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.

Even with asthma he is far more likely to be run over by a bus than die of Covid

This ^^

It's already been established that there is more chance your child will get covid than be run over by a bus.
People seem to think that there are 2 options with covid, either dying or being absolutely fine. I think this is born out of wishful thinking to be honest, as people think the chances of them dying is low. Actually there is a massive in between. The part where where they survive but have long lasting effects from covid. These are the people who are struggling with energy up to months after having it. Those with severe breathing problems. Those whose hearts are weakened and those who have strokes. Again people will think "oh that wont happen to me", but it is happening to loads and loads of people, who now need long term care. I dont want that for my child, or for my other vulnerable family members. So fk off with the "your child is more likely to be run over by a bus cr. Covid is here. It is absolutely here and it is a disease I dont want anywhere near my family.

I agree with Orchid . Heart problems seem particularly prevalent post covid infection. The “lungs” thread shows many people struggling months after infection, with no way of knowing if their health will be damaged permanently.
I have auto immune disease and am in my mid fifties. Daughter has an auto immune disease and is 15. My DH is late forties, and very fit, but looking at how ill the younger and also very fit Dr Xand has been is frightening. Covid could leave any of us with very different health. It isn’t a get through it or die situation, the long term health consequences are as much of a worry.

I think there are lots of valid points being made here... I guess my big question in relation to OPs original post is - if parents aren’t going to send their DC back in Sep, then when? Or what would the situation need to look like in order for those parents to feel comfortable sending their DC back... and logistically how would this work? As post people have said the virus or the after effects aren’t going anywhere soon...

Can't speak for the OP but personally I'd be happier if:

• proper test and track in place
• social distancing in schools
• no uniform in schools so fresh clothes every day
• temperature checks in schools
• e-learning up and running in anticipation of sudden shut downs and ideally to provide a part time timetable
• home school agreement for parents to stick to SD guidelines in their lives outside school
• masks
• PPE for teachers
• where possible especially in September lessons and classrooms outside

Remy, for me it's a wait and see. Ie see what the figures are like nearer the time. At the moment they are on their way up again and I cant see anything being put in place to help stop that. Boris mentioned putting on the breaks, but to be honest I wasnt going to go to a skate park or casino any time soon. My kids are in High school, so more likely to get it or bring it home (bubbles of 250 and seeing about 10 different teachers /staff a day, and sitting squished 3 to a desk meant for 2).

High school kids can do their learning from home and dont need me to be here to supervise, even though I will be because wfh.

Oh yeah and lower numbers than we have now re general circulation of this thing. We haven't really quashed it yet.

Keeping a year 11 at home is absolutely crazy. GCSC year.
We have a 14 year old he'll be at school the day it opens.
If I ask him if he wants to stay he'll love to but I won't allow him. I also think that he and others at school already had corona back in February as he was really unwell for 2 weeks.

home school agreement for parents to stick to SD guidelines in their lives outside school

Instant dismissal for teachers caught on social media not SD outside school?

@TheKarenWhoKnocks @Orchidsindoors it’s such a shame that these provisions haven’t been put in place prior to the summer holidays, I fear that without major government intervention Now the schools will be left to work it out for themselves come end of the summer hols... in my personal opinion I’d be sending my DC back into secondary in September but it’s easily said when it’s not your children. As I said previously if I were to keep them off I would have to be sure that I could provide an equal level of education/social interaction at home, and that I was creating an environment where their exposure to the virus was virtually zero for the pros to outweigh the cons/risks as they stand.

- home school agreement for parents to stick to SD guidelines in their lives outside school.

Hahahaha yes because that will be enforceable. Will teachers have to adhere to this too!?

The agreement is more to kind of focus the mind. Childminder friends who have reopened have certainly written it into their contracts as they don't want contact with people who aren't following guidelines. Obviously scale makes it difficult to translate but I think you have to at least set up an expectation.

@Remy82

@Mrsherculepoirot has it summed up. This would work imo.

*it isn’t as ideal as all being back as before, but with time and planning we could make it work the best we could. Students we identify as vulnerable
or without tech at home could be supported by being in more during their time when they would be at home. We could probably provide some tech for students who need it.

There are many other options if the government sorted itself out and was prepared to spend ANY money at all on education*

[quote labyrinthloafer]@Morfin I also keep pondering it must be challengeable in court, it is not at all like the person who lost the appeal against the fine for a holiday.

Especially anyone with documented health conserns in an area of high cases, it doesn't seem it could be legal to fine a parent for genuine concern.

In UK law, education is still the parents' responsibility.

I would be interested to know what the government's legal advice was and whether Welsh legal advice was different![/quote]
Gavin did refer to “very good reasons”. I think they know it’s still a justifiable reason.

