For those parents who fear the reopening of schools

[jomartin281271]

There are many parents around the country who don't believe the government's propaganda that schools are safe. If you are one of them, you can connect with other like-minded parents on this Facebook group.
Boycott Return To Unsafe Schools.

www.facebook.com/groups/657607021743154

NewStartPlease
Middle-class hysteria. Selfish as well. No thoughts for their kids mental, social or educational well-being.
Home school or shut up.

Ok, I'm going to hide Mumsnet for today, not feeling robust enough for this.
Have been tying myself in knots worrying about ds going back in September- he's shielded until now.
If we feel it is unsafe come September, our only choice will be to de register and home school. This isn't something I particularly want to do, especially as it has taken 6 years to get the best support and a decent EHCP, and it will be his last year at primary...but it will be that or fines.
I am probably going to give up my part time job in a preschool, as that is another layer of risk.
Middle class hysteria my fucking arse.

Why are people so keen for our state schools to be the absolutely worst environment in the whole of Europe? It's scandalous how many millions have been siphoned off to non delivering companies and yet no money for schools.

Our children and teachers are being let down hugely.

The MPs have their kids in private schools who will be doing SD, small bubbles, proper hand washing facilities. Why are we accepting so much less for our own kids?

@IloveJKRowling

“ Why are we accepting so much less for our own kids?”

Exactly! In complete agreement.

I want government to give as much money to schools to allow this to happen as they have to sweet companies for PPE (not delivered) and their mates through non competitive tenders.

What they should have done is given schools the money to organise themselves in whatever way suited their communities. We could have found options.

@ohthegoats

I want government to give as much money to schools to allow this to happen as they have to sweet companies for PPE (not delivered) and their mates through non competitive tenders.

What they should have done is given schools the money to organise themselves in whatever way suited their communities. We could have found options.

Agree!

@IloveJKRowling I like to think it’s one person with lots of logins! Can’t believe it’s a common view. At least I’ll choose not to.

@Bupkis such an impossible situation for you, I really can’t see deregistering being required. I think there is a minority on here who are trying to make others feel as crappy as they perhaps are atm. Hope you have a good day, days away from phones I find normally are! Take care

@IloveJKRowling

Why are people so keen for our state schools to be the absolutely worst environment in the whole of Europe? It's scandalous how many millions have been siphoned off to non delivering companies and yet no money for schools.

Our children and teachers are being let down hugely.

The MPs have their kids in private schools who will be doing SD, small bubbles, proper hand washing facilities. Why are we accepting so much less for our own kids?

This. Spot on!

Schools are the only place that don't have mandated mitigation measures in place

This is (thankfully) not true. Have you actually looked at your local schools' plans for reopening? My son is at 6th form college (they are starting one week on and one week remote) and his old secondary school has pages and pages of plans for a safe(r) reopening.

Of course I am concerned. The government is expecting them to stay open with no social distancing or anything else other working people have. The government hasn't given them a penny extra funding, and now what chances do they have of getting any additional funding?

I have underlying health issues, and my teen ds was shit scared in the beginning when everyone around him was dropping like flies. I'm his only parent, and he still hasn't fully gotten over the emotional and psychological side of nearly losing me a number of times over the past year.

I am concerned about Boris stance that in the second wave, schools will stay open.
I am concerned that is this bubble bollocks that two people have to get positive tested before the bubble is closed.

I am concerned about pupils with underlying health conditions who have been shielding. Many will now be deemed fit for school because government are changing the shielding groups.

I am concerned about the staff. who are working with the pupils and expected to sit in airless rooms with 30+ other people. Don't think I've seen 30 shoppers in a shop yet tbh.

Thankfully his school is supportive and rather than have me deregister him, he will be able to work from home. Thankfully the ed pysch my son sees has been pushing for this, and just before CV. he was already doing some blended learning. If this wasn't allowed I would de-regsiter him,

Someone said oh but the home schooled will miss out on so much like socialising with their. mates. I'm sure the guidelines permit you to meet someone else from another household? Walked past the football pitch from the local gym yesterday, and adults were playing football!

Then of course, there is the stability needed that will the current guidance for school offers zero.

THere is a fabulous home school network that I used years ago when I had to home ed another secondary schooler. Since then it has grown. I've remained in contact with them over the years, and there always seems to be a couple of secondary school teachers in the my local network. They quit, home ed and tutor.

Yes they lose their space, but not like this thing is going to magically disappear in the next few months. Look at New Zealand, big pats on the back for gotten rid of it until now and it's back. Look at how well schools reopening with social distancing and masks in schools in America.

