DS school is mixing his pods - I need to complain don’t I?

[SummerCherry]

DS is in a slightly unusual primary school in that he is in a special unit for children with SN, but attached to a mainstream school. In previous years there is integration, where the children who are able to, spend one or two lessons in a mainstream class.

I had assumed that this wouldn’t happen this year, as it means mixing for smaller pods. Also, one of the reasons I felt a bit better about DS going to school is that he is in a small class of 10, even though they all take school transport.

Also the teachers only wear visors, instead of masks, and don’t seem to understand that this doesn’t really protect them or the children.

I just got a note in his book last Friday that they were going to do integration with the mainstream (class of 30) from next Monday and that they were all very excited about it.

My heart sank, so now DS will also be in a class with 30. I think I need to write to the school and raise this as an issue don’t I?

My primary school has bubbles of 60. As well as before and after school clubs in which children from all across the school mix. None of us teachers wear masks apart from on the playground at pick up and drop off. There's no social distancing within bubbles, and the children often cross each other on the corridors. Parents don't realise how little people in schools are actually protected.

@SummerCherry I think if you feel he thrived being home schooled and you are unhappy then I'd deregister and do that as it's only going to get worse as we throw flu into the mix

I’ll try talking to them first. I really don’t want to be ‘that’ parent, but it’s worth a try. He couldn’t go through another covid19 test. Also, he will lose his place in the unit if I deregister. I fought hard for it.

I think that the risks couldn’t be so easily avoided. You questioned teachers wearing visors rather than masks and lots of PPs explained you that some children have problems with hearing and rely on lip reading, some are upset not to see teacher’s faces. Yes, maybe students and teachers in China and other Asian countries wear masks all day but I suspect they have different school system. And they don’t have children with high SEN in mainstream settings.
My point is that schools in UK are doing as much as they can with as little as they have. You don’t have a car - they don’t have resources to provide 10 pupils bubbles.
I can’t sleep tbh and literally pray that our school will make it to the half term but DD is in year 11 so going to school is our priority. We cut everything else as a family to minimize risks. A lot of my friends are in the same situation. They can’t deregister their children with SEN as the place will be lost. SD and small isolated bubbles are just impossible at schools. It’s awful.
Good luck in talking to school.

I’m not sure you’ve read my post. My DS is in a 10 person bubble because his unit is very small as they have severe SN. That’s pretty normal. They don’t have to integrate just yet. They could delay it easily.

I’m not asking for anything that isn’t within their resources.

The teachers could all wear masks if they wanted, no one in their class is hearing impaired. They are not wearing masks because they think that visors are just as good. It’s lack of understanding. The kids are all used to seeing people in masks and don’t really like looking at faces anyway! They all wear masks for over an hour on school transport including drivers and helpers, and no child has an issue with them.

I understand if things are too hard, or impossible with resources. It’s the unnecessary risks that are harder to deal with. It’s not attacking the school, it’s just working together to make everyone safe. If a teacher absolutely hated mask wearing fair enough, but the things people have bought up on this thread are mostly unnecessary risks that could easily be changed. Masks are not expensive. Most kids are perfectly okay with a teacher wearing a mask. Not mixing outside your actual class is usually perfectly doable. Not everything can be the same in schools.

You expect the teachers to wear a mask all day? Many workers wear masks all day. All the Teacher's in Ireland wear a mask and/or visor it is ridiculous the English government are not implementing this.
Yanbu. My DD is in main stream she had 5 resource classes per week they are all stopped she is managing thankfully.
DS has a bubble of 6 in a class of 26 no moving to other tables he has a ft sna he's on reduced time as sensory classes are off.

I would definitely have a chat with the school and raise your concerns about the new class/bubble. They might be able to address them. If they don't, cross that bridge when you come to it.

I wouldn't comment on the mask issue. I would be happy if DS's teachers were wearing visors as I think they are better than nothing (I know masks are better still so would be even happier with masks but also get the issues with masks).

It's also worth dropping your MP a line about school safety in general. Personally I don't think the guidelines are good enough, but it's government not the schools that have the power to change things at that level. The more of us expressing our concerns to MPs the better.

Good luck

If I were a teacher I would wear a mask. I cant’ believe it is ‘not allowed
OP, so would I. I know a teacher in a secondary school who had cancer last year. Luckily, she's ok now but her immune system is still low due to the treatment she had and the medication she's on. She was shielding during lockdown, managing online learning. Had a letter. She's now in a bubble of 200. Some schools have larger bubbles than this, but she's so worried. She's asked if she can wear a mask to teach the 30 year 7s as they're the largest class, but has been told she can't. It's totally awful.

Already she had to have two face to face meetings, albeit at a distance, with parents in a room without opening windows.

With new advice being given to office workers to WFH if they can, regardless of whether they're at risk or not, what about those who were previously 'allowed' to follow dr's orders and shield but now can't? As I said, it's just awful for them.

I’ve read all your posts. What I was trying to say that you should talk to school but bear in mind that they need to manage different needs and priorities and different parents have different views and expectations. It’s not just about lack of understanding on school’s side.

She's asked if she can wear a mask to teach the 30 year 7s as they're the largest class, but has been told she can't. It's totally awful
Who is making the rules on masks is it the government or department of education I'm truly shocked.
All secondary students have to wear one unless exempt, all staff including primary school teachers.

Ops like this really disturb me as they demonstrate just how unhinged from the actual risk peoples' understanding of covid is. The government really has done a number on the population. I wonder op, do you drive? If you do, you are exposing your child to enormously greater risk of death or serious injury when you do so versus the risk of covid.

Thanks for your posts. I had almost thought I’ll just give up and not say anything, I am not the sort of person who normally likes ‘making a fuss’ but having a SN child means you do get used to being more assertive!

I honestly don’t think they now that masks are better, but I don’t want to raise that with the school, I’ll raise that with my MP. I live in a rural area and so many old people are wearing visors. My mother was given one and thought it was just as good as a mask. I think many people think visors are just as good as they see restaurant workers etc wearing them.

@Emeraldshamrock yes I have family in Ireland and so many of them wear masks, I feel sorry for the teenagers to be honest but I’m also glad they are safer at school. I’d personally be for shorter days if it makes wearing the masks the doing smaller bubbles.

It is like we’ve let the ball drop completely in schools, washing hands every now and then and that is basically it. School classes mixing. There has been an outbreak near me in a special needs school where 8 pupils and staff have Covid-19. They are maybe not the highest risk but they are not safe zones where magically no-one transmits Covid-19.

@greenlynx I know and thank you for your comments. Sorry I thought that you had said that I was not able to ask for a bubble of 10, but DS is in a class bubble of 10 as that is his normal class size.

@Whywontthisjustend I am a scientist and I am very capable of weighing up risks in a logical and clear way. My child wears a seatbelt, has a car seat, wears a mask in a car and follows rules of the road. I expect the school to do similar, to do everything to minimize the risk of Covid-19. Not sure for him, but so that he doesn’t become part of the wider transmission and older people die in care homes along the line. I am behaving responsibly and not burying my head in the sand and pretending that there isn’t a pandemic.