Is anyone not sending their secondary school child back initially?

[lastkisstoo]

I've decided to keep my 15 year old home, probably until the October hols to see what happens.

We are in Scotland. What just happened in the pubs in Aberdeen is exactly what I see happening in schools. Mostly young adults, enclosed space, no social distancing.

My child has asthma, and while not on the list for sheltering I still feel is vulnerable enough that I don't want to see him being used as a guinea pig while the government assess just how big the uptick in cases will be on schools re-opening.

A note to those in England, you will get a penalty notice if you don't send your children back and you could end up in court with a criminal record (may affect your job).

The government has taken the decision off head teachers & local authorities for this period and have said punitive action MUST be taken

@Orchidsindoors

"Because children can and will be removed from the school roll, and parents need to be aware of that and tread carefully. I'm not saying don't do it, I am just saying be careful"

This is scaremongering at it's best. They wont be removed from the school register. Local authorities have a duty to educate, they cant just take kids off the register, it's a really really long drawn out process that takes months and months. They have to be seen to be working with parents, prove they've had meetings etc and done everything they can to support the child.

It's not scare mongering and it doesn't take months. If you say you are home educating, they will be removed from roll. That same day. If you don't, punitive action will be taken, see my earlier post

@Angrywife

A note to those in England, you will get a penalty notice if you don't send your children back and you could end up in court with a criminal record (may affect your job).

The government has taken the decision off head teachers & local authorities for this period and have said punitive action MUST be taken

They have not taken the decision from local authorities at all.

They have returned it to normal after previously giving national guidance that fines etc should not be applied.

I agree about public transport. I collected mine in town earlier in the week to avoid them taking a (half empty) bus.

@labyrinthloafer

[quote Angrywife]
A note to those in England, you will get a penalty notice if you don't send your children back and you could end up in court with a criminal record (may affect your job).

The government has taken the decision off head teachers & local authorities for this period and have said punitive action MUST be taken

They have not taken the decision from local authorities at all.

They have returned it to normal after previously giving national guidance that fines etc should not be applied.[/quote]
I would agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong

The Government is opening schools for economic reasons and to appease the majority, not out of concern for kids. I really don’t think there’ll be a heavy handed approach to fines.

If you say you are home educating, they will be removed from roll. That same day.
If you don't, punitive action will be taken, see my earlier post

It is boring repeating things already covered up there, but if you DEREGISTER they get removed from roll, if you say 'dear Mr/Ms headteacher I'm concerned due to X/y/z' there is a process.

@SurroundedByIdiotsEverywhere

I think you are being far too cautious, at the end of the day it is up to you but it is DC exam year!

You do know that more children die of flu (22 in 2018) than have died of Covid-19:

As of 24th June 2020

5 children have died of coronavirus in UK:

Study of 71 children treated in pediatric intensive care units, 5 died, 63 recovered, 3 remain in intensive care

Now you know the facts about flu will you keep DC off during Winter now you have the knowledge?

The difference with flu is you know if you or a loved one have got it and if so they probably won't pass it on to a family member or friend who could then die, the problem with coronavirus which a lot of people seem to forget is that people can have it without knowing and pass it on to a vulnerable person, I am sick to death of people comparing it to the bloody flu!!!

@Angrywife

Would be grateful to see this written down somewhere as was not aware. Do you have a link?

@fedupwiththeidots

I hope you never drive either then OP. Because your child is more at risk of dying in a car crash than from COVID.

You should probably buy a giant bundle of cotton wool, to swaddle them in permanently. Who knows what could happen if you don't 😱

again, the limited thinking. Try and consider beyond the individual, FGS.

@Oaktree55

The Government is opening schools for economic reasons and to appease the majority, not out of concern for kids. I really don’t think there’ll be a heavy handed approach to fines.

The ft and fines is to stop children being neglected, educationally and otherwise (sadly).

So they may well still be heavy handed because they can’t distinguish between the posters here who care and those that don’t.

