Thread to state that you will not be playing a part in the experiment of secondary schools reopening as normal with no masks, no social distancing, no additional cleaning and no additional transport

[TheKarenWhoKnocks]

The arguments have all been hashed out many times on other threads. This thread is for parents to state that they won't be participating in this and will not be sending their young people back to secondary school as things stand. Not deregistering, just not attending. Phoning in sick, phoning in as self isolating etc but not sending them in.

I state that I am not going to send my children to secondary school under current proposals.

@Diplidally I couldn’t give a flying fig if others keep their kids home and I don’t judge anyone who doesn’t as it’s nothing to do with me.

I just don’t see the point of starting yet another thread on this subject which has been discussed over and over , there are many many threads already, all saying the exact same thing. It’s gone bonkers on here!

@Diplidally

If you’re sending you’re kids fine. If you’re ok with you’re decision then there’s no need to be defensive and nasty to those who aren’t. Calling others wrong doesn’t make you right.

Because there is no wrong or right.

Ditto if you’re not sending them then that’s great too. No need to judge those who are sending kids - although I’ve seen minimal cases of this. I just wanted to say it to be balanced.

I just don’t get the nastiness from those who seem angry people they don’t know are home schooling kids temporarily. It’s concerning Behavior:

I know exactly what you mean @Diplidally I have to keep reminding myself that it’s because they love their kids but don’t perhaps have any choices at the moment, or at least real choices.

People need/hope to send for a vast variety of reasons - be them financial, mental health, socialisation, educational.... Some people feel able to provide those things in the interim. It’s a crap set of circumstances all round at the moment. Everyone is just trying to work out their own least crap option and that is so personal to them - as you say no right or wrong.

We shouldn’t be arguing, we should be pushing the government to make schools as safe as possible for those that need (and hopefully choose to attend).

Furthermore I think we should be thinking about how we can make the choice a real one for as many as possible in these unprecedented times.

Trying to stamp out choice and bully with threats just isn’t a good look. And if it is rooted in concern about education, then that further strengthens my point - good teachers don’t get results by bullying, they get results by understanding starting points that maybe different from their own.

People will make the choice to take their children out. The schools need to make classrooms safer. But they can’t do this without support.

Why isn’t the government giving more time to a plan B (each school must have a split of vulnerable and non vulnerable staff and a maximum socially distanced capacity). Pretending it’s ok for vulnerable staff to go back is not ok. Let’s try and use these staff before they’re understandably pushed out with stress.

Why aren’t schools being given the time to work out what they can offer as a plan B??? Maybe they are?.... 🙏

Making provision for different children and circumstances might cost money. Just bunging them in is free. Then if it goes wrong, “unfortunately” the government would just have to act quick - no time to plan and spend.

The government needs to admit to this being a cost decision. And stop banging on about the best interests of children - schools regularly shutting is no good for anyone.

They’re currently behaving like bullies and when leaders do that I guess people just copy.

But people are facing crap circumstances/choices at the moment - so it’s probably circumstances talking rather than the people. (Reminding myself again, I know that I’m lucky to have choice. I think about all the times in my life when I wouldn’t have had a choice. Loads of people are in impossible circumstances at the moment.)

This thread was clearly about trying to find like minded people for support; perhaps because people feel bullied by the government at the moment.

Bad leaders try and divide people and that’s exactly what’s starting to happen.

So glad that most posts read like people who care about choice and supporting everyone (teachers included!!) to find their best possible compromise. Sending support to those who aren’t in that place at the moment.

And if you don’t want to see threads surely the best thing to do is ignore? Then they go down the list??

If people comment and chat then there is still a need?

Best strategy in the classroom is often to ignore unwanted behaviour because it normally goes away quicker.

If it doesn’t go away because people want to talk about it and join in then that is normally because there is an issue that needs addressing.

But obviously it’s fine just to opt out and not read - after all nobody’s actual teacher is in the room. We are all just looking to talk and hear about stuff and have choice about which thread we engage with and which we choose to ignore.

@Diplidally

I really wish the government had put time and effort into coming up with and funding imaginative solutions instead of blindly and stubbornly insisting all kids go back full times or there are fines.

They could have invested in so many things that help many different plans:

Outdoor temporary buildings to help with distancing on site or local parks

Using other public buildings for the above

Bolstering the oak academy and maybe even combining with bbc bitesize to provide tv content for those without laptops For those who want to homeschool

Providing laptops and tablets etc for the same

Financial support for parents or their employers if children go back Part time to allow social distancing

Invest in more hand washing facilities such outdoor wash stations

There are so many things they could have considered.

