Is anyone thinking of keeping kids off school in Aug/Sep?

[user8558]

I know a lot can change before then.

And I know lots of kids are desperate to go back and parents desperate for them to go back.

But is anyone considering at this stage keeping them home a little longer?

You can’t do proper home schooling for primary when the parents are both at home working full time. Many children will be going back to school in September as their parents are required to be back in their workplace rather than working from home.

"12:52Jrobhatch29

I still dont understand people saying I will keep them off until I think it is safe. It is not how schools work. If the government say it is compulsary then they have to go if you want to keep their place."

That's not always the case. In Wales there are no fines, but in England, if you keep your child off for a while, they dont just automatically lose their place. It's not that quick. The schools have to try and work with you to keep a child in school. That process takes a long time, because Councils cant be seen to be writing children off.

"It wont be like when they pop off to spain for 2 weeks and get a fine. They will not just keep fining you until you decide you are sending them back. When will that be?"

It might only be a few weeks or a month.

"You will lose your place."

It doesnt work like that.

" Schools aren't drop in centres and many schools have waiting lists, especially gor reception and y7 if other families did not get their first choice school. Ultimately if it goes on for longer than a month or so there is unlikely to be a place to go back to."

It might not be longer than a month. I've known kids to be off a whole school year, they've still kept their place. I think you need to stop thinking when parents say they might not send them back, that they mean long term. For me, it's a wait and see. I wouldnt intend on it being long term. Long term is a whole new consideration.

I have deregistered my daughter and will be home schooling from September. However this isn’t because we’re afraid of the virus. It’s because she was already miserable at school and having her at home during lockdown has improved her mental health so much it seems daft to send her back at this point.

@NotShiny

"12:52Jrobhatch29

I still dont understand people saying I will keep them off until I think it is safe. It is not how schools work. If the government say it is compulsary then they have to go if you want to keep their place."

That's not always the case. In Wales there are no fines, but in England, if you keep your child off for a while, they dont just automatically lose their place. It's not that quick. The schools have to try and work with you to keep a child in school. That process takes a long time, because Councils cant be seen to be writing children off.

"It wont be like when they pop off to spain for 2 weeks and get a fine. They will not just keep fining you until you decide you are sending them back. When will that be?"

It might only be a few weeks or a month.

"You will lose your place."

It doesnt work like that.

" Schools aren't drop in centres and many schools have waiting lists, especially gor reception and y7 if other families did not get their first choice school. Ultimately if it goes on for longer than a month or so there is unlikely to be a place to go back to."

It might not be longer than a month. I've known kids to be off a whole school year, they've still kept their place. I think you need to stop thinking when parents say they might not send them back, that they mean long term. For me, it's a wait and see. I wouldnt intend on it being long term. Long term is a whole new consideration.

So what if the situation hasn't improved by xmas? 10 months out of school. You can't just expect to just drop them back off whenever you feel like it. I can understand if there is medical reasons but not for anxious parents. That is why it has been made compulsory. I am not exactly thrilled about my 2 kids going back but it is the best place for them and they are at such low risk. My son is going into reception and I know loads of people who wanted a place but didnt get one. There is no way the school would just accept me saying ah well it could be a few weeks, could be a few months but I will let you know!

@Jrobhatch29

I still dont understand people saying I will keep them off until I think it is safe. It is not how schools work. If the government say it is compulsary then they have to go if you want to keep their place. It wont be like when they pop off to spain for 2 weeks and get a fine. They will not just keep fining you until you decide you are sending them back. When will that be? You will lose your place. Schools aren't drop in centres and many schools have waiting lists, especially gor reception and y7 if other families did not get their first choice school. Ultimately if it goes on for longer than a month or so there is unlikely to be a place to go back to.

I'm interested in this because I think there is a process to go through before a place can be withdrawn?

Also for those who are happy with their choice to return, it is no skin off their nose if someone else is away for a few weeks.

As parents we should all be together in wanting parental choice. The Welsh approach is correct imo.

"So what if the situation hasn't improved by xmas? "

Then I'd make a decision what to do then. I suspect if there is a second wave, it will be over the colder winter months, and school might be shut again anyway.

"10 months out of school."
No, from April to mid July is 3.5 months, then September to Xmas is 4, total is 7.5, not 10. I dont know why people include Summer in this when there is no school?

"You can't just expect to just drop them back off whenever you feel like it"

Well, actually I can, because that's the way it is at the moment. The Welsh Government is acknowledging its worrying times and giving parents some choice. Only 50 per cent of parents have sent kids to the catch up sessions. They also recognise that there is risk and are looking to do all they can to alleviate that risk.

