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.

We are in a low risk area (apparently). Local secondary school is overcrowded and wasn't enforcing mask wearing. Year group "bubbles" consisted on over 200 kids (not unusual). Now closed because of multiple cases across nearly all year groups, staff and students. I know a family with a vulnerable parent that has now been advised to isolate for two weeks. Not sure what I will do when they reopen - DC thrived with home learning and I don't think a couple more months will do any harm.

I would be far more confident with primary school DCs. I think the chances of them catching it and spreading it are far lower.

Yes.

Yr 9 and Yr 12

I've paid so they are damn well going. . I'm at work, as is DH, and whilest online was great, I find helping DD with Further Maths a challenge! Plus they really need their friends.

I have 2 primary DC and I am a very vulnerable parent. They have been going to school until now although I have been very anxious. Would you keep them off for 2 weeks in my position in the hope that cases will be lower by then or just plough on? I could really do with some views as I’m finding it hard to make the decision

Probably.
But I'm sick with worry about them bringing the virus back. I can't parent when I'm ill.

Yes, absolutely. They are year 2 and year 7. Missing their education and social interaction is more damaging to them. Plus I have to work.

@NoDramaMama14

I really think that the schools should provide an option for remote learning to keep both teachers and parents safe. Lockdown 2.0 has the colder weather to complicate things further. Why does the government need the worse case scenarios to become a reality before they act??

Completely agree

Yes. Surely now is the safest time in weeks to send them anyway?! Limited interactions outside school = fewer cases within school, yes?

@YouSetTheTone

Yes. Surely now is the safest time in weeks to send them anyway?! Limited interactions outside school = fewer cases within school, yes?

Not exactly. I would say now would be the most unsafe time. A week off school for half term - potentially more interactions than normal in school term. Recipe for disaster in terms of transmission.

Yes mine will still be going. The last lockdown had a huge impact on their learning and arguably impacted wellbeing too and I'm not willing for that to happen again. Over and above that DH and I need to continue working.

We will but I wish they had given the option to stay home to those who can provide a good education at home (eg teachers [myself] and those who have paid for online schooling).

I genuinely think having some kids out will also help to slow the spread. Of course we need to think of the kid's education but if you can show you have robust measures in place I think it could only help.

If I had school aged kids, then yes I would send them.

I will - only because their friends will be there. They'll not have any work set for them, if they're at home.

I reckon schools will be shut eventually, so feel we should eek out every bit while it lasts.

I'm amazed by the 99% 'yes' on here, rather out of line with the pre-half term data of 76% attendance and dropping in my LA.

Maybe more cautious parents, maybe more concerned given the death of a school staff member?

Out of interest if they introduce masks at all times in secondary, similar to tier 3 16-18+ year olds in Scotland, does that change anyones decision? Just curious

@ForthPlace

I'm amazed by the 99% 'yes' on here, rather out of line with the pre-half term data of 76% attendance and dropping in my LA.

Maybe more cautious parents, maybe more concerned given the death of a school staff member?

I think a lot depends on the school. If my kids were at the school that DS attended until last year I'd have pulled them out already.

Whereas the HT and staff in the current school are working their arses off to make it safe.

Now that's not to say the staff in the other school aren't, but they have a shit HT whose favourite pastime is belittling and undermining his staff so it's just not as joined up.

definitely yes

Yes, with it any hesitation. Y8 and y10.

The last lockdown has done huge damage to my y8’s confidence and mental health. He was only just beginning to settle back into things when half term came. If he didn’t go to school I fear I’d never get him back there (or anywhere) as and when this is over, if it ever is.

Yes, not a single positive case in the whole school yet. Though I'm expecting that to change as I know a few have been on holiday so potentially bringing it back. Even with that risk they need to be in school, one is already massively behind (despite my best efforts over lockdown).

Absolutely yes.

Yes, of course.

I'd have felt much better about them going in, if they had a mini 🔒 down first ie over half term and strongly urged not to go anywhere....
Unfortunately that didn't happen, I can't see how rates decreased in any way... Cases were starting too snow ball in our settings right before half term.

It will take a good few weeks for community transmission to be drop, so it will be circulation like mad in school with dc and teachers and cooks, cleaners, admin staff etc.

So no I don't feel safe putting them in.

Yes I will - conversation tonight:

DS: Do we still have to go to schoo?
Me: Yes you do.

Yup. DH will also be going out to work and I'm WFH. No one in our household is shielding. The children aren't even going to be much of a risk to grandparents as they can only see them one at a time for a walk round the block. If the grandparents felt they were vulnerable (or medically were vulnerable) we'd stop that. The kids need some normality and to be able to see their friends. I actually enjoyed home schooling but it isn't just about academics, their world has shrunk so much (no Brownies, swimming, sports clubs etc) I think the only reason to keep them off would be if one of us was clinically vulnerable.

Ds will be staying home. He is 10, in year 6, has complex needs and is medically vulnerable due to a rare genetic condition.
Dd1 and 2 (years 9 and 10) will be going in.
It is a juggle and a balancing act.