to school to practice getting up early and packing their bags . If parents are that worried just do it anyway, you know take the lead.

As I've said great opportunity for children to learn some resilience and how to just get on with it.

@bigchris do you really think they'll be playing sport and socialising?? I think you need to rethink that one.

Yes I do in bubbles of 15

You know you can go to the park and play tennis now don't you ?

God there's so many miseries in this thread yes you can do it all summer long too but why not start now walking to and from school, it's healthy to get up early and in a routine

Socialising , as in eating your lunch 2 metres away from your friend on the school field sounds great, it's what you can do in the work when ever you like

Park not work , but also at work

You can play tennis with one other person, not touching the same equipment. How many tennis courts do you think the average school has? You can't play rounders unless you have 15 bats and the same person catches the ball who bowled it. Madness but true. We've had PE/games guidance from school already, basically there won't be any.

Look it’s hard for everyone and there’s no way around that. I have a Year 1 struggling at home but I won’t be sending him back yet as his younger brother is clinically vulnerable. I’m also a teacher, so we can’t risk any additional exposure. Hopefully in September the level of new cases per day will be a lot lower and it will feel safer.

It’s hard for children and families everywhere. Schools are trying their best but it’s impossible to make a decision that doesn’t disadvantage some children and some year groups. It’s just the way it is. In the long term we will all be fine, even if it feels rubbish now.

If you contact the school I’m sure they could arrange a phone call with her teacher (once half term is over). That might help in the short term.

It's obviously different in different areas, they're will be games and fitness going on no doubt about it in many primary schools

But why are they in most need? All they do is play!!

As someone who works in KS1, I find this attitude really offensive! You’re not alone in thinking though OP.

We do not just play in reception and Y1, we create the basis for their entire education by teaching them to read. Amongst other things. If they don’t learn to read, the rest of the school years aren’t accessible to them, so it’s quite important really! There are children that are going to be severely disadvantaged by the amount of time they have lost in those important years if their parents haven’t been able to support their learning at home. Educationally, the early years are way more important than year 6. Y6 is important in our system of that being the last year at primary, but if Y6 children miss out then they’re only missing out on things that are nice to have, not essentials.

Sorry I know it’s hard for everyone and I am being selfish. I’ve had a really TBI and due to that I’ve got epilepsy. My seizures are normally caused by stress and I just can’t cope!

Our school are doing y6 first and have said they don't know when YR or Y1 can come back at all.

I think y6 is really important for the last 6 weeks for the transition and getting ready to move up

What transition preparation do you mean?

Perhaps then we can help you replicate it somehow. And tbh many schools do next to nothing and it makes no difference whatsoever er once at secondary.

Some DC will be finding known tough. They could be in any year group, which would make it very complicated to have partial reopening for every year group, and then targeting the right DC to prioritise for return.

So perhaps your focus couid shift from the school to how else your DD can be supported. Is her anxiety such that you need to speak to a GP? Or contact a relevant charity helpline?

Is she getting out for exercise? Does she have a friend you can trust to exercise with her at a suitable distance? Or just hang out with?

Y6 are the year that least need to go back! There is nothing for them to do. Transition work is for parents to sort out, not schools. I had no transition day for secondary school- we just turned up on the first day and got on with it.

OP- it sounds as though your child needs external help and support, that's not linked to her year group. Speak to her school or your gp, and access your local services for child mental health support.
It sounds as though only your husband is working atm, so supervise your son and keep him out of her hair.

Those people mentioning that year 6 should be allowed some input from secondary schools eg visits are deluded. Secondary schools are having to work out how to accommodate their year 10 and 12s. The secondary school I work at has around 10 feeder primary schools. There is no way their year 6 pupils could be added to the mix. Unfortunately it's just not going to happen.

We have a three tier system. DD is year 8 which is the last year of middle school and will be moving up to upper school in September.

There is no provision at all for Y8 to go back but her school have been told Y6 must go back to keep in line with the rest of the country.

In my opinion that makes all argument about going back to prepare for secondary null and void if the same option isn’t being given to years 4 and 8 in the three tier system.

I think it’s the least important year to go back.

I think years 10 and 12, with year 9 a close third.

In terms of my own children, I think my y7 needs to go back to school for his own mental well-being much more than my y9.

If it helps all the people disagreeing with me I think it would be much more helpful for my son who is in y3 to go back first. He has just started ks2 and getting more structure and he just seems to be spiralling backwards.

It is what it is OP.

What about the year 10’s or year 12’s with important exams next year OP? Or the year 11’s lost and missing out on having the chance to sit their GCSE’s, have their prom and say goodbye to their friends and teachers. Most will move onto 6th form but some kids won’t be. Some teens are also really struggling with MH issues.

Are these kids of any interest to you. They could work independently but really miss their friends and on face to face learning. No because you have a vested interest on purely focusing on your precious DC above everyone else.

I should have added that I also have a year 10 who is panicking about next years GCSE’s. Y10 and Y12 should absolutely be the first back.

But the order in which they are going back clearly isn’t based on their education.

@bigchris

"God there's so many miseries in this thread yes you can do it all summer long too but why not start now walking to and from school, it's healthy to get up early and in a routine "

So do it. As a parent. You don't need school to be open to keep your kids in a routine

And there's no chance that schools are going to be getting sports equipment out. Their guidelines are to maintain as much social distance as possible even within their bubbles. Year 6 children should be able to grasp the concept.

Ha I said earlier I've got teenagers, I'd love for them able to go back to school

Well a group aerobics class on the field with a few peers will be more fun than Joe wicks in their lounge won't it

Summer term is athletics season- not too much equipment needed for most disciplines. No relay or javelin, obviously, maybe not long jump either.
Aerobics is a great idea. Fartlek or circuit training too.
Lots can be done without equipment.

Schools are being encouraged to do as much outside as possible, but within the class bubbles and with social distancing. Rounders is highly unlikely to be on the list as it involves sharing equipment, but I am sure teachers will be factoring in other fun games that the children can play.