"I can understand if there is medical reasons but not for anxious parents. That is why it has been made compulsory. I am not exactly thrilled about my 2 kids going back but it is the best place for them and they are at such low risk. My son is going into reception and I know loads of people who wanted a place but didnt get one. "

So you are in a slightly different position to me. My kids are High school, where there is often 3 to a desk and if they do the same as England, that's a bubble of 150 odd kids and multiple teachers. They wont lose their space if I keep them off a bit longer.

"There is no way the school would just accept me saying ah well it could be a few weeks, could be a few months but I will let you know!"

Well some schools will have to accept that because several parents on this thread alone have said if that's what they decide to do, they will just accept the fine. Schools cant just kick kids out because they are off for a few weeks or a bit longer, there is a massive process of negotiations when absences become long term. Some parents may want to see what the conditions are like first, and some may decide to homeschool.

Hell no, dd due to go back 12th August and she can't wait. She misses her friends and routine. Obviously things can change in the next 4 weeks but can't be doing this indefinitely.

@SueEllenMishke

I find homeschooling hard with a young baby too but gosh it’s not that bad especially for primary! It’s not like they’re doing a PhD.

I think you are completely missing the point here. It's not that the work is hard it's trying to fit it in while working full time. That is the challenging aspect.
Plus for a lot of children school is their safe place - home isn't always a sanctuary.

Well this proves succinctly that each child is an individual. Not all children are deemed at risk, you cannot expect parents of perfectly functioning and lived children to be obliged to send them into the very real risks of a pandemic just because safeguarding happens to be an issue elsewhere? That's insane. If anything, lockdown has proved to ya all how intrinsically reliant social services have become upon schools . This really needs to chsnge. What suits one family set-up many be wrong for another. Parents should surely be free to make their own informed decisions at the time?

Not all children are deemed at risk, you cannot expect parents of perfectly functioning and lived children to be obliged to send them into the very real risks of a pandemic just because safeguarding happens to be an issue elsewhere? That's insane.

Where did I say ALL children? and where did I say ALL children had to return??
Of course it's an individual decision but it is helpful if people can understand that months at home and away from school isn't sunshine and rainbows for everyone.

Yes I’m considering it and so are a few other mums at the school.

I have family in New Zealand who have been watching from afar and are fucking horrified that our kids are being sent back when our numbers are still so high and we’ve literally just lost 45k people and still rising (yes our numbers are lower than some other countries but in the general scheme unfortunately they’re still well up there).

People aren’t acting normal here at all it’s a joke they’ve been totally desensitised to the reality of this thing.

The numbers are down right now because we are all outside and people are getting lower doses so not bothering to get tested. In enclosed spaces like the packing farm in Herefordshire it’s spreading like wildfire. As soon as Autumn hits we are fucked again and that no doubt when the second wave will come, it’s basic common sense and science.

It’s the standard British outlook, nothing can affect them and they’re too good to wear masks or any of that nonsense.

How does it work with school material if a parent decides they are not comfortable in sending their DC’s back in September? The children aren’t ill and the teachers will all be back full time with their classes

@NotShiny

"So what if the situation hasn't improved by xmas? "

Then I'd make a decision what to do then. I suspect if there is a second wave, it will be over the colder winter months, and school might be shut again anyway.

"10 months out of school."
No, from April to mid July is 3.5 months, then September to Xmas is 4, total is 7.5, not 10. I dont know why people include Summer in this when there is no school?

"You can't just expect to just drop them back off whenever you feel like it"

Well, actually I can, because that's the way it is at the moment. The Welsh Government is acknowledging its worrying times and giving parents some choice. Only 50 per cent of parents have sent kids to the catch up sessions. They also recognise that there is risk and are looking to do all they can to alleviate that risk.

"I can understand if there is medical reasons but not for anxious parents. That is why it has been made compulsory. I am not exactly thrilled about my 2 kids going back but it is the best place for them and they are at such low risk. My son is going into reception and I know loads of people who wanted a place but didnt get one. "

So you are in a slightly different position to me. My kids are High school, where there is often 3 to a desk and if they do the same as England, that's a bubble of 150 odd kids and multiple teachers. They wont lose their space if I keep them off a bit longer.

"There is no way the school would just accept me saying ah well it could be a few weeks, could be a few months but I will let you know!"

Well some schools will have to accept that because several parents on this thread alone have said if that's what they decide to do, they will just accept the fine. Schools cant just kick kids out because they are off for a few weeks or a bit longer, there is a massive process of negotiations when absences become long term. Some parents may want to see what the conditions are like first, and some may decide to homeschool.