Head teachers will decide if an absence is unauthorised - and this will be referred to local authorities, who can issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, rising to £120 if not paid within 21 days.

This was my understanding of the situation - it is with heads and councils as normal. Happy to be shown an updated article or government statement.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53221741

I’ve checked all news stories, press conferences, announcements and government guidance and can’t find it said anywhere that gov have taken decision from leas and heads

Please provide a credible source

And as people have said again and again. It’s not just about dying from it it’s about the long term effects.

@Diplidally

I’ve checked all news stories, press conferences, announcements and government guidance and can’t find it said anywhere that gov have taken decision from leas and heads

Please provide a credible source

I don't think it has been said, some people just want it that way!

@Orchidsindoors

"Because children can and will be removed from the school roll, and parents need to be aware of that and tread carefully. I'm not saying don't do it, I am just saying be careful"

This is scaremongering at it's best. They wont be removed from the school register. Local authorities have a duty to educate, they cant just take kids off the register, it's a really really long drawn out process that takes months and months. They have to be seen to be working with parents, prove they've had meetings etc and done everything they can to support the child.

How is it scaremongering to warn people of what the situation is? I'm not against people choosing to keep their kids off, I am all for it, but they need to know children can be taken off roll after 2 weeks. It happens. There is absolutely no point in people who don't know anything about it saying its scaremongering.

Yep it’s a 1 in 230 chance of dying in a RTA over one’s lifetime in the UK and this figure is rising. It’s one in 20,000 per year for each of us as opposed to 1 in over 65000 for COVID for under 45s. The risk is actually zero for under 15s.

If you are seriously keeping your child out of school when they have no health issues because you are worried about their health/ losing their life then logically you should never let them in a car or on a bike again.

If it’s to protect another family member I wonder if it is fair to risk your child’s education which may have long term consequences for their health, success and wellbeing for that person. I wonder if there may be another solution. I would not expect my children to sacrifice their education for anyone else. I just wouldn’t.

I doubt any of the school staff will be travelling by bus.

How do you think school staff will be travelling?

@SurroundedByIdiotsEverywhere

I think you are being far too cautious, at the end of the day it is up to you but it is DC exam year!

You do know that more children die of flu (22 in 2018) than have died of Covid-19:

As of 24th June 2020

5 children have died of coronavirus in UK:

Study of 71 children treated in pediatric intensive care units, 5 died, 63 recovered, 3 remain in intensive care

Now you know the facts about flu will you keep DC off during Winter now you have the knowledge?

stop being silly.

Covid is a hundred times more deadly than flu.

We have a vaccine against flu

I just wonder how some of you manage to live such sheltered lives? Do you not yourselves have to go out and earn a living? Lucky you if not

Asa teacher I have been in school teaching and will be doing so again in 2 weeks time. Masks not allowed. I have been on buses, taxis and trains. My colleagues some of whom have vulnerable children or parents living at home likewise.

Once furlough is over this will be the case for everyone.

How long do you/ your children expect to stay at home for? Until there’s a vaccine? Because you could be waiting a v long time.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that universities or employers will take into account reasons why your child does not have comparable qualifications or experiences to his or her peers. These decisions could have far reaching consequences which affect health and wellbeing much more than COVID

Mosquitofeast not for children! Flu is worse for them than COVID

children can be taken off roll after 2 weeks

I can get only speak for my own area but this contrary to the school and council policy.

If there is no contact, maybe, but not if you explain. They have to start a process.

I just wonder how some of you manage to live such sheltered lives? Do you not yourselves have to go out and earn a living?

Yes of course, but that doesn't mean no social distancing in schools is the right approach.

I don't live a sheltered life, imo, I just don't agree with the school guidance for secondary schools.

You can see deaths by age group here www.cebm.net/covid-19/covid-19-death-data-in-england-update-2nd-july/

Under 25 is negligible. Significantly less than flu, much less than other childhood illness and RTAs. Children are at least risk.

Nearly 50% of deaths have been in care homes.

Some of you really do need to educate yourselves