I want allowances made for children with extremely vulnerable household members.

[Theodoreb]

I was on the shielding list, now I have to send my dc to school or home educate I do not think schools should be shut but it seems to me that anyone who has a household member who meets shielding criteria should be able to keep dc out of school without being penalized either by fines or losing places.

This imo will help the nhs keep critical patients to a lower levels freeing up hospital beds.

They are not thinking of you as a parent they are thinking of the child and their education / mental health that everyone keeps throwing out there however they missed the part their mental health won’t be too great if they lose their mother !

My daughter is the CEV person in the house and we are lucky that the hospital / school / LEA etc have all agreed she can stay home and keep her place.

Shielding was paused at the end of July.

I'm the ECV person in our household and I'm back at work in a public facing role and my child is back at school. My SSP ended when shielding ended so I had no option to go back to work as I can't live with no money coming in.

Depends what your condition is.
The original shielding list was a bit of a mess. It left off some of the most extremely vulnerable to death conditions (diabetes, for example) and included not quite as high risk conditions, i.e. some patients taking immunosuppressant medication (which possibly can actually lower the risk).

However I agree with you.
Even if it's just psychological and for peace of mind, under these extraordinary circumstances of a pandemic I think you should be allowed to temporarily keep your child off without losing her place or getting fined. Stress affects the immune system.
Are you in a position to home educate?

I totally agree with you, OP, and thank you for saying it. My husband is clinically extremely vulnerable and I have hated sending the children to back to school (includes foster children who we obviously do not have parental responsibility for, so have no choice but to send them). I would happily home educate them. With the so called bubbles in hundreds it is so never wracking. I know that to a degree my husband's life depends on strangers keeping to the rules in schools, as we have no other social contacts. I have found it very difficult these past weeks and it's hard for many others to understand. Because shielding was paused, others think my husband's lung disease suddenly got better on 1 August. And with most others wanting schools to remain open, I have been hoping for some way to keep the children home legally, Your post has made me feel less alone - thank you!!

You can decide to home school.

@june2007

You can decide to home school.

Yes, but she shouldn't have to. Parents should not be threatened with fines during a global pandemic. It would be very easy to have an exemption in these circumstances

Clinically extremely vulnerable teachers and pupils are back in that environment themselves. I'd like to see them taken out of the covid petri dish too.

Yes, you definitely shouldn't face fines. Wales have agreed no fines until half term and I expect this will be extended as the situation is getting worse not better.

I totally agree. And to @june2007 and anyone else who wants to come on here spouting the same flippant ignorant spiel give it a break. Seriously, be thankful you aren't in the same predicament but have some understanding for those that aren't as fortunate.

I think that’s fair enough!

Sorry forgot I'd posted this as posted it while having a rant. I'm both sad and happy to see others in the same boat. And happy others understand yes I could home educate but once this is over I want my dc to attend the same school they were previously attending with their friends.