School - how worried are you 1-10?

[ChanceChanceChance]

I'm finding it impossible to settle on how worried I am about school, about whether my children will pick up covid there and how worried I am if that happens.

If you were to put your worry on a scale 1-10, with 1 being 'no more worried than a normal year' and 10 being 'terrified', where are you?

I think I'm going for an average of 6 right now.

1

1 for them catching it.
10 for disruption to education and whole family’s mental health if they close again.

@bathwithgeraniums I put one. Because I can't spend my time worrying about strangers or I'd be in constant despair. The situation is beyond my control, nothing I can do apart from follow thr guidelines. But my DS needs to be at school for various reasons and he is my priority.

From the perspective of my dc's school, I'm not overly concerned about covid or disruption (maybe a 3?). It's a small village primary with no cases nearby for a long time so I'm cautiously optimistic that the school will be able to stay fully open through winter. If dc were in a large secondary I would be very concerned about disruptions to their education and the effect of isolations on their wellbeing.

not worried about them catching covid. I am concerned about not getting a test (that is my current issue). Since we will have to isolate then as a family without income. I have 2 DC who tend to have frequent coughs and colds. If the testing doesn't get sorted, I will surely lose my job as I would not be able to take repeatedly 2 week isolation measures. Unless the gov sorts testing, this will be a disaster. I bet many families are in a similar situation.

I think it's a not a case of IF, but rather WHEN most children will pick it up in the coming months. And for all we know, many of our children were already exposed back in Feb/March before lockdown. So, no, not worried at all about DS's health.

I'm far more concerned about missing out on his education if he needs to isolate because of symptoms of his own, or bubble infections. He didn't have a brilliant start to secondary last year, due to a number of yet-to-be confirmed diagnoses, and he really needs to be in school to be supported.

I am worried for my kids as their cousins had some pretty unpleasant post viral responses to Covid-19. I’m also worried about how they’d cope with any future disruptions or closures as they’re so pleased to be back at the moment. I do trust that their school are balancing the risks well, so it’s a big fat jumble of feelings I couldn’t nail down to a single number.

Much more worried about further disruption to their education.

1. My DCs school had a few cases pre lockdown. It didn’t spread like wildfire despite there been a number of risk factors - overseas boarders (including some Chinese children), many children who went skiing at February half term, many children of parents who regularly travel internationally for work and/or who commute to London and a number of children whose parents work in frontline NHS roles. Also, there is a wide age range of children (1-18). They weren’t in bubbles back then and the younger children shared facilities with the seniors. It still didn’t spread!

@Bupkis

I'm now a 10, actually more like 100. On the way out from dropping ds, I heard a parent of a child in his class say she was trying to get a test, as she had a metallic taste in her nouth and sinus pain, but couldn't get one...FFS.

I think you could report that to the school as their child should be off too?

I've no particular worries about them getting it, but I am concerned about further disruption.

1

I'd say a 2-3 for them brining it home and the adults catching long covid. But that is the same anxiety I have doing the shopping or getting my hair coloured.

I am more worried about intermittent two week isolation periods where I try to do (and keep) my job in a failing sector while looking after small children.

I'm at almost a 10. I'm so worried about them. One of my DCs is vulnerable. My DH has hypertension.

Also no one knows what version they will get and if they will be really ill with it, even those with no underlying conditions.

The top 3 symptoms are not accurate for children so they will be allowed in to school with other symptoms.

Some children will be very ill with it. I am constantly considering home schooling but my DCs benefit so much from being in school. The guilt is awful - guilty for sending in but would feel guilty if I didn't. I feel stuck. It helps to read how many 1s there are though.

1 for Covid
10 for disruption to his education

We have had cases in 8 local schools, some of which have had to send more than 2 year group 'bubbles' home.

DS is in year 2 and is freely allowed to mix with 60 other children.

Currently awaiting COVID results for me after developing a cough and feeling a bit shitty.

On top of this were in the top 10 at risk areas, and neighbouring towns are also all in the top 10.

I posted my response earlier, but wondered if anyone knows if there's a consolidated list anywhere that lets you know which schools have sent classes home or have closed.

@notanoctopus

I posted my response earlier, but wondered if anyone knows if there's a consolidated list anywhere that lets you know which schools have sent classes home or have closed.

I have been curious and asked here already and yet to find an official online report or list. Not saying it is all fake news but just need accurate information as I am concerned this is happening but kept quiet!

1 - not worried about Covid at all. Handful of cases in my area, risk is absolutely minute. Bigger risk to my kids is probably their dad’s job.

About 7-8 worried about possible further disruption & what the experience of education right now if like for them.

I don’t think it’s being kept quiet necessary, just that a case in a school is only really relevant to the people who have been in contact with that case. We don’t get told of the number of cases that occur in other settings.
A school is a place that people go. People get Covid, so cases will occur in people who spend time in schools.
If it is found that schools are a cause of significant transmission, it might be the case that people should be aware of what is happening.

*necessarily

1

Not saying it is all fake news but just need accurate information as I am concerned this is happening but kept quiet!

If your area is anything like mine no schools closures will be kept quiet, it will be all over local facebook groups as it was right before lockdown when there was lots of discussion of possible cases in local schools.

I can't see how any could be hushed up

@Kaktus

Thanks. I am only finding out bits and pieces about local schools Covid information from large household families who have have children attending more than one school and so adding to the mixing bubble.

I think Covid is serious so school outbreaks should be publicised for general safety awareness just as with pubs, bars and restaurants reported in the media etc.

I suspect much is undetected because of lack of available testing. In addition schools will be kept open at all costs (apart from Covid fatalities) as other sectors may be closed with this current second wave.

2 for the kids
8 for the staff