Taking kids out of school early to have Christmas with Grandparents

[Backyard72]

Last day of school is December 18th, but we're thinking of taking our son out a week earlier so we can keep ourselves to ourselves for a bit and then feel safe having Christmas with my parents who are in their 70s.

I presume there're quite a lot of other people in this situation?

Its one year. Most people with school aged children will have parents in their 60s and 70s. There will be plenty more years to come, if people do what is required now. Its not just about "is it safe" its also "is it legal"? We will make do with dropping off a present and a phonecall. Its a pandemic.

@DipSwimSwoosh I completely agree. It's an insult to hard working teachers who are desperately trying to help children catch up on what they've missed out on.

Personally I think DDs school and teachers are fantastic and value what they do, I wouldn't want her to miss out for an extra few days holiday (holidays are long enough anyway).

@DipSwimSwoosh

I wish people would value education more. If schools just decided to shut people would complain. But it's fine for you to pick and choose when you turn up to free education with well qualified, hardworking teachers. It's a kick in the teeth to teachers who are working hard and planning like mad to make sure that every lesson counts even more this year.

I agree with this. So many parents were (rightly) concerned about the education their children missed while schools were closed. Teachers are working the hardest to make up for that lost time. To just then decide that a certain week isn’t important... didn’t sit right with me.

I take it all the posters saying they are going to or are considering doing this aren't the same ones who were demanding schools reopened in September no ifs or buts?

Maybe all my colleagues in our school should do this and say stuff the last week, it's not important anyway? Or maybe just not return in January and have a week off at home.

IF parents who wanted to and could remove the children for the last week this would also mean that the teachers and children still attending school would be at lower risk of contracting covid. Currently in schools social distancing isn't happening due to space. Logically less children in school means children and staff can be more spaced out which should be safer.

@Trackandtrace

IF parents who wanted to and could remove the children for the last week this would also mean that the teachers and children still attending school would be at lower risk of contracting covid. Currently in schools social distancing isn't happening due to space. Logically less children in school means children and staff can be more spaced out which should be safer.

Amongst young primary children social distancing isn’t happening because it goes completely against all their human instincts. Not because I’d space. My 5 year old is in the lucky position of being in a classroom with low numbers and plenty of space. They don’t ‘social distance’ because they’re 5 and being close to their peers is what their life is about.

@mrshoho

No I wasn't saying that in September. I've been one of those who felt parents should have been able to keep their children home if they were able to, without facing fines/having to de register

@NullcovoidNovember

Op why are you even asking if the head will be cool, you're not bothered, your dc is OK with it.. What's the issue here?

If my dp were still alive there is no question that I would take the dc out to be with them and all feel safe!
School is not safe, and seeing loved older family is very precious. I'd do it in a heart beat..

Not asking. Just stated I think the head of my sons school will be cool about it - ie realistic and understanding of the reason. I know there's quite a lot of parents considering the same as me.

I'd love to do that much my hubby would still have to work so defeats the purpose really

Always the best week of school in primary school!

@palacegirl77

Its one year. Most people with school aged children will have parents in their 60s and 70s. There will be plenty more years to come, if people do what is required now. Its not just about "is it safe" its also "is it legal"? We will make do with dropping off a present and a phonecall. Its a pandemic.

The thing is I think most people who have their kids in school right until the end of term will go and see the grandparents at Christmas anyway and obviously that's a greater risk than if there has been a break of a couple of weeks before that.

My mum wasn't impressed when I took my son out of school for half a day to go and see Greta Thunberg speak at climate rally in Bristol (which I deemed highly educational), but she actually thinks an extra week before Christmas is sensible and she'd be scared of us coming to stay without us isolating for 2 weeks beforehand.

She's desperate for us to come - the first lock-down affected her so badly she started having repeated dizzy spells & weakness which her Dr diagnosed as stress/depression.

A proper family Christmas really means a lot for many elderly parents/grandparents.

@MummaPI

I'd love to do that much my hubby would still have to work so defeats the purpose really

So does that mean you won't see Parents at Christmas? Even if your husband is working having the kids home an extra week definitely reduces the risk I reckon.

