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Anyone not sending their Reception or year 1 child back to school yet?

36 replies

33goingon64 · 05/06/2020 21:14

I couldn't see an existing thread on this so apologies if I'm repeating. We decided not to send our 4 year old back this week so we're still home schooling him along with his 9 year old brother.

Various reasons, including my belief the lockdown is being eased too quickly and in a confusing way that will no doubt lead to a second wave (IMO); the absence of any argument that such young children should be the first group back; and the fact that he would find it weird being there without his brother and they've been playing really well together at home.

It's impossible to socially distance such young kids - the bubble system only goes so far. What about the adults dropping off/picking up who will tempted to socialise at an unsafe distance? What about families where GPs do school run (they may not have had any physical contact with the DGC during Coronavirus but are now obliged to put themselves at risk)? Why aren't older kids going back first, as they're better able to understand the whole thing and will be affected worse by missing school?

So, I'm asking if anyone else is keeping their DC off for these or other reasons, and what you think will change your minds? Not looking for a pile on of people who disagree with me about what I've written above (I know plenty do from other threads) - just looking to hear from anyone not sending kids back and asking why. Thanks.

OP posts:
FourTeaFallOut · 06/06/2020 15:13

No, I'm shielding so although I have a y1 and y6 who were invited to return it wasn't an option. We live in an area which has seen high levels of infection and where the r0 is among the highest in the country, so too risky right now.

CazM2012 · 06/06/2020 15:17

I have one in reception and one in Y1, haven’t sent either in, I don’t really fear them Catching COVID but the logistics Are hard as they have different drop off and collection times, different days, one Monday & Tuesday, one on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. I also have a nursery and Y3 who won’t be allowed back anytime soon, so the unfairness or watching their siblings go in wouldn’t be fair, also having to walk rather than the bus wouldn’t be fun as my youngest has some additional needs.
I’m glad to be honest those who have returned spent this week colouring, washing hands and being told to stay away from each other. Our school have said they won’t be doing the curriculum, some catch up work (if possible).

bananaskinsnomnom · 06/06/2020 15:20

I’m not a parent to the perspective isn’t the same but I work in a reception class - the first week back has been very successful for us. Our advantage is as an independent, my class is only 15 anyway so thankfully no splitting, they can all do full time as a class. The rest however could apply anywhere - varying of course of class room and building size and lay out.

All our children have their own labelled desk and chair. We have kept the table together to make big tables and their working areas are diagonal across to maintain distance. They really love having their own stationery pot and not having to share it - saves arguments!

Our school have done well with the bubbles - we were all given a map showing what route we must take to the playground or field to avoid collision. Obviously we don’t have enough corridors for everyone to have their own but the timetable and maps have been carefully to minimise bumping into another bubble. Each play bubble across the field and playground has a wide pathway between so the classes tend to wave across - they have been brilliant at sticking to the rules and staying in their lines.

Outdoor toys have been divided up so every class has their own box.

Arrival is staggered between half 8 and half 9 and they don’t line up in the playground anymore, they go straight to the classroom door. Pick up is also spread from 3 - 3:30.

You are absolutely correct though that social distancing within the bubble hasn’t happened. They’ve got used to only using their own table and chair. But they can’t not share. When they play, they want to play together and they just can’t distance. Nor am I going to let a child who has hurt them self soothe themselves. If a child wants cuddle because they are sad or hurt I’m not going to leave them crying. I don’t know if parents would say this is right or wrong but I don’t think anyone would want their child sat in the corner crying with a teacher two meters back trying to calm them down. We have gloves and aprons to deal with accidents as we would anyway. Our school is on it with cleaning though - we’ve all been given a box of cleaning supplies and tables and constantly being wiped down. We have a “cleaning table” where toys and resources are put once someone has finished with them and we blitz them with cleaning spray . Of course it doesn’t happen always, one child will have duplo and 3 more will come over but we are staying on top of it as much as we can. Hand washing is now a significant portion of time for the day and we have rhymes and things for when we need to do so. We are doing the best we can and thankfully the children have been really happy, I have 90% of my class back. Two staff per bubble and this doesn’t change.

I think there are many valid reasons on both sides of the argument for schools returning. OP if you’re undecided I would contact your school and find out what measures are in place and how it’s going to be implemented. Ours sent photos of the bubbles and lay outs and we made a booklet for the children with pictures of our classrooms etc. I’m proud of my school during this. I realise the class size was an advantage but our classrooms are not big, nor are our corridors or our toilet facilities (reception share a small toilet room with 3 toilets in, Pre- Reception are also back and likewise have to share toilet facilities, we can’t use the EYFS outdoor area because accessing it means cutting through another classroom due to layout so none of us can use it) the bubbles are being enforced strictly. I’ve had to spend a fortune stocking up on hand sanitiser because we haven’t been given that and I’m getting through it like crazy now we are back.

OP you have to make a choice based on what’s best and what works for your family. None of us know for sure how this will pan out.

I personally think the government will want everyone back at school by September. Not what I think is right or wrong btw, just what I think the government will do.

TiredMummyXYZ · 06/06/2020 15:21

I’m a teacher and my year 1 child isn’t going back until a September. His school isn’t opening until the 15th anyway and year 1 are only going in for one day a week. Plus they will only be covering the same materials as offered through home learning so it doesn’t seem worth the extra infection risk. Schools will do everything they can to make it as safe as it can be but there is a limit to what they can do when our country is one of the worst affected countries in the world.

boymum9 · 06/06/2020 15:24

I was planning on keeping ds (reception) at home, but since his school has come out with their plan I'm reconsidering it, they won't return until the 18th, one 4 days at week, one week on one week off. This would mean ultimately only 8-10 days at school before the summer holidays, their plan seems ok to me so I'll think about it, I think he'll benefit from seeing his teacher that he loves so much and being around some friends

WhenSheWasBad · 06/06/2020 15:35

It’s not an option where I live. Council has (sensibly) decided the R rate is too high here.

Schools are still only open for key worker kids.

33goingon64 · 06/06/2020 15:57

Thanks for your detailed reply, bananaskins. I do know what our school is doing and they have sent photos too. I think schools are doing the best they can.

OP posts:
Fluffyglitterystuff · 06/06/2020 16:00

Op a lot of your questions are completely irrelevant because this is what is happening. It doesn't matter whether you think it's fair that R and year 1 go back first, because it's already happening.

You're perfectly entitled to keep your child off school if that's what you've decided. But a lot of what you are saying is incorrect.

Personally I don't understand the people who say that they won't send their dc back because they'd rather visit relatives. I hope that those dc don't resent the fact that their parents deprived them of their education so that they could visit family.

pfrench · 06/06/2020 16:37

About 60% of kids are back I reckon.

33goingon64 · 06/06/2020 17:37

Fluffy, I know it's happening and thankfully we are being given a choice about whether to join in or opt out. I've read with interest the threads about going back vs not going back and it wasn't my intention to start another one here. I asked for thoughts from those choosing to opt out, to hear their reasons and whether they are the same as mine, or different.

OP posts:
BunsyGirl · 06/06/2020 18:30

My year 5 (private school) is going back on Wednesday. The school is already open for nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6. We’ve been told that 75% of those years are already back. All the parents that have sent their DC’s back and who I have spoken to have said that their children are really happy. I literally cannot wait for the school run next week. Hope my year 2 can go back soon.

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