Is anyone pulling out of school for the last week?

[wondersun]

Just that really, just being nosey!

No. Besides from the educational arguements there is also some evidence that isolating children from viruses is detrimental to their health in the long term and that exposure to colds etc helps their ability to fight off more serious viruses such as covid.

Completely understand reasoning though if there are vulnerable people in the family.

I am a TA and all the staff at our school have worked so hard to settle the children back in and catch up for lost time. We are keeping them as safe as we can and they are genuinely happy to be back. (Well most of them).

I personally feel taking them out willy nilly is disruptive to them and setting them back further. They need some stability now. I also say this as a mother with vulnerable family members.

Absolutely not here too.

I am SO grateful and happy for school to be back. Best thing to have happened all year.

Another 100% no. God I'd send them during half term too if I could as they're so much happier and themselves since they've been back.

@BexR

No. Grasping every bit of school time while we can.

Same

@Juststopswimming

Another 100% no. God I'd send them during half term too if I could as they're so much happier and themselves since they've been back.

Ha! Me too...

God no. It's bad enough that they've had time at home this term isolating after exposure to a +ve case in class. I'm not taking any more school time off them.

Nope nope nope.

I know people considering it. I think they are overreacting.

Hell no - they're year 10.
One has already missed a fortnight.

Cases are rife in their two secondaries, so if we get to half term without incident it'll be a miracle.

I should have put some context with that - we are in a really numbers area!

Low. Low numbers.

It's too early.

@SushiGo

Low. Low numbers.

It's too early.

Not here sadly 😢

Just wanted to say again that I completely get different views, obviously we are all just trying to fathom out what’s best for our own children. I can really see people are just acting in the best interests of their children. I’m just frustrated that I’m not being supported in doing the same atm.

My three are all quite young and very happy learning at home. I know I might feel different at a different stage of life.

Sorry for being nosey! Although I guess on forums we are probably all nosey by nature!

Absolutely not. Why would I?

A primary school teacher friend was despairing at speculation of a two week circuit breaker recently, saying they’ve been working so hard to get the children settled/ up to where they should be and more set backs would be very frustrating. She is a reception teacher and has noticed that a greater than usual number are behind at things like going to the loo unassisted, getting dressed, following instructions etc. Due to children not having been in pre-schools etc earlier this year I guess?

My parents are a bit anxious and we take precautions when we see them - usually outside. But it’s their choice if they are happy to see the DC or not and no one in the family is prepared to compromise their education and mental health. They are loving being at school!

@SushiGo

I should have put some context with that - we are in a really numbers area!

Just read your comments properly. Massively different situations everywhere at the moment I guess. Glad it’s ok where you are, hopefully things will be moving in the right direction everywhere soon.

@girlicorne

No, although we have had an email tonight to fill in a form about what devices and internet access we have for remote learning so school may make that choice for us.

Schools have to have got distance learning in place by half term. It's just a directive set up from the dfe.

Absolutely bonkers numbers here but I'm a teacher so no choice.

Also, the disruption a two week SI for our pupils has caused (Sen school) has been huge.

Absolutely not. If you look at the situation with the universities what is clear is that although it’s rampant and running out of control the students simply aren’t getting really ill. Obviously there may be exceptions but on the whole they are getting mild illness and suffering little more than boredom and frustration. What that says to me is that school is not a risk to most children and keeping healthy children who do not have immediate contact with vulnerable family members who live in their own home is utter insanity

@middleager

Hell no - they're year 10. One has already missed a fortnight.

Cases are rife in their two secondaries, so if we get to half term without incident it'll be a miracle.

It must be so much more stressful with older ones. Hope you get to half term ok.

Absolutely not. They're happy, settled, thriving, enjoying learning "properly" again and being with their peers.

No they will be in and out and missing enough school as it is as no doubt they’ll be asked to isolate at some point. We are finding getting through three lots of homework each night stressful enough. Homeschooling 3 of them now I’m back at work will be horrific.

@Sophoa

Absolutely not. If you look at the situation with the universities what is clear is that although it’s rampant and running out of control the students simply aren’t getting really ill. Obviously there may be exceptions but on the whole they are getting mild illness and suffering little more than boredom and frustration. What that says to me is that school is not a risk to most children and keeping healthy children who do not have immediate contact with vulnerable family members who live in their own home is utter insanity

Our vulnerable member would have direct contact.

Thousands and thousands of families are in such a horrible predicament right now.

I’m not sure it’s fair to say it’s “utter insanity” either.

It’s a new virus and everyone’s circumstances and outlooks are going to be different, just like they are with anything else.

I think the starting point should always be that parents know best and believe in choice for everyone.

One size never fits all. Teaching since 1998 has taught me that if nothing else.

Absolutely not. There hasn’t been a single case in their primary school this term. The senior school to which it is attached has had two isolated cases in five weeks. I have every confidendence in the safety of the school and want my children there as long as possible.

No. DD is currently self-isolating at home after a case in her year. She’s 5, loves being back at school and seeing her friends, and it’s been hard to explain why she can’t go. She’s due back the week before half-term and I would be gutted if that was cancelled. I’m WFH so it’s hard having her at home. Are you a SAHM, as you don’t seem to mention any issues with working and childcare?

As an aside, I find it really interesting how this suggestion of a two-week ‘circuit breaker’ at half-term keeps coming up. It’s been mentioned a few times on MN over the past weeks, and one of the mums at school mentioned hearing the rumours. I’d love to know where it came from originally!

As a teacher, reading these threads has really cheered me up. It is so good to know that all the difficult restrictions we are working under is working for the students, and parents can see that.

Any chance all you lovelymnetters send even just one email to say thank you to one of their children’s teacher?

I know it’s our job, but we really are all on our knees, and for all the complaining emails we get... it would be so wonderful to get some positive feedback Before half term,. It really is unbelievably stressful in many schools.

🙂

We have a vulnerable family member and numbers in our area have just got to 50 in 100,000 so I’m starting to feel a bit anxious. I am just trying to keep them in for next week then we have 2 weeks off for half term thankfully. I shall be very reluctant to send them back after half term as I know that many of the families at school are planning on swanning off all over the place, many to high risk areas such as London over the break so I have no doubt that some will bring the virus back to school.

However, i think we will be in a very different place in 3 weeks. The virus is out of control, rampaging through schools and the government is making so many mistakes (such as with unis) I think many places will have full hospitals by then. I’m sure lots of parents will be thinking twice about waving their child off every morning in the middle of a pandemic when local medical care has broken down. I have enrolled my children in online school from November as I’m sure we will be needing it.