So when will you decide? Because schools close at the end of this week? Or are you juat going to ring up on day 1 in september and say we have decided not to bother! Does nobody in your house go out to work? Will you stop them seeing all family and friends? Because unless you are all sitting in the house indefinitely you can't eliminate the risk anyway. Children are the lowest risk group by a mile. I dont think there will be blanket school closures again. Maybe localised or effected schools for the shortest amount of time possible. There would be uproar if this happened to kids again so I wouldnt bank on "schools will close anyway".

I mean look at this graph. We lose this many people and still no one bothers to wear a face mask and we just all shove our kids back without a second thought. It’s a bloody joke!

"So when will you decide?"

Much closer to the time. We cant predict what it's going to be like in September. I will make a decision based on info I get from school about what they are doing to protect our children, and based on covid figures in my area.

M"Because schools close at the end of this week? Or are you juat going to ring up on day 1 in september and say we have decided not to bother! "

I might do that, yes. It's not a case of nit bothering though, it's a case of how safe is my child going to be. Is that concept really that alien to you?

"Does nobody in your house go out to work?"

I work from home, but not really relevant as kids are teenagers and dont need anyone at home waiting for them. My partner is not working, he's off sick, extremely vulnerable.

"Will you stop them seeing all family and friends? Because unless you are all sitting in the house indefinitely you can't eliminate the risk anyway. Children are the lowest risk group by a mile."

As I've said they'v already seen their friends, socially distanced, which is much less risk than being squashed into a classroom with them, or in a bubble of 150.

"I dont think there will be blanket school closures again. Maybe localised or effected schools for the shortest amount of time possible. There would be uproar if this happened to kids again so I wouldnt bank on "schools will close anyway""

You have heard of track and trace? If someone gets covid, they will close, if not whole school, whole year groups. One school near to me closed only last week for this reason. I dont envisage it being any different in September.

My children will definitely be returning to school and can't wait to see their friends and teachers. I feel very confident that this is the best decision for them. I have a lot of sympathy for parents with shielding children though, it must be a horribly difficult decision. I hope they are being given all the support they need from medical consultants and schools to find the right path for them.

Ive literally just said effected schools will close!

"A case of how safe my child will be"
Have you looked at data on covid in children?
Here are the hospital admissions. 1200 total 1-17 year olds since the start of the epidemic. By comparison, 30,000 just 0-5 year olds are hospitalised for RSV a year in the UK. Alot of those hospitalised for covid would have had other health problems and like adult cases, some would have caught it in hospital whilst in for something else. Children are at more risk from flu! It seems some parents are letting blind fear lead their decision without actually looking at any information. Are you keeping them away to protect them or you and your partner? I can understand it must be worrying to have someone vulnerable at home. At the end of the day, do what you want, but if fear of the effects of the virus on your kids is leading decisions you need to look at the data. Children make up less than 2% of cases worldwide!

Didnt attach sorry

@labyrinthloafer

Also for those who are happy with their choice to return, it is no skin off their nose if someone else is away for a few weeks.

As parents we should all be together in wanting parental choice. The Welsh approach is correct imo.

Exactly, choice. Confidence in your own decisions because of transparent evidence and choice. I feel sad so many don’t have a real choice and for them the government should be making schools as safe as possible. More numbers will equal more risk. Whatever the situation we should be exercising caution with numbers (hopefully letting everyone that needs and wants to return, return). The government must know this but it doesn’t fit with the current act of pretending the worse is over so they can restart the economy.

@sunseekin I agree it is an act that things are ok now

Does this mean you don't believe in food poverty either? Since they can all find a pound for food if

Jrobhatch...I will absolutely do what I want I dont need yours or anyones permission. I will make my own choices based on what is happening in my area, and based on what information I get from school. And based on my Family's health. As will a lot of parents on here. Its not unusual to want to protect my children and family as much as I possibly can.

Sorry, ignore the top sentence, old message!

@NotShiny

Does this mean you don't believe in food poverty either? Since they can all find a pound for food if

Jrobhatch...I will absolutely do what I want I dont need yours or anyones permission. I will make my own choices based on what is happening in my area, and based on what information I get from school. And based on my Family's health. As will a lot of parents on here. Its not unusual to want to protect my children and family as much as I possibly can.

Heres swedens data on kids too, who never closed schools and finland who opened schools a while ago. No deaths in either country and very very very few seriously ill out of a whole country. Unless children have medical issues they should be in school, but like I said, do what you want!

I don’t understand. Children don’t get very ill from this. Why would you not send them in? I’m nearly 50 but I’m not that likely to get seriously ill either? That combined with the incredibly low odds of catching it now makes it a no brainer surely? They were at school when the infection rate must have been insane , it won’t go back to that.

I’m not bothered whether people send their kids in though, home school if you want, some kids are happier at home and I’m sure some parents may decide to keep at home if they have the luxury of not working. My dd will be at the gates before they open she’s desperate to go back!