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?

Wow ok. I think (I hope) people are confusing school with education, or maybe don't understand the difference

The majority of parents in the UK do not have the time, inclination and/or skills to give their DC a good education at home. So for the majority of people, schools are, in fact essential.

I think highly trained professionals are the best way of educating my kids personally.

@HallieKnight

Wow ok. I think (I hope) people are confusing school with education, or maybe don't understand the difference

No. Education is important, and of course education can take place anywhere. School is also important to my children. They love it.

@HallieKnight

Wow ok. I think (I hope) people are confusing school with education, or maybe don't understand the difference

Nope I’m not confusing school with education. HTH

If teachers were valued they wouldn’t be expected to work without PPE, in crowded classrooms with no social distancing.

What other profession is expected to do this?

@MrJinxyCat

If teachers were valued they wouldn’t be expected to work without PPE, in crowded classrooms with no social distancing. What other profession is expected to do this?

And what are parents supposed to do about this?

Perhaps they will make the last week optional for children. Several benefits - parents like many above can be secure that it’s safe to see GPs etc, fewer chances of cases erupting over the often NHS shorter-staffed Christmas period, and, importantly, those parents who would be adversely affected by the school being closed early, will still be able to send their children to school.

Why the hell would 'they' make the last week of school optional? So people can go and mingle with others which, as it stands at the moment, isn't allowed?

@notthe1Parrot

Perhaps they will make the last week optional for children. Several benefits - parents like many above can be secure that it’s safe to see GPs etc, fewer chances of cases erupting over the often NHS shorter-staffed Christmas period, and, importantly, those parents who would be adversely affected by the school being closed early, will still be able to send their children to school.

But wouldn't this imply a lower value on schools and teaching staff?

It's all optional - turn up if you like, skip it if you prefer.

I'd be pissed of if I was a teacher and 80% of my class didn't turn up in the last week (which I'd spent time carefully planning to be a mix of education and wind-down festivities).

And the children who were taken dropped at school by their parents might be wondering why they had to go in but their pals could stay at home. Maybe their parents didn't love them as much?

Ok. That last bit was a bit dramatic, but you get my drift

Perhaps they will make the last week optional for children.

So school becomes glorified childcare only? How many secondary school children will choose to go to school over hanging out with their friends if they are told school is "optional" - which means they can't cover anything new?

Pretty unusual to start a new topic in the last week of term. Certainly not been usual practice at the school my kids attend, really doubt its going to be different this year.

Our secondary is already generating a steady stream of positive c19 results and term is only 2 weeks old. I'm sure by Dec the teachers will be delighted to have less kids in class, so less chance of taking a special little virus home to their families.

Pretty unusual to start a new topic in the last week of term. Certainly not been usual practice at the school my kids attend, really doubt its going to be different this year.

Different schools do things differently. My DC's school teach new stuff up the penultimate day (the last day being a half day). In Year 11, DS was working on GCSE coursework at school in the week before Christmas.

Starting a new topic isn't the issue here. Having time to practice and for children to properly understand what they are being taught is vital.

I certainly don't have the training and expertise to teach and develop my child's understanding at home.

@DumplingsAndStew

Why the hell would 'they' make the last week of school optional? So people can go and mingle with others which, as it stands at the moment, isn't allowed?

Exactly this! I'm not sure where people are getting this idea that mixing households will be allowed yet alone encouraged by "them". We might be out of lockdown 2nd Dec but its unlikely to mean that its a free for all to be visiting whoever we like after that

@Backyard72
Yes, just related to COVID-19. That’s why I said I was glad that you are intending to be honest rather than pretend to need to isolate. I understand you wanting to spend Christmas with family. It would just be terribly unfair to increase somebody else’s workload (eco dent have the same luxury) to enable that!

*who doesn’t

@notthe1Parrot

Perhaps they will make the last week optional for children. Several benefits - parents like many above can be secure that it’s safe to see GPs etc, fewer chances of cases erupting over the often NHS shorter-staffed Christmas period, and, importantly, those parents who would be adversely affected by the school being closed early, will still be able to send their children to school.

What a fabulous idea! I can spend the week twiddling my thumbs marking time with the students who either don't have grandparents or whose parents work on the frontline whilst the others get an extra week off. Or I could do some extra work with those kids who are left in my very well qualified and very experienced hands whilst the others get an extra week off. What a ridiculous idea.

Would you really be twiddling your thumbs MrsHamlet? Lucky you.

what a ridiculous idea

I'm shocked at the amount of people who actually think its a good viable idea tbh

@Porcupineinwaiting

Would you really be twiddling your thumbs MrsHamlet? Lucky you.

Of course not, because as I constantly remind my students, every lesson counts - especially now. But when I move on, as I inevitably will, the ones who have been taken out for an extended holiday will get left behind. And then what? Those parents want extra work and catch up sessions. I'm happy to work with kids who've missed things for a good reason, but an extra week off is not a good reason.

@Isthatitnow

When it comes down to missing a week of primary education or spending what could potentially be the last Xmas with grandparents I don't think there is even a question

There were literally hundreds of threads baying for teacher’s blood when schools were closed because of how important education is. School staff are now risking their health and that of their families to provide that education yet spending time with family is now more important?

When it comes to special events etc, yes. You don't get that time back - as for those looking for blood, you can't compare. A week off compared to however many months it was previously. Come on.

@OnNaturesCourse

And the people that don't agree are the ones raising kids who chuck them in a old folks home as soon they can and barely ever visit cos they have hardly any family values.

What an utterly contemptuous comment.

My mother is in a nursing home, not because I don’t have ‘family values’ but because she needs specialist care. I pay for her fees. I haven’t seen her since before Lockdown as her nursing home never reopened due to us living in a high transmission area.

Please don’t comment on things you know nothing about.

Nit all learning takes place in a classroom. Family is important as are traditions. As a teacher i would fully support what you are doing. If the work that I am doing in that last week is really important then i can give it as homework to be done when off, this wouldn't be extra it would just be what the others are getting. I will certainly not be starting any high demand learning in the last week of term, pointless as it would be forgotten by the time they return. We always have high sickness rates in kids before Christmas due to colds etc and shattered kids. Have a wondeful Christmas, do what works for your family.

Oh please @OnNaturesCourse

I have family values and recognise the importance of education. I will be doing a Zoom Christmas so as not to risk anyone in my family, doesn't mean I'm an unloving horrible person.

I have family working in specialist nursing homes for elderly people with dementia. Those family members aren't there because they are unloved, but the opposite, so they can get the specialist care family are unable to provide.