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?

@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.

aldi "however risk assessments are not just about the likelihood of something happening, they are also about the impact."

Presume you are adverse to flying and driving then?

I think the key here is nobody knows what will happen in September, or the winter. Yes we can make educated decisions but nobody actually knows. The posters that claim certainty in any form of fact about later this year are either incredibly arrogant or naive. We are no stranger to the impact on infection control , we have been in care services a long time , homes shut, services are impacted during flu season and outbreaks of C Diff and Noro. So yes I can make an educated assessment that things will be impacted in winter but I actually don't know for a fact which areas , which situations will be hit and how hard. Especially by Covid , in case anyone has missed the memo this is somewhat unprecedented in our lifetimes.

So here is the thing , everyone will have to make the decision that is right for them and their community. It may not be right but noone has the answers , not me , not anyone else on here.

Do people honestly believe a genuinely at risk parent who refuses to send back in September will be fined ? There would and will be an outcry. I have to say our school isn't the greatest but they have communicated openly , supported the parents in individual decisions and backed them. It's a deprived school in a deprived area and yesterday I saw a TA and the Senco at the door of a neighbour coaxing the child who I know has severe SEN to school. There are a lot of people that are so vitriolic about peoples school choices when they simply do not know what the circumstances are.

One of mine went back two weeks ago and one went back last week , the difference in my DC particularly the one with extra needs has been obvious.

I'm not stupid of course it comes with risk to others and them, all I can do is make what I hope is the responsible decision based on their needs , risk to others etc (that is why one was delayed due to the likelihood of him not understanding not to hug teachers due to a specific sensory issue....extra rote trainings required until we were all sure he understood)

So here's a unique idea ...stop proclaiming (some pp not all ) that anything is definitely going to happen. We simply do not know. I think every parent needs to make a case by case decision and deal with the consequences as best they can....is this not the basis of parenting ?

I'm sorry but it is just rude to call children Guinea pigs because their parents believe that school is the right place for them. I look at risks everyday. Everytime I go shopping I have to look for safe foods for my dd. I understand risks. The whole fucking country is surely under one great experiment right now as no one knows what is going to happen next. No one at all. You can make your educated guesses and proclaim to be right but you don't know.
However I know that for my child school is massively important for her well being. This does not mean I haven't weighed up the risks it just means I have made a decision based on my circumstances. It also does not mean she is a guinea pig.

@Hazelnutlatteplease if you previously kept your DC off when norovirus went through school that just proves my point that schools were never "safe" from viruses before all this.
I'm not at all saying you are right or wrong either to send your dc in or keep them home that's your choice. But many are saying they wont send their DC back until they hear that magic "safe" word, they'll be waiting a hell of a long time for that to be the case .
It's a rock and a hard place predicament to be in for all. Theres no ideal solution unfortunately.

We aren't vulnerable but I do have health anxiety. I have only left my house 3 times since it started. However, I will be sending mine back and will be going back to work myself to 2 jobs including one in a school.

I do think that I need to push to get back out there as we can't keep up living like this forever.

My kids have been doing great at home and I haven't seen any mental health issues at all in the younger ones. Eldest daughter is 16 and has had her GCSEs and last days of school disrupted so she was very upset and angry at the start but is completely fine now. But I do think they need the fun social side of school.

I have not called any children "guinea pigs."

I’m extremely anxious about 14yo ds going back in September, as I’m disabled/asthmatic and under investigation at the moment for an autoimmune condition, plus I’m sole carer for my elderly father who has COPD and is on the verge of becoming oxygen dependent.

We haven’t set foot in a shop/supermarket since 16th March (I developed a chest infection before lockdown so we’ve been isolating longer) as I’m terrified of bringing anything back to my dad.

The thought of ds going back to school in a “bubble” of 240 kids scares me a lot, as no matter how safe the government are saying school is, my dad is no less vulnerable than he was 4 months ago; in fact, he’s more so, as his breathing had worsened since then, and if he catches Covid, it’s going to be me that’s responsible as I’m the only person he’s been in contact with.