However, every pupil deregistered is less money for the school until they fill that space. Schools need to hang on to every student they have. Those on the waiting lists might decide fuck it, my dc is better off where they are!! I know I would have carried on home schooling if a place became available.

We're already officially in a recession. We simply can't afford to have schools closed and parents unable to work effectively any longer than we have had. My DC cannot go on without school any longer for the sake of their mental health and wellbeing as well as their education.

This is (thankfully) not true. Have you actually looked at your local schools' plans for reopening? My son is at 6th form college (they are starting one week on and one week remote) and his old secondary school has pages and pages of plans for a safe(r) reopening.

Schools are not allowed rotas.

My school also has pages and pages of plans but they’re tinkering around the edges because that’s all the government guidance allows.

Yes, the water fountains will be closed and pupils will be “encouraged” to remember to bring their own bloody pens to school.

They will, however, still be packed into small poorly-ventilated classrooms and once an hour there will be a massive scrum in the corridors as they all change rooms (albeit within their ginormous leaky bubbles) at once.

@cologne4711

Schools are the only place that don't have mandated mitigation measures in place

This is (thankfully) not true. Have you actually looked at your local schools' plans for reopening? My son is at 6th form college (they are starting one week on and one week remote) and his old secondary school has pages and pages of plans for a safe(r) reopening.

Yes I have actually looked at the schools plan for reopening.

Secondary they all arrive at the same time and enter the school.
Lack of space means there will be zero social distancing.
Only certain classes have hand wash facilities.
There are 18 toilets for pupil use, there's around 1500 pupils.
There will be no one way system because of the design of the school.
There will be no staggered lunches other than what they currently do 11:45 - 1:30 ish, just like many other school who already do 3 or so sittings for lunch.

Guidelines say on entry they have to wash hands.
Guidelines say before they eat wash hands
Guidelines say the toilets have to be cleaned regularly, by who?

Oops did I say wash hands when something is shared, those shared things are supposed to be locked away according to government guideline for cleaning.

As a parent I know the "bubble" is a myth.
As a parent I know your "save" one way systems and staggering will implode during the first mandated fire drill.

As a parent I know there is no social distancing in a class of 30. I know windows don't open or they do put limited like hotels. I know there is zero ventilation in those classrooms. As a parent I am aware that Boris wants us to believe that schools have magic walls and doors to protect them. I know Boris has said they are fine and something about a moral duty. But where is the moral duty to protect staff and pupils?

I am concerned that is this bubble bollocks that two people have to get positive tested before the bubble is closed.

Not necessarily even then.

From the government guidance:
If schools have two or more confirmed cases within 14 days, or an overall rise in sickness absence where coronavirus (COVID-19) is suspected, they may have an outbreak, and must continue to work with their local health protection team who will be able to advise if additional action is required.

Schools aren’t big enough for social distancing and the bubble idea doesn’t work. Children have siblings in different classes and different schools. They travel to school by bus and tube. They use different after school care providers and attend different after school clubs. They visit family and friends, go to the supermarket, their parents work in different organisations. The bubble at school is pointless.

@Doyoumind

We're already officially in a recession. We simply can't afford to have schools closed and parents unable to work effectively any longer than we have had. My DC cannot go on without school any longer for the sake of their mental health and wellbeing as well as their education.

Which also means schools won't get any money.

It will also mean that apart from taxes rising, more cuts will be made and think about what budgets always get cut?

Yes we all agree children need education. The current guidelines do not allow for this.

The recession was predicted a few months ago when the government started to find more magic money trees to pay for things like the eat out scheme. Government could have also saved a fortune by not doing the mates deals and not tendering them out. The government have wasted how much so far on track and trace? Billions of money on something that on a global level already existed!!

I haven’t read the whole thread, but please be aware we take children off roll after 10 days absence. Maybe send in once a week

@HipTightOnions

I am concerned that is this bubble bollocks that two people have to get positive tested before the bubble is closed.

Not necessarily even then.

From the government guidance:
If schools have two or more confirmed cases within 14 days, or an overall rise in sickness absence where coronavirus (COVID-19) is suspected, they may have an outbreak, and must continue to work with their local health protection team who will be able to advise if additional action is required.

I completely forgot about that little clause.

I know nhs staff attached to schools aren't happy. Those based in schools have to follow the schools guidelines for a lot of things in accordance of course with NHS. And according to government guidelines for some reason ppe isn't needed in schools. One is looking to transfer out and go back to hospitals!!

@Bupkis in case you’ve not logged off yet, please don’t let the cruel commenters on here get to you. I don’t know why they do it.

