No masks allowed for children in my dc's primary school - teachers, can the head day this??

[PCatwalk]

She says no masks for children at all without a medical reason and a doctor's note

She says the Dfe are v clear about masks in primary - but I think it's an arbitrary rule based on age, not physiplogy . My Y6 dd is as tall as me and so are a couple of her friends!

Very strange, masks are not only allowed in my DC's schools, but are in fact actively encouraged! Though my DC won't be wearing them unless it becomes mandatory, does your dc realise how horrible uncomfortable they are after a while?

She would be much more comfortable with a choice rather than an outright ban.

What difference does height make?

What difference does age make? You're not telling me that an enormous Y6 child doesn't have the physiology of some Y7/8s. The cut off is entirely arbitrary.

You really want a primary age child to wear a mask?

I want my child to have the choice and feel safer.

Are any of you teachers? Thanks for your opinions, but I would really like to find out if the Head can do this. I know other primaries where they are optional.

I think I will repost in Primary. Thanks for your responses.

I thought the guidance was that it was at the heads discretion re: masks now?

Isn't the primary thing because it's felt from the evidence that the social / educational impact is greater than covid?

Were you planning on sending yours in with masks and now can't?

My childs primary have said no to masks for children.

So same rule.

They have different rules in place for staff.

In all honestly, as a teacher, I cannot think of anything worse than having to police 30 kids wearing masks!

It will be a huge distraction - they will be playing with them, constantly touching their faces, they’ll be taken off and left places, not being able to read facial expressions can be of huge discomfort to some children...

There are so many more reasons I’m sure but that’s just my initial thoughts!

Ours has said no masks. Younger kids will just play with them, spreading more germs. They will cause so many issues for little or no gain.

The difference between primary and secondary I think is more the set up of the school, not the age/size of the kids. My school and other primaries I know are keeping kids in their classroom at all times (except for the toilets which are shared with 1/2 other classes). Secondary pupils , while less than previously, will be moving around together in the halls etc. So more need as more contact with other bubbles and bigger bubbles.

With the support of the school governors and the law, yes the head can do this

I forgot to say, yes I am a teacher, and other schools I know have same policy

I'm a primary school teacher and our school is not allowing masks- if a child comes in one they have to give it to a parent.
Heads can do this yes- it should be on their risk assessment which should be available on the school website or emailed to you.

@PCatwalk

I want my child to have the choice and feel safer.

Are any of you teachers? Thanks for your opinions, but I would really like to find out if the Head can do this. I know other primaries where they are optional.

My son is at college and they’ve been told they can’t wear masks in classes.

I work in primary and we’ve been told none of us are allowed to wear masks in school.....

I agree with your Head, masks on primary kids would be a distraction and through improper use would probably increase spread of germs.

I'm an infant school teacher and definitely no masks for children allowed at my school.
Our head is following government and local authority guidance in telling parents that children must not wear them.
It would be counter productive.
Children would fiddle with them, have them on and off, share them, sneeze all over them, put them in the floor and then put them back on. They would be touching their faces constantly. I can't even begin to imagine managing a classroom of 30 children all fiddling with masks.
The head is definitely following guidelines I'm afraid.

I think Y6 is different to infants though - for many reasons.

Yes she can - there is no law/guidance to say Primary schools have to have masks and indeed seems to suggest the opposite is true

Yep- under current guidance heads can decide.

Why do you want your DC to wear a mask? If it is for emotional/psychological reasons that is something you can help her with with anxiety related resources.
If it’s for physiological reasons I think you have misunderstood the use of masks, having a mask on for some of the day won’t help her, if anything my understanding is it will make her more vulnerable to potential infection (hence the guidance for single use masks, so she would need a number of masks for one day in school).
I am a teacher, yes the head can say no masks in school at this time.

I'm a teacher in primary and don't think that chijdten should be wearing masks... neither should the teachers.

I'm a primary teacher. I agree with your child's HT.