Shielding with kids

[ClaireWB]

Hi everyone,

Both myself and partner are shielding as we have received the clinically vulnerable letters (we both have severe asthma). I work in a school and am going to be working from home and my partner works in a bus company and he has been furloughed.

My question is that we have 3 primary age children who have no need to shield and are expected to attend school. Now I understand that they should still go to school, but my question is whether we are allowed to take them.

We don't have anyone who could help with school runs and I wouldn't want to start mixing bubbles, so myself and partner will have to take them ourselves. But to do this we would have to go into the playground which would not be shielding.

I am so confused, and cannot find any guidance online about this.

Does anyone have any knowledge or similar issues?

Shielding is just highly recommended advice. The govt says "you should avoid all non-essential travel by private or public transport. This includes not travelling to work, school or the shops."

Taking children to school probably would be counted as essential travel because govt guidance also says "Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should still attend school."

Shielding is much lighter touch this time round.

So if you can take them to the perimeter of the school and shove them through the gates and then march off, you will have only fleeting contact outside with other parents.

You will need to tell the school you cannot enter premises without undue risk, and state what arrangements you think are safest. See if they can come up with something even better (use staff car park as dropping point?)

Also, ask school to put in next newsletter that they are aware there are CEV parents in the school community, and to ask all parents to wear a mask in the vicinity of the school

Shielding is advisory so you can do what you want as long as it falls within the standard rules, if at all possible it would be better if you walk or cycle for the school run both because this provides a form of exercise which those who are shielding are being encouraged to continue with and also so that you aren't in a small confined environment with 3 children. If you don't feel safe dropping off and picking up whilst other parents are present it would make sense to talk with the school who might be able to arrange for a slightly altered pick up time or for you to drop off and pick up at the gate so that you can remain distanced from other parents and pupils.

Thank you for your help and advice!

We currently walk to school, which I'm thinking is a good thing.

The school have also made it mandatory to wear facemasks in the playground, so that should help too.

What isn't so good is that I work in the high school that is next door to my children's primary school, so I'm not to sure what my colleagues will think if they see me walking to school and in the playground - but to be honest, I shouldn't really care about what other people think - we are all doing what's best for us - right?!

Thank you so much for your advice - you have reassured me that I am doing the right thing!