School compulsory after Summer

[Orangeblossom78]

Boris Johnson has said it will be compulsory for all children in England to go to school when they reopen after the summer holidays.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-heads-caution-against-fines-for-parents-who-keep-children-at-home-pszxwx2mx

May be a 'period of grace' before fines though.

Instead of threatening parents with fines, why not start of by announcing the plans and safety measures that are to be in place. This would reassure parents and reassure parents that as much of the risk will be minimised as possible. Why only announce fines? This is not the approach Government should be taking to persuade parents and show that children's safety is priority.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Bollockingfuck genuine question, how long for? If Covid never disappears how long should a school hold a place for?

The after Winter ‘Grace period’ as suggested by others seems reasonable.

We expect risk to diminish over time - I just don’t understand the animosity to people like us who need to make that call ourselves. What we do should have no impact on others.

Perhaps people feel that us being cautious is a judgement on their decisions, but it’s not - I fully understand that getting back to school is fine for most and I’m not calling for those parents to be punished for making that choice.

I expect the same in return.

To be fair, although it is insensitive, it is much more straightforward to declare that "normal attendance enforcement will apply" because everyone knows how that will work. The safety measure, I would imagine, are still a work in progress. So it would be wrong to announce provisional measures and then have to say, "oh wait, we've changed our mind" a few weeks down the line. And yes, I'm aware that they have done this in the past, but maybe they are trying to learn from their mistakes

They are probably still writing up the guidance for Secondary schools!

@mrsknottschicken

As long as it is safe to do so, and there is a proper test, track and trace system, then I don't have a problem with this. I think we've a long way to go before that's the case, though.

What’s wrong with it now?

I have very little faith.
Parents will send kids when they have symptoms or when they have symptoms within the family..... it happens all the time with sick bugs! And let's face it most employers are not going to be happy to give more time off.

Then it will be self isolating for all again and again through cold season.

As a teacher, I would be happy to send stuff home for a vulnerable child rather than have a scared child at school whose parents can't afford a fine.

There won't be any social distancing in schools come September if the government get their way. Just hand washing

@HerrenaHarridan I think you misunderstood @havefunpeleton s point. They're saying that staying away from friends, sports etc is not "normal" homeschooling, because of course homeschooled kids do lots of activities outside of the home. They don't think homeschooled kids are "locked up"!

I think it’s worth considering that if you have a child who isn’t shielding but you consider vulnerable that it sounds like you’ll be able to have a chat to the school & potentially get mitigating circumstances. Fines are generally at a schools discretion anyway. Our local school often waves them for children with excellent attendance otherwise.

Genuine question though - if you aren’t shielding or considered vulnerable, why do you feel like your child is more at risk?

My children will go back to school when they are able to (neither have the option at the moment) but I couldn't help but think it was a bit rich to suddenly start threatening parents when parents have had to deal with the children having almost half the academic year away from school (I've loved homeschooling so not moaning but I HATE threats!)

From 1st Aug (on Gov shielding advice page) it says:
children who are clinically extremely vulnerable can return to their education settings if they are eligible and in line with their peers. Where possible children should practise frequent hand washing and social distancing.

So I would think that all children would be expected to be back in school, unless deregistered.

@Knobchops I think the worry comes in because the advice is good hygiene and social distancing but there won't be any social distancing in schools as they're aren't big enough to ensure it

@Grasspigeons

They need to restore the rights of disabled children if they want all children to be able to attend

Completely agree. The government were very quick to relax the duty on LAs to provide SEND support to disabled during lockdown. I trust they will be equally swift at ensuring SEND pupils' provision is restored to ensure they are able to attend in September.

So if my child goes to school, catches covid-19 there, ends up in hospital, ends up in a very very bad way or even worst case, who do I take to court? The Government for making it mandatory for children to attend?

[quote Uhoh2020]@Knobchops I think the worry comes in because the advice is good hygiene and social distancing but there won't be any social distancing in schools as they're aren't big enough to ensure it[/quote]
I suspect the ‘where possible’ will be a get out clause. For the schools that is.

@Char2015

So if my child goes to school, catches covid-19 there, ends up in hospital, ends up in a very very bad way or even worst case, who do I take to court? The Government for making it mandatory for children to attend?

I hope that wouldn't happen. But unless they are literally going nowhere else, how ever would you be able to prove that they caught it in school?

@Char2015

So if my child goes to school, catches covid-19 there, ends up in hospital, ends up in a very very bad way or even worst case, who do I take to court? The Government for making it mandatory for children to attend?

They will argue it’s not mandatory as you can opt to home school. The community transmission is much lower now than when we were all happily at work and school in Feb-Mar. They may of course develop a get out clause for medically vulnerable children to remain off, but I’m not sure how they would be taught, unless perhaps live streaming from classrooms.

@Jourdain11

We haven't been anywhere since March, and if they are going to school that's the only place they will be attending. 30 second walk from flat door to school door, no contact with anyone else, no public transport etc. I could certainly build a very reliable case that they got it at school should my children catch it

@KnobChops

Reassuring that community transmission is lower. What about clinically vulnerable families? There has to be a get out clause for that too.

Whatever the plans are, I expect the SAGE board to publish their evidence backing these plans up should such evidence exist. Obviously, if evidence does not exist, I can see trouble brewing.

@Char2015 attending school is mandatory only providing your child with an education is mandatory. Parents have the option to home school if they wish.

Sorry that should say attending school ISN'T mandatory 🤦‍♀️

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

I can mitigate risk when my children are with me, like avoiding meeting people indoors. Wiping things down with antibac wipes. Getting them to practice good hand hygiene. Not using public transport or toilets where possible. Socially distancing etc.

There are about seven hundred children at my child’s primary school. That’s a lot of traffic at pick up and drop offs. Lots of parents don’t practice social distancing rules. They have staggered pick up and drop off time’s, and implemented a one way system for parents to follow; yet the school have still had to send out multiple reminders to ask parents not to congregate. It will be even worse when all of the years are back.

I’m willing to wait and see how it goes, and I hope it goes well but I’m not overly optimistic.

I hope then that they are going to start fining local authorities who don't provide provision for children with sen to attend school. It's not happened in the past I am not holding my breath.

And yes change the law back to providing full provision on EHCPs because otherwise this group will not be entitled to a full education which would be discrimatory.

I will be hopefully sending mine back in September but I will wait and see... anything can happen in 2 months with international travel starting, bars and restaurants opening etc. None of us have a crystal ball.

I note it didn't state full time. I do hope secondary kids return with full timetables which can only be done with if bubbles and distancing is scrapped for them.
DS will have been off for 6 months by then, it can't continue, I think we need to prioritise returning to secondary school way above pubs, holidays and shopping.

Oak Academy are being funded to create a year's worth of online lessons. I expect these will be the home learning for any students isolating or choosing not to attend. It is impractical to expect teachers to teach live and set online work. Ime setting the online stuff is a full time job once you have done feedback etc.

A period of grace re fines would allow for students to be off long term without derrgistering. However schools won't be keen to have long term absence on their record as currently ofsted monitor this. It would also raise questions about funding if pupils aren't actually in the school, although if they are on roll then they should count.