It reminds me of our first mobile phone policy at school. Policies will probably have changed now.... But back in the day students’ mobile phones were strictly disallowed. We knew people would bring them but we really didn’t want to be responsible for them.

Similar here. They don’t want to be responsible for those that choose not to attend. It’s actually less caring for those that are vulnerable.

They should be looking to make school as safe as possible so parents are happier to send their children. There should be more liaison between home and school - instead they’ve put up this fines barrier. The opposite of caring.

I’m with you though - I can’t see how it’s enforceable.

The head at the DCs' school has been clear that parents playing silly buggers with attendance in September will simply not be tolerated.

Unless there is evidence from a medical consultant showing that a DC absolutely cannot be in school, parents who don't send their D.C. will be reported to the Education Welfare Officer and Social Services for truancy prosecution and referred to hospital for anxiety treatment.

What anxiety treatment is that then? That they do in hospital, I mean.

There are more risks than first thought of Covid spreading in schools

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/05/covid-19-may-spread-more-easily-schools-than-thought-report-warns

Good for you OP.

Home educator here - we've been using a mix of resources but my child is only in year 6/7. Once they get to GCSE age, I wouldn't be attempting to do that kind of stuff on my own. Definitely not with BBC Bitesize!
Khan Academy is good, ConquerMaths is very good. But once mine is a few years older, I'll be looking at getting a tutor for any subject taken at GCSE, or possibly an online GCSE type of thing we have to pay for - although face to face one on one tuition would be my preference.

By all means keep him off - but that fact you think you can rely on Bitesize for a 15/16 year old approaching exams indicates you may not have thought through the educational implications for him. It's also pretty hard for students to motivate themselves to learn at home without someone cracking the whip... Which why I favour the tutor thing.

It depresses me that in England parents will be fined for keeping kids off. Lots of people will be forced to deregister and be thrown into the deep end with home ed without the usual groups, museum visits and social stuff that home educators normally rely on so much for support.

[quote purplerain2020]@SengaStrawberry

It isn't adequate but then just like we are asking teachers to 'step up to the mark' as parents we need to do the same. I'm not talking about the at-risk children but the children of parents like yourself who clearly care about your child welfare and education. Teachers have a right to have protection in their workplace. They are not currently being offered it. The Government has failed us all by not getting an effective T&T in place ready for schools opening. The report in the Lancet shows that without it we will probably have a second wave bigger than the first by December with all the disruption to education that that entails. Even before that, there will be schools shutting all over the place because of teachers having to isolate. Just because I want the schools to open full time as they were before with no disruption, doesn't mean that is what I'm going to get. In fact, I am certain that is not what I'm going to get.

I'm personally sick of hanging on to the words of the likes of Boris Johnson and Gavin Williamson in regards to my children's education. It won't be forgotten by the next election. I intend to step up to the mark in the meantime and try my best to fill the gaps that no doubt will occur when schools are closing left right and centre. I'm spending my time looking for resources and having my own Plan B. They can't be relied upon. I agree this is all an utter nightmare but it is the Government that has failed the parents, the teachers and the children.[/quote]
Completely agree.

@SpanishPork

The head at the DCs' school has been clear that parents playing silly buggers with attendance in September will simply not be tolerated.

Unless there is evidence from a medical consultant showing that a DC absolutely cannot be in school, parents who don't send their D.C. will be reported to the Education Welfare Officer and Social Services for truancy prosecution and referred to hospital for anxiety treatment.

Gosh he really has come out strong. Surprised that’s not made the papers 🤔

DC will be returning to school, despite recent deshielding.

Yes, I am concerned about the risks (secondary age) but unless/until there is good blended/offsite learning, then I think they should be there.

Especially as we might have to suspend attendance if there is burst bubble anywhere in the school or a local lockdown (even if school remains open/partly open)

referred to hospital for anxiety treatment.

I had to laugh at this one. People with genuine anxiety and mental health problems often have to wait for months or even years to get any treatment. The backlog is likely to get even bigger and they're going to add to it by sending parents for treatment?

People can't even get a face to face with a GP but are going to bet getting help with their anxiety?

@TheKarenWhoKnocks

What anxiety treatment is that then? That they do in hospital, I mean.

Hope it’s covid secure.

@SpanishPork

The head at the DCs' school has been clear that parents playing silly buggers with attendance in September will simply not be tolerated.

Unless there is evidence from a medical consultant showing that a DC absolutely cannot be in school, parents who don't send their D.C. will be reported to the Education Welfare Officer and Social Services for truancy prosecution and referred to hospital for anxiety treatment.

😂 There will be a vaccine before the parents have made it to the top of the waiting list for 'anxiety' treatment. As for 'Truancy prosecution' the educational welfare department looks to support before prosecution, any way they will be snowed under with cases that are much more complex then not wanting to return because of Covid.