But no they just said carry on as normal. It’s woeful and slack. They couldn’t even offer the money for some hand gel.

I still haven’t decided what I’ll do and I support everyone’s decision. But surely we can all see that this is a shambles. That they could have done more. They didn’t even try, they just come up with slogans and deadlines.

Yes!!!! This!!! I feel like we could be the same person with different logins reading your posts atm! (But we are not! 😂😂😂)

Do don't send your children in, OP. But you can see from the eighty five million threads on this that the overwhelming majority of parents want schools to go back as near normal as possible. We have to take the first steps. As long as you don't expect teachers to be setting work for your kids, then do what you want and stop trying to hold everyone else back.

Actually no. Yes I am sending mine into school, I am far more worried about my SN son and his emotional wellbeing and education than Covid,

They bring said, not sure I understand the point of the thread.

@MiniTheMinx

I feel I have no choice but send DS back, he is in his final year. If he wasn't I would keep him home. We have home educated in the past for primary.

I don't believe it will be safe.

I'm a bit puzzled by your plan though. Will the school not require you have your child tested? because if a child tests positive then this means the children and adults they have been in contact with should self isolate. If you refuse to test this makes you look extremely socially irresponsible. Not the point you are trying to make is it?

Whilst I agree that no child should be made to be derigester in these circumstances, and loose their school place, I don't see how adding to the workload and anxiety of others can be tolerated.

The government should really be giving parents three options. Full time, supported home schooling with appropriate resources or derigester.

The government have not acted ethically. They have failed in their duty to ensure children receive an education. The reason though they can not be legally challenged is because the education act makes clear that parents are responsible for ensuring their children recieve an education. Please see section 7.

But as far as I am aware (not having read all and every amendment to it) it doesn't state

1)where this education should take place (this I do know)
2) that if that education is not in school the child must be derigestered. (???? although the act states the parent does not have a legal duty to inform anyone or request a child to be derigestered)
3) that a school place can not be part time if a child is also educated elsewhere (this I do know)
4) that a parent can not legally co-opt the services of education professionals, or schools to provide a child's education in part (this I do know)

In view of the fact that you are not legally required to derigester in order to keep your child off school, and that the government withdrew its education provision without requiring parents to wholly provide an education, I think any action such as fines is reckless on their part.

My logic is as follows. Parent has legal duty under section 7, parent contracts with statutory provision to provide education, this contract is discretionary and entered into by choice. (this fact is wilfully obscured to parents) the parent gives up the responsibility of providing the full time efficient......education to the state. The state in its dishonesty implies to all that the state has the legal duty to have to provide education. If something is "implied" and wilfully it continues to be implied so that certain facts are obscured to one side then we have all kinds of interesting questions!!!

But you will get visits and letters, you will be wasting a lot of time. But even that is ridiculous.....no one sent SS round during lockdown to every child not in school, no one gave a fig then about those children's welfare. So you know it's about state control not welfare or education.

Thanks for this, you’re really kind. I hope things go well for your son.

My plan is to send a completely honest email about our plans (but express them as a proposal rather than concrete). I will also make one throw away comment about having a cough at the moment.

I’m hoping to get a supportive response, I’ll just be putting the throw away comment there in case I do need to buy myself some time.

I think what you describe will be what happens - common sense will prevail, it may just take some time with this government! I trust the school and as a teacher for many years understand how different staff within the school will be feeling (to some degree). They’ll completely understand. And they’ll be rooting for us just like I, and many others, are rooting for them atm.

I do expect to get support from my school and I definitely don’t want to waste their time. It’s just the government I don’t trust; I don’t think they’ll get way with what they’re proposing for long (if at all) but I’m going to go in carefully.

Honesty is normally right at the top of my list but this government and what they’re prepared to do scares me. And scared people can turn subversive. I really hope they sort themselves out before September (which I know is too late for Scotland, Leicester and maybe other places?).

If there’s more chaos in September because people do just choose to play the system, I blame the government for the system and not reading the room.

I don't understand all these "not sending them back in September" threads. It wasn't that long ago posters were saying "mine aren't going back in June I'll wait until September". Send them back or don't your choice but don't keep banging on about it.

