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?

resounding no then op
@Allmyarseandpeggymartin as long as you ignore everyone who has said yes.

Honestly there is more chance of kids dying in the car on the way to school than of Covid.
2538 people die a year on average as a result of road accidents in the UK
44798 deaths this year of covid.

Also if you die in a car crash, you die in a car crash. You don't suddenly increase the chances of everyone who you have possibly come in contact with for 14 days previous also dying, and anyone they came in contact with etc. The chances of having a car crash don't increase just because you have known someone who has been in a car crash.

@Hazelnutlatteplease

I was talking about the kids - 44k kids haven’t died of Covid have they?

The comment regarding kids not dying of covid.....the other issue is with kids at school it doesn't effect them, if it does it is mild but they will pass it onto the older and people with health conditions or grandparents so we need to think and protect these people. There will be more lockdowns if kids are passing it on or numbers increase, and schools closed again not to protect kids but others in society. It's a hard choice economy/ education or saving people's lives?

@947EliseChalotte

The comment regarding kids not dying of covid.....the other issue is with kids at school it doesn't effect them, if it does it is mild but they will pass it onto the older and people with health conditions or grandparents so we need to think and protect these people. There will be more lockdowns if kids are passing it on or numbers increase, and schools closed again not to protect kids but others in society. It's a hard choice economy/ education or saving people's lives?

The alternative is that kids sit at home until there is a vaccine or it magically goes on its own.. It isn't fair on them

I know everybody's different and entitled to their own point of view, but I'm surprised at the pace that people want their kids back. I'm still at the stage where I want mine safe.

that kids sit at home until there is a vaccine or it magically goes on its own.. It isn't fair on them

Or they learn at home. As thousands of kids already did and continue to do.

@Allmyarseandpeggymartin we'll do this with statistics....

15 children died as a passenger in a car between 2017-2018.
5 children have died of covid in the UK. In roughly what 4 months. A third of the year. See where im going with this?

Moreover...

Currently 81% of the population have access to a car. That's not likely to suddenly increase, so the number of kid deaths is not likely to increase either. Also (as mentioned earlier) if you have seen someone in the last 14 days who suddenly finds themselves in a car accident, your chances of being in a car crash dont suddenly increase.

Now prevalence of covid in the population is currently estimated to be only 0.02%. If the R value increases above 1 that will increase exponentially. Therefore it is not unreasonable to assume the death rate amongst children will also increase. Not only that but if your child has any kind of contact with someone with covid their chances of catching it increase.number of deaths will increase both numerically and proportionally (whether directly proportionate or not is anyone's guess)

The statistics really dont support the idea that your child is more likely to die in the car to school than at school. Even when prevalence is currently low but especially not if prevalence increases

(Happy to provide reference to sources, admittedly there may well be better ones than i found with my quick google though)

The statistics really dont support the idea that your child is more likely to die in the car to school than of covid

I'm not planning on sending mine back if the death rate continues steadily as it is. MHS is planning for second wave simultaneously to flu season and will be offering flu jabs early. If they're planning on that way I have no faith in this government to do the right thing and close schools again. I am going to do what I think is right and not take the government advice. It's been rubbish so far so I don't expect it to improve now.

@NotShiny

I know everybody's different and entitled to their own point of view, but I'm surprised at the pace that people want their kids back. I'm still at the stage where I want mine safe.

"Safe" at what price? Their education? Their social development? Their mental wellbeing being cooped up within the home indefinitely? Unless theres an extreme medical vulnerability to take into account

Oh and that doesn't give any consideration to the proportion of people with "mild" covid who will have long lasting lung damage

or they learn at home.As thousands of kids already did and continue to do so

Only if they are de registered and classed as home schooled, schools will stop the provision of home learning in the autumn term.

@Hazelnutlatteplease

Oh and that doesn't give any consideration to the proportion of people with "mild" covid who will have long lasting lung damage

This is my biggest concern, the people who will have ongoing issues. I can't understand why this aspect is not getting more attention.

Their mental wellbeing being cooped up within the home indefinitely?

Again many children are finding they are happier at home, just as many people (but not all) have found they are happier working from home.

You could just as easily say back to school at what price. How many children have to die before the cost of opening schools is too great?

maybe we need to find better mental health strategies and more connected ways to home ed (even on a nationwide basis) rather than focus solely on every child returning to a formal school environment regardless of what's best for them.

