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?

@Notshiny Government have already announced that attendance would be mandatory (medical cases exempt). How would someone be recorded who didn’t attend?

Found out today that my 16yo niece has had a nervous breakdown.

One in eight (12.8%) 5 to 19 year olds had at least one mental disorder when assessed in 2017 according to NHS data here

That's in a normal year as opposed to a shitty year. And this has been an exceptionally shitty year. Normally if a kid has a breakdown we don't tell the rest of the school to stay home regardless of what's generally in their best interest because staying home is best for that individual child.

So why now are we sending every child to school because going to school is best for some.

This is not the time for a one size fits all approach. The least children there in school the safer it is for those who need to be there.

Only if they are de registered and classed as home schooled, schools will stop the provision of home learning in the autumn term.
Why on earth should i let the LEA off providing a suitable education for my child when it is not sensible for them to be at school? For too long we have worked under the assumption that the only way schooling can be provided is at a school. It isn't. Actually in the past we have been in negotiations with the LEA over alternative style provision, it would actually work out significantly cheaper given my DS EHCP. If the crisis does continue this is a possibility for DS. But tbh if its right for him to be back at regular school I dont really want to lose that ability. Online schooling has such potential to fill on the gaps on a nationwide basis.

And actually much of D's currently provision involves the sharing of the same PowerPoint they would have access to at school. I dont know if that will stop but i hope not cos it doesnt actually increase anyone's workload vastly.

attendance would be mandatory (medical cases exempt).

As things stand, shielding pauses on the 1st August and guidelines state those who have been shielding can go back to school in September...parental decision to keep their children home will result in a fine.

[quote Parker231]@Notshiny Government have already announced that attendance would be mandatory (medical cases exempt). How would someone be recorded who didn’t attend?[/quote]
Authorised absence possibly if medical reasons, presumably unauthorised a sense if not?

They can't use the code they used for covid absence anymore (in England, in Wales they can).

@NotShiny

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.

You legally have to provide your child with an education, if your child is registered at a school then you need to make sure they attend that setting to receive such education as it will no longer be provided for home learning. ONLY if your child is extremely medically vulnerable or has been advised not too attend school by health professionals will this be an exception. If your dc fall into this category then I hope the school will help with education (they should). Schools cannot be expected to provide substantial education on both platforms its not feasible so parents can have a choice.

There isn't a choice its black or white, either you are medically able to go to school or you arent. Those who are should be in school those who arent should be helped as best they can at home. It's the ones In the middle that have no medical reason to stay away from school that will hinder the rest of the pupils both in and out of the classroom.

I can't see the fines happening myself. I hate to be mobid but imagine if they fined a family whose child subsequently caught covid and was unfortunate enough to die. It would be a PR nightmare.

Dd only missed a week, independent specialist school, she breaks up next Friday, she will definitely be back in September.

@Hazelnutlatteplease

I can't see the fines happening myself. I hate to be mobid but imagine if they fined a family whose child subsequently caught covid and was unfortunate enough to die. It would be a PR nightmare.

Or imagine if they didn't fine parents for not sending their children to school for absolutely no medical reason whatsoever. What a PR nightmare that would be? It swings both ways

Well unfortunately we have been told already there will be fines issued, and this was just in a discussion about whether it would be possible to start ds back at school gradually, in order to help him settle back in after months shielding.

How many children have died of covid without any underlying health conditions? (I don't know the answer btw)
How many children have died from abuse within the home since lockdown? (Again I dont know the answer)
Mandatory school isnt just about keeping children home to stop them dying of Covid. It's also to make sure those children most vulnerable to neglect and abuse are safer and gaining some help and support from school

imagine if they didn't fine parents for not sending their children to school for absolutely no medical reason whatsoever.
Nope failing to see the PR problem there... "Family not fined, Nothing happens". Not quite the same as "Fining Family causes childs death"

this was just in a discussion about whether it would be possible to start ds back at school gradually
Amazed by this and actually it the kind of attitude that would make me reconsider the choice of school. I told DS' school they weren't to expect him in for definite in September, were aiming for it but im not convinced . They said thats fine we'll contact you end of August. (As well as the weekly welfare checks).

Tbh I had DS (and DD) out a week before all schools were out, they were still saying fines at that point.

@Hazelnutlatteplease child dies as a result of long term neglect and abuse at home..... school didn't raise the alarm because parents have a choice to send their children back or not. Teachers dont have the time or man power to account for the wellbeing of pupils both in the classroom and those at home.

No, no PR failure there as long as the kid didn't die of covid!