[quote TheKarenWhoKnocks]@Hercwasonaroll is there a way of me doing this legitimately then? Because if there is, I gladly will. But I'm not seeing anything telling me this.[/quote]
Decisions have consequences.

Your decision to not send your children back has the consequence of having their school place withdrawn.

So the choice is simple, isn't it? And very clear. You can't wriggle out of the consequences of your actions.

That went well OP didn't it

@Hyperfish101. Yes I am also much more worried about DC mental health than Covid .

Do what you like OP, i just want to say anyone doing this, still working and expect their colleagues to pick up any slack because they of kids interfering with their work hours can go take a hike

I'm keeping my children at home OP: but I've been honest about why, and kept the lines of communication open with the school.

In a way it's easier for me to justify, as I'm in the (paused) shielded group, but I do think it's generally better to be honest, although I can see the temptation to pull a sicky.

I can't imagine any fines given out next term being upheld if challenged: it's so patently ridiculous.

I think that the people so angry with - and sneery towards - the OP are taking it out on the wrong people.

Good for you. Best get saving for your fines. DS will be going and he can’t wait.

Totally understand your choice not to send your kids back. I would support you in your choice.

Equally I would expect you to support me in my choice to send my kids to school.

So be honest about what you're doing.

Don't invent covid symptoms (how many fake symptoms does it take to close a school).

Don't let your kids socialise outside of school.

Don't expect schools to inform you of in school education. You school your children, or they do. Don't expect teachers to double time.

If there is capacity in the school and in catchment children want a space, expect to relinquish your child's space.

Take responsibility for your kids education. Or let the school do it. Don't expect to have your cake and eat it. There are millions of kids. They can't all have custom made solutions.

Absolutely agree, tilder.

there was a poster the other day emoting about being murdered by her dcs if she sent them back... drilling down (well, one did not have to drill too far, actually) what she wanted was to keep her dc's highly sought-after grammar school place open until she felt she wanted her dc to return. So, yes, cake and eat it.

And all those who want home learning to continue from teachers for their dc, whilst the teacher is simultaneously trying to teach a live class at school.

Home school or real school. There's your choice. It's not a great choice for most people, but demanding the holding of places ad infinitum or bespoke programmes for your dc is unworkable and selfish.

I haven’t made my mind il yet but if I do homeschool I’ll do it off my own back. I wouldn’t expect teachers to help and I haven’t seen any suggest they do really.

People seem to be very keen to see things at the extremes of black and white these days. They see people as being the extreme and imagine scenarios and put words in their mouth based on one tiny bit of info.

It’s weird.

I totally support everyone no matter what their decision. Life is not black and white and we all have different circumstances.

My children will 100% be going to school in September. One of them never stopped going and the other went back late June.
They are both looking forward to it as am i.

Well of we are making statements then mine is that I am very relieved that DC1 will be starting Reception in September and that the school have given no indication that anything will be different. If it turns out they are going to try and enforce social distancing between 4 year olds or withdrawing any physical comfort from them that's when I'll be complaining.

@Diplidally

I totally support everyone no matter what their decision. Life is not black and white and we all have different circumstances.

Completely agree. It’s very weird.

As is the forceful delivery of “facts” about homeschooling and deregistering. This thread has helped me though, really appreciate the LA repeated comments and the similarly minded interaction with yet more individuals, people I’ve not met on other threads. There are a lot of us about.

*related

@tilder

Totally understand your choice not to send your kids back. I would support you in your choice.

Equally I would expect you to support me in my choice to send my kids to school.

So be honest about what you're doing.

Don't invent covid symptoms (how many fake symptoms does it take to close a school).

Don't let your kids socialise outside of school.

Don't expect schools to inform you of in school education. You school your children, or they do. Don't expect teachers to double time.

If there is capacity in the school and in catchment children want a space, expect to relinquish your child's space.

Take responsibility for your kids education. Or let the school do it. Don't expect to have your cake and eat it. There are millions of kids. They can't all have custom made solutions.

Our school has already provided maths and English schemes of work. I suspect at a click of a button 🤷‍♀️🙄

Lose a school place or risk fines isn't much of a choice tbh

I'm still undecided. Usually all new uniform and kits are in ready for September but I haven't bought a thing yet. Most worried about secondary. Public transport and different classes for form classes and some subjects. US schools just opened are showing that the virus does, obviously spread in schools. More worried about my child missing out on the social aspect of school. Mood and actual education was good whilst homelearning