Will you be sending your child to school in lockdown?

[peacockfeather11]

I know they will be open, but I am curious to see if parents will feel they will be safer at home.

no suggestion that the young will be vaccinated

Also, no suggestion that they won't.

We vaccinate young people all the time. We give them the flu vaccine to protect the elderly. This will be no different.

100% yes

Can anyone who is relaxed about it tell me how/why you are happy to send them? As a disabled parent (but not given a shielding letter) I feel sick to my stomach to send them back in and am really quite scared I may die. I don't want to feel this scared anymore but I don't want to let my fear screw up their education and their lives.

@beebityboo what is your disability? If you weren't given a shielding letter then presumably you don't have one of the conditions which make you more vulnerable to covid? Or are you particularly vulnerable?

I'm not in the same situation as you but I'm not worried because statistically neither I nor any of my direct family members are likely to become seriously ill from covid. Obviously that doesn't mean I want to catch it, but only in the same way as I wouldn't want to catch any other illness/virus.

@Beebityboo

Can anyone who is relaxed about it tell me how/why you are happy to send them? As a disabled parent (but not given a shielding letter) I feel sick to my stomach to send them back in and am really quite scared I may die. I don't want to feel this scared anymore but I don't want to let my fear screw up their education and their lives.

Im relaxed about it, but then I’m not disabled. I am relaxed because the risks for my children and for myself are low.

@Beebityboo sorry to read you’re scared and anxious
I’m sending my children because I think they need the structure and routine of going to school
They need to maintain their education and teachers are best placed and trained to deliver that
Attempt to maintain a modicum of normal
Schooo Maintain social contacts and they’ll have external stimuli and relationships
I’m still working I’ve worked straight through this and I need the reassurance my children are attending school

You said your GP has not provided a shielding letter, presumably your health condition doesn’t fall into the category who require to shield. Has your GP provided other advice?
Are you getting support for anxiety?

I'm in a tricky position as my disability is incredibly rare. It makes me prone to blood clots amongst other things and this is really worrying me as Covid increases blood clot risk too, my Dr doesn't really know how I would respond (though I suppose it's like that for everyone) . Its hard not being able to know what my actual risk level is iyswim? I also have a Bmi of 37 as it's affected my mobility although I've lost three stone this year.
I've just been scared for months. I'm tired of living like this but I don't want to hold my DC's back.

Im relaxed about it, but then I’m not disabled. I am relaxed because the risks for my children and for myself are low

Same for me. I have more vulnerable family members but they live at least 2 hours drive away so I don't see them regularly.

I'm also in a low risk area and there haven't been any cases in my school so I haven't seen anything to worry me. Yet.

I don't blame you for being worried though. I've read a lot of your posts and, although the severity of your anxiety is (imo) a mental health issue, you have grounds to worry and I think most people would have some level of anxiety in your situation. I don't think you should be beating yourself up about it and thinking that you should be relaxed. If you're vulnerable, then this is frightening.

Let the children go to school, they are healthy and IMO it’s beneficial for children
Seek some specialist advice how to manage. Your condition during covid,
ask GP refer you to dietetics, and physio for mobility advice
Is there any online or phone support to help you with strategies to manage anxieties

Yes, she’s going back tomorrow.

Personally I think it was a mistake to close schools first time round and that is not just hindsight. I said that in March. So very happy common sense has prevailed.

Yes I agree

Yes. Education is important and school is handling everything extremely well. Two class bubbles have had to isolate since September, including DS’s class. But we are on the edge of a tier three area and cases around here are spiking so it’s to be expected that there would be some cases in school.

And yes, my children are desperate to go back to school after being stuck at home alone during half term (tier 2) as they've not been allot to meet friends.

So yes, I'll be happy for them to go back tomorrow!

They are absolutely, categorically going to school every day they possibly can. There is no exit plan for young people other than building some immunity of their own; no suggestion that the young will be vaccinated

And if they are offered any vaccine, they'll be the last in the queue, possibly not for many months. Do we really want our children to miss out on that much schooling and social interactions?