Amazed by this and actually it the kind of attitude that would make me reconsider the choice of school.

Well yes, it is part of a long and extremely hard battle to get ds the support he needs. Unfortunately this is the only school in the area with a CNRB and supposedly an 'inclusive' school...we aren't snowed under here with a choice of support.

I'd like to think the narrative around the 1000s of children with SEN who end up with no school place, the wrong kind of support or illegally excluded, changes after this pandemic, but sadly I don't think it will.

@Parker231 How would someone be recorded who didn’t attend?
Code y, just as they were before lockdown.

I am not sure. I will see what the numbers look like in Sept. I can’t see the school being able to stay open for the winter so maybe some school in Sept will be possible.

@Uhoh2020 There isn't a choice its black or white, either you are medically able to go to school or you arent. Those who are should be in school those who arent should be helped as best they can at home. It's the ones In the middle that have no medical reason to stay away from school that will hinder the rest of the pupils both in and out of the classroom.
Can you really not comprehend that many children live with parents who will still be on the shielding list in September. It’s not just about the risk to children it’s the risk to their parent. Take your blinkers off and look beyond your blank and white view!

No.

If someone feels strongly enough not to send their child in, will a fine make any difference? So then it'll have to go on to the next stage, which could be hard to resource.

I wonder what percentage might stay away?even a few percent would generate a reasonable amount of work.

Mine will be going back in September, no underlying conditions in the family, they need to be in a school environment and any more homeschooling while working will actually break me! If the Government fail to reopen schools or their 'opening' is similar to the paltry offering from secondary schools locally e.g 3hrs alternate weeks for exam years then I will be camping out in Downing Street with a loudhailer!!

You will be fined

[quote AldiAisleofCrap]**@Uhoh2020* There isn't a choice its black or white, either you are medically able to go to school or you arent. Those who are should be in school those who arent should be helped as best they can at home. It's the ones In the middle that have no medical reason to stay away from school that will hinder the rest of the pupils both in and out of the classroom.*
Can you really not comprehend that many children live with parents who will still be on the shielding list in September. It’s not just about the risk to children it’s the risk to their parent. Take your blinkers off and look beyond your blank and white view![/quote]
Surely they will fall under the medically advised not to attend category whether it be to themselves or family member.

Can you take your blinkers off and see that some parents wont return their children for absolutely no real credible reason whatsoever and that's why it needs to be mandatory for those without a credible reason

How many children have died of covid without any underlying health conditions? (I don't know the answer btw)

So we have to sacrifice the children with underlying conditions so that every child is in school? Or perhaps its ok to throw BAME children under a bus? (Cos actually they may be disproportionately affected as well). It's just so unnecessary.

Many children who have preexisting conditions will lived to a ripe old age with their conditions well under control. Just because you have a preexisting conditions doesnt mean your life/death should suddenly be worth less. A lot of people seem to have forgotten this.

But assuming the kids with pre-existing conditions dont count (because you know they were bound to die) again with the figures. In Scotland 92% of those who died with coronavirus have preexisting conditions I can't find the stats for kids. If we assume the same applies to children, rounding down thats 1 child out the 15 who die without any preexisting conditions. But bearing in mind that assuming the prevalence in society remains at 0.02%. We need 60-80% to achieve herd immunity.... Assuming herd immunity is possible and it occurs at 60% and the rate of deaths doesnt rise as the prevalence rises, by my sums (and I may be wrong) 3000 child coronavirus deaths without preexisting conditions, 45000 child coronavirus deaths with preexisting conditions (but they dont count remember).

But nothing is safe right? We need to get back to normal.

We could keep our children in lockdown , work out an effective education at home so those who need to be at school are safer, but instead we want "every child back" and to fine those who question why a potential 50,000 deaths should be disregarded.

Just because we want to get back to normal doesnt mean life is normal.

Surely they will fall under the medically advised not to attend category whether it be to themselves or family member.
@Uhoh2020 you would think so, but no, the government guidance does not extend to medically extremely vulnerable family members, despite consultants advising parents not to send their dc to school.

@Uhoh2020 if we really want to stop child abuse deaths we need to actually stop abusive men having contact with their children. But thats another of my hobby horses

@Uhoh2020 do also bear in mind school arent the only place reporting child neglect etc.

Food banks, doctors etc all can report in. LEAs report in parents who are home schooling that they have concerns about. These will all continue through lockdown. Not to mention the schools who have done an incredible job maintaining contact during lockdown

It is not likely to be one sole source reporting concerns about a child. It's also likely to take very many reports for SS (to do nothing whatsoever.)