:"09Uhoh2020

NotShiny

"I know everybody's different and entitled to their own point of view, but I'm surprised at the pace that people want their kids back. I'm still at the stage where I want mine safe."

"Safe" at what price? Their education? Their social development? Their mental wellbeing being cooped up within the home indefinitely? Unless theres an extreme medical vulnerability to take into account"

That's quite dramatic uoh. Their education is fine, theyve only missed a few months, but then so has everyone else so they are mostly at the same level. A few more months wouldnt hurt. Their social development is absolutely fine too. They arent cooped up. They go out daily for exercise and have seen friends socially distancing, but it's a whole different ballgame being squashed together in school. There are medical vulnerabilities.

As things stand now my son will be going to school but if the infection rate increases significantly in November as some models predict I will take him out then.

I am so happy about mine going back. I want everything to be back to normal for them. The teachers I've spoken to are also excited about schools going back as normal. I think people are realising we need to live a normal life again. Nothing has ever been 'safe'

@Uhoh2020

or they learn at home.As thousands of kids already did and continue to do so

Only if they are de registered and classed as home schooled, schools will stop the provision of home learning in the autumn term.

People won't have to deregister immediately, there's a whole process to go through with the school when there are parental concerns anyway.

Those who want their DC’s to return to school do so for the autumn term. DC’s who are medically unwell due to ongoing conditions, are provided with support at home as mentioned by government and those who decide not to return their DC’s to school, deregister them and start home schooling.

Found out today that my 16yo niece has had a nervous
breakdown.
I dont think they should ever have been off in the first place!

@labyrinthloafer
Nope me neither. It's hardly as if its new news either. I was reading about it in Chinese medical journals back in Feb, some of the lung xrays in March time on the BBC there was an "I had covid but im fine article" except she still had trouble going up stairs a month later, she would have been classes as mild- moderate coronavirus maybe, no hospitisation or oxygen.

schools will stop the provision of home learning in the autumn term.
If schools completely stop home learning, how will they be able to fulfil this part of gov guidelines...
Where a pupil is unable to attend school because they are complying with clinical and/or public health advice, we expect schools to be able to immediately offer them access to remote education. Schools should monitor engagement with this activity (as set out in the section below).
...this will have to be set up, in order to provide for children who have symptoms, who are contacted through track or trace or who are in a bubble that has to close.

If the govt had locked down earlier whilst establishing a decent track and trace system, and suppressed transmission of the virus to the very low levels seen in other countries when schools opened...then people might have a bit more faith. The truth is they have been wrong footed at every turn. It is really scary to have a child with medical vulnerabilities and complex needs at the best of times, but now...in a public health crisis, when the govt is failing the most vulnerable in this country on a massive scale, it is fucking terrifying. The fact that discussions with the school seem to revolve around potential fines, and the attitude from many is, 'well if you don't like it deregister and homeschool', is frankly not surprising, but hugely depressing.

Yes, I think when people say "deregister and homeschool", that's quite nasty and pompous. Why would they deregister when you may only intend on them being off a few more months whilst you assess how covid is going, whether a second wave occurred etc. Absolutely ridiculous comment.

@Parker231

Those who want their DC’s to return to school do so for the autumn term. DC’s who are medically unwell due to ongoing conditions, are provided with support at home as mentioned by government and those who decide not to return their DC’s to school, deregister them and start home schooling.

I'll repeat it, because it is important - you can't be made to deregister, and there is an entire process to go through with school in any circumstance where you feel you have good reason not to send them.

No one would have to deregister immediately. They might choose to, but I don't think it is helpful to present it as though it has to be done on day 1 of being uncertain about going in.

[quote Hazelnutlatteplease]@labyrinthloafer
Nope me neither. It's hardly as if its new news either. I was reading about it in Chinese medical journals back in Feb, some of the lung xrays in March time on the BBC there was an "I had covid but im fine article" except she still had trouble going up stairs a month later, she would have been classes as mild- moderate coronavirus maybe, no hospitisation or oxygen.[/quote]
Yes quite. There's an awful lot still to learn. I am worried, I'll be honest. I'm not so worried about e.g. tuberculosis because I know so much more about it.

Well said @Bupkis, schools in other countries also probably felt safer opening because of how their government tackled the virus there. With our death and infection rate we can’t really compare. Whoever said here that school is not safe just because the government said they are hit the nail on the head. Can we just appreciate it is a tough decision for some and not start jumping on their head to deregister. It’s not up to anyone how, when or if we deregister our wonderful children and it’s up to us if we want to challenge school about it.