With a bit of luck things can only improve statistically ref the virus if the government keeps up with lockdown and is vigilant.

Yes. I am a key worker so will be heading out to work every day... dd will be going to school!

Mine is in nursery and I'm a SAHM. I'll be sending her in because she needs the contact with other people and other children for as long as it's allowed.
The scientists have said that we as a society can 'get away with' a certain number of contacts between all of us so they're being rationed. Thankfully at least one of my kids is being allowed some precious time with other people and I'm very grateful for that.
I used to be a teacher, many of my family and close friends are teachers and I absolutely get why they're anxious and if I was still a teacher I would be going into work. It's the hardest and most important job in the world even before you factor in covid and I am very grateful for the people who do it.

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

If I was given the option I would say no. But since we face fines etc for not sending them in he will be going (for now)

I believe parents should have the choice and I was hoping that would be announced tonight.

Yes the risk to children from the virus is low. But the risk to their mental health of bringing the virus home and passing it to a vulnerable parent who then dies. That's potentially catastrophic

Agree with all of this.

My two break up in 6 weeks for Christmas so I'm going to try and keep a lid on my anxiety but the holidays can't come quick enough.

My dc were perfectly happy at home during the last lockdown and both are a lot more anxious about going to school and mixing with others. As for "COVID secure" by the sounds of it there's no such thing at my dc's school so they are safer at home.

The education of children cannot solely be a parental choice/preference.

It’s too big and carries too many individual and societal ramifications for it to be left to individual parents
The children need to remain in education and In social contact with teachers and other pupils. In order to grow educationally, build resilience, grow and learn educationally and socially

Some parents will have a cautious outlook and if able to would chose not to send children to school. Based on their parental preference. The govt cannot simply acquiesce to letting parents decide. Not all parents will do the right thing

Education is more than the act of reading text and undertaking study, it’s immersive and experiential and best lead by teachers who are expert in what they do

Yes

@SentientAndCognisant

The education of children cannot solely be a parental choice/preference.

It’s too big and carries too many individual and societal ramifications for it to be left to individual parents
The children need to remain in education and In social contact with teachers and other pupils. In order to grow educationally, build resilience, grow and learn educationally and socially

Some parents will have a cautious outlook and if able to would chose not to send children to school. Based on their parental preference. The govt cannot simply acquiesce to letting parents decide. Not all parents will do the right thing

Education is more than the act of reading text and undertaking study, it’s immersive and experiential and best lead by teachers who are expert in what they do

How does that work with homeschooling being entirely legal then?

The only difference with removing fines would be allowing people who can afford to homeschool on a temporary basis the choice as those who can afford it long term.

Hell yes. He really needs it. It's impossible to deliver a therapeutic timetable to a severely autistic child via fucking zoom.

@beebityboo I haven't got any disability/pre existing conditions so I can only comment from my perspective, but this virus really doesn't scare me. I tend to avoid mainstream media and have read a lot of the scientific research so know that the infection fatality ratio is actually fairly low.

I am also an ITU nurse so have been coming into contact with pathogens for years so I'm kinda used to it IYKWIM. Plus I knew tons of people with it in March all of whom have recovered/had it mildly (one has long Covid but even she thinks we just need to get on with it!)

Both myself and DD are low risk, we're in a low risk area but even if we were in tier 3 I would send her back. I am making sure to be very careful with my 80 something year old parents, so sadly we haven't seen them much but I think that approach is sensible.

Her education is just worth so much - she and every other child deserves so much more that they have got this year IMO. I am more afraid of her missing out on learning than getting the virus in all honesty.

Hope that makes sense!

Yes, my ds will, especially after being indoors alone most of half term. He's also got exams next year!

*Her education is just worth so much - she and every other child deserves so much more that they have got this year IMO.
*
I feel the same. Last school year was terrible and my ds fell behind massively. With exams going ahead next summer, our children need to be in school!