I’m not sure what the solution is tbh. I agree that ds needs to be back at school, although he has done brilliantly at home, and has got on well with all his work, I think he needs interaction with other kids. We’ve toyed with the idea of homeschooling in the past, as he’s not terribly social and we’ve had numerous problems with school refusal etc, and we’re not 100% ruling it out, but I’m not sure whether it would be the right thing for him. I could quite merrily carry on online shopping and not seeing people, but I’ve got to consider what’s best for my son as well.

I'm shielding but both my kids have gone back. We weighed up the risks but the school is very well controlled. They have really benefited from it. Before I see them each day, they have come in and immediately had a shower, hand gel etc. It's not perfect but for all of us, it's the best decision. Both will be going back in Sept too.

I'm not exactly thrilled about sending mine back as he has health issues and we are still trying to find out what's causing them. I don't like the idea of being forced to send him if he may be more at risk.

@CallmeAngelina are you or your family classed as vulnerable? Your opinions seem quite extreme for someone who isn't vulnerable or living with someone who is.

I'm very worried about it.

Ds is shielding, but obviously this will be paused in August, so is due to return in September.

We have been told that we will be fined if we keep him off, but I have very little faith in the way things have been handled by either the government or the school up until now.

I hate this.

@thewisp I follow safety precautions in regards to both Covid19 and driving/airplane travel.
I wear a seatbelt, and listen carefully to the in flight safety instructions.
I will follow consultants advise and not send my dc to school.
In all three examples I have followed the relevant safety rules/guidelines.

*advice

Absolutely NOT

@Hazelnutlatteplease

As i understand if if you are in z previous shielding group there is some leeway with regard to fines

Is this in guidelines anywhere...or specific to your school?

@Ginnymweasley

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?

I understand this but currently schools have a no nut policy to reduce this risk. If the schools removed this policy and nuts were allowed this would increase risk. would you still take this risk. My child is shielded class sizes of 30 and no masks (PPE) many children is class with several siblings all indifferent groups makes the covid risk to my child increase. Even at home, not mixing etc there is still a risk from shopping deliveries, picking up prescriptions etc but the risk is lower. A school bubble of 15 and PPE would increase risk from now but not to the level of risk of no bubble.

Every parent should be able to do their own risk assessment here

@mostwonderfultime: "Your opinions seem quite extreme for someone who isn't vulnerable or living with someone who is."

Which of my opinions do you consider extreme?

Not all schools have no nut policies and believe me no nut policies are quite often ignored by parents. We still take risks in regards to trusting labelling, trusting chefs in restaurants etc. I would still send her to school even if nuts were eaten in the school as long as risk assessments had taken place etc. The same way I have looked at the welsh governments policies on return to school and read through what my dds school has sent and have decided she will be safe. You are welcome to choose differently from me based on your own circumstances and risks of course.
I am probably seeing it differently as a precious poster has said as I live in wales and the guidance is different here.

Absolutely not.
It wouldn't be good for any of us.

The question should really be "do you want your child to receive an education in Aug/sep or not?"

Maybe blunt but thats what it boils down too. Theres been some PP on here who are teachers and made reference about what will be expected of them come the new term. I'd love to know if any of them expectations is to set home school work as well as classroom work aswell? Is it even plausible to be able to do both?
I'm not a teacher so I dont know but my guess is no.
I don't know what the solution to that is however but my thoughts are that lessons will only be provided in the classroom setting although I'll be happily told otherwise .

Schools will need to be ready for remote learning as well though, it's in the guidelines - because of children (individual, bubbles and possibly whole years) having to self isolate due to being contacted by track or trace or due to local lockdowns.

@Bupkis are you a teacher?

@Bupkis

I'm very worried about it.

Ds is shielding, but obviously this will be paused in August, so is due to return in September.

We have been told that we will be fined if we keep him off, but I have very little faith in the way things have been handled by either the government or the school up until now.

I hate this.

for you, people in these situations are in a tough spot.

Posters who scream 'send them back or deregister' should be ashamed - some people are genuinely conflicted.

My dd isn't at school age yet. However I would absolutely send her back as soon as possible if she was.
They need to get back to some sense of normality, and we cannot pause education for much longer.
Now in cases where a child has been shielding, or has medical problems that could be a risk then the advice may be different. But if a child is fit and healthy, I don't see how much longer you could expect to keep them off for.