Look after yourself and try not to worry. You’re really not alone on feeling anxious about this decision. It can feel sometimes like we’re the ones who are overreacting, especially when commenters say that on threads that are meant to be supportive, not for yet more debating. But look wider and we’re not. It’s a global pandemic, other countries are mostly not approaching school return in the same way (they have smaller classes, larger premises, more teachers, more online learning etc). The vast majority of workplaces are putting in distancing measures. We are not overly-anxious to question what to do, because we’re not being given a decent choice (yet).

It’s like working in a kitchen, not being provided with oven gloves, wanting to discuss things like using tea towels or letting the grill cool down first, and having a load of people screaming at you to just take the hot baking tray out bare-handed or quit your job.

Let’s keep discussing tea towels! Because they’re really not an unreasonable request.

@Clive222

I haven’t read the whole thread, but please be aware we take children off roll after 10 days absence. Maybe send in once a week

How does this work with students who have underlying health issues and are often off school for long periods of time?

How will that work with 14 days isolation for suspected CV?
How will that work is a pupil does get Cv? Like with any illness, you have to isolate for 24 hours after you needed any intervention to reduce temperature.

@Clive222

I haven’t read the whole thread, but please be aware we take children off roll after 10 days absence. Maybe send in once a week

With no process, nothing? That is not how my school operates according the their written policy.

"I am concerned that is this bubble bollocks that two people have to get positive tested before the bubble is closed."

I'm concerned that teachers aren't in a bubble at all. So a teacher can teach Year 7/8/9/10/11/12/13 and if they test positive and there's no effect on the kids who were in contact. Not even a requirement for the kids in their classes to take a test I think? Also the reverse- a teacher can teach someone who tests positive but doesn't have to test/isolate etc if the year bubble bursts?

@netflixismysidehustle

"I am concerned that is this bubble bollocks that two people have to get positive tested before the bubble is closed."

I'm concerned that teachers aren't in a bubble at all. So a teacher can teach Year 7/8/9/10/11/12/13 and if they test positive and there's no effect on the kids who were in contact. Not even a requirement for the kids in their classes to take a test I think? Also the reverse- a teacher can teach someone who tests positive but doesn't have to test/isolate etc if the year bubble bursts?

That's why I refer to is as bubble bollocks, a unicorn, a myth.

Parents talk about the pressure they face from their bosses to get back to work. They should try working at a school!! One HT gives all the staff members a list of various emergency childcare solutions when they start!

You have an appointment during school hours that cannot be rescheduled and you think about just cancelling the damn appointment because it's less hassle.

Another school had to get the union in after a bad flu outbreak, and those bloody back to work things. Asked what can you do to reduce your sickness? Get tough. with parents sending in their sick kids! Many were getting the usual warnings and monitored etc hence union got brought in.

I'm glad I jumped before CV. And I admit anytime someone suggests a nhs style recruitment for education I do pee a bit from laughing.

@Bupkis

NewStartPlease Middle-class hysteria. Selfish as well. No thoughts for their kids mental, social or educational well-being. Home school or shut up.

Ok, I'm going to hide Mumsnet for today, not feeling robust enough for this.
Have been tying myself in knots worrying about ds going back in September- he's shielded until now.
If we feel it is unsafe come September, our only choice will be to de register and home school. This isn't something I particularly want to do, especially as it has taken 6 years to get the best support and a decent EHCP, and it will be his last year at primary...but it will be that or fines.
I am probably going to give up my part time job in a preschool, as that is another layer of risk.
Middle class hysteria my fucking arse.

I'm sorry 🌷 I've read several of your posts & I think you're in a very difficult position.

If I were you, he'd be 'self isolating' for a good few weeks. They'd have to push me, I wouldn't choose to jump (de Reg)

I think it's going to take a few strong parents to go to court to see just how strong their case is for fining parents - especially those who were officially shielding!

I am hoping/assuming that children who were shielding will have the option of attending or not when the time actually comes and I seriously doubt any fines will be given & definitely not enforced.

Anything else surely has to be beyond even our Govt?!

The world would not end if parents were given the choice whether to send their kids this term or not

Vulnerable teachers/school staff to work online with those kids (or homepacks if no WiFi/devices)

& those that want/need to send them in, can.

Teachers & children to wear face coverings

Govt support schools to install far more hand washing facilities & fund onsite cleaners.

Keeping places for a term really shouldn't be an issue.

It’s like working in a kitchen, not being provided with oven gloves, wanting to discuss things like using tea towels or letting the grill cool down first, and having a load of people screaming at you to just take the hot baking tray out bare-handed or quit your job.

Great analogy, it's exactly like that. Except worse.