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?

And also agree with Hazelnutlatte. Some children have had a different time at home yes, but it hasn't necessarily been dreadful. Admittedly some have, but school isn't a magic wand to solve all of society's problems, such as poverty and overcrowding.

I just want to know what this new normal is meant to be? We don't have enough teachers or space in most schools to make small classes of 10 pupils for example unless classes only go once or twice a week. But then parents will have to homeschool but many parents are having to go back to work. So who homeschools and provides childcare? I just don't understand what the alternative to opening the schools is?

But this is going to be the reality anyway (home schooling) again and again when we keep having to self isolate.

Absolutely no way. They have been out of schooling since March 20th. They need to be back, learning properly and full time.

The word "safe" should be banned. There is no such thing as 100% safe. This is just another virus/illness that we all need to learn to live with.

I'm shielding and in wales. My DCs will be off at the beginning of September, even if shielding "officially" has ended by then (in wales the end date is currently mid-august). If all goes well, they can return in October, once I've seen that the return to regular schooling doesn't correlate with a massive rise.

If the school aren't happy with this (though so far I've seen them being supportive of it), I'm happy to dereg and fully home-school.

But we don't know that. And people need jobs and money to survive. My dh can't work from home its just not possible in his job. As I'm sure is the same for many people. I can be at home but it's not sustainable for most people. How long do you want people to stay at home? How is it ok for adults to go to the pub but children can't get an education? I just don't understand the alternative. When do you think kids should go back to school? When we have zero cases? We don't know if this will ever happen though. What about vunerable children? I understand it's a minefield and we should all have the choice as to how we choose to move forward. I live in wales and they will be no fines here come September. I just can't get my head around how no school will work for most children and parents

@SockYarn

Absolutely no way. They have been out of schooling since March 20th. They need to be back, learning properly and full time.

The word "safe" should be banned. There is no such thing as 100% safe. This is just another virus/illness that we all need to learn to live with.

This!! Schools never have been and never will be "safe " from viruses or illness.

So we should all keep our kids at home for the foreseeable future?

Who has said that?

But to claim we are putting children at risk and making them an experiment is unfair.

Unfair? But it's true, except that whilst the children themselves may or may not be "at risk," the wider community (e.g. their grandparents or vulnerable relatives) will be. You might not like that idea, but the fact remains that it is true.

If you don't want to go back to work in a school then don't,

If you read my post properly, you will see that I have been back at work (by which I mean "on the premises caring for children," as opposed to working from home teaching remotely, as instructed). I also said that I take a fatalistic attitude towards it. My point remains: when children return to school, it doesn't mean that it is necessarily safe for them to do so, however much Boris says it is. I pointed out that parents need to be aware of that, that's all. I'm sorry if it's not what you want to hear.

But we know it's a risk but you are making it sound a certainty. I take risks everyday. My dd has a nut allergy every day she goes to school there is a risk. Everytime we eat anywhere but home there is a risk.
Do you honestly think that most parents don't understand that it is a risk. But what do you want us to do? We take risks every single day in every single thing we do. My dh works with members of the public everyday. He still has to go to work. When will it be "safe" for children by your estimation?

@user8558 What about parents who are vulnerable/shielding.

Is it really safe for their children to be mixing in schools?

Not according to my consultant, it’s insulting that posters suggest I need counselling for health anxiety when I have been told in no uncertain terms that the risk of sending my dc to school is too high. My dc would be mixing with over 320 other children.

100% yes, I am thinking of keeping them off. I’m waiting and seeing but if I had to say now, I’d say no.

It will for me depend on case numbers, r values, projections and policies (I think we should be entering Autumn with caution and can’t help thinking back to Boris’ handshakes with coronavirus patients in Feb).

I will also fight to keep their places and I’ll only withdraw if it becomes apparent that it is my only option.

I don’t think it will be necessary to withdraw though. The government will have risk advisors - future litigation risks will be too high. And I think unions will get involved nearer the time of numbers grow.

Ultimately I think it will suit everyone to have lower numbers in classrooms. It also suits the government if somebody else points this out - diverting the blame to unions, teachers or parents all helps to reduce the pressure to provide for effective home learning.

I think it’s also one of their tactics for making people feel like the “worst is behind us” - so that we just crack on and enjoy the summer - and spend, spend, spend!

I plan to enjoy the summer but I’m very aware that my kids always get ill in October/November and I can’t see how that will be different with the current proposals. 30 kids facing the front doesn’t seem fool proof....

They should be helping schools by giving them time to support those most in need. Instead they just keep bamboozling them with ridiculously impossible guidelines. That they probably themselves know will never happen.

The focus should be on making the schools as safe as possible for those needing to attend. And also to protect the NHS from future spikes and us all from the impacts of future regular shutdowns.

I real feel for those shielding - the government has made no effort to caveat their statements and it must be causing more stress than I can imagine. “Be kind” and all the societal pushes to consider mental health have been ignored.

Schools need to be open - for mental health, emotional, practical and all sorts of reasons. Nobody should feel bad for wanting their child to attend - 4 months is a long time to have them at home. Everyone’s circumstances are different but the idea of blanket fines is at best lazy. And it won’t be a policy that they get away with.

OP - I’ve never posted on here before (and probably won’t again 😂) but I really feel for you. My only hope for September is choice and an acceptance that in the vast majority of cases mum/dad knows best.

