Is September going to be a big risk?

[Melonslicexx]

Just curious to people's opinions on all this. I know nobody has a crystal ball. Partners sister has caught coronavirus this week. It's a reminder that it's still very much out there. She works in a high risk job. But still.....

I want my child back at school. She went for a session Monday and she loved it. But they were stood on spots and the teachers spoke to them through a computer screen. They didn't actually get to see them.

I know life cant stop forever. But they are going back right at the start of virus season. There will be children every single week with colds, fevers, coughs and the like. We won't be allowed to keep them off without getting a test. Ofcourse testing is important. But my mum's had four as she's been in hospital with something else. She said it makes you gag. It's not always terrible. But you gag. She said one nurse shoved it really far up her nose she felt pain in her eyebrow. So she's said it's not pleasent but it's fine because it's important. Children will be having these tests done several times over the winter. It feels like all we have ahead is stress. I'm so sorry to write it when people want to move forward. but it comes with risk. Eventually it's going to end up in all schools over this winter. When it does parents will be having to keep kids off and isolated. Parents will be trying to work around all this. There will be the worry waiting to hear if a child has tested positive in your child's bubble/school etc. But the scariest part is what if we as parents get it and we feel absolutely terrible. Yet nobody is going to take our children for us as we won't be allowed. Or what If our kids get a horrible version.

Sister in law has fever
Aches
No taste.
No sense of smell,
She's vomiting.
Her backs squeezing.
She is exhausted.

Sounds absolutely awful and the reality is after hiding away since march we all are very likely to get it over the autumn and winter.

In your opinions. Do you think this winter will mean most of us will get it?
Are you worried about your child going to school?
Do you think it's going to be a nightmare everytime your child or yourself gets a cold?

I know that last year there were times I had a cold and DD was ok. But that won't be ok this year. Any virus will mean stay home.

What does they mean for attendance?

Sorry for all the questions. Just wanted s harmless discussion about what others are thinking.

The whole thing of kids not being affected is bullshit. They might not be dying like adults but they can get really ill. My otherwise totally slim, healthy 14 yr old was VERY unwell with Covid. I mean, we couldn’t keep his temperature down even with non-stop ibuprofen and paracetamol for 15 days. He didn’t eat anything in all this time and had bloodshot eyes like a zombie and such a racing heartbeat he was nearly hospitalised twice. I thought he was going to die. I sat and cried over him. He won’t be the only one to be affected like this.

Oh @Mistlewoeandwhine That's so awful. You must've been terrified. I hope he's well now.

He recovered very quickly after that thanks. My DH, who had it first but much more mildly, still hasn’t fully recovered. It’s a strange disease.

I suspect schools are going back full time in September to take advantage of low case numbers and possible good weather in the early Autumn. It seems pretty likely that later in the autumn children may still spend a lot of the time at home if the bubble has to isolate for 14 days. I'm just hoping that the studies which suggest children under 12 don't spread it much are true and so primary schools will not be as badly effected as people fear.
Also, once schools do go back and children with symptoms are tested we will start to get an idea pretty quickly how easily they spread it to others within their bubble. If it is found that they don't spread it much (especially the younger children) perhaps they will revise the guidelines on 14 day isolation if some-one in the bubble tests positive.

@Mistlewoeandwhine

You must have been so frightened. I'm so worried about my little boy getting it as he's had pneumonia before and he's very probe to chest and throat issues .

I'm a secondary teacher. I'm hoping cases will reduce even further in the next few weeks and we can pull it off. Our school has a good clear plan and is doing everything they realistically can (I'm actually impressed with how our SLT have handled it).

However, realistically I imagine 'bubbles' in some places will start closing from mid-September, and that we'll see some school closures due to staff shortages before half term. Whether that will pitch us back into lockdown or not I don't know, possibly more local lockdowns?

I don't know how GCSEs can possibly go ahead next year if this happens - children in some areas will be more effected than others unless we do another national lockdown, in which case we'll have missed even more learning time and I can't see us having 'caught up'.

I have some lower set year 11s from September and I couldn't sleep the other night because what I'm going to say to motivate them was going round and round in my head.

How is anyone supposed to know the risk in sept?
I would guess it's going to be a shit show. We have a government who have proved themselves to be pretty useless , plus the normal cold, flu and noro season + covid.
I'm pretty sure it is going to be a disaster. But , life can't carry on as it is because otherwise the economy, our children's education, mental well-being and development as well as countless adults mental health , livelihoods etc are going to be destroyed.

So in my opinion yes it's probably going to be risky but oh well. So is the alternative

I'm concerned. I think schools will go back in September but by October half term there could be widespread distuption.

I'm worried more about the start stop possibility for my SEN children - they've coped well with lockdown but the unknown/possible constant changes to routine will harm them more.

I don't know how GCSEs can possibly go ahead next year if this happens - children in some areas will be more effected than others unless we do another national lockdown, in which case we'll have missed even more learning time and I can't see us having 'caught up'.

This is a critical point and, quelle surprise, affects those finding their studies tough more than the ones who will sail through.

I wonder what the correlation will be between area deprivation and school closures - and therefore affect on grades.

@labyrinthloafer

I don't know how GCSEs can possibly go ahead next year if this happens - children in some areas will be more effected than others unless we do another national lockdown, in which case we'll have missed even more learning time and I can't see us having 'caught up'.

This is a critical point and, quelle surprise, affects those finding their studies tough more than the ones who will sail through.

I wonder what the correlation will be between area deprivation and school closures - and therefore affect on grades.

Yes, and not to make sweeping generalisations, but even outside of bubble/school closure I imagine the pupils whose attendance is usually below average will be the ones missing chunks of school while 'waiting for a test' on a regular basis.

The 'return' of our year 10s has already highlighted parents who 'didn't think 3 hours was worth it'. As always, it was the pupils we most wanted back in school.

The 'return' of our year 10s has already highlighted parents who 'didn't think 3 hours was worth it'. As always, it was the pupils we most wanted back in school.

That is an issue and likely has prompted fines from September. There’s a big group who will see no fines as a way to not bother. This doesn’t help their dc.

It’s less about making it harder for those worried about risk I reckon.

@MarshaBradyo I already had a protracted discussion about this yesterday on another thread (probably went on a bit ) but I still don't agree with fines in current circs despite this issue.

It's not ethical at current time, it conflates two different issues and tbh 'he's got a cough but the test didn't arrive' will get you two weeks off anyway.

Also, the welfare officer faffing with me will just take up scarce resource. So I still think England should follow the Welsh approach.

Completely agree op, you articulate your worries really well and so much of what you say is true. I'm really surprised with all the petitions going around that there isn't one for having the choice not to send your child to school in September without being fined or having to deregister your child particularly for children from high risk/shielding family members.

I wonder how many of us would sign such a petitionallowing parents to continue to have a choice. I know I would certainly and several people who would too.

Or children who are high risk themselves recover who are expected to return! I'd be funding increased Medical Needs Services and tuition if I was HM Gov. I'd also be using clinically vulnerable teachers to tutor (online) CV children, where possible.

Unfortunately, I am not in charge.

@Piggywaspushed-absolutely.