My children’s education is important to me but seeing grandparents who would otherwise be alone is also important. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.
Clearly, spending time with grandparents isn’t high on everyone’s list but surely you can see it would be to others.
We’re all different, I know my children are doing very well at school and are well motivated to work at home so I’m more than happy for them to be off in the last week.

Surely taking some children out of school leaves it safer for the teachers and children remaining.

I know teachers are working hard to make every day count and I thank them for all they are doing.
It is funny how we care so much about their efforts but not so much their health and safety.

I’m not bothered about what choice others make, each to their own, I’ll do what’s best for me and my family this Christmas.
Still hoping Boris makes the decision to end early as I believe it will be safer, have to wait and see.

There will be plenty more years to come, if people do what is required now.

I don’t know why people keep saying this, it clearly and obviously won’t be true for everyone.

Have people forgotten you can die of things that aren’t Covid?

Well said Jinxy.

I presume I’ve been dreaming about the weeks of parents banging on about how education is sacred and schooling must take place at all costs. Unless it interferes with your social activities, apparently, when it becomes an optional activity.

@MrsFezziwig

I presume I’ve been dreaming about the weeks of parents banging on about how education is sacred and schooling must take place at all costs. Unless it interferes with your social activities, apparently, when it becomes an optional activity.

Not me nor a number of others on this thread I'd imagine. Those that feel missing a single day of school is sacrilege are pretty closed minded in my book.

For 2 whole weeks before seeing tour parents, you will all literally have to completely shield

I am glad that you say you will be honest with the school about why they are not in. Regardless of whether anyone expects it, schools are now required by law to produce remote learning materials. If you (or anyone else) pretends to be isolating, that teacher will have to work extra in the last few days before Christmas to provide that - when it isn’t actually necessary and will most likely just be ignored. Please don’t do that to them!

@Neverwrestlewithapig

I am glad that you say you will be honest with the school about why they are not in. Regardless of whether anyone expects it, schools are now required by law to produce remote learning materials. If you (or anyone else) pretends to be isolating, that teacher will have to work extra in the last few days before Christmas to provide that - when it isn’t actually necessary and will most likely just be ignored. Please don’t do that to them!

I did my TA training placement for a year in my son's school, I value the work the teachers do very much and wouldn't disrespect them by making up a bogus reason for taking my son out.

Are you sure they are required by law to provide work for remote learning whatever the reason a child is off? If true I didn't know that.

Can I just say to everyone saying "get a test"... Tests will only show a positive result if symptoms are present/the virus is active. You can "have" the virus, be tested and get a negative result then 2 days later be positive.

Getting a test without confirmed contact or symptoms is not beneficial in this case.

You need to all be completely isolated for two weeks prior, as do the grandparents.

I would definitely pull him out of school, and you've actually given me the idea to do the same if DP can get out of work early.

@Neverwrestlewithapig

I am glad that you say you will be honest with the school about why they are not in. Regardless of whether anyone expects it, schools are now required by law to produce remote learning materials. If you (or anyone else) pretends to be isolating, that teacher will have to work extra in the last few days before Christmas to provide that - when it isn’t actually necessary and will most likely just be ignored. Please don’t do that to them!

I just looked at the Remote Learning law and it seems to only apply for students "unable to attend school due to coronavirus".

My interpretation is that it covers children who either have coronavirus or are isolating due to a close contact with a case, so would not apply for voluntary taking out children from school prior to Christmas.

As a teacher I wouldn't mind parents doing that at all. The final week before Christmas always goes at a much gentler pace - kids are usually tired, it's not a week to cover tricky concepts. Perhaps the UK (which I presume you're in) is different re: work pace.

Tempted to do it here. We don't have a bubble or local family and we could isolate for a fortnite before Xmas.

Mine (secondary age) have never skipped school and often get 100% attendance. But I might break that rule this year. They're meant to finish on the 18th but I'd like them out a week earlier.

What an excellent plan! I will email the parents of my class tomorrow and say I'm closing the class for the last week as I want to see my parents at Christmas...

BTW I'm a primary teacher and we'll be teaching properly in the last week so your children will miss important learning if you take them out.