Don’t feel you have to push your own views aside. Follow what you know is right for your family - school or no school in September. Sadly four months into a pandemic is no time at all. It’s nice to hear people thinking the same as you but this pandemic has taught me it’s often not the case - and stress makes people at best vociferous!

There are a lot of us thinking the same, there is no right answer and September is a long way off, I really don’t think it’ll play out quite how they’re proposing. Excuse the essay but if you’re planning on only ever doing one post, may as well make it a long one 😂😂😂

I don't think we are saying it's a certainty - minimising the risks is not fair or right either.
We are merely pointing the risks out.

@thewisp
Is there any suggestion people will still be shielding in September?
Shielding will be paused soon, people are still on the shielding list. The risk to health from catching Covid19 will be no less in September. The chances of catching it will be less however risk assessments are not just about the likelihood of something happening, they are also about the impact.

The word "safe" should be banned. There is no such thing as 100% safe.

This is an easy thing to say if you haven't seen your child struggling to breath with a simple flu, or hospitalised with Norovirus because their body doesn't have the strength to cope.

We've lived for all DS's life that stuff most people consider "safe" isn't necessarily safe for DS. We have kept DS off when Norovirus goes through the school because parents dont isolate there children for 48hrs after sickness.

It must be nice for those who can throw phrases like This is just another virus/illness that we all need to learn to live with Schools never have been and never will be "safe " from viruses or illness.

This is just another virus that could be the one that kills DS.

Again this is not the time for one size fits all. I will try not judge people for their willingness to (ignore the increasing number of reports of long term lung damage and ) use your child as a guinea pig in the "just another virus/illness" project. Try not to judge those who take a more cautious approach.

Am pondering options at the moment. DD will be going into Year 13, so no childcare issues and she has been working well independently. DH high risk. Will keep a close eye on infection rates and make a decision nearer the time. I'm certainly not going to send her back based on the assurance of some government minister that schools are "safe" if my own research tells me the opposite.

I think the, "This is just another virus that we all need to live with" type comments are really silly. What other virus at any time since the start of the twentieth century has produced 60,000 or so excess deaths in the UK in less than a year and threatened to overwhelm our hospitals? And that's before we even get on to the many people who haven't actually died, but have been left unable to work due to chronic fatigue etc. It's notable that China, which has the longest experience of dealing with the virus, is very definitely not following a "just another virus that we all need to live with " policy. It is immediately jumping on outbreaks and putting affected area into strict quarantine. A lot of people on this thread seem to be in denial about how badly our own government has handled the virus. Most European countries have managed much lower infection rates.

100% agree. They won’t get away with it and I think they know that. The disregard for people’s mental health is unforgivable though. I think you just have to decide to follow your own gut on this one - it’s unprecedented- you won’t be alone xx

When will it be "safe" for children by your estimation?

I have no idea; neither is it my job to "estimate" or predict, when not even the scientists have any idea.

I am simply telling you that right now, the supposed "safety" measures in place (haha) are not sufficient to prevent many more infections, once numbers increase. And as Autumn approaches, and doors and windows closed and warm air blow-heaters switched on, and many more numbers of children are enclosed in spaces already too small, then you actually don't need to be a scientist to predict trouble.

I honestly think everyone should be able to choose but I dont think it's fair to say we are using our children as Guinea pigs. I have weighed up the risks and I know that for my dds mental health not going to school will be horrific. In the first month of lockdown we went back to multiple night time wake ups and a few instances of wetting the bed. She likes the routine of school etc. Its definitely not one size fits all. And at least there are no fines in wales and our school has said they will support parents who choose not to send their children to school. By claiming that we are using our children as an experiment it is the same as you being told you are over cautious and need help etc.

No, he starts his GCSE's. I'll be gutted if he's not back full time.

I think it is an important fact that again England is taking the more risky approach - Wales have said no fines which of course means parents in higher risk families can make choices. This would be the right approach. But Boris is a bully!

Completely agree, my only hope is for choice and support. And I want your child to be as safe as possible, choice would help with this. I completely can see how school is the best place for some children, nobody should be made to feel bad - you know best!!! 100% xx

@Ginnymweasley

I honestly think everyone should be able to choose but I dont think it's fair to say we are using our children as Guinea pigs. I have weighed up the risks and I know that for my dds mental health not going to school will be horrific. In the first month of lockdown we went back to multiple night time wake ups and a few instances of wetting the bed. She likes the routine of school etc. Its definitely not one size fits all. And at least there are no fines in wales and our school has said they will support parents who choose not to send their children to school. By claiming that we are using our children as an experiment it is the same as you being told you are over cautious and need help etc.

I don't think 'you' are treating your child like a guinea pig, but I do think this is a big experiment, and it could go either way.

but I dont think it's fair to say we are using our children as Guinea pigs.

OK. What would you call it, then?

By claiming that we are using our children as an experiment it is the same as you being told you are over cautious and need help etc.
It's not clear what you mean there. Who is "you?"

Absolutely not and I will never take schooling for granted again.

@StrawberryJam200

Are you In Scotland/elsewhere - as you mention August?

I presume you know that in England school is mandatory from September, ie fines can be issued for non attendance?

I'm in England and my kids go back in August, not all the school holidays align. Have the government specifically said Sept for return? The school did mention they may delay return by a week.